A67922:1901
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.
In this renewing and building of towns and Castles for the more fortifying of his Realm: his Sister Elfleda, daughter of king Alfred, & married to the Duke of Mercia (as is afore mentioned) was no small helper. Of this Elfleda it is firmly of writers affirmed that she being as is said married to Ethelred Duke of Mercia, after she had once assayed the pains of women in travelling with her child: so much she abhorred ever after the embracing of her husband, that it seemed to her (she said) not seemly for a noble woman to use such fleshly liking, whereof so great sorrow and travail should ensue. And yet notwithstanding the same Elfleda, for all her delicate tenderness in eschewing the natural passion, which necessity giveth to women: so hardy she was in warlike dangers, which nature giveth not to women, that fighting against the Danes, so venturous she was of stomach,1 that four of her next knights, which were gardeius of her body, were slain fast by her. This Elfleda among her other noble acts, whereby she deserved praise, was a great helper and stirrer up of her brother Edward: who builded and newly repaired many Castles and towns, as Toniworth, beside Lichfield, Stafford, Warwick, Shrewsbury, Watrisbury, Eldisbury, besides Chester in the forrest now destroyed. Also in the North end of Mercia, upon the river of Merce, a castle called Rimcorne, also a bridge over Severn named Brimmisbury bridge.
In this renuing and building of townes and Castles for the more fortifying of his Realme: his Sister Elfleda, daughter of king Alfrede, & maried to the Duke of Mercia (as is afore mentioned) was no small helper. Of this Elfleda it is firmely of wryters affirmed that shee being as is sayde maried to Ethelrede Duke of Mercia, after she had once assayed the paines of women in traueling wyth her childe: so much shee abhorred euer after the embracing of her husbande, that it seemed to her (she sayde) not seemely for a noble womā to vse such fleshly liking, wherof so gret sorow and trauaile should ensue. And yet notwithstāding the same Elfleda, for all her delicate tendernesse in eschewing the natural passion, which necessity geueth to women: so hardy she was in warlike daungers, which nature geueth not to women, that fighting against the Danes, so venturous shee was of stomacke,1 that foure of her nexte knights, which were gardeius of her body, were slain fast by her. This Elfleda among her other noble actes, whereby she deserued praise, was a great helper and stirrer vp of her brother Edward: who builded and newly repaired many Castels and townes, as Toniworth, beside Lichfielde, Stafforde, Warwike, Shrowesbury, Watrisbury, Eldisbury, besides Chester in the forrest now destroyed. Also in the North ende of Mercia, vpon the riuer of Merce, a castle called Rimcorne, also a bridge ouer Seuerne named Brimmisbury bridge.