FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS

CHAPTER I

History of Christian Martyrs to the First General Persecutions

Under Nero

Christ our Savior, in the Gospel of St. Matthew, hearing the

confession of Simon Peter, who, first of all other, openly

acknowledged Him to be the Son of God, and perceiving the secret

hand of His Father therein, called him (alluding to his name) a

rock, upon which rock He would build His Church so strong that

the gates of hell should not prevail against it. In which words

three things are to be noted: First, that Christ will have a

Church in this world. Secondly, that the same Church should

mightily be impugned, not only by the world, but also by the

uttermost strength and powers of all hell. And, thirdly, that

the same Church, notwithstanding the uttermost of the devil and

all his malice, should continue.

Which prophecy of Christ we see wonderfully to be verified,

insomuch that the whole course of the Church to this day may seem

nothing else but a verifying of the said prophecy. First, that

Christ hath set up a Church, needeth no declaration. Secondly,

what force of princes, kings, monarchs, governors, and rulers of

this world, with their subjects, publicly and privately, with all

their strength and cunning, have bent themselves against this

Church! And, thirdly, how the said Church, all this

notwithstanding, hath yet endured and holden its own! What

storms and tempests it hath overpast, wondrous it is to behold:

for the more evident declaration whereof, I have addressed this

present history, to the end, first, that the wonderful works of

God in His Church might appear to His glory; also that, the

continuance and proceedings of the Church, from time to time,

being set forth, more knowledge and experience may redound

thereby, to the profit of the reader and edification of Christian

faith.

As it is not our business to enlarge upon our Savior's

history, either before or after His crucifixion, we shall only

find it necessary to remind our readers of the discomfiture of

the Jews by His subsequent resurrection. Although one apostle

had betrayed Him; although another had denied Him, under the

solemn sanction of an oath; and although the rest had forsaken

Him, unless we may except "the disciple who was known unto the

high-priest"; the history of His resurrection gave a new

direction to all their hearts, and, after the mission of the Holy

Spirit, imparted new confidence to their minds. The powers with

which they were endued emboldened them to proclaim His name, to

the confusion of the Jewish rulers, and the astonishment of

Gentile proselytes.

I. St. Stephen

St. Stephen suffered the next in order. His death was

occasioned by the faithful manner in which he preached the Gospel

to the betrayers and murderers of Christ. To such a degree of

madness were they excited, that they cast him out of the city and

stoned him to death. The time when he suffered is generally

supposed to have been at the passover which succeeded to that of

our Lord's crucifixion, and to the era of his ascension, in the

following spring.

Upon this a great persecution was raised against all who

professed their belief in Christ as the Messiah, or as a prophet.

We are immediately told by St. Luke, that "there was a great

persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;" and that

"they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea

and Samaria, except the apostles."

About two thousand Christians, with Nicanor, one of the

seven deacons, suffered martyrdom during the "persecution that

arose about Stephen."

II. James the Great

The next martyr we meet with, according to St. Luke, in the

History of the Apsotles' Acts, was James the son of Zebedee, the

elder brother of John, and a relative of our Lord; for his mother

Salome was cousin-german to the Virgin Mary. It was not until

ten years after the death of Stephen that the second martyrdom

took place; for no sooner had Herod Agrippa been appointed

governor of Judea, than, with a view to ingratiate himself with

them, he raised a sharp persecution against the Christians, and

determined to make an effectual blow, by striking at their

leaders. The account given us by an eminent primitive writer,

Clemens Alexandrinus, ought not to be overlooked; that, as James

was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser was brought to

repent of his conduct by the apostle's extraordinary courage and

undauntedness, and fell down at his feet to request his pardon,

professing himself a Christian, and resolving that James should

not receive the crown of martyrdom alone. Hence they were both

beheaded at the same time. Thus did the first apostolic martyr

cheerfully and resolutely receive that cup, which he had told our

Savior he was ready to drink. Timon and Parmenas suffered

martyrdom about the same time; the one at Philippi, and the other

in Macedonia. These events took place A.D. 44.

III. Philip

Was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee and was first called by

the name of "disciple." He labored diligently in Upper Asia, and

suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged,

thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A.D. 54.

IV. Matthew

Whose occupation was that of a toll-gatherer, was born at

Nazareth. He wrote his gospel in Hebrew, which was afterwards

translated into Greek by James the Less. The scene of his labors

was Parthia, and Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered

martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah,

A.D. 60.

V. James the Less

Is supposed by some to have been the brother of our Lord, by

a former wife of Joseph. This is very doubtful, and accords too

much with the Catholic superstition, that Mary never had any

other children except our Savior. He was elected to the

oversight of the churches of Jerusalem; and was the author of the

Epistle ascribed to James in the sacred canon. At the age of

ninety-four he was beat and stoned by the Jews; and finally had

his brains dashed out with a fuller's club.

VI. Matthias

Of whom less is known than of most of the other disciples,

was elected to fill the vacant place of Judas. He was stoned at

Jerusalem and then beheaded.

VII. Andrew

Was the brother of Peter. He preached the gospel to many

Asiatic nations; but on his arrival at Edessa he was taken and

crucified on a cross, the two ends of which were fixed

transversely in the ground. Hence the derivation of the term,

St. Andrew's Cross.

VIII. St. Mark

Was born of Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. He is

supposed to have been converted to Christianity by Peter, whom he

served as an amanuensis, and under whose inspection he wrote his

Gospel in the Greek language. Mark was dragged to pieces by the

people of Alexandria, at the great solemnity of Serapis their

idol, ending his life under their merciless hands.

IX. Peter

Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was

condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome;

albeit some others, and not without cause, do doubt thereof.

Hegesippus saith that Nero sought matter against Peter to put him

to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter

with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their

importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But,

coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to

whom he, worshipping, said, "Lord, whither dost Thou go?" To whom

He answered and said, "I am come again to be crucified." By

this, Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned

into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified, his head

being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he

was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and

manner as the Lord was.

X. Paul

Paul, the apostle, who before was called Saul, after his

great travail and unspeakable labors in promoting the Gospel of

Christ, suffered also in this first persecution under Nero.

Abdias, declareth that under his execution Nero sent two of his

esquires, Ferega and Parthemius, to bring him word of his death.

They, coming to Paul instructing the people, desired him to pray

for them, that they might believe; who told them that shortly

after they should believe and be baptised at His sepulcher. This

done, the soldiers came and led him out of the city to the place

of execution, where he, after his prayers made, gave his neck to

the sword.

XI. Jude

The brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was

crucified at Edessa, A.D. 72.

XII. Bartholomew

Preached in several countries, and having translated the

Gospel of Matthew into the language of India, he propagated it in

that country. He was at length cruelly beaten and then crucified

by the impatient idolaters.

XIII. Thomas

Called Didymus, preached the Gospel in Parthia and India,

where exciting the rage of the pagan priests, he was martyred by

being thrust through with a spear.

XIV. Luke

The evangelist, was the author of the Gospel which goes

under his name. He travelled with Paul through various

countries, and is supposed to have been hanged on an olive tree,

by the idolatrous priests of Greece.

XV. Simon

Surnamed Zelotes, preached the Gospel in Mauritania, Africa,

and even in Britain, in which latter country he was crucified,

A.D. 74.

XVI. John

The "beloved disciple," was brother to James the Great. The

churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and

Thyatira, were founded by him. From Ephesus he was ordered to be

sent to Rome, where it is affirmed he was cast into a cauldron of

boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian

afterwards banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the

Book of Revelation. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recalled

him. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.

XVII. Barnabas

Was of Cyprus, but of Jewish descent, his death is supposed

to have taken place about A.D. 73.

And yet, notwithstanding all these continual persecutions

and horrible punishments, the Church daily increased, deeply

rooted in the doctrine of the apostles and of men apostolical,

and watered plentously with the blood of saints.