A67922:819
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.
But that which this Caligula had only conceived, the same did the other two, which came after, bring to pass, Claudius Nero, 1who reigned xiii. years with no little cruelty. But especially the third of these Neroes, called Domitius Nero. 2Which succeeding after Claudius, rained 14. years, with such fury and tyranny, that he slew the most part of the Senates,3 he destroyed the whole order of knighthood in Rome. So prodigious a monster of nature was he, more like a beast, yea rather a devil then a man, that he seemed to be borne to the destruction of man.4 Such was his monstrous uncleanness, that he abstained not from his own mother, his natural sister, nor from any degree of kindred. Such was his wretched cruelty, that he caused to be put to death his mother, his brother in law, his sister, his wise great with child, also his instructor Seneca and Lucan, with divers moe of his own kindred and consanguinity. Moreover, he commanded Rome to be set on fire in vii. places, and so continued it 6. days and 7. nights in burning, while that he to see the example how Troy burned, sang the verses of Homer. And to avoid the infamy thereof, he laid the fault upon the Christian men, & caused them to be persecuted. And so continued this miserable Emperor in his reign 14. years, till at last the Senate proclaiming him a public enemy of mankind, condemned him to be drawn through the city, and to be whipped to death. For the fear whereof, he flying the hands of his enemies,5 in the night fled to a manor of his servants in the country, where he was forced to slay himself, complaining that he had then neither friend nor enemy left, that would do so much for him. In the latter end of this Domitius Nero, 6Peter also and Paul were put to death for the testimony and faith of Christ. an. 69.
But that which this Caligula had onely conceaued, the same did the other two, which came after, bring to passe, Claudius Nero,