A67922:941
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.
times, Policarpus, hath confessed himself to be a Christian, which words of the crier, were no sooner spoken, but that all the whole multitude both of the Gentiles and Jews inhabiting at Smyrna, with a vehement rage and loud voice cried. This is that Doctor or teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, and the destroyer of our gods, which hath instructed a great number that our Gods are not to be worshipped, & after this they cried unto Philip the governor of Asia, and required him that he would let loose the Lion to Policarpus. To whom he made answer that he might not so do, because he had already his pray. Then they cried again altogether with one voice that he would burn Policarpus a live. For it was requisite that that vision which he saw as concerning his pillow or bolster should be fulfilled: which when he had seen burnt, as he was in his prayer, he turned himself unto the faithful sort which were with him, saying by the way of prophecy, it will so come, that I shall be burned a live. And the Proconsul had no sooner spoken, but it was out of hand performed. For why the multitude by and by brought out of their shops, workhouses, and baynes, wood and other dry matter for that purpose and especially the Jews were most serviceable for that matter, after their wonted manner. And thus the pile being laid, and that now he had put of his garments & undone his girdle, and was about to pull of his shoes, which he had not done before, for that all the faithful sort amongst themselves strived (as it were) who should first touch his body at their farewell,1 because for the good conversation of his life, yea, from his younger age, he was had in great estimation of all men. Therefore straightway those instruments which are requisite to such a bonfire, were brought unto him, & when the would have nailed him to the stake with iron hoops, he said, let me alone as I am, for he that hath given me strength to suffer and abide the fire, shall also give power, that without this your provision of nails, I shall abide, & stir not in the middest of this fire or pile of wood. Which thing when they heard,2 they did not nail him, but bound him. Therefore when his hands were bound behind him, even as the chiefest Ram taken out of the flock, he was sacrificed as an acceptable burnt offering to God saying:
times, Policarpus, hath confessed himself to be a Christian, which wordes of the cryer, were no sooner spoken, but that all the whole multitude both of the Gentiles and Iewes inhabiting at Smyrna, with a vehement rage and loude voice cried. This is that Doctour or teacher of Asia, the father of the Christianes, and the destroyer of our gods, which hath instructed a great nūber that our Gods are not to be worshipped, & after this they crid vnto Philip the gouernour of Asia, and required him that he would let loose the Lion to Policarpus. To whom he made aunswere that he might not so doe, because he had already his praye. Then they cried againe altogither with one voice that he woulde burne Policarpus a liue. For it was requisite that yt vision which he saw as concerning his pillow or bolster should be fulfilled: which when he had seene burnt, as he was in his prayer, he turned himselfe vnto the faithful sort which were with him, saying by the way of prophecie, it will so come, that I shall be burned a liue. And the Proconsul had no sooner spoken, but it was out of hande performed. For why the multitude by and by brought out of their shops, workehouses, and baynes, woode and other dry matter for that purpose and especially the Iewes were most seruiceable for that matter, after their wōted maner. And thus the pile being layd, and that now hee had put of his garments & vndone his girdel, and was about to pul of his shooes, which he had not done before, for that all the faithfull sort amongst themselues striued (as it were) who should first touch his body at their farewell,