A67922:998
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.
¶Marcus Aurelius Antonius Emperor, to the Senate and people of Rome. I Give you hereby to understand, what I intend to do, as also, what success I have had in my wars in Germany, and with how much difficulty I have victualled my camp, being compassed about with 74. fierce Dragons, whom my Scots descried to be within ix. miles of us, and Pompeianus our Lieutenant hath viewed as he signified unto us by his letters: Wherefore I thought no less but to be overrun and all my bands of so great multitude, as well my vaward main ward as rear ward, with all my soldiers of Ephrata. In whose host there were numbered of fighting men ix. hundred seventy and five thousand. But when I saw my self not able to encounter with the enemy, I craved aid of our country Gods, at whose hands I finding no comfort, and being driven of the enemy unto an exigent, I caused to be sent for those men which we call Christians who being mustered were found a good indifferent number, with whom I was in farther rage, then I had good cause, as afterwards I had experience by their marvellous power, who forthwith did their endeavour, but without either weapon, munition, armour or trumpets, as men abhorring such preparation and furniture but only satisfied in trust of their God, whom they carry about with them in their consciences. It is therefore to be credited, although we call them wicked men, that they worship God in their hearts. For they falling prostrate upon the ground, prayed not only for me, but for the host also, which was with me, beseeching their God for help in that our extremity of victuals and fresh water. For we had been now v. days without water, and were in our enemies land, even in the middest of Germany. who thus falling upon their faces, made their prayer to a GOD unknown of me: and there sell amongest us from heaven a most pleasant and cold shower, but amongest our enemies a great storm of hail mixed with lightning so that immediately we perceived the invincible aid of the most mighty God to be with us. Therefore we give those men leave to profess Christianity, least perhap by their prayer, we be punished with the like, and thereby make my self the author of such hurt as shall be received by the Christian profession. And if any shall apprehend one that is a Christian, only for that cause:
¶Marcus Aurelius Antonius Emperour, to the Senate and people of Rome. I Giue you hereby to vnderstande, what I intend to doe, as also, what successe I haue had in my warres in Germany, and with how much difficultie I haue viteled my campe, being compassed about with 74. fierce Dragons, whome my Scottes descryed to be within ix. miles of vs, and Pompeianus our Liefetenaunt hath viewed as he signified vnto vs by hys letters: Wherefore I thought no lesse but to be ouerunne and all my bandes of so great multitude, as well my vaward mayne warde as reere warde, with all my souldiours of Ephrata. In whose host there were numbred of fighting men ix. hundreth seuenty and fiue thousand. But when I saw my selfe not able to encounter with the enemy, I craued ayde of our countrey Gods, at whose hands I finding no comfort, and being driuen of the enemye vnto an exegent, I caused to be sent for those men which we call Christians who being mustred were found a good indifferent number, with whom I was in farther rage, then I had good cause, as afterwardes I had experience by their merueilous power, who forthwith did their indeuour, but without either weapon, munition, armour or trumpets, as men abhorring such preparation and furniture but onely satisfied in trust of their God, whome they cary about with them in their consciences. It is therefore to be credited, although we call them wicked men, that they worship God in their hartes. For they falling prostrate vpon the ground, prayed not onely for me, but for the host also, which was with me, beseeching their God for helpe in that our extremitie of vittels and fresh water. For we had bene now v. dayes without water, and were in our enemies land, euen in the middest of Germany. who thus falling vppon their faces, made their prayer to a GOD vnknowne of me: and there sell amongest vs from heauen a most pleasaunt and cold shower, but amongest our enemies a great storme of hayle mixt with lightning so that immediately we perceiued the inuincible ayde of the most mighty God to be with vs. Therefore we geue those men leaue to professe Christianitie, least perhap by their prayer, we be punished with the lyke, and thereby make my selfe the author of such hurt as shalbe receiued by the Christian profession. And if any shall apprehend one that is a Christian, onely for that cause: