Foxe - The Book of Martyrs
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
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<strong>Foxe</strong>’s <strong>Book</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Martyrs</strong><br />
3. That the doctrine <strong>of</strong> purgatory was more inconsistent and absurd than a fairy tale.<br />
4. That the pope's being infallible was an impossibility, and the pope arrogantly laid<br />
claim to what could belong to God only, as a perfect being.<br />
5. That saying Masses for the dead was ridiculous, and only meant to keep up a belief<br />
in the fable <strong>of</strong> purgatory, as the fate <strong>of</strong> all is finally decided, on the departure <strong>of</strong><br />
the soul from the body.<br />
6. That praying to saints for the remission <strong>of</strong> sins is misplacing adoration; as the<br />
saints themselves have occasion for an intercessor in Christ. <strong>The</strong>refore, as God<br />
only can pardon our errors, we ought to sue to him alone for pardon.<br />
<strong>The</strong> priests were so highly <strong>of</strong>fended at M. Rambaut's answers to the articles to which<br />
they would have had him subscribe, that they determined to shake his resolution by the most<br />
cruel method imaginable: they ordered one joint <strong>of</strong> his finger to be cut <strong>of</strong>f every day until all<br />
his fingers were gone: they then proceeded in the same manner with his toes; afterward they<br />
alternately cut <strong>of</strong>f, daily, a hand and a foot; but finding that he bore his sufferings with the<br />
most admirable patience, increased both in fortitude and resignation, and maintained his faith<br />
with steadfast resolution and unshaken constancy they stabbed him to the heart, and then<br />
gave his body to be devoured by the dogs.<br />
Peter Gabriola, a Protestant gentleman <strong>of</strong> considerable eminence, being seized by a troop<br />
<strong>of</strong> soldiers, and refusing to renounce his religion, they hung a great number <strong>of</strong> little bags <strong>of</strong><br />
gunpowder about his body, and then setting fire to them, blew him up.<br />
Anthony, the son <strong>of</strong> Samuel Catieris, a poor dumb lad who was extremely in<strong>of</strong>fensive,<br />
was cut to pieces by a party <strong>of</strong> the troops; and soon after the same ruffians entered the house<br />
<strong>of</strong> Peter Moniriat, and cut <strong>of</strong>f the legs <strong>of</strong> the whole family, leaving them to bleed to death,<br />
as they were unable to assist themselves, or to help each other.<br />
Daniel Benech being apprehended, had his nose slit, his ears cut <strong>of</strong>f, and was then<br />
divided into quarters, each quarter being hung upon a tree, and Mary Monino had her jaw<br />
bones broke and was then left to anguish till she was famished.<br />
Mary Pelanchion, a handsome widow, belonging to the town <strong>of</strong> Vilario, was seized by<br />
a party <strong>of</strong> the Irish brigades, who having beat her cruelly, and ravished her, dragged her to a<br />
high bridge which crossed the river, and stripped her naked in a most indecent manner, hung<br />
her by the legs to the bridge, with her head downwards towards the water, and then going<br />
into boats, they fired at her until she expired.<br />
Mary Nigrino, and her daughter who was an idiot, were cut to pieces in the woods, and<br />
their bodies left to be devoured by wild beasts: Susanna Bales, a widow <strong>of</strong> Vilario, was<br />
immured until she perished through hunger; and Susanna Calvio running away from some<br />
soldiers and hiding herself in a barn, they set fire to the straw and burnt her.<br />
Paul Armand was hacked to pieces; a child named Daniel Bertino was burnt; Daniel<br />
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