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 />
turned <strong>of</strong>f a short time, he was cut down before he was at all insensible; a bailiff, named<br />
William Swallow, then dragged him to the sledge, and with a common blunt cleaver, hacked<br />
<strong>of</strong>f the head; in a manner equally clumsy and cruel, he opened his body and tore out the heart.<br />
In all this suffering the poor martyr repined not, but to the last called upon his Savior. <strong>The</strong><br />
fury <strong>of</strong> these bigots did not end here; the intestines were burnt, and the body was quartered,<br />
the four parts being sent to Colchester, Harwich, Chelmsford, and St. Rouse's. Chelmsford<br />
had the honor <strong>of</strong> retaining his head, which was affixed to a long pole in the market place. In<br />
time it was blown down, and lay several days in the street, until it was buried at night in the<br />
churchyard. God's judgment not long after fell upon Swallow, who in his old age became a<br />
beggar, and who was affected with a leprosy that made him obnoxious even to the animal<br />
creation; nor did Richard Potts, who troubled Eagles in his dying moments, escape the visiting<br />
hand <strong>of</strong> God.<br />
Mrs. Joyce Lewes<br />
This lady was the wife <strong>of</strong> Mr. T. Lewes, <strong>of</strong> Manchester. She had received the Romish<br />
religion as true, until the burning <strong>of</strong> that pious martyr, Mr. Saunders, at Coventry.<br />
Understanding that his death arose from a refusal to receive the Mass, she began to inquire<br />
into the ground <strong>of</strong> his refusal, and her conscience, as it began to be enlightened, became<br />
restless and alarmed. In this inquietude, she resorted to Mr. John Glover, who lived near, and<br />
requested that he would unfold those rich sources <strong>of</strong> Gospel knowledge he possessed,<br />
particularly upon the subject <strong>of</strong> transubstantiation. He easily succeeded in convincing her that<br />
the mummery <strong>of</strong> popery and the Mass were at variance with God's most holy Word, and<br />
honestly reproved her for following too much the vanities <strong>of</strong> a wicked world. It was to her<br />
indeed a word in season, for she soon became weary <strong>of</strong> her former sinful life and resolved to<br />
abandon the Mass and dilatrous worship. Though compelled by her husband's violence to go<br />
to church, her contempt <strong>of</strong> the holy water and other ceremonies was so manifest, that she was<br />
accused before the bishop for despising the sacramentals.<br />
A citation, addressed to her, immediately followed, which was given to Mr. Lewes, who,<br />
in a fit <strong>of</strong> passion, held a dagger to the throat <strong>of</strong> the <strong>of</strong>ficer, and made him eat it, after which<br />
he caused him to drink it down, and then sent him away. But for this the bishop summoned<br />
Mr. Lewest before him as well as his wife; the former readily submitted, but the latter<br />
resolutely affirmed, that, in refusing holy water, she neither <strong>of</strong>fended God, nor any part <strong>of</strong> his<br />
laws. She was sent home for a month, her husband being bound for her appearance, during<br />
which time Mr. Glover impressed upon her the necessity <strong>of</strong> doing what she did, not from selfvanity,<br />
but for the honor and glory <strong>of</strong> God.<br />
Mr. Glover and others earnestly exhorted Lewest to forfeit the money he was bound in,<br />
rather than subject his wife to certain death; but he was deaf to the voice <strong>of</strong> humanity, and<br />
delivered her over to the bishop, who soon found sufficient cause to consign her to a<br />
loathsome prison, whence she was several times brought for examination. At the last time the<br />
bishop reasoned with her upon the fitness <strong>of</strong> her coming to Mass, and receiving as sacred the<br />
Sacrament and sacramentals <strong>of</strong> the Holy Ghost. "If these things were in the Word <strong>of</strong> God,"<br />
said Mrs. Lewes, "I would with all my heart receive, believe, and esteem them." <strong>The</strong> bishop,<br />
with the most ignorant and impious effrontery, replied, "If thou wilt believe no more than<br />
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