The great sixteenth century churchman and Martyrologist, John Foxe, was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, either in 1516 or 1517. The young Foxe went up to Oxford when he was about 18. He took his BA in 1537, was elected to a fellowship of Magdalen College in 1539 and gained his MA in 1543. At this point it seemed likely that Foxe was destined for a life of academic theology and entry into the priesthood. But during the latter years of Henry VIII’s reign, which corresponded to Foxe’s time in Oxford, the impact of the new Reformed theology was becoming more and more apparent in both academic and lay circles. This impact was also the cause of considerable friction within these circles. Foxe was clearly attracted to the Reformed agenda and at Magdalen he came to be associated with a group of…
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Citation: Streete, Adrian. "John Foxe". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 04 January 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1607, accessed 22 November 2024.]
