A67922:907
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.
Tertullian writing upon this letter of Traianus above prefixed, thus saith: O sentence of a confused necessity: He would not have them to be sought for as men innocent, & yet causeth them to be punished as persons guilty. And thus the rage of that persecution ceased for a time, although notwithstanding many naughty disposed men and cruel officers that were, which upon false pretence to accomplish their wicked minds, ceased not to afflict the Christians in divers provinces. And especially if any occasion were given never so little for the enemies to take hold, or if any commotion were raised in the Provinces abroad, by and by the fault was laid upon the christians. As in Jerusalem after that the emperor Traianus had sent down his commandment,1 that whosoever could be found of the stock of David, he should be enquired out and put to death: upon this Egesippus writing, saith, that certain sectaries there were of the Jewish nation, that accused Simeon the bishop then of Jerusalem and son of Cleophas to come of the stock of David, and that he was a Christian. Of the which his accusers it happened also (saith the said Egesippus) that certain of them likewise were apprehended and taken to be of the stock of David, and so right justly were put to execution themselves, which sought the destruction of other. As concerning Simeon the blessed bishop, the foresaid Egesippus thus writeth: That Simeon the lords nephew, when he was accused to Attalus the Proconsul, by the malicious sect of the Jews,2 to be of the line of David, & to be a christian, was scourged, during the space of many days together, being of the age of an hundred and twenty years. In which his Martyrdom he endured so constant, that both the Consul and all the multitude did marvel to see him of that age so constantly to suffer, and so at last being crucified finished his course in the Lord, for whom he suffered, as partly before also is recorded.
Tertullian writing vpon this letter of Traianus aboue prefixed, thus saith: O sentence of a confused necessitie: He would not haue them to be sought for as men innocent, & yet causeth them to be punished as persons gilty. And thus the rage of that persecutiō ceased for a tyme, although notwithstanding many naughty disposed men and cruell officers that were, which vpon false pretence to accomplishe their wicked myndes, ceased not to afflict the Christians in diuers prouinces. And especially if any occasiō were geuē neuer so litle for the enemies to take hold, or if any commotion were raised in the Prouinces abroad, by and by the fault was laid vpon the christians. As in Hierusalem after that the emperor Traianus had sent doune his commaundement,