A67922:981
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.
& what helpeth this your religion: for which you give your lives? These were the sundry passions and affects of the Gentiles, but the Christians in the mean while were in great heaviness, that they might not bury the bodies and relics of the holy Martyrs. Neither could the dark night serve them to that purpose, nor any entreaty, nor waging them with money, which were appointed for watchmen: but they so narrowly looked unto the matter, as though they should have gotten great benefit and profit thereby. Thus were the bodies of the martyrs made a wondering stock, and lay six days in the open streets, at the length they burned them, & threw their ashes into the river of Rods, so that there might appear no remnant of them upon the earth. And this did they as though they had been able to have pulled god out of his seat, & to have let the regeneration of the Saints, and taken from them the hope of the resurrection, whereof they being persuaded (said they) bring in this new and strange Religion, and set thus light by death and punishment. Atque haec: haec ex Epistola Viennensium. &c.
& what helpeth this your religion: for which you giue your liues? These were the sundrye passions and affects of the Gentiles, but the Christians in the meane while were in great heauines, that they might not burye the bodies and reliques of the holy Martirs. Neither could the dark night serue them to that purpose, nor any intreaty, nor waging them with money, whiche were appointed for watchmen: but they so narowly loked vnto the matter, as though they should haue gotten great benefite and profite thereby. Thus were the bodies of the martirs made a wonderyng stocke, and laye sixe dayes in the open streetes, at the length they burned them, & threwe their ashes into ye riuer of Rods, so that there might appeare no remnaunt of thē vpō the earth. And this did they as though they had beene able to haue pulled god out of his seat, & to haue let the regeneration of the Saintes, and taken from them the hope of the resurrection, whereof they being perswaded (sayd they) bring in this newe and straunge Religion, and set thus light by death and punishment. Atque haec: haec ex Epistola Viennensium. &c.
Amongest other that suffered under Antoninus,