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that he remembered with what in. During his stay in that city, not. structions he had fortified his young, withstanding his necessary, avocaer years; neither had he with more tions, he found opportunity to attention bearkened thereto, than begin his famous work, "The he would with constancy put them history of the Acts and Monuments in practice.” This affectionate and of the Church.” Of this producingenuous remonstrance could not tion, astonishing in its compass, alter the prudent intention of Fox, edifying in its piety, and curious in and the duke himself, becoming its detail, the following account more alive to bis danger, took care may be esteemed desirable. to provide him with every accom- He reserved the greater part till modation for his voyage. He his return to his native country, found, before he could put to sea, that he might have the authority that Gardiner had issued a warrant and testimony of more witnesses. for apprehending him, and was It appears, by the author's notes, causing the most diligent search to that this most laborious work was be made for him. The duke sent eleven years in hand : and in this, to Ipswich to hire a bark, and placed as well as in some others of his him and his wife, then pregnant, undertakings, be had the assistance at the farm house of one of his of Grindal, who, besides his contenants, till every thing was in stant advice in its prosecution, supreadiness.

plied him with the materials which On his way to Ipswich he was he digested and methodized hin,self; pursued by the bishop's officer, who for while Grindal was abroad, he did not overtake him, till he had had established a correspondence entered the vessel ; but scarcely in England for this purpose, by bad he set sail, ere a violent storm which means, accounts of most of arose, which lasted all day and the acts and sufferings of the pernight, and on the following even. secuted in Queen Mary's reign ing they fell back on the Norfolk came to his hands; and it was coast. Finding it dangerous how- owing to this divine's strict regard ever to delay at Yarmouth where to truth, that the Martyrology was he, landed, he took horse and rode so long in hand, for he rejected all out of the town, but returned under common reports and relations that cover of darkness, and bargained were brought over, till more satis. with the master of the ship to put factory evidence could be procured; to sea again, who loosed anchur in and hence he advised Fox to print the night as soon as the tide turned in the first instance separate acts though the waves continued rough of private individuals, of whom and the wind boisterous. After any authentic particulars were obtwo days, though with considerable tained, till materials for a more bazard, they arrived at Nieuport in complete history could be procured. Flanders, and proceeded to Ant. In pursuance of this advice. the werp and Frankfort, where he was author published at Basle, “ Diverse involved in the difficulties arising Histories of the English Bishops out of the disputes among the and Divines,” in single pieces, British refugees, and removed in soon after their respective sufferhope of more quiet to Basle in ipgs. In 1554 he published at Switzerland, to which numbers of Strasburg a Latin Commentary on bis countrymen resorted as a tem ecclesiastical affairs, and on the porary asylum, and “ little sanc- persecutions throughout Europe tuary."

from the time of Wickliffe in one Here he maintained himself and book, to which he added five more, family by correcting the press for printed at Basle in 1559 in folio. Oporinus, a celebrated printer. It was not till the year 1563 that

be published at London in one thick folio volume the work which has gained such deserved celebrity, He presented a copy to Magdalen college library, accompanied with a letter to Dr. Laurence Humphreys, Another edition came out in 1583, in two volumes, which was reprints ed in 1632 in three volumes.

Of a ninth edition, in three volumes, with copper cuts, Mr. Wood observes, that its publishers had obtained a sort of promise from Charles the Second to revive the order made by Elizabeth, of placing it in the common halls of archbishops, bishops, deans, archdea cons, heads of colleges, &c.accord jog to the canons of Dr. Matthew Parker, in 1571. Mr. Strype tells us, that when this book was first published, our author was thought “ to have done very exquisite service to the protestant cause, in showing from abundance of ancient books, registers, records, and choice manuscripts, the encroachments of popes and papalians, and the stout oppositions that were made by learned and good men, in all ages and countries against them; and especially under king Henry VIII. and queen Mary here in England; preserving to us the memories of those holy men and women, those bishops and divines, together with their histories, acts, sufferings, and their constant deaths, willingly updergone for the sake of Christ and his gospel, and for refusing to comply with popish doctrines and superstitions." Archbishop Whitgift stiles Mr. Fox “ that worthy man,” telling Cartwright, that“ he had read over his Acts and Monuments from the one end to the other; and declares that he hath very diligently and faithfully laboured in this matter (of archbishops and metropolitans) and searched out the truth of it as learnedly as I know any man to have done."

Fuller, speaking of his continuance of his work, observes; “ As God preserved one of Job's servants

from fire and fury of the Chaldeans, and Sabeans, to report to Job the loss of his fellows; so divine providence protected this man from martyrdom intended for him, that he might be the world's intelligencer to tell the tidings of the number and manner of God's worthy saints and servants who were destroyed by the cruelty of those Romish adversaries : which bad news is very well told in his impartial relation. For, for the main, it is a worthy work, (wherein the reader may rather have than lack) presenting itself to beholders like Etna, always burning, whilst the smoke bath almost put out the eyes of the adverse party, and these Foxe's fire-brands have brought much annoyance to the Romish Philistines. But it were a miracle, if in so voluminous a work there were nothing to be justly reproved; so great a pomegranate not having any rotten kernel must only grow in Paradise, And though perchance he held the beam at the best advantage for the protestant party to weigh down, yet generally he is a true writer, and never wilfully deceiveth, though he may some. times be unwillingly deceived."

In returning to the regular narra, tive, we must notice an extraordimary circumstance, related of Fox. Preaching at. Basle to his fellowexiles, he plainly told them “ that now the time was come for their return into England, and that be brought them that news by.commandment of God.” On the sixteenth of November, 1558, he declared that the Queen would die on the following day, which actually occurred.. So direct a prediction could not but excite the astonishment of his hearers; some attributing it to a vapourish temperament, experimenting language, that would be noticed afterwards if the event corresponded, but would otherwise be forgotten; others condemning it as rash and presumptuous, and “ prying into the ark

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of future contingencies." The ac- disapprobation of proceedings, concession of Elizabeth encouraged nected with what he regarded as a him to return to his native land, system of ecclesiastical tyranny. where he was entertained by the This state of mind may be ensily duke of Norfolk at his manor of conceived in his case, accustomed Christ-church, in London, till the to the records of persecution, and death of that nobleman, who be viewing with instinctive horror queathed him a pension. On the certain measures, which were disrecommendation of Mr. Secretary graceful to the age of Elizabeth. Cecil, her Majesty presented him Soon after his collation to Shipton, in 1563 to the prebendal stall of he had written a Latin panegyric Shipton, in the cathedral of Salis- to the Queen, on her indulgence bury; which was in a manner forced to such dignitaries as scrupled at upon him, from the sentiments strict conformity, and he was diswhich he entertained on canonical tressed at her subsequent departure subjects with many good men of from this conciliating line of policy. his day. He was inclined to con. On the other hand, a letter to a sider subscription to the ecclesias- Bishop, preserved by Fuller, suftical canons as unnecessary infringe- ficiently demonstrates his aversion ment of protestant liberty. This from the heats and violences of persuasion gaining upon him, he rigid puritanism. “I cannot but was excluded from elevation to wonder at that turbulent genius, a superior dignity to which, as a which inspires those factious Purischolar and a divine, he was tans.-Were I one who, like them, eminently entitled, and might would be violently outrageous have reasonably aspired, from the against Bishops and Archbishops; patronage of Sir Francis Walsing- or join myself with them, i. e. ham, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Thomas become mad, as they are; I had Gresham, and Sir Drue Drury, not met with severe treatment. among other laics, as well as the But because, quite different from prelates Grindal, Aylmer, Pilking- them, I had chosen the side of ton, and Parkhurst. We are assu modesty and public tranquillity; red by Fuller, that archbishop the hatred which they bave long Parker summoned him to subscribe, conceived against me is at last in hope that the general reputation grown to this degree of bitterness. of bis piety might give the greater Your Lordship is not ignorant eountenance to conformity. But, how much the Christian religion instead of complying with the com- suffered formerly by the dissimulamand, Mr. Fox pulled out of his tion and hypocrisy of the monks. pocket the New Testament in At present, in these men, I know Greek; and holding it up, said, pot what new sort of monks seems “To this I will subscribe.” And to revive ; so much more pernicious when further urged, he replied, “I than the former, as with more have nothing in the church, but a subtle artifices of deceiving, and prebend at Salisbury; and if you under pretence of perfection ; like take it away from me, much good stage-players, who only act a part, may it do you !” Modern refine they conceal a more dangerous ment reyolts at the bluntness, poison : who, while they require which does not seem to have been every thing to be formed according provoked by any discourtesy on the to their own strict discipline, will part of the dignitaries with whom not desist, until they have brought he was brought into contact. It all things into Jewish bondage.” * must therefore be considered as characteristic of the man, and Church Hist. B. 9. p. 106.—Biog. intended to convey his personal Brit. V. 3. p. 2021.

· On Good Friday, 1570, he de- manner; but that to punish with livered an animated discourse at fames the bodies of those who err St. Paul's Cross, on the subject of rather from blindness than obour Lord's crucifixion. It was stinacy of will is cruel, and more printed immediately after, with a suitable to the example of the dedication “ to all such as labour Romish Church, than the mildness and be heavy laden in conscience, of the gospel ; and in short, such to be read for their spiritual com- a dreadful custom, as could never fort." The text is, 2 Cor. v. 20, have been introduced into the meek 21. Now then we are ambassadors and gentle church of Christ, except for Christ, as though God did by Popes, and particularly by beseech you by us : we pray. you in Innocent the third, who first took Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to that method of restraining heresy. God. For he hath made him to be That he does not write thus out sin for us, who knew no sin ; that of an indulgence to error, but from we might be made the righteousness a regard to the lives of men, as of God in him. The sermon is being himself a man: and in hope divided into two parts, to which are that the offending parties may have subjoined a prayer made for the an opportunity to repent of and Church, and all the states there, retract their mistakes. That he is and a postscript to the Papists. tender for the lives, not only of The following year he rendered a men, but even of brutes; and can public service to his country by never pass a slaughter-house, withissuing from the press the four out the strongest feeling of pain gospels in the old Saxon tongue, and regret. That he beseeches with the English thereunto annexed her Majesty to spare the lives of In 1572, he was collated to another these miserable men; or at least to prebend in the cathedral of Dur. soften their mode of punishment; ham, but quitted it the same year, as to banish them, or commit probably on account of his non. them to perpetual imprisonment, conformity.

&c. But at all events not to reOn Easter-day, 1575, a congre kindle the Smithfield fires, which, gation of Dutch Anabaptists was through her goodness and care, had discovered without Aldgate in been so long extinguished. If this London, and were so rigorously could not be granted, at least to treated that twenty-seven were allow them a month or two, in imprisoned, while four, bearing order that endeavours might be faggots at St. Paul's Cross, re- used to reclaim them from their canted their opinions. Some were errors, and thereby to prevent the banished, and two persisting in destruction of their souls, as well their persuasion were ordered to be as of their bodies.” Elizabeth burned in Smithfield, after an im- refused to save their lives, declaring prisonment of sixteen weeks. Much that they should be executed, if intercession was made for them by after a month's reprieve and contheir countrymen, but the Privy ference with divines, they persisted Council were inexorable. Fox in the maintenance of their tenets. pleaded their cause with enlightened The poor men suffered accordingly energy in an epistle to her Majesty.* on the twenty-second of July. NotHe told her, “ that with regard to withstanding the liberality of Fuller those fanatical sects, he does not in other respects, he seems to think they ought to be countenanced vindicate the government for this in a state, but chastised in a proper atrocious act, by observing, “Dam

nable were their impieties; and the * Fuller. B. 9. p. 204,- Strype's An

Queen was necessitated to this nals, V, 2. p. 380.

severity : why, haying, formerly

punished some traitors, if now to an exceeding great age; and, sparing these blasphemers, the which is yet better, you are in-world would condemn her, as being terested in Christ, and will go to more earnest in asserting her own heaven when you die!”—“ You safety, than God's honour.” It might' as well have said (she reis more to the credit of Collier, plied) that if I throw this glass always sufficiently prejudiced against against the wall, it will not break nonconformity, that he allows the in pieces.” She dashed it with letter of Fox to be written in a very violence. It fell first on a chest, bandsome Christian strain.

then on the floor, and neither broke The extraordinary prediction nor cracked. She recovered, being uttered by this faithful servant of sixty years of age, and lived till she Christ relative to the death of Queen was nearly ninety-three. Being Mary, grounded as it is on the un- however of melancholy tenperaexceptionable testimony of Bishop ment, she did not gain spiritual Aylmer and others, has led the comfort, till a considerable time puritanic writers to regard as after, though her life had adorned oracular many speeches which may her profession. In the reign of be referred to a sagacity and pene- Mary, she used to visit, comfort, tration which he probably possessed and relieve the sufferers in prison; above most of his contemporaries. and she was present at the burning If however be supposed himself the of Bradford, where (she was wont subject of supernatural intimations to relate) « she lost both her shoes in any of these cases, while we are in the crowd, and bad to go from unwilling to impeach the character Smithfield to St. Martin's, before of bis faith, we must be allowed to she could procure a new pair.”— suspect some fantastical feeling. Another time, Fox, having waited The impartiality of history requires on the Earl of Arundel, was attended that we should give the accounts by his Lordship to the river side, As transmitted. When the Spanish at the end of his garden. The armada threatened invasion, he water was so rough, that the Earl came down one day to his family, advised him not to venture on it. after spending some time in prayer “So, my Lord (he answered, stepfor the country, crying out “ They ping into the boat) let these waters are gone! they are gone!” which deal with me, as I have in truth proved to be the fact. Visiting and sincerity delivered unto you all Lady Anne Heneage in a fever, that I have spoken!” It happened, when supposed at the point of that the wind immediately ceased, death, he told her, “ she had done and the river ran with a smooth right to prepare herself, but her stream. sickness would not be mortal.” Other anecdotes are of more Her son-in-law remonstrated with ordinary character, but not without him, as having unsettled her mind, their share of interest. His love to whom he answered, “I have to his Saviour influenced him to said no more tban was commanded great bounty to the poorer members me, for it seems good to God that of his church. He could never she should recover.” This also came refuse any who asked relief in the to pass.-Mrs. Honeywood, a re- name of Jesus, or for Christ's sake; ligious lady, who had been con- and a friend once enquiring of him, sumptive for twenty years, and “whether he recollected a certain was now despaired of by her sor- poor man, whom he used to rerowing friends, sent for him under lieve?” he answered, “Yea, I great doubt of her spiritual safety. remember him well : and I willingly " You will not only recover of your forget Lords and Ladies, to rebodily disease (said he) but also live member such as he!"-One day,

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