John Foxe (1516-1587)

John Foxe was a Puritan preacher and author of one of the most important and influential books ever printed of the Christian religion after the Bible

John Foxe (1516-1587)was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England during the reign of the Tudors. Henry V111 (1509-1547) Edward V! (1547-53) Jane Grey (1553) Mary 1 (1553-8) Elizabeth 1 (1558-1603. During the reign of these monarchs he wrote *Acts and Monuments of Matters Happening in the Church (1563)

It was commonly known as ‘* Foxe’s Book of Martyrs’* or Book of the Martyrs

*It is hard to over emphasis the impact his Acts and Monuments had the 20 years following its 1563 publication. By the second edition (1570) it was part of the national myth … Foxe provided a history and theology for the triumph of the Reformation. David Loades, historian

Lets go back to the beginning. John, aged 16 entered Brasenose College, Oxford. He went onto Magdalen College to earn a BA (1537). He lectured logic in 1540/1. Earned a MA (1543). He wrote several Latin plays on Scriptural subjects.
he had become a fellow of Magdalen College in 1539 but resigned in 1545.

He had come under suspicion of harbouring Protestant views more extreme than the authorities of his college would allow.

He moved to London where he became the tutor to the grand children of the duke of Norfolk. Ordained deacon and worked for the reformation writing several tracts. Began his account of martyrs.

Fled overseas when Mary1 became queen- a Roman Catholic. First copy published in Latin (1554), in Strasbourg, France containing his partially completed martyrology. With manuscripts sent to him from England he carried his account of the martyrs up to 1556 (printed)

Returned to England with Elizabeth 1 - a Protestant queen now on the throne- to complete his great work. In 1560 ordained Anglican priest.He perused official registers and using memories of eyewitnesses, he enlarged the story. His English translation was printed under the title Acts and Monuments of these Letters and Perillous Dayes (1563) ( For FULL title see The First English Edition). There was a second (1570), third !1576) and fourth edition (!583)

The Bible aside, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs stands as one of the most important and influential books ever printed in Christian history. It remains the only exhaustive reference work on the history of Christian Martyrs. Its popularity was immense among the people at the time it was written

John Foxe’s monument is his book. He died on 8th April 1587 and was Buried at St. Giles’s Cripplegate.

Sources used
Britannica Online Encyclopedia
Christianity Today
English Bible History