N20568:871
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.
MARY, who was martyred at the same time, was the daughter of a christian tradesman at Estremadura, who afterwards removed to a town near Corduba.
WHEN the persecution began under Abderrama, king of the Saracens, in Spain, Mary's brother was one who fell a victim to the rage of the infidels on that occasion. Mary, hearing of his martyrdom, and full of a generous confusion at being left behind by one so much younger than herself, gave a free loose to her grief, which proceeded not so much from the loss of her brother, as her not being allowed to enjoy the happiness then in his possession.
WHEN the persecution began under Abderrama, king of the Saracens, in Spain, Mary's brother was one who fell a victim to the rage of the infidels on that occasion. Mary, hearing of his martyrdom, and full of a generous confusion at being left behind by one so much younger than herself, gave a free loose to her grief, which proceeded not so much from the loss of her brother, as her not being allowed to enjoy the hap•iness then in his possession.
FULL of thes• thoughts she went to Corduba, where, going in•o a church▪ sh• •ound Flora, who had left h•r […] on […] motive, and was there recommending herself to th• […] and rewarder of such victories as christians then gained over infidels. Upon conv••ing together, and finding they acted on the same heroic principles, and proposed the same glorious end of their labours, they agreed to go together, and declare their faith before the judge. Accordingly, without farther hesitation, they proceeded to the magistrate, when Flora boldly told him, she looked on Mahomet as no better than a false prophet, an adulterer, and a magician.
FULL of thes• thoughts she went to Corduba, where, going in•o a church▪ sh• •ound Flora, who had left h•r 〈…〉 on 〈…〉 motive, and was there recommending herself to th• 〈…〉 and rewarder of such vi••ories as christians then gained over infidels. Upon conv••ing together, and finding they acted on the same heroic principles, and proposed the same glorious end of their labours, they agreed to go together, and declare their faith before the judge. Accordingly, without farther hesitation, they proceeded to the magistrate, when Flora boldly told him, she looked on Mahomet as no better than a false prophet, an adulterer, and a magician.
MARY then told the magistrate, that she professed ⟨p. 89⟩the same faith, and entertained the same sentiments as Flora, and that she was sister to Walabonzus, who had already suffered for being a christian. This behaviour so much enraged the magistrate, that he ordered them to be committed to close confinement for some time, and then to be beheaded: which sentence was executed on the 4th of November, A. D. 850.
PERFECTUS was born at Corduba, in Spain, and brought up in the christian faith. Having a quick genius, he made himself master of all the useful and polite literature of that age; and, at the same time, was not more celebrated for his abilities, than admired for his piety. At length he took priest's orders, and performed the duties of his office with great assiduity and punctuality.
WALKING one day in the streets of Corduba, some Arabians entered into conversation with him, and, among other questions, asked him his opinion both of Jesus Christ, and of Mahomet.
PERFECTUS gave them a very exact account of the christian faith, respecting the divinity of Christ, and the redemption of mankind; but begged to b• excused from delivering his sentiments concerning Mahomet. The Arabians pressed him to speak freely; but he declined it, saying, that what he should utter would not be agreeable to their ideas, and consequently that it would be disgusting to thei• ears; he therefore thought best to be silent, as he wished not to offend any one. Dissatisfied with this answer, they still entreated him to speak his thoughts, declaring at the same time, that they would not be offended at any thing he should say.
PERFECTUS gave them a very exact account of the christian faith, respecting the divinity of Christ, and the redemption of mankind; but begged to b• excused from delivering his sentiments concerning Mahomet. The Arabians pressed him to speak freely; but he declined it, saying, that what he should utter would not be agreeable to their ideas, and consequently that it would be disgusting to thei• ears; he therefore thought best to be silent, as he wished not to offend any one. Dissatisfied with this answer, they still intreated him to speak his thoughts, declaring at the same time, that they would not be offended at any thing he should say.
BELIEVING them sincere, and hoping this might be the favourable time allotted by God for their conversion, Perfectus let them know the christians looked on Mahomet as one of the false prophets foretold in the gospel, who were to seduce and deceive great numbers, to their eternal ruin. To illustrate this affection, he placed before them some of the actions of that grand impostor; endeavoured to show them the impious doctrines, and abominable absurdities of the Alcoran; and ended with exhorting them, in very strong terms, to quit the miserable state in which they then were, and which would certainly be followed by eternal misery.
BELIEVING them sincere, and hoping this might be the favourable time allotted by God for their conversion, Perfectus let them know the christians looked on Mahomet as one of the false prophets foretold in the gospel, who were to seduce and deceive great numbers, to their eternal ruin. To illustrate this affe•tion, he placed before them some of the actions of that grand impostor; endeavoured to show them the impious doctrines, and abominable absurdities of the Alcoran; and ended with exhorting them, in very strong terms, to quit the miserable state in which they then were, and which would certainly be followed by eternal misery.
IT may be easily imagined, that the infidels could not hear a discourse like this without feeling some warmth, and conceiving an indignation against the speaker. They thou […] proper, however, to disguise their resentments […] that time, but were resolved not to let him escape without punishment. At first, indeed, they were unwilling to use any violence to him, because they had given him a solemn assurance he should come to no harm, for the liberty he took at their request; but zeal for their law, and its author, soon eased them of that scruple. They watched a favourable opportunity, seized on him, hurried him away to one of their chief magistrates, and accused him of blaspheming their great prophet and legislator.
IT may be easily imagined, that the infidels could not hear a discourse like this without feeling some warmth, and conceiving an indignation against the speaker. They thou 〈…〉 proper, however, to disguise their resentments 〈…〉 that time, but were resolved not to let him escape without punishment. At first, indeed, they were unwilling to use any violence to him, because they had given him a solemn assurance he should come to no harm, for the liberty he took at their request; but zeal for their law, and its author, soon eased them of that scruple. They watched a favourable opportunity, seized on him, hurried him away to one of their chief magistrates, and accused him of blaspheming th•ir great prophet and legislator.
THE whole alleg•••on having been heard, the judge ordered him to be put in chains, and closely confined in prison, till the feast of their Ramadan, or Lent, when he should be made a victim to Mahomet. He heard the determination of the judge with joy, and prepared for his martyrdom with great fervency.
WHEN the time arrived, he was led to the place of execution, where he again made a confession of his faith, declared Mahomet an impostor, and insisted, that the Alcoran was filled with absurdities and blasphemies. In consequence of this he was sentenced to be beheaded, and was accordingly executed, A. D. 850; after which his body was honourably interred by the christians.
WENCESLAUS, duke of Bohemia, was brought up in the faith of Christ, for his father Wrattislaus, the preceding duke, was a valiant prince, and a good christian; but Drahomira, his mother was a pagan, whose morals were as bad as her sentiments of religion; she consented, however, to entrust her mother, Ludmilla, with the education of her eldest son. That holy woman had resided at Prague ever since the death of Borivor her husband, the first duke of Bohemia, who embraced the faith of Christ; and Wenceslaus was sent to that city, to be brought up as she pleased. Ludmilla undertook to form his heart to devotion and the love of God, and was ⟨p. 90⟩assisted in that work by Paul her chaplain, a man of great sanctity and prudence, who likewise endeavoured to cultivate his mind with the first rudiments of learning. The mind of the young prince corresponded with their endeavours; and the grace of God, who had prepared him for their instructions, made the task very easy. At a convenient age he was sent to a college at Budweis, about sixty miles from Prague, where several young persons of the first rank were placed for their improvement in virtue and learning, and studied under the direction of an excellent master, a native of Neisse, in the duchy of Silesia.
WINCESLAUS, duke of Bohemia, was brought up in the faith of Christ, for his father Wrattislaus, the preceding duke, was a valiant prince, and a good christian; but Drahomira, his mother was a pagan, whose morals were as bad as her sentiments of religion; she consented, however, to entrust her mother, Ludmilla, with the education of her eldest son. That holy woman had resided at Prague ever since the death of Borivor her husband, the first duke of Bohemia, who embraced the faith of Christ; and Winceslaus was sent to that city, to be brought up as she pleased. Ludmilla undertook to form his heart to devotion and the love of God, and was ⟨p. 90⟩assisted in that work by Paul her chaplain, a man of great sanctity and prudence, who likewise endeavoured to cultivate his mind with the first rudiments of learning. The mind of the young prince corresponded with their endeavours; and the grace of God, who had prepared him for their instructions, made the task very easy. At a convenient age he was sent to a college at Budweis, about sixty miles from Prague, where several young persons of the first rank were placed for their improvement in virtue and learning, and studied under the direction of an excellent master, a native of Neisse, in the duchy of Silesia.
AT the death of Wrattislaus, his son Wenceslaus was very young; on which account Drahomira, his mother, declared herself regent during his minority. This princess, not having any one now to control her, gave a free vent to her rage against christianity; and began her administration with an order for shutting up the churches. She repealed the laws in favour of the christians, and removed all magistrates of that denomination, supplying their places with pagans.
AT the death of Wrattislaus, his son Winceslaus was very young; on which account Drahomira, his mother, declared herself regent during his minority. This princess, not having any one now to controul her, gave a free vent to her rage against christianity; and began her administration with an order for shutting up the churches. She repealed the laws in favour of the christians, and removed all magistrates of that denomination, supplying their places with pagans.
FINDING themselves thus encouraged, the pagans, upon any frivolous pretence, would murder the christians with impunity; and if a christian in his own defence killed a pagan, his life, and that of nine other christians, were to be the forfeit.
THE venerable Ludmilla was sensibly touched at these proceedings, and could not, without affliction, behold a religion trampled on which she professed, and which her consort had established with so much difficulty.
LUDMILLA could not think of any expedient to prevent the total extirpation of christianity in Bohemia, but persuading Wenceslaus, young as he was, to assume the reins of government. Wenceslaus at first declined engaging in this task, till maturer years had rendered him better qualified; but upon his grandmother's promising to assist him with her advice, and direct him in his conduct, he complied with her request: and, to prevent all future disputes, divided the country between himself and his younger brother Bolislaw, whose name a town in, and a considerable district of that country, still retains.
LUDMILLA could not think of any expedient to prevent the total extirpation of christianity in Bohemia, but persuading Winceslaus, young as he was, to assume the reins of government. Winceslaus at first declined engaging in this task, till maturer years had rendered him better qualified; but upon his grandmother's promising to assist him with her advice, and direct him in his conduct, he complied with her request: and, to prevent all future disputes, divided the country between himself and his younger brother Bolislaw, whose name a town in, and a considerable district of that country, still retains.
