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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	james_n	john_n	sir_n	63,767	5	6.8706	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19465	Certain most godly, fruitful, and comfortable letters of such true saintes and holy martyrs of God, as in the late bloodye persecution here within this realme, gaue their lyues for the defence of Christes holy gospel written in the tyme of their affliction and cruell imprysonment.	Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568.; Bradford, John, 1510?-1555, Exhortacion to the carienge of Chrystes crosse. Selections.; Cranmer, Thomas, 1489-1556. Copy of certain lettres sent to the Quene, and also to doctour Martin and doctour Storye. Selections.; Hooper, John, d. 1555. Soveraigne cordial for a Christian conscience.; Hooper, John, d. 1555. Whether Christian faith maye be kepte secret in the heart, without confession therof openly to the worlde as occasion shal serve.; Ridley, Nicholas, 1500?-1555. Frendly farewel.	1564 (1564)	STC 5886; ESTC S108888	571,783	726

whitenes if God strike wyth hys batteldore Rom. 8 Because ye are gods shepe prepare your selues to the slaughter alwayes knowyng that in the syghte of the lord our death shall be precious The soules vnder the aultar looke for vs to fyll vp their number happye are we if god haue so apointed vs. 1. pet 5 Math. 10. How soeuer it be derely beloued cast your selues wholye vppon the Lorde with whome all the heares of your heades are numbred so that not one of them shall perishe Will we nyll we we must drynke gods cuppe if he haue appointed it for vs. Drynke it wyllyngly then at the fyrst when it is full lest peraduenture if we linger we shal drynke at the lēgth of the dregges wyth the wycked Psal 75 1. pet 4 if at the beginning we drinke not with hys childrē for with them his iudgemēt beginneth whē he hath wrought hys wil on mount Syon then wil he visit the nations round about Submit your selues therfore vnder the mighty hand of the Lorde 1. pet 7 Rom. 8 No manne shall touche you wythoute hys knowledge When they touche you therefore knowe it is to your weale GOD thereby will worke to make you like vnto Christe here that ye maye bee also lyke vnto hym elsewhere Acknowledge your vnthankefulnes and sinne and blesse god that correcteth you in the world 1. Cor. 11. because ye shal not be dāned with the world Otherwyse might he correct vs then in makyng vs to suffer for ryghteousnes sake but this he doth bicause we are not of the world Cal vpō his name through Christ for his help as he commaundeth vs. Beleue that he is merciful to you heareth you helpeth you Psa 50. Psal 92 I am wyth hym in trouble wil deliuer him sayth he Know that god hath appoynted boundes ouer the which the deuill and all the worlde shal not passe If all thinges seeme to be against you yet say with Iob. If he kil me I wil hope in him Read the 91. psalm and praye for me your poore brother fellow suff●er for gods gospels sake his name therfore be praised of of his mercy he make me you worthy to suffer with good consciēce for his names sake Die once we must when we know not happy are they whō god geueth to pay natures det I meane to dye for his sake Here is not our home therfore let vs accordingly cōsider things alwais hauyng before our eyes heauēly Ierusalē Heb. 12. Apo. 21.22 the way thether to be by persecutions the deare frendes of God howe they haue gone it after the exāple of our sauior Iesus christ whose footesteps let vs follow euē to the very Gallowes yf god so wyll not doubtyng but that as he wythin three dayes rose agayne immortal euen so we shal doe in our time that is when the trumpe shall blow and the aungel shal shoots and the sonne of man shal apeare in the cloudes with innumerable sainctes and aungels in maiesty and greate glory then shall the dead arise and we shall be caught vp into the cloudes to mete the lord and so be always wyth him Comfort your selues with these wordes and pray for me for gods sake Ecarcere 19. Nouemb. 1553. Iohn Bradford ¶ To Syr Iames Hales knyght then prisoner in the Counter in Bredestrete THe god of mercy and father of all cōfort plentifully powre out vpon you and in you hys mercy and with his consolations comforte strengthen you to the ende for hys and oure Christes sake Amen Although ryght worshhpfull Syr many causes myght moue me to be contente wyth cryeng for you to your god and my god that he would geue you grace to perseuer well as he hathe righte notably begonne to the great glory of hys name comfort of all such as feare him as lacke of learning of familiarity yea acquaintaunce for I thinke I am vnknowen to you both by face name other such like thinges yet I cannot content my self but presume somethyng to scrible vnto you not that I thinke my scriblyng can do you good but that I might hereby declare my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and compassion loue and affection I beare towardes your mastership which is contented yea desirous wyth vs poore mysers to confesse Christes gospell in these perilous tymes and dayes of trial Oh Lord god how good art thou which doest thus gleane out grapes I meane children for thy selfe and bretherne for Christ Looke good M. Hales on your vocatiō not many iudges not many knights not many landed men not many rich mē welthy to liue as you are hath god chosē to suffer for his sake as he hath now done you Certainly I dare saye you thinke not so of your selfe as thoughe God were bounde to preferre you or had nede of you but rather attribute this as all good thynges vnto hys free mercy in Christe Agayne I dare say you beyng a wise man iudge of things wisely that is concernyng thys your crosse you iudge of it not after the worlde people which is magnus erroris magister nor after the iudgemēt of reason and worldlye wisedome whiche is folyshnes to fayth nor after the presente sense to that whiche non videtur gaudij sed molestioe as Paule writeth Heb. 1● but after the woorde of god which teacheth your crosse to be in respect of your selfe betwene god and you gods chastising and your fathers correction nurtour schole trial pathway to heauen glory and felicitie and the furnace to consume the drosse and mortifye the reliques of olde Adam which yet remaine yea euen the frame house to fashion you like to the dearest Saints of god here yea to Christ the sonne of God that elles whece you myght be like vnto him Nowe concerning your crosse in respect of the world betwene the world you gods word teacheth it to be a testimoniall of Gods truth of his prouidence of his power of his iustice of his wisdome of his anger against sinne of his goodnes of hys iudgement of your fayth and religion so that by it you are to the worlde a witnes of God one of his testes that he is true he ruleth all thinges he is iuste wise and at the length wil iudge the world and caste the wicked into perdition but the godlye he will take and receaue into his eternall habitation I knowe you iudge of things after faythes fetch and the effectes or endes of things and so you see aeternum pondus gloriae 2. Cor. 4. which thys crosse shall bring vnto you dum non spectas ea quae videntur sed ea quae non videntur Let the worldlings waye thinges and loke vpon the affaires of men with their worldly and corporall eyes as did many in subscription of the kinges laste wil and therfore they dyd that for the which they beshrewd thēselues but let vs loke on thinges with other manner of eyes as god bee

idolatrous seruyce but with their ha●●s say they and wyth theyr spirites they serue the lorde Math. 8. And so by this meanes as they saue theyr pygges which they would not lose I meane their worldlye pelfe so they would please the protestantes and bee counted wyth them for gospellers Company not with Mōgrels yea mary would they But mine owne beloued in the Lord flee from such persones as from men most perilous and pernicious bothe before God and man Mongrels are false both to god and man for they are false to bothe and true to neyther To the magistrates they are false pretendyng one thyng and meanyng cleane contrary God wil haue the whole seruice of soule and body He made both He kepeth both He redemed both To god they are most vntrue geuing him but a peese whych shoulde haue the whole I woulde they woulde tell me who made their bodyes Dyd not GOD as well as theyr sprites and soules And who kepeth bothe Dothe not be still And alas shall not he haue the seruice of the body but it must be geuē to serue the new found god of Antichristes inuention Dyd not Christe bye both our soules and bodies And wherwith wyth any lesse pryce then wyth hys precious blood Ah wretches thē that we be if we wyll defyle either parte with the rose coloured whore of Babylons fylthye Masse abhomination Apoc. 18 2. pet 2 Hebr. 6.10 Math. 12 Luke 11 Mongress sinne againste their owne consciences It had ben better for vs neuer to haue bene washed then so to wallow our selues in the fylthy puddle of popery It had bene better neuer to haue knowen the truth then thus to betray it Surely surelye let such men feare that their later ende be not worse then the begynnyng Their owne conscience now accuseth them before god yf so be they haue any conscience that they are but dissemblers and hypocrites to God and man For all the clokes they make they cannot auoyde this but that their going to church and to Masse is of selfe loue The onely cause why Mongrels goe to Masse is to auoyde the crosse 1 Cor. 10. Actes 5 Deut. 12. that is they go thether because they would auoyde the crosse They go thether because they woulde be out of trouble They seke neither the Quenes highnes nor her lawes which in thys poynte cannot bynde the conscience to obey because they are cōtrary to gods lawes which bid vs often to flee Idolatrye and worshipping hym after mens deuises they seke neither I say the lawes if there were anye neyther theyr brethernes commoditie for none commeth therby neyther godlines or good example for there can be none found in goyng to Masse c. but horrible offences and woe to them that geue them but they seeke their owne selues their own ease theyr escapyng the crosse c. Math. 15. when they haue made all the excuses they can theyr owne conscience wyll accuse them of this that their goyng to church is onely because they seeke themselues For yf there woulde no trouble ensue for taryeng awaye I appeale to their conscience woulde they come thether Neuer I dare say Therfore as I sayd they seke themselues they would not cary the crosse And hereof their own conscience if they haue any conscience doth accuse them Now if their conscience accuse them at this present what will it doe before the iudgemente seate of Christe who wyl then excuse it when Christ shall appeare in iudgement Luke 9.12 Mark 8. and shall begynne to be ashamed of them then which now here are ashamed of him who then I say wyll excuse these Masse gospellers consciences wyll the quenes hyghnes She shal then haue more to do for her selfe then without harty and spedye repētaūce she can euer be able to aunswer though Peter Paule Marye Iames Iohn the Pope and all hys Prelates take her parte with all the syngyng Syr Iohns that euer were are and shall bee Wyll the Lorde Chauncellour and prelates of the realme excuse them there Nay nay they are like then to smarte for it so sore as I woulde not bee in theyr places for all the whole world Wil the lawes of the realme the nobilitie gentlemen Iustices of peace c. excuse oure gospell Massemongers conscience then Nay God knoweth they can do little there but quake and feare for the heauy vengeaunce of God lyke to fall vppon them Will their goodes landes and possessions the which they by theyr dissemblyng haue saued wyl these serue to excuse them No no god is no merchaunte as our Masse priestes be Will Masses or trētals such trash serue No verily the haunters of thys geare then shall be horribly ashamed Wyll the Catholike church excuse them Nay it wyll most of all accuse them as will all the good fathers Patriarkes Apostles Prophetes Martyrs cōfessors and saintes with al the good Doctors and good general counsels The most abhominatiō o●●aeth is the Masse al these alredy condēne the Masse al that euer vseth it as it is now beyng of all idoles that euer was the most abhominable and blasphemous to Christ and hys priestehode manhode and sacrifice for it maketh the prieste that sayth Masse the Masse priest is Christes fellow gods fellow and better then Christ for the offerer is alwayes better or equiualent to the thyng offred If therfore the priest take vpon him there to offer vp Christ as they boldly affyrme they do thē must he nedes be better or equal with Christ Hebr. 5. Oh that they would shew but one iote of the scripture of god calling thē to this dignitie or of their authority to offer vp Christ for the quicke and dead to apply the benefyt vertue of his death and passion to whom they wyll The Masse priestes frendship is better-then christes Surely if this were true as it is most false and blasphemous prate they at their pleasure to the contrarye then it made no matter at all whether Christe were our frende or no if so be the Masse priest were our frende for he can apply vs Christes merites by his Masse if he wyll and when he wil The Masse priest is aboue god for he can make god Math. 24. and therfore we nede litle to care for Christes frendship They can make hym when they will and where they wyll Loe heare he is there he is saye they but beleue them not saith Christ beleue them not beleue them not sayth he For in hys humane nature and body which was made of the substaunce of the virgins body and not of breade in thys body I say he is sitteth on the right hand of God the father almighty in heauen from whence and not from the pixe shal he come to iudge both the quicke dead Act. 3. Rom. 8 Hebr. 7 Hebr. 9. 1. Thess 5. In the meane season heauē saith S. Peter must receiue him And as Paule saith

was proude as the Pope and Prelates be or elles he woulde haue visited Paule Paule beinge in pryson in Rome dyd wryte diuerse Epistles in whiche he expresseth the names of manye whiche were in comparison of Peter but rascall personages but of Peter he speaketh neuer a woorde Surelye if Peter had beene there thys silence of hym had beene suspicious In the second Epistle to Timothye 2. Timo. 4. Paule complayneth that no man was with hym in his defence but all had left hym If Peter had beene then at Rome as they write then eyther Paule had belyed hym or Peter had played hys Peters parte Luke 23. In an other place howe doth he blame all that were with hym Phi. 2. only Timothy excepted Therfore we may well doubte whether Peter was at Rome Byshoppe as they prate for all thys tyme and longe before they saye that Peter was Byshoppe there But I will not styrre vppe coles in thys matter If Rome bee the chiefe Seate because Peter dyed there whye shoulde not Antioche bee the second Why shoulde not Iames and Iohn whiche were taken with Peter to bee as pillers Whye I saye shoulde not theyr Seates haue honour next to Peters Seate Is not thys geare prepostorous that Alexandria where Marke which was but one of the Disciples was Byshop should be preferred before Ephesus where Iohn the Euāgelist taught and was bishop and before Ierusalem where not only Iames taught and dyed bishop but also Christ Iesus our lord and high priest for euer By whom beyng Maister I hope honour shold be geuen to his chaire more then to the chayre of hys chaplaines I neede to speake nothing how that Paule telleth Peters Apostleship to concerne rather circumcision or the Iewes and therfore properly perteyneth not to vs. Neyther do I nede to bryng in Gregorius the sixt bishop of Rome which was about the yere of our Lord .600 Who plainly in his workes doth write that this title of Primacy to be head ouer al churches vnder Christ is a title mete and agreeing only to Antichrist and therfore he calleth it a prophane a myschieuous and an horrible tytle Who should we beleue now yf we wyll neyther beleue Apostle nor Pope If I should go about to tell how this name was first gotten by Phocas I should be to long I purpose god willyng to set it forth at large in a worke whiche I haue begun of Antichrist yf god for hys mercies sake geue me lyfe to finishe it For thys present therfore I shall desyre your Ladiship to take thys in good part If they will nedes haue the Bishop of Rome to bee acknowledged for the heade of the church then wyll I vrge them that they shall geue vs a bishop But they obtrude vnto vs a butcher rather or a biteshepe then a bishop They bragge of Peters succession of Christes Vycar this is alwayes in theyr mouth But alas how can we call hym Christes Vicar that resisteth Christe oppugneth hys veritye persecuteth hys people and lyke a Prelate preferreth hymselfe aboue God and man Howe or wherin dothe the Pope and Christ agree Howe supplyeth he Peters ministery that boasteth of hys succession Therfore to beginne withal which I wyl vse presently for a conclusion yf the papistes wyll haue the bishop of Rome Supreme head of the church of Christ in earthe they must afore they attaine this geue vs a bishop in dede and not in name For whosoeuer he be that wyl make this the bonde of vnitye what soeuer the bishop of Rome be surelye thys muste nedes follow that they do nothyng els but teache a moste wycked defection and departyng from Christ But of thys if God lende me lyfe I purpose to speake more at large hereafter Nowe wyll I betake your Ladyship vnto the tuition of god our father and Christ our only head pastour keper to whome see that you cleane by true fayth whiche dependeth only vpon the worde of god which if you do follow as a lanterne to your feete and a light to your steppes you shall then auoyde darkenes and the daungerous depts wherinto the Papists are fallē by the iust iudgemēt of god and seke to bryng vs into the same dungeon wyth thē that the blynde followyng the blynd they both may fal into the dysche out of the which god deliuer them accordyng to hys good wyl preserue vs for hys names sake that we beyng in his lyght may continue therin and walke in it whilest it is daye so shall the nyght neuer oppresse vs we going trō lyght to lyght from vertue to vertue from fayth to faythe from glory to glory by the gouernaunce of gods good spirite whiche God our father geue vnto vs all for euer and euer Amen From the kynges Benche Your brother in bondes for the testimonye of Iesus Christ Iohn Bradforde To myne owne good brother Mayster Iohn Phylpot prysoner in the Kynges Benche MY dere brother God our father be praysed for the good he dothe worke in you and by you Euen nowe I haue receyued your louyng letters wherein I see cause to blesse God for the wisdome loue and efficacy he hathe and doth worke in you and by you Go on for gods sake to seke vnitie in christ If any wyl go to worke dissemblingly refuse it not either shal it encrease hys dampnation or occasion hym the soner to conuersion Iudas dissembling turned to the hurt of him selfe onely If once we come into an vnitye and loue then shall we not respecte one an other neyther take thynges in to the wourse part Nothyng hyndreth them more then for that nowe they heare all that euer we speake Cum preiudicio He meaneth here certayne freewyl men Where if an vnitye bee had this preiudicium wyll bee taken away and so then shal they see the truth the soner Therfore myne owne dearest brother go on bring it to a good ende God our father be wyth thee for euer Amen Praye my good brother and desyre myne owne fellowe and beloued brother I. Careles to doe the lyke I shall praye for you bothe in my prayers wyth others and wyth my selfe alonely as for my moste deare brother vpon earth I wyll not forget by gods grace to wryte in the behalf of our brethern in necessitie Iesus Christ our swete Sauiour be wyth vs all Emanuell for euer Amen Your owne in the Lorde Iohn Bradford To my frendes and brethren in the Lorde R. Cole and N. Sheterden I Wish to you my good bretherne the same grace of God in Christ which I wysh and pray the father of mercies to geue to me for hys holye names sake Amen Your letter though I haue not redde my self because I would not alienate my mynd from conceiued things to wryte to others yet I haue heard the summe of it that it is of gods election where in I wyll briefly write to you my faith how I thinke it good mete for a christiā man to wade in it

of it to the behoofe of the church or of the house And moreouer I had not only no part of his moueable goods but also as his old receiuer then min called M. Staūton cā testify I paied for him towards his seruantes cōmō liuertes and wages after his deposition 53. li. or 55. poūdes I canot tel whether Notwithstanding these godly and iust requestes no iustice could be had vntil that now of late some of these shameful iniuries by order of law haue bene redressed In al these matters I besech your honourable maiesty to heare the aduise of mē of conscience and especially the archbishop now of Yorke which for that he was continually in my house a yeare and more before myne imprisonment I suppose he is not altogether ignoraunt of some part of these things and also hys grace doth know my sister for whose succour and some relief now vnto your highnes I make most humble suit The .xvi. day of October Anno. 1555. N. R. ¶ An aunswer to a letter written vnto him by West sometyme hys Chaplayne I Wish you grace in god and loue of the truth without the which truely stablished in mens hartes by the mighty hād of almighty god it is no more possible to stand by the truth in Christ in time of trouble then it is for the waxe to abide the heat of the fyre Syr know you this that I am blessed be God perswaded that this world is but transitory and as sainct Iohn saith the world passeth away the lust therof i. Iohn 2 Math. 10. I am persuaded christs wor●es to be true whosoeuer shall confesse me before men him wil I confesse also before my father which is in heauen and I beleue that no earthly creature shall be saued whom the redemer and sauiour of the world shal before his father deny This the lorde graunt that it may be so graffed established and fixed in my harte that neither thinges present nor to come high nor low life nor death bee able to remoue me thence It is a goodly wish that you wish me depely to consider thynges pertaynyng vnto gods glorye but if you had wished also the neither feare of death nor hope of worldly prosperity should let me to maintain gods word and his truth which is his glory and true honour it would haue liked me well You desire me for gods sake to remember my selfe In dede syr now it is tyme so to doe for so farre as I can perceiue it standeth me vpon no lesse daunger then of the losse both of body and soule and I trowe then it is time for a man to awake if any thyng will awake him He that will not feare him that threatneth to cast both body soule into euerlasting fier Luk. 12. whom will he feare With this feare O Lord fasten thou together oure fraile fleshe that we neuer swarue from thy lawes You say you haue made much suite for me Sir God graunt that you haue not in sauyng for my worldly deliueraunce empayred and hindered the furtheraunce of Gods worde and his truthe You haue knowen me long in dede in the which tyme it hathe chaunced me as you say to mislyke some thynges It is true I graunt for sodayne chaunges wythout substantial and necessary cause and the heady setting forth of extremities I did neuer loue Canfession vnto the minister which is able to iustruct correcte comforte and enforme the weake wounded and ignoraunt conscience in dede I euer thought myght do much good in Christs congregation and so I assure you I think euen at this day My doctrine and my preaching you saye you haue heard often after your iudgement haue thought it godly sauyng onely for the Sacrament whiche thyng although it was of me reuerently handled and a greate deale better then of the rest as you say yet in the margēt you write warely and in this world wisely and yet me thoughte all sounded not well Syr but that I see so many chaunges in thys worlde and so much alteration els at this your saying I would not a lyttle maruayle I haue taken you for my frend and a man whom I fansied for plainesse and faith fulnes as much I assure you as for your learnyng and haue you kept this so close in your hart from me vnto this day Sir I consider mo thinges then one and will not say al that I thynke But what nede you to care what I think for any thing that I shal be able to do vnto you either good or harme You geue me good lessons to stand in nothyng against my learning to beware of vayne glory Truely sir I herein lyke your counsel very wel and by Gods grace I entend to follow it vnto my liues ende To write vnto those whom you name I cannot see what it wyll auayle me For this I would haue you know that I esteme nothyng auailable for me which also wil not further the glory of God And now because I perceiue you haue an entire zeale and desyre of my deliueraunce out of this captiuitie and worldly misery if I shoulde not beare you a good heart in god agayne me thynke I were to blame Sir how nighe the daye of my dissolution and departure oute of thys world is at hand I can not tel the Lords wyll be fulfilled how soone soeuer it shall come I know the Lordes wordes must be verified on me that I shall appeare before the incorrupt iudge and be countable to him of al my former life And although the hope of his mercye is my shooteanker of eternall saluation yet am I perswaded that whosoeuer wittingly neglecteth and regardeth not to cleare his conscience he cānot haue peace with God nor a liuely fayth in his mercye Conscience therefore moueth me consideryng you were one of my familye and one of my householde of whom then I thynke I had a speciall cure and of all them which were within my house whiche in dede ought to haue bene an example of godlinesse to al the rest of my cure not only of good lyfe but also in promotyng of gods word to the vttermost of their power but alas now when the tryal doth separate the chaffe from the corne how small a deale it is god knoweth which the wynd doth not blowe awaye this conscience I say doth moue me to feare least the lightnes of my family shal be layd to my charge for lack of more earnest diligent instruction which should haue ben done But blessed be god which hath geuen me grace to see this my default and to lament it from the bottome of my heart before my departyng hence This conscience doth moue me also now to requyre both you and my frend Doctour Haruy to remember your promises made to me in times past of the pure setting forth preachyng of gods word hys truth These promises although you shal not nede to fear to be charged with them of me hereafter before the world

or Paule And yet further I think that occasion afterward may be geuen you and the consideration of the profite of your auditory may perchaūce moue you to doe otherwise Finallye determinately to saye what shal be beste I am not able but I truste he whose cause ye haue in hand shal put you in minde to do that which shal be most for hys glory the profite of his flocke and your owne saluation This letter must be common to you M. Hoper in whome and in hys prison fellowe good father Crome I blesse god euen from the bottome of my harte for I doubte not but they both doe to our mayster Christe true acceptable and honorable seruice and profitable to his flocke the one with hys penne and the other wyth hys fatherlye example of patience and constancye and all manner of true godlynes But what shall I nede to say to you let this be common amonge your brethren among whome I dare say it is with you as it is with vs to whome all thinges here are common meate money and what soeuer one of vs hath that can or may doe an other good Althoughe I sayde the baylifes our hostes straitly watch vs that we haue no conference or intelligence of any thynge abroade yet hath God prouided for euery one of vs in the stede of our seruants faythful fellowes which wil be content to heare and see and to do for vs what so euer they can it is Gods worke surely blessed be God for his vnspeakeable goodnes The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe and the loue of God and the communion of the holy goste be with you all Amen Amen As farre as London is from Oxford yet thence we haue receaued of late both meate money and shyrtes not onlye from such as are of our acquayntance but of some whom this bearer can tell with whome I had neuer to my knowledge any acquaintance I knowe for whose sake they do it to hym therfore be all honoure glorye and due thankes And yet I pray you do so much as to shew them that we haue receiued theyr beneuolence and god be blessed haue plentye of all such things This I desire you to do for I know they be of maister Hopers and your familier acquayntaunce Mayster Latimer was crased but I heare nowe thankes be to God that he amendeth agayne Yours in Christ N. R. To maister Bradford BRother Bradford I wish you and your companye in Christ yea al the holy brotherhode that nowe wyth you in diuerse prisonnes suffreth and beareth paciently Christs crosse for the mayntenance of his gospell grace mercy and peace from god the father and frō our Lord Iesus Christe Syr consideringe the state of this chiualrie and warfare wherein I doubte not but we be set to fight vnder Christes banner and his crosse against oure gostly enemy the deuill and the old serpent Satā me think I perceaue two thinges to be his most perilous and moste daungerous engines which he hath to impugne christs verity his gospel his faith and the same two also to be the most massye postes and most mighty pillers wherby he mainteyneth and vpholdeth his Satanical sinagoge These two sir are they in my iudgement the one his false doctrine and idolatry call vse of the Lords supper and the other the wicked and abhominable vsurpation of the primacye of the sea of Rome By these two Satan semeth to me principally to manteine and vphold his kingdom by these two he driueth down mightely alas I feare me Apo. 8. the third part of the starrs in heauen These two poysonfull rotten postes he hathe so painted ouer with such a pretence and colour of religion of vnitye in Christes church of the catholike fayth and suche like that the wily serpēt is hable to deceaue if it were possible euen the elect of god Wherfore Iohn sayd not wtout great cause Apoc. ij if any know not Satans subtilties and the doungeons thereof I will wishe him no other burden to be laden withal Sir because these be his principal and maine postes whervppon standeth all his falshode craft and trecherye therfore according to the pore power that God hath giuen me I haue bended mine artillary to shoote at the same I know it to be but little God knoweth that I can do and of my shote I know they passe not Yet wyll I not God willing cease to do the best that I can to shake those cankered and rotten postes The Lord graunt me good successe to the glory of hys name and the furtheraunce of Christes gospell I haue now alredy I thanke god for this present time spent a good part of my powder in these scryblyngs wherof thys bearer shall geue you knowledge Good brother Bradforde let the wicked surmise and saye what they liste know you for a certeynty by gods grace without al doubt that in Christes gospelles cause against and vpon the foresayd gods enemyes I am fully determined to liue and die Fare well deare brother and I beseche you and all the reste of our brethern to haue good remembrāce of the condemned heretikes as they call them of Oxforde in your prayers The bearer shall certifye you of our state Fare well in the Lorde From Bocardo Yours in Christ N.R. To maister Bradford DEarelye beloued brother blessed be God oure heauenlye father for hys manifolde and innumerable mercies towardes vs and blessed mighte he be that hath spared vs thus long together that eche one of vs maye blesse his mercye and clemencye in other vnto this daye aboue the expectation and hope of any worldlye appearance Where as you wryte of he outragious rule that Sathan our gostly enemy beareth abrode in the worlde wherbye he stirreth and rayseth so pestilente and heynous heresies as some to deny the blessed trinity some the diuinity of our sauiour Christ some the diuinity of the holy gost some the baptisme of infants some original sinne and to be infected with the errors of the pelagiās to rebaptise those that haue ben baptised with Christes baptisme alredy alas syr this doth declare this time and these dayes to be wicked in dede But what can we looke for els of Sathan here and of his ministers but to do the worste that they can so farre forth as god shal or wil suffer them And now me thincke he is lesse to be merueled at at this tyme if he bestirre him by al manner of meanes that the truth in deede doe take no place For he seeth now blessed be God that some goe aboute in deede and in truth not trifeling but with the losse of all that they are able to loose in thys worlde goodes landes name fame and life also to setforth Goddes woorde and hys truth and by Goddes grace shall do and abide in the same vnto the ende now therfore it is time to be stirre him I trowe And as for the diuersitye of erroures what careth he thoughe one be neuer so contrarye to

in the lyke cause as s Iames sayth Take my brethren sayth he the Prophets for an ensāple of suffering aduersitie and of long pacience which spake vnto you in the name of the Lord behold we count thē happy which endure Y e haue heard of the paciēce of Iob haue knowen what end the lord made with hym for the lord is very pitiful merciful Also the lord trieth vs to let vs see our own harts thoughts that no hypocrisy nor ambitiō deceaue vs that the stronge in Christ may pray that he fal not but endure to the end that those that fal through fearful infirmitie might spedely repent ryse agayn wyth Peter also that the weake ones myght bewayle theyr weakenes cry with Dauid haue mercy vpō me O lord Psalme 6. for I am weake O lorde heale me for all my bones are vexed Of thys opening of the hart by persecutiō spake holy Simeō to Marye Christes Mother when he sayde Luke 2. the sworde that is the crosse of persecution shall pearse thy soule that the thoughtes of manye hartes maye be opened For like as a King that shoulde goe to battell is compelled to looke in hys cofers what treasure he hath and also what number and puisaunce of men and weapons so that if he see hymselfe vnreadye and vnarmed to bycker wyth hys ennemye he surceaseth and taketh truce for a tyme euen so we by persecutions haue oure hartes opened that we maye looke therein to see what faythe in Christe we haue and what strengthe to wythstande the enemyes and to beare the crosse that if we bee ryche in these treasures we myghte reioyce and valiauntlye goe to battell or if we wante these thinges with all speede to call and crye vppon him whiche geueth all good giftes to those that aske them Item the crosse trieth the good people from the badde the faithfull frō the worldlings hypocrites also clēseth scoureth the faythful hartes from al corruption filthynesse both of the flesh the spirit And euē as an yron except it be oftē scoured wil sone waxe rustye so except our sinfull hartes flesh be often scoured with the whetstone of the crosse they wil sone corrupt ouergrow with the rust of al filthynesse and sinne And therfore it is mete good for vs as the wismā sayth that as gold siluer are tryed in the fyre Sirach 2. so shoulde the hartes of acceptable men be tryed in the fornace of aduersitie Abide the tryal dere frends that ye may obtayne the crowne of life Fyght manfully in thys the Lords cause that ye may obteyne a gloryous victory here and receaue a great reward in heauen hereafter As ye are called Christians and would be angrye to be called Iewes or Turkes so declare your christianitye by followyng the steppes of Christe whose name ye beare suffer with hym and for hys Gospelles sake rather then to denye hym or to defyle youre fayth and conscience wyth false worshippyng or Romyshe religion Take vppe your crosse my deare hartes nowe when it is offered you and goe vppe wyth Christe to Ierusalem amongest the Byshoppes Priestes and rulers yf GOD call you thereto and they wyl anone send you to Caluarye from whence dying in the cause of the Gospell wherin oure good preachers and brethren haue geuen their lyues your soules I warrant you through Christe Iesu Eccle. 12. shall ascende to GOD that gaue them and the bodye shall come after at the laste daye and so shall ye dwell wyth the Lorde for euer in vnspeakeable ioye and blysse O blessed are they that suffer persecution for ryghteousnesse sake as Christes people in thys Iewyshe Englande now doth for theirs is the kyngdome of heauen O my beloued sette your myndes on this kyngdome where Christe our heade and Kyng is consideryng that as the brute beaste looketh downewardes wyth the face towardes the earth so is man made contrarye wise wyth hys face looking vpwardes towardes the heauens because hys conuersation shoulde be in heauen and heauenly thyngs and not vppon the earth and earthlye chynges Col. 3 as Sainct Paule sayth set your myndes on thynges which are are aboue where Christe is And agayne he sayeth phil 3. our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for oure Sauiour who wyll chaunge oure vyle bodyes and make them like to his glorious body Oh the glorious estate that we bee called vnto the Lorde preserue vs blamelesse to hys eternall kyngdome throughe Christe Iesus oure Lorde Amen The seconde thyng that I note in the foresayde wordes of Peter is that he calleth persecution no straunge thynge And truth it is for whiche of the Prophettes were not persecuted wyth Christe and hys Apostles and some of them in the ende cruellye kylled for the truthes sake Caine kylled Abell Isaac was persecuted of Ismaell 3. Regum 4. Regum Iacob was hated of Esau Iosephe was prysoned and sette in the stockes The Prophette Esaye was cutte in two wyth a sawe Ieremye was stoned Micheas was buffeted and fedde wyth breade and water Helias was sore persecuted Eleazer and the woman with her seuen sonnes were cruellye kylled 2. mac 6.7 What Christe and the Apostles suffered it is well knowen so that by manye tribulations as Paule sayeth we muste enter into the kyngdome of heauen Act. 14 All the holy Prophettes Christe and hys Apostles suffered suche afflictions not for euel doing but for preachinge Gods woord for rebukyng the worlde of synne and for their fayth in Iesus Christe Thys is the ordinaunce of GOD my frends this is the hygh way to heauen by corporal death to eternal lyfe Iohn 5. as Christ sayth he that heareth my words beleueth in hym that sent me hath eternal life shal not come into iudgemēt but is escaped from death to lyfe Let vs neuer feare death which is kylled by christ but beleue in him liue for euer Roman 8. as Paul sayth there is no damnation to them that are in christ Iesu which walke not after the fleshe but after the spirit 1. Corin. 15. And agayne Paule sayth Death where is thy sting Hel where is thy victory Thankes be to god whiche hath geuen vs victory through Iesu Christ Besides this ye haue sene dayly do see the blood of your good preachers brethren which hath bene shed in the gospels cause in thys sinful Sodome thys bloody Ierusalē this vnhappie citie of Londō Let not their blood be forgottē nor the blood of your good byshop Ridley who like a good shepeherd to your cōfort exāple hath geuē hys lyfe for his shepe S. Paul saith remember them that haue spokē to you the word of god Iohn 10. Heb. 13 loke vpon the end of their conuersation and folow their faith The deuil euer stirreth vp false teachers as he hath done now ouer al England 2. peter 2. 1. Timot 4. 2. Timo. 3.

of the wycked that you maye shortly receaue the glorious crowne of victory and in the same tryumphe ouer all your enemies foreuermore Amen I cannot expresse the excedyng great ioy consolation of my poore hart considering the meruelous workes of God most gratiously wrought vpō you not only in prouing you tryeng your faith by his great huge crosses both inwardly and outwardly but also in geuyng you so great consolation constancy in the middes of the same Faithful is god true of his promises who hath said that he wil neuer suffer his chosen children to be tēpted aboue their strength but in the middes of their temptatiō wil make an outscape for thē by such meanes as may make to his glory and their euerlastyng consolation My deare hart great cause haue you to be of good comfort for I see in you as lyuely a token of Gods euerlasting loue sauour in Iesus Christ as euer I perceiued in any man In respect wherof I do euē with my hart loue honour and reuerence you besechyng god for his glorious names sake in the bowels blood of our lord and only Sauiour Iesus christ to finish his good worke in you as I doubt not but he wil do according to his vnfallible promyses yea I am wel assured therof forasmuch as you haue so effectuallye receiued his holye spirite into your harte as a pledge sure seale of your eternal redēption a testimonye of your adoptiō in Christ Iesu For which cause Sathan so sore enuieth you that he hath now bente all his fierce ordynaunce against you thinking therby vtterly to destroy the inuincible forte of your faith founded most firmely vpon the vnmoueable rocke christ against the which the deuil sinne nor yet hell gates shal neuer preuaile Selah Therfore mine owne bowels in the lord be not discomforted for this your conflicte which doutles shal greatly encrease your crowne of glorye triumphe and victorye but take a good hart vnto you and buckle boldly with Sathan both in himself and in his suttle mēbers It is the very diuine ordinaunce of god that all his regenerate children shal be tempted proued and tried as we see by the exāple of our Sauiour Christe who as sone as he was baptised was straight waies led of the holy ghost into the wildernes ther to be tēpted of the deuill But there got he such a glorious victory of Satan that he could neuer since finally preuaile against any of his poore mēbers but in euery assault that he maketh either inwardly or outwardly he getteth a foile and taketd shame so that now he rageth with al the spite possible specially because he knoweth his tyme is but short Iames. 4. Saincte Iames testifieth that he is but a very coward that wil sone flye if he be faithfully resisted And as for his temptinge tooles the Lord hath made them manifest vnto vs so that he cannot deceiue vs though he assaulte vs for as Sainte Paule saythe 2. Cor. 3 hys verye thoughtes are not vnknowen to vs as it dothe in you largely appeare praysed bee the Lordes name therfore You see deare brother that now to molest you suche as you are that be euen passyng frō this vale of misery he hath but two waies or two pieces of ordinance to shoote at you wyth the whiche he cannot hurte you because you haue two bulwarkes to defend you The first of these terrible gunnes that Sathan hath shotte at you is the very same that he continually shooteth at me that is to say feare and infidelity for the vglesomnes of death horrour of my sinnes which be so many greuous and greate But this pellet is easily put away with the sure shield of faith in the most precious death and bloodsheding of our deare Lord and only Sauiour Iesus Christ whome the father hath geuen vnto vs wholy to be oures for euermore wyth him hath geuen vs al things as Paule saith so that though we be neuer so great sinners yet Christ is made vnto vs holines righteousnes and iustification He hathe clothed vs wyth all hys merites mercies and most swete sufferyngs and hath taken vnto hym al our misery wretchednes synne and infirmitie So that if anye should nowe be condemned for the same it must nedes be Iesus Christ which hath taken them vpō him But in dede he hath made satisfactiō for thē to the vttermost iote so that for his sake thei shal neuer be imputed to vs if they wer a thousād times so many moe as they be This do you most effectuously feele and know dere brother a great deale better then I can tel you blessed be God therefore And now Sathan seyng that he cannot preuaile wyth hys boistrous battery against this bulwarke of fayth which doth so quenche al his fiery dartes that they can do you no harme but rather do you good seruice to cast you down vnder the mighty hand of God that he may take you vp by his only grace power so you may render hym al the glory by Iesus Christ which thyng the enemy cannot abyde in no wise therfore he shooteth of his other piece most pestilent to prouoke you to put some parte of your truste and confidence in your selfe in your own holines righteousnes that you might that way robbe god of hys glory Christ of his honour and dignity of his death But blessed be the Lord God you haue also a full strong bulwarke to beate backe this pestiferous pellet also euen the pure law of god which proueth the best of vs al dānable sīners in the sight of god if he would enter into iudgement with vs accordyng to the seuerity of the same that euen our best workes are polluted defyled in such sort as the Prophet describeth them Wyth which maner of speakyng Esay 64. our freewyl Phariseis are muche offended for it felleth all mans righteousnes to the groūde I had lyke to haue sayd to the botome of hel and extolleth only the righteousnes of Iesus Christ which is allowed before god is frely geuen to all those that firmely beleue as blessed be god you do Ah my good brother Tymmes Satan hath put his hand in a wrong boxe when he beginneth to tempt you either to vayne glory or mystrust for you are an olde beaten souldiour and haue had good experience of these maner of temptations both by your selfe other whom you know wel were the beloued of god Be of good chere therfore deare harte be of good chere for now Satan hath wrought al hys malice he hath done al that he can and hath shotte of al hys last pieces wherw t he had thought to haue done most mischief but now he seeth he can not preuaile the strong tower of your fayth beyng so inuincible he wyll plucke vp al hys tentes and gette him to some other place to practise the like assaultes and then wil the aungels of god come and minister vnto

if you will not speake then I besech you let these my letters speake vnto M. Gates to M. Wrothe to M. Cicill whom all I doe take for men that doe feare God It was sayd here constantly my Lord Chamberlaine to haue bene departed Syr though the day be delayed yet he hath no pardon of long life therfore I do besech his good Lordship so many as shall read these letters if they feare God to helpe that neither horse neither yet dogge be suffered to deuour the poore liuings appointed founded by godly ordinance to the ministers of gods worde The causes of consciēce which do moue me to speake write thus are not only those whiche I declared once in the cause of this Prebend before the Kings Maiesties Counsell which now I let passe but also now the man M. Grindal vnto whō I would geue this Prebend doth moue me verye muche for he is a man knowen to be both of vertue honestie discretion wisedome learning And besides al this I haue a better opinion of the Kings Maiesties ▪ honourable Counsel thē although some of them haue subscribed at this their Clarkes craf●ie vngodly sute to such a letter then I say they wil let not suffer after request made vnto them the liuing appoynted founded for a preacher to bee bestowed vppon so honest and well a learned man Wherfore for gods sake I besech you al helpe that with the fauour of the Counsel I may haue knowledge of the kings maiesties good pleasure to geue thys preachers liuing vnto M. Grindall Of late there haue bene letters directed from the Kinges Maiestie and his honourable Counsell vnto all the bishops wherby we be charged commaūded both in our own persons and also to cause our preachers ministers especially to crie out against the insatiable serpēt of couetousnesse whereby is sayd to be suche a gredynes amonges the people that eche one goeth about to deuour other and to threaten thē with Gods greuous plagues both now presently throwē vpon them and that shal be likewise in the worlde to come Syr what preachers shall I gette to open and set forth suche matters and so as the Kings Maiestie and the Counsel do commaunde them to be set forth if either vngodlye men or vnreasonable beastes bee suffered to pull awaye deuoure the good and godlye learned preachers liuings Thus I wyshe you in god euer wel to fare to helpe Christes cause as you would haue helpe of him at your most nede From Fulham this present the 23. of Iulie 1551. Yours in Christe Nicholas London A letter of Cutbert Symson to certayne of hys frendes concernyng hys Rackyng and other cruell tormentes which he suffred in the Tower THe .13 daye of December I was sente to the Tower and on the Thursdaye after I was called into the warehouse before the Constable of the Tower and the Recorder of London Maister Cholmeley They commaunded me to tel them whom I dyd wil to come to the Englyshe seruice I aunswered I woulde declare nothyng Thys Engine is called Skenyngtons Giues wherin the body standeth double the head being drawē towardes the seete The forme maner of these Gyues and of his Rackyng you may see in the booke of Martyrs Folio 1631. Then was I set in an engine of Yron for the space of .iij. houres as I iudged After that they asked me if I woulde tell them I aunsweared as before Then was I losed and caryed to my lodging agayne On the Sundaye after I was broughte into the same place agayne before the Lieutenant being also Constable and the Recorder of London and they examined me As before I hadde sayd I aunsweared Then the Lieutenaunt sware by god I shoulde tell Then dyd they bynde my two forefyngers together and putte a small arrowe betwixt them and drew it through so faste that the bloode followed and the arrowe brake Then they racked me twyse After that was I caryed to my lodging agayne and tenne dayes after the Lieuetenaunt asked me if I woulde not confesse that whi●he before they had asked me I sayde I had sayde as muche as I woulde Then fyue weekes after he sent me vnto the hyghe priest where I was greatlye assaulted and at whose hande I receaued the Popes curse for hearyng witnesse of the resurrection of Iesus Christe And thus I commend you vnto God and to the woorde of his grace with all them that vnfaynedly call vppon the name of Iesus desiring GOD of his endles mercy through the merites of hys deare sonne Iesus Christ to bryng vs al to his euerlastyng kingdome Amen I prayse God for hys great mercy shewed vpon vs. Syng Osanna vnto the hyghest with me Cutbert Symsō God forgeue me my sinnes I aske al the world forgeuenes I do forgeue al the world and thus I leaue this worlde in hope of a ioyfull resurrection Cutbert Symson A briefe admonition wrytten by M. Bradford in a newe testament of a frend of hys THis boke is called sermo crucis the word of the crosse 1. Cor. 2 because the crosse doth alwais accompany it so that if you wil be a student hereof you must nedes prepare your self to the crosse which you began to learne before you learned your Alphabet and Christ requireth it of euery one that wyll be his disciple therin not swaruing from the common trade of callings or vocations for no profession or kind of life wanteth hys crosse So that they are farre ouerseene whyche thynke that the profession of the gospel whiche the deuyll most enuieth the world most hateth the flesh most repineth at can be without a crosse Lette vs therfore pray that god would enable vs to take vp our crosse by denying our selues E carcere 18. Februarij 155● Iohn Bradford A letter of Maister Thomas Leauer beyng then in exile for the testimonye of gods gospell to M. Bradford prisoner in the tower of London THe grace of god be vnto you wyth my harty commendations I haue sene the places noted the doctrine and discipline and talked wyth the learned men of Argentine Basyll Zurich Berne Lausan and Geneua and I haue had experience in all these places of syncere doctryne godly order and great learnyng and especially of suche vertuous learning diligence and charitie in Bullinger at Zurich and in Caluine at Geneua as doth much aduaunce gods glory vnto the edifying of Christes church with the same religiō for the which you be now in prison And as I dout not but you in readyng of their bookes haue foūd much godly and comfortable knowledge so I am sure that they in hearyng of your constancy patiēce take occasiō greatly to reioyce wyth thankes geuing vnto God whiche doth testifye his truth vnto the worlde not onely by their writyng but also by your suffering The lord therefore which vseth thys your suffering ioyned wyth godly learnyng to set forth his glory not onely vnto the comfort of simple soules in