A67922:901
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.
*The third Persecution.
1Between the second Roman persecution and the third, was but one year, under the Emperor Nerva. After whom succeeded Traianus. And after him followed the third persecution. So the second and the third, are noted of some to be both one,2 having no more difference but one year between them. This Traianus if we look well upon his politic and civill governance, might seem in comparison of other, a right worthy and commendable Prince. Much familiar with inferiors, and so behaving himself toward his subjects, as he himself would have the Prince to be to him, if he himself were a subject. Also he was noted to be a great observer of justice, in so much that when he ordained any Praetor, giving to him the sword, he would bid him use the sword against his enemies in just causes, and if he him self did otherwise then justice, to use then his power against him also.3 But for all these virtues, toward christian Religion, he was impious and cruel, who caused the third persecution of the Church. In the which persecution Pliny the second, a man learned and famous, seeing the lamentable slaughter of Christians, and moved therewith to pity, wrote to Traianus of the pitiful persecution: certifying him that there were many thousands of them daily put to death, of which none did any thing contrary to the Romaine laws worthy persecution, saving that they used to gather together in the morning before day, and sing Hymns to a certain God, whom they worshipped, called Christ. In all other their ordinances they were godly and honest. Whereby the persecution by commandment of the Emperor, was greatly staid and diminished. The form and copy of which Epistle of Pliny I thought here not inconvenient to set down as followeth.
1BEtwene the second Romain persecution and the third, was but one yeare, vnder the Emperour Nerua. After whom succeeded Traianus. And after him followed the third persecution. So the second and the third, are noted of some to be both one,