GRO #1.1

BOK.ENG.AD1784

Fox's Book of Martyrs Vol I (1784)

The New and Complete Book of Martyrs; or, an universal History of Martyrdom. Containing the Whole of Fox's Book of Martyrs, and alfo the Whole and Entire Substance of All Other Works that have appeared Since that Publication.

John Foxe was a 16th century preacher who defended Protestants and their doctrines. This book is a later edition of his most famous work, which he published in 1563 as "Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Dayes." The book gained widespread popularity among Protestants, quickly becoming the second most important book for Protestants next to the Bible (“John Foxe").

The book contains accounts of various martyrs from the early Christian church to the Protestant movement who were tried, tortured, and killed by those who opposed their beliefs. Foxe based his accounts off of "official registers and... the memories of eyewitnesses," so some accounts lack accuracy (“John Foxe"). Even so, the import of the book cannot be questioned. It was a powerful contribution for the Protestant schism from Roman Catholicism and a testament to Protestants of the virtue of their cause.

In addition to memorializing martyrs, Foxe also included various arguments against the Catholic church and specific essays on their false teachings.

This edition was compiled by Paul Wright, who edited and added to Foxe's original manuscript and presented it with impressive illustrations.

Notable pages:
Frontispiece: illustration of the martyrdom of Christ, His apostles, and Protestant martyrs emphasizing their equal status of martyrs for Christ.
iv: illustration of Mary I, or "Bloody Mary," "In whose Reign the Protestants were so cruelly Burnt and Persecuted."
92-6: description of the trial and martyrdom of John Rogers, who translated the Bible into English under the pseudonym Thomas Matthew (illustration on 96, top left)
316-17: illustrations, three of which show various methods by which some Catholics tortured or murdered Protestants.
950-1: illustration of "the Principal Primitive Reformers" of the Protestant Religion with a depiction of various Catholic caricatures failing to blow out "The Candle of Reformation."
* * *
“John Foxe.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed October 16, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Foxe.

1784 AD

John Foxe

Paul Wright

Alex. Hogg

Protestant Churches

London

England

18th Century

Print

Groberg Collection See all items with this value

English History of Writing Collection See all items with this value

English Book See all items with this value

English Printed materials (object genre) See all items with this value

English Religious Texts See all items with this value

English

Lent to BYU-I SPC from the Groberg Collection

Protestant literature See all items with this value

Protestant authors See all items with this value

Religious history See all items with this value

Women martyrs See all items with this value

Christian women martyrs See all items with this value

Historiography

Foxe, John, 1516-1587. The New and Complete Book of Martyrs; or, an universal History of Martyrdom. Containing the Whole of Fox's Book of Martyrs, and alfo the Whole and Entire Substance of All Other Works that have appeared Since that Publication. London: Alex. Hogg, 1784.