A67922:938
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.
To conclude, he commanded that straightway without any delay the •able should be laid for them, and persuaded them that they would eat and di•e well, and required of them boldly, that he might have an hours respite to make his prayers.1 Which thing after it was granted, he arose and went to pray, so being replenished which the grace of God, that they which were present, and hearing the prayers that he made, were astonied at it, and now many of them were sorry that so honest and godly an aged man should be put to death.
To conclude, he commaunded that straightway without any delay the •able should be layd for them, and persuaded thē that they would eate and di•e well, and required of them boldly, that he might haue an houres respite to make his prayers.1 Which thing after it was graunted, he arose and went to pray, so being replenished which the grace of God, that they which were present, and hearyng the prayers that he made, were astonied at it, and now many of them were sory that so honest and godly an aged man should be put to death.
- 1Policarpus falleth to prayer.
After this, the foresaid Epistle or letter, prosecuting the history, addeth more as followeth: After he had made an end of his prayers, & had called to his remembrance all those things which ever happened unto him, and to the universal catholic church throughout all the world (whether they were small or great, glorious or else inglorious) and that the hour was now come in which they ought to set forward, they set him upon an Ass, and brought him to the City upon a solemn feast day. And there met him Irenarchus Herodes, and his father Nicetes, which causing him to come up into the chariot where they sate, persuaded him & said: