# John Foxe

## Biography

John Foxe was an influential English clergyman, theologian, and historian, born in Boston, Lincolnshire, in 1516 or 1517. Educated at Oxford University, he became deeply involved in the religious movements of his era. A staunch Protestant, Foxe fled England during the reign of Queen Mary I to avoid persecution, finding refuge on the Continent where he continued his scholarly work.

His most famous contribution is *Actes and Monuments*, commonly known as *Foxe's Book of Martyrs*, first published in English in 1563. This monumental work meticulously chronicled the persecution of Christian martyrs throughout history, with a particular focus on English Protestants from the 14th century through the Marian persecutions. Widely read and highly influential, the book became a cornerstone of Protestant identity in England, shaping public opinion against Roman Catholicism for centuries. Foxe returned to England after Elizabeth I ascended the throne and continued to revise his work until his death in London in 1587.

## Books

- [Fox's Book of Martyrs: Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant; Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrs](https://samolit.com/books/96618)