N20568:833
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
MARTIN, who perfectly coincided in sentiments with the bishop of Jerusalem, called a council• which consisted of 105 bishops, and they unanimously condemned the errors in question.
INCENSED at these proceedings, the emperor ordered Olympius, his lieutenant in Italy, to repair to Rome, and seize the bishop, provided it could be done without causing an insurrection. The lieutenant performed the journey; but on his arrival at Rome, he found the people too unanimous in their opinions, and the prelate too much beloved, to attempt any thing by open violence. Hence he had recourse to treachery▪ and suborned a ruffian to assassinate the bishop at the altar; but the fellow, after promising to execute the bloody deed, was seized with such horrors of mind, that he had not the power to perform his promise. Olympius, finding it would be very difficult to perform any thing against Martin, withdrew from Rome, and ⟨p. 81⟩putting himself at the head of his troops, marched against the Saracens, who had made some inroads into Italy, but he died in the expedition.
OLYMPIUS was succeeded by Calliopas, who received express orders to seize the person of Martin, which, with the assistance of a considerable body of soldiers, he performed; at the same time showing the clergy the imperial mandate, which commanded him to dispossess Martin of his bishopric, and carry him to Constantinople as a prisoner.
OLYMPIUS was succeeded by Calliopas, who received express orders to seize the person of Martin, which, with the assistance of a considerable body of soldiers, he performed; at the same time shewing the clergy the imperial mandate, which commanded him to dispossess Martin of his bishopric, and carry him to Constantinople as a prisoner.
AFTER a very tedious voyage, and enduring innumerable hardships, he reached the imperial city of Constantinople, and was immediately thrown into prison. While in confinement, he wrote two epistles to the emperor to refute the calumnies forged against him with respect to his faith and loyalty. The substance of which was, that for a proof of the soundness of the former, he appeals to the testimony of the whole clergy, and his own solemn protestation to defend the truth as long as he lived. In answer to such objections as had been made against the latter, he declared he neither sent money, letters, or advice to the Saracens, but only remitted a sum for the relief of poor christians among those people: he concludes with saying, that nothing could be […] false than what the heretics had alleged against him concerning the Blessed Virgin, whom he firmly believed to be the mother of God, and worthy of all honour […] divine Son. In his […] of his being […] already related, and his […] from […] and hoping his […], when […] removed from this […]."
AFTER a very tedious voyage, and enduring innumerable hardships, he reached the imperial city of Constantinople, and was immediately thrown into prison. While in confinement, he wrote two epistles to the emperor to refute the calumnies forged against him with respect to his faith and loyalty. The substance of which was, that for a proof of the soundness of the former, he appeals to the testimony of the whole clergy, and his own solemn protestation to defend the truth as long as he lived. In answer to such objections as had been made against the latter, he declared he neither sent money, letters, or advice to the Saracens, but only remitted a sum for the relief of poor christians among those people: he concludes with saying, that nothing could be 〈…〉 false than what the heretics had alledged against him concerning the Blessed Virgin, whom he firmly believed to be the mother of God, and worthy of all honour 〈…〉 divine Son. In his 〈…〉 of his being 〈…〉 already related, and his from and hoping his , when removed from this ."
[…] undergone were […], that on the […] was forced to be […] he was unable […], the judge […] purpose. Martin began his defence, but as soon as he entered upon an investigation of the errors which he had combated, one of the senators stopped him, and said, that he was only examined respecting civil affairs, and consequently that ecclesiastical matters had nothing to do in his defence. The judge then prevented him from going on, and having broke up the court, went and reported the progress of the proceedings to the emperor.
〈…〉 undergone were 〈…〉, that on the 〈…〉 was forced to be 〈…〉 he was unable 〈…〉, the judge 〈…〉 purpose. Martin began his defence, but as soon as he entered upon an investigation of the errors which he had combated, one of the senators stopped him, and said, that he was only examined respecting civil affairs, and consequently that ecclesiastical matters had nothing to do in his defence. The judge then prevented him from going on, and having broke up the court, went and reported the progress of the proceedings to the emperor.
MARTIN was now ordered to be exposed in the most public places of the town, to the ridicule of the people; to be divested of all the episcopal marks of distinction, and to be treated with the greatest scorn and severity. All these rigours he bore with a christian-like patience, and a degree of fortitude that only heaven can inspire.
AFTER laying some months in prison, martin was sent to an island at some distance, and there cut to pieces, A. D. 655.
AFTER laying some months in prison, •artin was sent to an island at some distance, and there cut to pieces, A. D. 655.
JOHN, bishop of Bergamo, in Lombardy, was a learned man, and a good christian. He did his utmost endeavours to clear the church from Arianism, and joining in this holy work with John, bishop of Milan, he was very successful against the heretics. Grimoald, however, an Arian, having usurped the throne of Lombardy, the orthodox christians feared that heresy would gain footing• once more, in Lombardy; but the bishop of Bergamo used such persuasive arguments with Grimoald, that he brought him from the errors of Arianism to profes• the orthodox faith.
JOHN, bishop of Bergamo, in Lombardy, was a learned man, and a good christian. He did his utmost endeavours to clear the church from Arianism, and joining in this holy work with John, bishop of Milan, he was very successful against the heretics. Grimoald, however, an Arian, having usurped the throne of Lombardy, the orthodox christians feared that heresy would gain footing• once more, in Lombardy; but the bishop of Bergamo used such persuasive arguments with Grimoald, that he brou•ht him from the errors of Arianism to profes• the orthodox faith.
AFTER the death of Grimoald, and his son who succeeded him, Pantha•it •ame to the crown, and […] errors which had been combated with suc• spirit by the orthodox clergy. The bishop of B•r••mo exerted himself strenuously •o prev••t the heresy from spreading, on which account he wa• assassinated on July 11, A. D. •83.
AFTER the death of Grimoald, and his son who succeeded him, Pantha•it •ame to the crown, and 〈…〉 errors which had been combated with suc• spirit by the orthodox clergy. The bishop of B•r••mo exerted himself strenuously •o prev••t the heresy from spreading, on which account he wa• assassinated on July 11, A. D. •83.
[…] was born in Ireland, and received from his parents […] and christian education. His favourite study was theology, and he took great delight in perusing the holy scriptures. Hence an ardent […] for the glory of God glowed within ⟨p. 82⟩him, and he took great pains to bring many to the light of the gospel.
〈…〉 was born in Ireland, and received from his parents 〈…〉 and christian education. His favorite study was theology, and he took great delight in perusing the holy scriptures. Hence an ardent 〈…〉 for the glory of God glowed within ⟨p. 82⟩him, and he took great pains to bring many to the light of the gospel.
AS the narrow limits of his native island seemed too small for his unbounded zeal, he crossed the sea, together with eleven other persons, in order to make converts on the continent. On landing they directed their course to what is now called the Circle of Franconia, in Germany. Coming to the city of Wurtzbourg, they found the people in general, and their governor Gozbert, to be pagans; but from their good dispositions, conceived great hopes of converting them from idolatry and superstition to the gospel faith. Previous to making this attempt, however, he deemed it necessary to go to Rome, in order to obtain his mission from th• pontiff. He accordingly went thither, attended by o• Col•••an a priest, and Totman a deacon, two of those who had accompanied him from Ireland, and found Conon in Peter's chair. He gave them a favourable reception, and being informed of Kilien's business at Rome, after some questions about his faith and doctrine, consecrated him bishop, with full permission to preach to the infidels wherever he found them. Thus authorized, Kilien returned to Wurtzbourg, where he opened his mission. He had not been long employed in those evangelical labours, when Gozbert sent for him, and desired to know the nature and tendency of this new religion, which he recommended so vigorously, and proposed so boldly. Our holy bishop had several conferences with the governor on that subject, and God gave such a blessing to his endeavours, that Gozbert received the faith, was baptized, and gave him free leave to preach wherever he had any power. As the example of great men seldom fails of influencing those of an inferior rank, that of Gozbert went very far in commanding the attention of his pagan subjects to what our prelate had to offer; and in less than two years much the greatest part of them became christians.
IT is to be observed, that Gozbert had married his brother's widow, for which Kilien, though he knew the sinfulness of the thing, did not choose to rebuke him till he was thoroughly confirmed in his faith. When he thought him fully instructed in the principles of christianity, and well grounded in the purity of its precepts, he entreated the governor, as the last proof of the sincerity of his conversion▪ to quit that person whom he had hitherto looked upon as a wife, as he could not cohabit with her without committing sin. Gozbert, surprised at the proposal, told the bishop this was the hardest demand he had ever made upon him. "But (said he) since I have renounced my own inclinations and pleasures in so many particulars for the love of God, I will make the work complete, by complying with your advice in this too."
IT is to be observed, that Gozbert had married his brother's widow, for which Kilien, though he knew the sinfulness of the thing, did not chuse to rebuke him till he was thoroughly confirmed in his faith. When he thought him fully instructed in the principles of christianity, and well grounded in the purity of its precepts, he intreated the governor, as the last proof of the sincerity of his conversion▪ to quit that person whom he had hitherto looked upon as a wife, as he could not cohabit with her without committing sin. Gozbert, surprized at the proposal, told the bishop this was the hardest demand he had ever made upon him. "But (said he) since I have renounced my own inclinations and pleasures in so many particulars for the love of God, I will make the work complete, by complying with your advice in this too."
THE governor's wife being informed of this affair, determined to be revenged on those who had persuaded Gozbert into such a resolution. The missionaries were sensible of that wicked woman's design; and the only shield they had, consisted of prayer, patience, and resignation. She sent accordingly to the place where they usually assembled, and had them all beheaded. Kilien, and his companions, submitted without resistance, the former telling them, that they need not fear those who had no power of the soul, but could only kill the body, which, in a short time, would of itself decay. This happened, A. D. 689, and the martyrs were privately buried in the night, together with their clothes, books, &c.
THE governor's wife being informed of this affair, determined to be revenged on those who had persuaded Gozbert into such a resolution. The missionaries were sensible of that wicked woman's design; and the only shield they had, consisted of prayer, patience, and resig•a•ion. She sent accordingly to the place where they usually assembled, and had them all beheaded. Kilien, and his companions, submitted without resistance, the former telling them, that they need not fear those who had no power of the soul, but could only kill the body, which, in a short time, would of itself decay. This happened, A. D. 689, and the martyrs were privately buried in the night, together with their clothes, books, &c.
SOME writers add what follows, as the sequel of this bloody affair: "Some days after this impious tragedy was acted, Gozbert, surprised that he had not seen Kilien lately, ordered diligent search to be made for him. Geilana, to stop the inquiry, gave out, that he and his companion had left the town, without giving any account of their motions. But the instrument of her revenge, the executioner• violently racked with remorse of conscience, •an about like a mad man, and declared that Kilien burnt him. Thus discovered, he was seized; and Gozbert was considering what to do with him, when a creature of the governess▪ a man of great eloquence and artifice, and a pretended convert, advised him to leave the God of the christians the task of doing himself justice on his enemies, and proposed the event as a t•st of his power.
SOME writers add what follows, as the sequel of this bloody affair: "Some days after this impious tragedy was acted, Gozbert, surprized that he had not seen Kilien lately, ordered diligent search to be made for him. Geilana, to stop the inquiry, gave out, that he and his companion had left the town, without giving any account of their motions. But the instrument of her revenge, the executioner• violently racked with remorse of conscience, •an about like a mad man, and declared that Kilien burnt him. Thus discovered, he was seized; and Gozbert was considering what to do with him, when a creature of the governess▪ a man of great eloquence and artifice, and a pretended convert, advised him to leave the God of the christians the task of doing himself justice on his enemies, and proposed the event as a t•st of his power.
GOZBERT was weak enough to ••mpt God, by putting it on that issue. The murderer, being set at liberty, went raving mad, tore his own flesh with his teeth, and died in this miserable condition. ⟨p. 83⟩Geilana was so perplexed in her conscience, that it tormented her till she expired; Gozbert's rashness and criminal condescension, was punished by violent death, and his whole race was cut off in a few years.
