A67922:990
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.
1Thus have ye heard the whole discourse of Justinus and of the blessed Saints of France, Vetius, Zacharias, Sanctus, Maturus, Attalus, Blandina, Alexander, Alcibiades, with other, recorded and set forth by the writing of certain Christian brethren of the same Church & place of France. In the which foresaid writing of theirs moreover appeareth the great meekness and modest constancy of the said martyrs described in these words: such followers were they of christ who when he was in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with god, being in the same glory with him, that they not once nor twice, but oft times suffered martyrdom, & taken again from the beasts & bearing wounds tearinges and scars in their bodies, yet neither would count them selves Martyrs, neither would they suffer us so to call them: but if any of us either by word or letter would call them Martyrs, they did vehemently rebuke them: saying that the name of martyrdom was to be given to Christ the faithful and true martyr, the first borne of the dead, & the captain of life, testifying moreover that martyrdom belongeth to such, who by their martyrdom were already passed out of this life, and whom as christ by their worthy confession hath received unto him self and hath sealed up their Martyrdom by their end finished:2 As for them, which were not yet consummated, they (said they) were not worthy the names of martyrs, but only were humble and worthy confessors, desiring also their brethren with tears, to pray without ceasing for their confirmation. Thus they performing in deed that which belonged to true Martyrs, in resisting the heathen with much liberty, and great patience, without all fear of man, being replenished with the fear of God, refused to be named of their brethren for martyrs. And after in the said writing it followeth more: they humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God, by which they were greatly exalted. Then they rendered to all men a reason of their faith, they accused no man, they loosed all, they bound none. And for them which so evil did entreat them, they prayed, following the example of Stephen the perfect Martyr, which said: O Lord impute not their sin to them. And after again:
1Thus haue ye heard the whole discourse of Iustinus and of the blessed Saints of Fraunce, Vetius, Zacharias, Sanctus, Maturus, Attalus, Blandina, Alexander, Alcibiades, with other, recorded and set foorth by the writing of certaine Christian brethren of the same Church & place of Fraunce. In the which foresaid writing of theirs moreouer appeareth the great meekenes and modest constancie of the said martirs described in these words: such folowers were they of christ who when he was in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equal with god, being in ye same glory with him, that they not once nor twise, but oft times suffered martyrdome, & taken againe from the beastes & bearing wounds tearinges and skarres in their bodies, yet neither woulde counte them selues Martirs, neyther woulde they suffer vs so to cal thē: but if any of vs either by word or letter woulde call them Martirs, they did vehementlye rebuke them: saying that ye name of martirdome was to be gyuen to Christ the faithfull and true martir, the first borne of the dead, & the captaine of life, testifiyng moreouer that martirdome belongeth to such, who by their martirdome were already passed out of this life, and whom as christ by their worthy confession hath receiued vnto him selfe and hath sealed vp their Martirdome by their ende finished: