A67922:997
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.
But from this little digression to return to our matter omitted, that is, to the Apologies of Apolinarius and Melito, in the story so it followeth, that whether it was by the occasion of these two Apologies, or whether it was through the writing of Athenagoras a Philosopher, and a Legate of the Christians, it is uncertain: but this is certain that the persecution the same time was staid. Some do think, which most probably seem to touch the truth, that the cause of staying this persecution, did rise upon a wonderful miracle of God, showed in the Emperors camp by the Christians the story whereof is this: At what time the two brethren Marcus Antonius, and Marcus Aurelius Commodus Emperors,1 joining together, warred against the Quads, Vandals, Sarmates, and Germans, in the expedition against them their army by reason of the imminent assault of their enemies, was cooped & shut in within the straights and hot dry places, where their soldiers besides other difficulties of battle, being destitute of water, five days, were like to have perished, which dread not a little discomfited them, & did abate their courage. Wherein this their so great distress and jeopardy, suddenly withdrew from the army a legion of the christian soldiers for their succour: who falling prostrate upon the earth, by ardent prayer, by & by obtained of God double relief: by means of whom God gave certain pleasant showers from the element, whereby as their soldiers quenched their thirst so were a great number of their enemies discomfited & put to flight by the continual lightnings which shooted out of the air. This miracle so pleased & won the Emperor, that ever after he waxed gentler & gentler to the Christians & directed his letters to divers of his rulers, as Tertullian in his Apology witnesseth, commanding them therein to give thanks to the Christians, no less for his victory, then for the preservation of him and all his men. The copy of which letter hereafter ensueth.
But from this little digression to returne to our matter omitted, that is, to the Apologies of Apolinarius and Melito, in the story so it followeth, that whether it was by the occasiō of these two Apologies, or whether it was through the writing of Athenagoras a Philosopher, and a Legate of the Christians, it is vncertaine: but this is certaine that the persecution the same time was staid. Some do thinke, which most probably seeme to touch the truthe, that the cause of staying this persecution, did rise vpon a wonderfull myracle of God, shewed in the Emperours campe by the Christians the story wherof is this: At what time the two brethren Marcus Antonius, and Marcus Aurelius Commodus Emperours,