A67922:818
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 the reign also of this Emperor, and year which was the next after the passion of our Saviour, or somewhat more,1. S. Paul was converted to the faith. After the death of Tiberius: when he had reigned 23. years, succeeded C. Caesar Caligula, 2Claudius Nero, and Domitius Nero: which 3. were likewise such scourges to the Senate and people of Rome that the first not only took other mens wives violently from them, but also deflowered three of his own sisters. and afterward banished them.3 So wicked he was that he commanded himself to be worshipped as God, and temples to be erected in his name, and used to sit in the temple among the Gods, requiring his images to be set up in all temples, and also in the temple of Jerusalem which caused great disturbance among the Jews, and then began the abomination of desolation to be set up in the holy place, ⟨p. 31⟩spoken of in the gospel. His cruel condition, or else displeasure was such toward the Romans,4 that he wished that all the people of Rome had but one neck, that he at his pleasure might destroy such a multitude. By this said Caligula, Herod the murderer of John Baptist, and condemner of Christ, was condemned to perpetual banishment, where he died miserably. Caiaphas also which wickedly sat upon Christ, was the same time removed from the high Priests room, and Jonathan set in his place. The raging fierceness of this Caligula incensed against the Romans, had not thus ceased, had not he been cut of by the hands of a Tribune, and other gentle men, which slew him in the 4 year of his reign. After whose death was found in his closet. 2. little libels, one called a sword, the other the dagger. In the which libels were contained the names of those Senators, and noble men of Rome, whom he had purposed to put to death.5 Besides this sword and dagger, there was sound also a coffer, wherein divers kinds of poison were kept in glasses and vessels, for the purpose to destroy a wonderful number of people. Which poisons afterward being thrown into the sea,