The proëme.
Howe that Eleutherius succeded Soter in the seae of Rome. the difference betwene the ecclesiasticall and prophane history. he purposeth to write of martyrs.
SOter whē he had bene byshop of Rome eight yeares finished his mortall race, whome Eleutherius the twelfth from the Apostles succeded. And then was it the seuenteneth yeare of the raygne of Antoninus Ʋerus the Emperour. In which* 1.1 time sedition being raysed throughout the Cities, and vehement persecution in all partes of the world encreased against vs: we may easily coniecture, howe many mil∣llions of martyrs suffred throughout the worlde, by such as happened vnto one na∣tion, which for moste true and, euerlastinge memory, hathe bene thought wor∣thy the wrytinge, & is printed for the posteritie. And although we haue here∣heretofore compiled a booke of martyrs in moste ample wise, reciting the catalogue of them, and yet not onely the hystoricall narration, but also enterlacing matters of doctrine: neuerthelesse we minde not pre¦sently to omitt any thinge that may seeme pertinent vnto this our history which we haue nowe in hand. Other historiographers haue carefully considered, onely to commit to letters warlicke victories and no∣ble triumphes against the enemies, valiant enterprises of captaines, notable corage of armed soldiers, bespotted with bloud and innumerable slaughters of tender sucklings, committed for countrey and sub∣stance sake: But this our history containeth a pollicy gratefull vnto God, most peaceable warres for the quietnes of the soule, for the trueth of conscience rather thē triall for our country, for godly fauor, rather thē worldly frendshipp. It contayneth the valiant constancy of champions, buckling and wrastling for the trueth, the most victorious fortitude & triumphes agaynst firy fiendes of hell, the vpper hand of our vn∣uisible aduersaries, to be short it pronounceth for all these, crownes of euerlasting memory.