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 />
Chapter VI - An Account <strong>of</strong> the Persecutions in Italy, Under the Papacy<br />
We shall now enter on an account <strong>of</strong> the persecutions Italy, a country which has been, and<br />
still is:<br />
1. <strong>The</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> popery.<br />
2. <strong>The</strong> seat <strong>of</strong> the pontiff.<br />
3. <strong>The</strong> source <strong>of</strong> the various errors which have spread themselves over other countries,<br />
deluded the minds <strong>of</strong> thousands, and diffused the clouds <strong>of</strong> superstition and bigotry over<br />
the human understanding.<br />
In pursuing our narrative we shall include the most remarkable persecutions which have<br />
happened, and the cruelties which have been practised,<br />
1. By the immediate power <strong>of</strong> the pope<br />
2. Through the power <strong>of</strong> the Inquisition.<br />
3. By the bigotry <strong>of</strong> the Italian princes.<br />
In the twelfth century, the first persecutions under the papacy began in Italy, at the time<br />
that Adrian, an Englishman, was pope, being occasioned by the following circumstances:<br />
A learned man, and an excellent orator <strong>of</strong> Brescia, named Arnold, came to Rome, and<br />
boldly preached against the corruptions and innovations which had crept into the Church.<br />
His discourses were so clear, consistent, and breathed forth such a pure spirit <strong>of</strong> piety, that<br />
the senators and many <strong>of</strong> the people highly approved <strong>of</strong>, and admired his doctrines.<br />
This so greatly enraged Adrian that he commanded Arnold instantly to leave the city, as<br />
a heretic. Arnold, however, did not comply, for the senators and some <strong>of</strong> the principal people<br />
took his part, and resisted the authority <strong>of</strong> the pope.<br />
Adrian now laid the city <strong>of</strong> Rome under an interdict, which caused the whole body <strong>of</strong><br />
clergy to interpose; and, at length he persuaded the senators and people to give up the point,<br />
and suffer Arnold to be banished. This being agreed to, he received the sentence <strong>of</strong> exile,<br />
and retired to Germany, where he continued to preach against the pope, and to expose the<br />
gross errors <strong>of</strong> the Church <strong>of</strong> Rome.<br />
Adrian, on this account, thirsted for his blood, and made several attempts to get him into<br />
his hands; but Arnold, for a long time, avoided every snare laid for him. At length, Frederic<br />
Barbarossa arriving at the imperial dignity, requested that the pope would crown him with<br />
his own hand. This Adrian complied with, and at the same time asked a favour <strong>of</strong> the<br />
emperor, which was, to put Arnold into his hands. <strong>The</strong> emperor very readily delivered up<br />
the unfortunate preacher, who soon fell a martyr to Adrian's vengeance, being hanged, and<br />
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