A67922:995
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.
And verily our Philosophy & doctrine did first among the barbarous take place, which doctrine first in the days of Augustus your predecessor, when it did reign and flourish, thereby your Empire became most famous & ⟨p. 51⟩fortunate: and from that time more and more the state of the Roman Empire increased in honour whereof you most haply were made successor,1 and so shall your son to. Honour therefore this Philosophy, which with your Empire sprang up and came in with Augustus which your progenitors above all other honoured & most esteemed. And verily this is no small argument of a good beginning, that since our doctrine flourished in the Empire, no misfortune or loss happened from Augustus time: but contrary always victory, good and honourable years, as ever any man would wish. Only among all, and of all Nero and Domitian being kindled by divers naughty and spiteful persons cavillingly objected against our doctrine, of whom this Sycophantical slandering of us by naughty custom first came and sprang up. But your godly fathers espying the ignorance of these, oftentimes by their writing corrected their temerous attempts in that behalf. Among whom your grandfather Adrian with many other is read of, to have written of Fundayne the Proconsul and Lieutenant of Asia. And your father, your own father I say, with whom you ruled in all things, wrote to the Cities under his signet, as the Laersens, Thessalonicenses, Athenienses and Grecians rashly to innovate or alter nothing of your highness: therefore, who in this case is of that sect as your predecessors were, yea & of a more benign & Philosophical mind, we are in good hope to obtain our petition and request.
And verily our Philosophy & doctryne did first among the barbarous take place, which doctrine fyrst in the daies of Augustus your predecessor, when it did raygne and florish, thereby your Empire became most famous & ⟨p. 51⟩fortunate: and from that time more and more the state of the Romane Empire increased in honor wherof you most happely were made successour,1 and so shall your sonne to. Honor therefore this Philosophie, which with your Empire sprang vp and came in with Augustus whiche your progenitors aboue al other honored & most esteemed. And verily this is no small argumēt of a good beginning, that since our doctrine flourished in the Empire, no misfortune or losse happened frō Augustus time: but contrary alwaies victory, good and honorable yeres, as euer any mā would wishe. Onely among all, and of all Nero and Domitian beyng kindled by diuers naughty and spitfull persons cauillingly obiected against our doctrine, of whom this Sicophanticall slaundring of vs by naughty custome first came and sprang vp. But your godly fathers espying the ignoraunce of these, oftentimes by their writing corrected their temerous attemptes in that behalfe. Among whom your granfather Adrian wt many other is read of, to haue wrytten of Fundayne the Proconsul and Lieutenāt of Asia. And your father, your own father I say, with whom you ruled in al things, wrote to the Cities vnder his signet, as the Laersens, Thessalonicenses, Athenienses and Grecians rashly to innouate or alter nothing of your highnes: therfore, who in this case is of that sect as your predecessours were, yea & of a more benigne & Philosophicall minde, we are in good hope to obtaine our peticion and request.