John Foxe 
Fox’s Book of Martyrs, or a History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrs [PDF ebook] 
From the Introduction of Christianity to the Latest Periods of Pagan, Popish, and Infidel Persecutions

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Tans work is strictl what its title page imports, a com rlon. F ox’s Book 0 Martyrs has been made the basis of this volume. Liberty, however, has been taken to abridge wherever it was thought necessary -to alter the antiquated form of the phraseology; to introduce additional information; and to correct any inaccuracy respecting matters of fact, which had escaped the author of the original work, or which has been found erroneous by the investigation of modern research. The object of this work, is to give a brief history of persson tion since the first introduction of Christianity, till the present time. In doing this, we have commenced with the martyrdom of Stephen, and following the course of events, have brought the his tory of persecution down to the year 1830. In all ages, we find that a disposition to persecute for opinion’s sake, has been mani fested by wicked men, whatever may have been their opinions or sentiments on religious subjects. The intolerant jew, and the bigoted pagan, have exhibited no more of a persecuting spirit, than the nominal professor of Christianity, and the infidel and the avowed atheist. Indeed, it seems to be an inhere. /t vice, in unsanctified nature to endeavour by the pressure of physical force, to restrain obnoxious sentiments, and to prepagate favour ite opinions. It is only when the heart has been renewed and sanctified by divine grace, that men have rightly understood and practised the true principles of toleration. We do not say that none but real christians have adopted correct views respecting civil and religious liberty -but we affirm that these views owe their origin entirely to Christianity and its genuine disciples.