A67922:931
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 fourth Persecution.
1After the decease of the foresaid quiet and mild Prince Aurelius Antonius Pius (who among all other Emperors of that time made the most quiet end, followed his son M. Antoninus Verus, with Lucius his brother, about the year of our Lord .162. a man of nature more stern and severe.2 And although in study of Philosophy, & in civil government no less commendable: yet to ward the Christians sharp and fierce, by whom was moved the fourth persecution after Nero. In whose time a great number of them which truly professed Christ, suffered most cruel torments, and punishments,3 both in Asia and in France. In the number of whom was Policarpus, the worthy Bishop of Smyrna. Who in the great rage of this persecution in Asia, among many other most constant Saints was also Martyred. Of whose end and Martyrdom I thought it here not unexpedient to commit to history, so much as Eusebius declareth to be taken out of a certain letter or Epistle, written by them of his own Church, to the brethren of Pontus the tenor of which Epistle here followeth.
1AFter the decease of the foresayd quiet and milde Prince Aurelius Antonius Pius (who among all other Emperours of that tyme made the most quiet end, followed his sonne M. Antoninus Verus, with Lucius his brother, about the yeare of our Lord .162. a man of nature more sterne and seuere.2