A67922:979
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.
so that by his countenance sometime rejoicing, and some other while sorrowing, he was descried of the standers by. The people not taking in good part to see those which now recanted, by and by again to stick to their first confession, they cried out against Alexander, as one that was the cause of all this matter. And when he was enforced by the Judge and commanded what Religion he was of, he answered: I am a Christian. He had no sooner spoken the word, but he was judged to the beasts, of them to be devoured. The next day following, Attalus, of whom I made mention a little before, and Alexander, were brought forth together (for the governor granting Attalus unto the people, was baited again of the beasts.) When these men were brought to the scaffold, and had taken a taste of all the instruments that there were prepared for their execution, and had suffered the greatest agony they could put them to, were also at the length slain: Of whom Alexander never gave so much as a sigh, nor held his peace, but from the bottom of his hart praised and prayed to the Lord.1 But Attalus when he was set in the iron chair, and began to fry, and the frying savour of his burning body began to smell, he spake to the multitude in the Roman language: Behold (saith he) this is to eat mans flesh which you do, for we neither eat men, nor yet commit any other wickedness. And being demanded what was the name of their God: our God (saith he) hath no such name as men have. Then said they, now let us see whether your God can help you, and take you out of our hands or not. 2After this, being the last day of the spectacle, Blandine again, & one Ponticus, a child of xv. year old was brought forth, and this was every day, to the intent they seeing the punishment of their fellows, might be compelled thereby to swear by their Idols. But because they constantly abode in their purpose, & defied their idols, the whole multitude was in a rage with them, neither sparing the age of the child, nor favouring the sex of the woman, but put them to all the punishment and pain they could devise, & often times enforced them to swear, & yet were not able to compel them thereunto.3 For Ponticus so being animated of his sister, as the Heath•ikes standing by did see, after he had suffered all torments and pains gave up the ghost.