A67922:925
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.
As concerning Alexander bishop of Rome, with his ij. Deacons, also with Hermes, Quirinus, Sapphira, and Sabina ▪ Some writers, as Bede, and Marianus Scotus record that they suffered under Traianus. Others again, as Otto Frisingensis with like mo, report that they suffered in the iiij. year of this Emperor Hadrian, but of these Martyrs sufficiently hath been said before.
As concerning Alexander bishop of Rome, with his ij. Deacons, also with Hermes, Quirinus, Saphyra, and Sabina ▪ Some writers, as Bede, and Marianus Scotus recorde that they suffred vnder Traianus. Others againe, as Otto Frisingensis with like mo, report that they suffred in the iiij. yeare of this Emperour Hadrian, but of these Martyrs sufficiently hath bene sayd before.
While Hadrian the Emperor was at Athens, he purposed to visit the country of Eleusina, 1and so did: where he sacrificing to the Gentiles Gods, after the manner of the Grecians, had given free leave & liberty, whosoever would to persecute the Christians. Whereupon Quadratus a man of no less zeal excellent, as of famous learning, being then Bishop of Athens, and Disciple of the Apostles, or at least succeeding incontinent the age of the Apostles, and following after Publius (who a little before was martyred for the testimony of Christ) did offer up and exhibit unto Hadrian the Emperor, a learned and excellent Apology in the defence of the Christian Religion. Wherein he declared the Christians without all just cause or desert, to be so cruelly entreated and persecuted,2 &c. The like also did Aristides an other no less excellent Philosopher in Athens, who for his singular learning and eloquence being notified to the emperor, and coming to his presence, there made before him an eloquent Oration. Moreover, did exhibit unto the said Emperor a memorable Apology for the christians, so full of learning and eloquence, that as Hierome saith, it was a spectacle and admiration to men in his time, that loved to see wit and learning. Over and besides these, there was also an other named Serenus Granius a man of great nobility, who likewise did write very pithy & grave letters to Hadrian the Emperor, showing and declaring therein, to be consonant with no right nor reason, for the blood of innocents so to be given to the rage and fury of the people, and so to be condemned for no fault, only for the name and sect that they followed.