A67922:1630
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
About this present time above prefixed,1 which is 610. I read in the story of Ranulphus Cestrensis, the writer of Polychronicon, of John the Patriarch of Alexandria who for his rare example of hospitality and bountifulness to the poor:2 I thought no less worthy to have place amongest good men, then I see the same now to be followed of few. This John (being before belike a hard and sparing man) as he was at his prayer upon a time (it is said) there appeared to him a comely virgin having on her head a garland of Olive leaves: which named her self mercy, saying to him and promising that if he would take her to wi•e, he should prosper well. This, whether it were true or not, or else invented for a morality,3 I would wish this flourishing damsel so to be married to moe then to this John, that she should not live so long a virgin now as she doth, because no man will marry her. But to return to his Patriarch, who after that day (as the story recordeth: was so merciful and so beneficial, especially to the poor and needy, that he counted them as his masters, and himself as a servant and steward unto them. This Patriarch was wont commonly twice a week to sit at his door all the day long, to take up matters, and to set unity, where was any variance: One day it happened, as he was sitting all the day before his gate, and saw no man come, lamented that all that day he had done no good: To whom his Deacon standing by, answered again, that he had more cause to rejoice, seeing he had brought the City in that order and in such peace, that there needed no reconcilement amongest them. An other time as the said John the Patriarch was at the Service and reading the Gospel ⟨p. 120⟩in the church, the people (as their used manner is) went out of the church to talk and jangle: he perceiving that, went out likewise, and sat amongst them: whereat they marvelling to see him do so. My children said he, where the flock is, there ought the shepherd to be: wherefore either come you in, that I may also come in with you, or else if you tarry out, I will likewise tarry out together with you, &c.