Background: John Foxe, an English Protestant who began compiling a history of persecution from the early Church up to current events. The work was mostly a polemic against the Catholic Church, as is evident from the much later version of the book quoted here: “Moreover, the papal system has opposed the march of civilization and liberty throughout the world, by denouncing the circulation of the Bible, and the general diffusion of knowledge. Turn to every land where popery predominates, and you will find an ignorant and debased peasantry, a profligate nobility, and a priesthood, licentious, avaricious, domineering and cruel.” The first edition was published in 1563. A recounting of the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre was added in 1583. Stories of mostly Protestant “martyrdom” continued to be added even after Foxe’s death in 1587.
Instructions: Read the excerpt from this version of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, and the lecture in Module II, Part C, especially the section on St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Answer the following questions:
1. Do you think that this telling of the massacre is accurate? Why or why not?
2. What do you think the purpose of this work is? Was it successful in achieving this goal or goals?
3. What impact do you think this kind of “history” had on the relationships between Catholics and Protestants in Protestant countries?