Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

6B Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. John Foxe ca. 1576

Notes

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, originally titled Actes and Monuments, is a monumental Protestant work first published in 1563 that documents the persecution of Christians, with particular focus on Protestant martyrs in England and Europe. Its most detailed and influential sections recount the trials and executions of Protestants under the reign of Mary I, portraying their deaths as acts of faithful witness against religious tyranny. Combining historical records, eyewitness accounts, sermons, and vivid woodcut illustrations, the book was intended both to memorialize suffering and to instruct readers morally and theologically. For centuries it was one of the most widely read books in England, second only to the Bible in many households, and it profoundly shaped Protestant identity and historical memory.

John Foxe (1516–1587) was an English historian and martyrologist educated at Oxford, where he embraced Protestant beliefs during a period of intense religious conflict. Under the Catholic reign of Mary I, Foxe went into exile on the Continent, where he gathered documents and testimonies about religious persecution that later formed the basis of Actes and Monuments. After Elizabeth I’s accession, Foxe returned to England and expanded his work through multiple editions, continually revising and enlarging it. Although modern historians debate aspects of his accuracy and bias, Foxe was deeply committed to preserving the memory of those he believed died for true religion, and his work remains a cornerstone of Reformation-era historiography.

According to later accounts within Latter-day Saint tradition, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs was the final book Joseph Smith was reading before he was killed in 1844 at Carthage Jail. Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is said to have been reflecting on the historical continuity of religious persecution and martyrdom as he faced increasing opposition. The association of Foxe’s work with Smith’s final days underscores how deeply the narrative of martyrdom resonated with him and his followers, framing his death within a broader Christian tradition of suffering for faith. As a result, the book holds a symbolic place in LDS historical memory as well as in Protestant history.

Description

Brown leather binding with four raised bands and gilt lettering on the spine. Some bookworm damage that has led to tearing and a small missing section of leather under the first raised band and chip on the lower spine. General scuffing, discoloration, and wear to the boards and along the edges of the boards. Back board has chipping and tearing to lower left corner. Interior in fine condition with minimal foxing. Very good condition overall.