A67922:1968
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.
Of such a like dream we read of the mother of Ethelstane, how the Moon did spring out of her womb, & gave light to all England. Also of king Charles the Emperor, how he was led by a thread to see the torments of hell. Like wise of Furceus the Hermit mentioned in the third book of Bede, who saw the joys of heaven and the 4. fires that should destroy the world: the one of lying, for breaking our promise made at Baptism. The second fire was of covetous. The third of dissension. The fourth was of the fire of impiety and wrongful dealing. Item, in like sort of the dream of Dunstan, and of the same Ethelwold, to whom appeared the three bishops, Bristanus, Birinus, and Swithinus, &c. Item, of the dream of the mother of this Ethelwold, who being great with him, did see a golden Eagle flee out of her mouth, &c. Of the dream likewise, or the vision of King Edgar concerning the falling of the two apples,1 and of the pots, one being full of water, the other empty, &c. Also of king Edward the Confessor, touching the ruin of the land by the conquest of the Normans. We read also in the history of Astiages, how he dreamed of Cyrus. And likewise of many other dreams in the books of the monks, & of the Ethnic writers. For what cannot either the idle vanity of mans head, or the deception of the lying spirit work by man: in foreshowing such earthly events as happen commonly in this present world? But here is a difference to be understood between these earthly dreams, speaking of earthly things,2 and matters of human superstition, & between other spiritual revelations sent by God touching spiritual matters of the Church, pertaining to mans salvation. But to our purpose, by this dream, and by the event which followed after, it may appear how & by what means the multitude of Monks began first to swarm in the Churches of England (that is) in the days of this Edgar, by the means of these three Bishops, Dunstan, Ethelwold and Oswald. Albeit Dunstan was the chiefest ring leader of this race, yet Ethelwold being now Bishop of Winchester, & Oswald bishop of Worcester, were not much behind for their parts. By the instigation and counsel of these three aforesaid, king Edgar is recorded in histories to build either new out of the ground, or to reedify monasteries decayed by the Danes, moe then xl.
Of such a lyke dreame we read of the mother of Ethelstane, how the Moone did spring out of her wombe, & gaue light to all England. Also of king Charles the Emperour, how he was led by a threed to see the torments of hel. Like wise of Furceus the Heremite mentioned in the third booke of Bede, who sawe the ioyes of heauen and the 4. fires that should destroy the world: the one of lying, for breakyng our promise made at Baptism. The second fire was of couetous. The third of dissention. The fourth was of the fire of impietie and wrongfull dealing. Item, in like sort of the dreame of Dunstane, and of the same Ethelwold, to whom appeared the three bishops, Bristanus, Birinus, and Swithinus, &c. Itē, of the dreame of the mother of this Ethelwold, who beyng great with him, did see a golden Egle flee out of her mouth, &c. Of the dreame likewise, or the vision of Kyng Edgar concerning the falling of the two apples,