N20568:839
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.
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.
BONIFACE, archbishop of Mentz, and father of the German church, was an English••an, and is, in ecclesiastical history, looked upon as one of the brightest ornaments of his nation. Originally his name was Winfred, or Wi•••ith, and he was born at Kirton, in Devonshire, then part of the West-Saxon kingdom. When he was only about six years of age, he began to discover a propensity to reflection, and seemed solicitous to gain information on religious subjects. Soon after, some evangelical missionaries came by chance to Kirton, and happened to fix their abode at his father's house. From these he understood, that the principal step to salvation was, to deny himself, and follow Christ. He considered seriously of what he heard, and, in process of time, determined to devote himself to a religious life. When he informed his father of his resolution, •he latter would willingly have dissuaded him from it; but finding him fully resolved, he permitted him to go and reside at a monastery in the city of Exeter. Wolfrad, the abbot, finding tha• he possessed a bright genius, as well as a strong inclination to study, had him removed to Nutscelle, a seminary of learning, in the diocese of Winchester, where he would have a much greater opportunity of attaining improvement than at Exeter. T•e abbot of Nutscelle, who was as much celebrated for his great learning as his christian virtues, took uncommon pains with his young pupil, who, in time, became a prodigy in profound literature, and divine knowledge; and was, at length, employed at Nu•scelle as a principal teacher.
BONIFACE, archbishop of Mentz, and father of the German church, was an English••an, and is, in ecclesiastical history, looked upon as one of the brightest ornaments of his nation. Originally his name was Winfr•d, or Wi•••ith, and he was born at Kirton, in Devonshire, then part of the West-Saxon kingdom. When he was only about six years of age, he began to discover a propensity to reflection, and seemed solicitous to gain information on religious subjects. Soon after, some evangelical missionaries came by chance to Kirton, and happened to fix their abode at his father's house. From these he understood, that the principal step to salvation was, to deny himself, and follow Christ. He considered seriously of what he heard, and, in process of time, determined to devote himself to a religious life. When he informed his father of his resolution, he latter would willingly have dissuaded him from it; but finding him fully resolved, he permitted him to go and reside at a monastery in the city of Exeter. Wolfrad, the abbot, finding tha he possessed a bright genius, as well as a strong inclination to study, had him removed to Nutscelle, a seminary of learning, in the diocese of Winchester, where he would have a much greater opportunity of attaining improvement than at Exeter. Te abbot of Nutscelle, who was as much celebrated for his great learning as his christian virtues, took uncommon pains with his young pupil, who, in time, became a prodigy in profound literature, and divine knowledge; and was, at length, employed at Nuscelle as a principal teacher.
THE ancient Saxon historians, who speak highly in his praise, tell us, that those who studied under him had no need to remove to any other place to finish what they had begun, for he gave them lessons in grammar, poetry, rhetoric, and philosophy; and explained the holy scriptures in the literal, moral, and mystical senses. But his example was as instructive as his lectures, and while he formed his scholars to learning by his dictates, he encouraged them to the practice of virtue, by the prudent conduct of his life.
THE abbot of Nutscelle, seeing him thus qualified for the priesthood, obliged him to receive that holy order, when he was about thirty years old. From that time he began to preach, and labour for the salvation of his fellow-creatures; in the progress of which he gave the first proofs of that apostolical zeal, that afterwards made such glorious conquests in a barbarous part of the world.
THERE being an important occasion to assemble a synod of bishops in the kingdom of the West-Saxons, it was judged expedient to depute one of their body to the archbishop of Canterbury, to inform him of the exigency of affairs. Upon considering who was proper to be charged with such a commission, Boniface was proposed, and unanimously chosen by the synod; and the choice was approved of, and confirmed by the then reigning king of the West-Saxons.
THERE being an important occasion to assemble a synod of bishops in the kingdom of the West-Saxons, it was judged expedient to depute one of their body to the archbishop of Canterbury, to inform him of the exigency of affairs. Upon conside••ng who was proper to be charged with such a commission, Boniface was proposed, and unanimously chosen by the synod; and the choice was approved of, and confirmed by the then reigning king of the West-Saxons.
BONIFACE discharged this trust with great prudence, and obtained the applause of every member of the synod; but far from being vain of the reputation he had acquired, he proposed to forsake his country, relations, and friends, in order to be of service to the faith, and extend christianity on the continent. At first, the abbot and monks of Nutscelle would have dissuaded him from his purpose; but finding him resolute, two of their number were ordered to assist him.
HE accordingly left Nutscelle, and arrived in Friesland about the year 716; but found that country in the utmost disorder and confusion. It had belonged to the crown of France, but was at that time in the possession of prince Radbord, who had established paganism in it, persecuted the christians, and was at war with Charles Martel, mayor of the palace of Austrastia.
HE accordingly left Nutscelle, and arrived in Friezland about the year 716; but found that country in the utmost disorder and confusion. It had belonged to the crown of France, but was at that time in the possession of prince Radbord, who had established paganism in it, persecuted the christians, and was at war with Charles Martel, mayor of the palace of Austrastia.
