Fox, Ed-ward, one of the English Reformers, -was horn in Oloucestorshire (date not known precisely). Ho was educated at Eton, and at King's College, Cam- bridge, of which lie became provost in 1528. He held this post during his life. Wolsey sent him on an em- bassy to Rome, with Gardiner, to promote a bull from Clement VII authorizing the divorce of the king from Catharine of Aragon. "It was in conversation with Fox and Gardiner, in lo"2l), that Cranmer suggested his method of settling the question of the king's divorce, bj' taking the opinion of the most learned men and universities in Cliristendom ; and he it was who madi it known to the king as Cranmer's suggestion, wiieii Gardiner would have tiken the credit of it to himself. In the prosecution of this plan he was sent with Ste- phen Gardiner, in 1530, to obtain the determination of tlio Uiiiversit}' of Cambridge. The heads of the uni- versity, the vice-chancellor, and the afterwards noto- rious Bonner, were on the king's side, but the univer- sity was divided. It was honorable to the University of Cambridge that so strong a resistance was offered to the will of the king. The royal authority being at this time on the side of reform, the commissioners, Fox and Gardiner, the latter being afterwards the great op- ponent of the Reformation, at length, though with dif- ficulty, carried their point, and it was determined that 'tlie king's marriage was contrary to the law of God.' In 15')1 he became archdeacon of Leicester, and in 1533 archdeacon of Dorset. In 1535 he was appointed bish- op of Hereford. Shortly after his consecration he was sent ambassador to the Protestant princes in Germanj^ assembled at Smalkald, whom he exhorted to unite, in point of doctrine, with the Church of England. He spent the winter at Wittenberg, and held several con- ferences witli some of the German divines, endeavor- ing to conclude a treaty with them upon manj' articles of religion ; but nothing was effected." Bishop Burnet gives a particular account of this negotiation in his Jlistonj of the R formation (pt. iii). He returned to England in 153(5, and died at London May 8, 1538. lie published a book, De vera differentia Rer/im Potesta- tis et Ecck'sia.iticee, et quw ail ipsa Veritas et virtus iilri- usqiie (Lond. 1534 and 1538), which was translated into English by Henry Lord Stafford. — Burnet, IIhlo7-y of tha Reformntlon, vols, i, iii ; Hook, Eccles. Biofjraphy, v, IG!) ; Collier, Eccles. History of England, iv, 312 sq.
Fox, George, founder of the Soeietj' of Friends, was bo.-ii at Drayton, Leicestershire, England, in Julv, 1021. His parents were pious members of the Church
of England, and brought him up carefully. "His mother, iSIary Lago, was of the martyr stock, and had inherited their intense feelings and religious enthusi- asm. To her he probably owed his education and many of the determining impulses of his life ; as to his father, he was indebted for the incorruptible integ- rity and tenderlj- scrupulous regard for truth by which he was characterized. As a child, he was singular- \y quiet, docile, observant, and meditative. He sat among his elders silently, watching their frivolity, uiv- truthfulness, gluttony, and intemperance, and inward- ly resolving, 'If ever I come to lie a man, sureh' I shall not do so, nor be so wanton.' Some of his rela- tives would have had the thoughtful lad trained for a clergyman, but others objecting, he was apprenticed to a person who, as the manner then was, combined a number of trades — shoemaking, wool-stapling, cattle- dealing, and so on. George proved a valualde assist- ant to him. The fear of God rested mightily npon him, and he was anxiously watchful in all things to maintain strict integrity. 'Verily' was a favorite word of his, and it became a common saying among those who knew him, 'If George says "Verily" there is no altering him' " {Christian Times'). His earlj' re- ligious experience was very deep ; and, after the ter- mination of his apprenticeship, he felt himself impelled by a divine monition (1643) to leave his home and friends, seeking "light." For economy's sake, in these travels he wore a leathern doublet. In 1G47, after, as he says, "forsaking the priests and the sepa- rate preachers also, and those esteemed the most expe- rienced people," none of whom could " speak to his condition," he "heard a voice" calling him to Christ, and his " heart leaped for joj-." This was in 1647, in which year he began the ministry, which lasted during his life. AVhen he began his work the mind of Eng- land was in a state of ferment, and he found many -will- ing auditors. His personal peculiarities of dress and manner attracted attention and persecution. " AVhcn the Lord sent me forth into the world, he forbid nie to put off my hat to any, high or low, and I was required to 'thee' and 'thou' all men and women, without any respect to rich or poor, great or small ; and as I travel- led up and down, I was not to bid jieople ' good-mor- row' or ' good-evening,' neither might I bow or scrape with my leg to any one ; and this made the sects and ])rofessions to rage" {Journ. 1648). He taught {Journ. 1649, p. 26) that "it is not the Scriptures, but the Holy Spirit, hj which opinions and religions are to be tried." Of course these novel and earnest views ex- cited great opposition ; Fox was imprisoned for ?ome time as a "disturber of the peace." He continued, however, to travel up and down England, preaching, and exhorting, and leaving permanent traces behind him almost everywhere. His followers were first call- ed "Quakers" at Derbj^, in 1G50, b}' Justice Bennet, as Fox says, "because I bid them tremble at the word of the Lord." In 1655 he was brought before Crom- well, who pronounced favorably upon both his doc- trines and character. Nevertheless, he was frequent- ly imprisoned by country maj^istrates. " In 1669 he married the widow of Judge Fell. He then went to America, where he spent two j'ears in propagating his views with much success. On his return to England in 1673, he was imprisoned for some time in Worcester Jail, under the charge of having ' held a meeting from all parts of the nation for terrifying the king's sub- jects.' On his release he visited Holland, and after- wards Hamburg, Holstein, and Dantzic, alwaj's en- deavoring to persuade men to listen to the voice of Christ within them. He died in London, January 13, 1691" (Chambers, Cyclopcedia, s. v.).