Foxe's Book of Martyrs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, Touching Matters of the Church

A page of the first English-language edition, printed by John Day in 1563
Author	John Foxe
Country	England
Language	English
Subject	Martyrology; history of Protestantism
Publisher	John Day
Publication date	20 March 1563 (1563-03-20)
Media type	Print (folio)
OCLC	751705715

The Actes and Monuments is a famous book written by John Foxe. It was first published in 1563. Most people know it as Foxe's Book of Martyrs. This book tells the story of Protestantism and the people who suffered for their beliefs.

It mainly focuses on the struggles of Protestants under the Catholic Church. It pays special attention to events in England and Scotland. This book was very important in shaping how people in these countries viewed Catholicism for a long time. Foxe's book was updated and reprinted many times during his life and after. Some later versions were shortened and called simply Book of Martyrs.

What is Foxe's Book of Martyrs?

The first page of the 1563 edition of The Book of Martyrs

This book was a huge project for its time. It was the largest book ever printed in England. The first edition was a single, very large book. It was over a foot long and very thick. It had more than 1500 pages and was quite heavy.

John Foxe's original title for the first edition was very long. It was Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, Touching Matters of the Church. This title explained that the book described "persecutions and horrible troubles". These were "wrought and practiced by the Roman Prelates". It focused on England and Scotland. The book covered history from the year 1000 up to Foxe's own time.

The second edition, published in 1570, was much bigger. It came in two volumes. The page count grew from about 1,800 to over 2,300 pages. The number of pictures (woodcuts) also increased from 60 to 150. These pictures were specially made for the book. They showed events from early Christian times up to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Why is it called Book of Martyrs?

Even though its full name is Actes and Monuments, the book is usually called Book of Martyrs. This name stuck because it was used by important people like Bishop Edmund Grindal.

However, John Foxe himself did not like this shorter name. He tried to correct people in the second edition of his book. He wrote that he did not create a "Booke of Martyrs". He said his book was called Acts and Monumentes. He explained that it contained "many other matters" besides just stories of martyrs.

Some people think the "martyr" title was only for shorter versions of the book. For example, John Milner, who did not like Foxe, used this title in 1795. Milner believed Foxe's main work was meant to make people hate Catholics.

The English Reformation and Foxe's Book

This book was published early in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This was only five years after the death of the Catholic Queen Mary I. Foxe's Acts and Monuments strongly supported the English Reformation. This was a time of big religious arguments between Catholics and the Church of England.

Foxe's book argued that the Church of England was a true continuation of the early Christian church. It was not just a new idea. The book helped the English people reject the Catholic Church.

The book was divided into five main parts. It first covered early Christian martyrs. Then it briefly discussed the medieval church, including the Inquisition. It also told the story of the Lollard movement. Next, it covered the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. During their time, England separated from the Pope's authority. The Book of Common Prayer was also created. The last part of the book focused on the reign of Queen Mary and the Marian Persecutions. This section described the suffering of Protestants during her rule.

Different Editions of the Book

An engraved title page from an 1814 edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

John Foxe died in 1587, but his book kept growing. Foxe himself added a lot to the book between 1563 and 1570. The 1576 edition had few changes. But for the 1583 printing, Foxe added a section about the "Bloody Massacre In France" (the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572).

Later editors continued to update the book. The 1610 edition brought the story "up to the time of King James." The 1632 edition added a timeline and more stories of martyrs. It also included events like the Spanish invasion (1588) and the Gunpowder Plot (1605). The 1641 edition added a new picture of John Foxe. The most "sumptuous" (fancy) edition in 1684 had special paper and new copperplate pictures.

Over time, "Foxe" or Actes and Monuments came to mean a series of texts. Not just one single book. The book's popularity changed over the centuries. By the 1800s, it was mostly read by scholars and religious people. Still, there were at least 55 shorter versions printed in one century. Debates continued about how accurate Foxe's book was. People also discussed its role in creating anti-Catholic feelings.

Notable Editions and Other Works

Here are some important versions and related books:

Latin Versions of Foxe's Work

Foxe started working on his book in 1552. This was during the reign of Edward VI. Over 30 years, it grew from small Latin writings to the large English volumes. In 1554, while in exile, Foxe published a Latin preview of his work. It focused on the persecution of the English Lollards. He then started gathering more information to continue his story.

Foxe published a Latin version in Basel in 1559. He didn't have many sources at the time. The part about the Marian martyrs was just a "fragment." It was hard to write about current English history while living "in the far parts of Germany." Still, the 1559 version covered the persecution under Mary Tudor quite a bit. For example, Hugh Latimer, a famous martyr, is mentioned often.

John Foxe became known through his Latin works. Both Latin versions were meant to be the first part of a two-volume set. The second volume was supposed to cover Europe more broadly. Foxe didn't publish these second volumes himself. But Henry Pantaleon wrote a second volume for the Basel version in 1563.

The First English Edition

In March 1563, Foxe published the first English edition. It was printed by John Day. Day's epitaph (words on his tombstone) praised him for helping Foxe. It was a "gigantic folio volume" of about 1800 pages. This was about three times longer than the 1559 Latin book.

The full title was very long, as was common then. Scholars often shorten it to Acts and Monuments. Publishing this book made Foxe famous. The book sold for more than ten shillings. This was about three weeks' pay for a skilled worker. Foxe himself did not receive any royalties.

The Second English Edition

The second edition came out in 1570. It was much larger. Foxe had new information, including personal stories. John Field helped with research for this edition.

Acts and Monuments was immediately attacked by Catholics. They included Thomas Harding and Robert Parsons. Harding called the book "that huge dunghill of your stinking martyrs." He said it was full of "a thousand lies." Foxe corrected errors in the second edition where critics were right. Where he could, he strongly argued against their claims. Even with some parts removed, the second edition was almost double the size of the first. It had "two gigantic folio volumes" with 2300 large pages.

The English church liked this edition. In 1571, church leaders ordered that a copy be placed in every cathedral church. They also wanted church officials to have copies in their homes. This decision helped John Day, the printer, financially.

Third and Fourth Editions

Foxe published a third edition in 1576. It was mostly a reprint of the second edition. But it used cheaper paper and smaller print. The fourth edition, published in 1583, was the last one during Foxe's lifetime. It had larger print and better paper. It was "two volumes of about two thousand folio pages." This book was nearly four times longer than the Bible. It was "the largest and most complicated book" printed in England for centuries.

The 1583 title page included a touching request. Foxe asked the reader to "help him with thy prayer."

Shorter Versions and Other Works

The first shorter version of the book appeared in 1589. This was just two years after Foxe's death. It honored his life and celebrated England's victory against the Spanish Armada in 1588. Timothy Bright's summary was the first of hundreds of shorter versions. These books were based on Foxe's work.

These shorter versions often focused on the martyrdom stories. They took material mainly from the last two parts of Acts and Monuments. These books truly were "Book(s) of Martyrs." Famous scenes from Foxe's book were brought back for new generations. The earliest printed book with the title Book of Martyrs was John Taylor's edition in 1631. The title Foxe's Book of Martyrs became common after 1850.

Some scholars call these shorter versions "Foxe's bastards." They were the way Foxe's ideas reached many people. In the 1800s, scholars often saw these later editions as less important. They thought these books were just for "narrowly evangelical Protestant piety." They also saw them as tools "to club Catholics."

Foxe as a Historian

People questioned Foxe's accuracy as soon as his book came out. Critics said he used evidence unfairly. They accused him of misusing documents and telling only parts of the truth. Foxe corrected errors in later editions whenever he could.

In the early 1800s, these criticisms were brought up again. Because of this, Foxe was seen as a poor historian in many reference books.

How Reliable Were Foxe's Sources?

However, J. F. Mozley argued that Foxe was very honest. He said Foxe's way of using sources showed he was "the sincere seeker after truth." The 2009 Encyclopædia Britannica says Foxe's work is "factually detailed." It also says it "preserves much firsthand material on the English Reformation unobtainable elsewhere." But in the late 1800s and early 1900s, people were often told that Foxe's text was "not to be trusted."

Where Did Foxe Get His Information?

Foxe based his stories of early martyrs on earlier writers. These included Eusebius and Bede. He created an English list of martyrs from the time of the Lollards up to the persecution under Mary I. For these later periods, Foxe used primary sources. These included church records, trial reports, and eyewitness accounts. Henry Bull helped him collect this information. The account of Mary's reign was based on earlier historical writings.

Was Foxe Objective?

Foxe's book is not a neutral account of the time. He did not try to be objective like historians today. He often added his own strong opinions in the margins of his text. For example, he wrote "Mark the apish pageants of these popelings." This showed his strong feelings against Catholics.

However, historian David Loades has suggested that Foxe's history of the political situation is "remarkably objective." He did not try to make martyrs out of people executed for treason.

Stanley Kunitz and Howard Haycraft wrote in 1952 that Foxe's book was "practically required reading" in many Protestant homes. They said it was often the only book besides the Bible. They described Foxe as a "fanatical Protestant" who "reveled in horror." They felt he focused only on suffering.

Sidney Lee called Foxe "a passionate advocate." This means he was very biased. Lee also pointed out some errors and suggested Foxe copied from others. Thomas S. Freeman noted that Foxe had to work with the facts. But he would not present facts that hurt his side. He was skilled at arranging evidence to support his views. So, while his book contains important evidence, it should not be read without thinking critically.

By the end of the 1600s, the book was often shortened. It only included "the most sensational episodes of torture and death." This gave Foxe's work a very dramatic feel. This was probably not what Foxe intended.

Acts and Monuments was used to warn people about the dangers of Catholicism. It was also used to criticize certain types of Anglicanism. Because of this, Foxe's credibility was questioned by both Catholic and Anglican defenders. Critics like Samuel Roffey Maitland tried to disprove Foxe's findings. Their work helped make people more aware of intolerance. This led to Foxe's historical credibility being reduced. For a time, "no one with any literary pretensions...ventured to quote Foxe as an authority."

John Milner, a Catholic defender, worked hard to discredit "Foxe." He wrote many articles and letters. He argued that Catholics in England were being unfairly treated.

However, a new biography of Foxe by J. F. Mozley in 1940 changed how people saw his work. It "initiated a rehabilitation of Foxe as a historian." This means people started to see him as a more reliable historian. Patrick Collinson later called John Foxe the "greatest [English] historian of his age."

Religious Views in the Book

Anglicans see Foxe's book as a record of faithful Protestants' suffering. They endured death at the hands of anti-Protestant Catholic authorities. This suffering is seen as part of English identity. Foxe stressed the importance of reading the Holy Scripture in one's own language. He believed people should not need a priest to understand it.

Catholics see Foxe as a major source of English anti-Catholicism. They argue that his book ignores that political and religious reasons were mixed during the persecutions under Mary. For example, some victims might have also been involved in plots against Queen Mary.

Influence of the Book

In 1571, it was ordered that Foxe's Acts and Monuments be chained next to the Great Bible in cathedrals and some churches. Parts of the book were read aloud from the pulpit. It was read and quoted by both church leaders and common people. Catholics argued against it, and Anglicans defended it. Acts and Monuments was even carried by English pirates. It encouraged soldiers in Oliver Cromwell's army. It also decorated the halls of Oxford University and Cambridge University.

Acts and Monuments is considered one of the most influential English books. Gordon Rupp called it "an event." He saw it as one of the "Six Makers of English Religion." Foxe's influence went beyond his book. For example, John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim's Progress, loved his Book of Martyrs. John Milton also used Foxe's ideas and viewpoint in his writings.

After Foxe's death, Acts and Monuments continued to be published and read. John Burrow said that after the Bible, it was "the greatest single influence on English Protestant thinking" in the late Tudor and early Stuart periods.

How it Shaped English Identity

The original Acts and Monuments was printed in 1563. This book, its many changes, and how scholars understood it, helped shape English identity for over 400 years. This included national, religious, and historical identity. The book's images reminded English people of the martyrs from the 1500s. It showed Queen Elizabeth on her throne, the "Enemy" defeated, and danger avoided.

Foxe's text warned English people about the threat of citizens loyal to foreign powers. It also contributed to their distrust of foreigners. Acts and Monuments is linked to ideas of English nationhood, freedom, tolerance, and Protestant beliefs. The book helped place the English monarchy within a tradition of English Protestantism. It also influenced radical ideas in the 1600s. It provided material for local martyr stories, songs, and pamphlets.

Foxe in History Writing

Warren Wooden said in 1983 that John Foxe was an important figure in English history writing. Foxe "identified the key themes of the Reformation." He also helped set the terms of the debate. By doing a full historical investigation, Foxe helped shape the discussion along historical lines.

Patrick Collinson confirmed in 1985 that Foxe was a worthy scholar. He said Foxe's text was historically reliable. This led to funding for a new critical edition of Acts and Monuments, which was finished by 2007.

Acts and Monuments acted like a Bible for many English people. It also influenced academics. It shaped their histories and understanding of the past. Researchers checked Foxe's facts. They were often proven right in the 1600s and 1700s. Their findings were confirmed over the next two centuries. Foxe's information provided a strong base for academic conclusions. John Strype, an early historian, praised Foxe for saving the documents he needed for his own church history.

Acts and Monuments greatly influenced many histories. This includes Arthur Geoffrey Dickens's important book The English Reformation (1964). A critic called Dickens's book "a sophisticated exposition of a story first told by John Foxe." Dickens's reliance on Foxe's text is clear. Foxe's historical vision and the documents supporting it were taught to young Arthur Dickens and his classmates in school.

Studying Foxe's book means looking at how history is written. It also means thinking about how history shapes what people remember and understand. Foxe's text was very flexible and could be changed easily. This made it very influential. Collinson called it "a very unstable entity," or "a moving target." He noted that scholars used to think of it as a single, unchanging book. But now they understand it was much more complex.

Since the late 1990s, the Foxe Project has continued to fund the new critical edition. It also promotes studies about Foxe. This includes five "John Foxe" Congresses and several publications of their papers.

See also