A67922:971
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.
One Vetius Epagathus, one of the brethren, replenished with fervent zeal, both towards god and his brethren (whose conversation, although he were a young man was counted as perfect, as was the life of Zechariah the Priest, for he walked diligently in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord, and in all obedience towards his brethren blameless) he having within him the fervent zeal of love, and spirit of god, could not suffer that wicked judgement which was given upon the Christians but being vehemently displeased, desired that the Judge would hear the excuse which he was minded to make in the behalf of the christians, in whom saith he is no impiety found, But the people cried again to those that were assistants with the chief Justice, that it might not be so (for indeed he was a noble man borne) neither did the Justice grant him his lawful request, but only asked him whether he himself were a Christian or not. And he immediately with a loud and bold voice,1 answered and said, I am a Christian. And thus was he received into the fellowship of the martyrs, and called the advocate of the Christians. And he having the spirit of God more plentifully in time, then had Zechariah, the abundance thereof he declared, in that he gave his life in the defence of his brethren, being a true disciple of Christ, following the Lamb wheresoever he goeth. By this mans example the rest of the Martyrs were the more animated to martyrdom, and made more joyous with all courage of mind to accomplish the same. Some other there were unready and not so well prepared,2 and as yet weak, not well able to bear the vehemency of so great conflict: of whom x. there were in number, that fainted, ministering to us much heaviness & lamentation. Who by their example caused the rest which were not yet apprehended, to be less willing thereunto. Then were we all for the variableness of confession not a little astonied: not that we feared the punishment intended against us, but rather as having respect to the end, and fearing least any should fall. Every day there were apprehended such as were worthy to fulfil the number of them which were fallen. In so much that of two churches, such as were chiefest, & which were the principal governors of our Churches were apprehended.
One Vetius Epagathus, one of the brethren, replenished with feruent zeale, both towards god and his brethren (whose conuersation, although he were a young man was counted as perfect, as was the life of Zachary the Priest, for he walked diligently in al the commaundements and iustifications of the Lord, and in all obedience towards his brethren blamles) he hauing within him the feruent zeale of loue, and spirit of god, could not suffer that wicked iudgement which was giuen vpon the Christians but being vehemently displeased, desired that the Iudge woulde heare the excuse which he was minded to make in the behalfe of the christians, in whom saith he is no impietie founde, But the people cryed againe to those that were assistentes wt the chiefe Iustice, that it might not be so (for indede he was a noble man borne) neither did the Iustice graunt him his lawfull request, but onely asked him whether he himselfe were a Christian or not. And he immediatly with a loude and boulde voice,