Lord that where I might liue in worldly wealth to worshippe a false God and honour thine enemy I choose rather the torment of the body and losse of this my life and haue counted all things but vild dust and dunge that I might winne thee which death is dearer vnto me then thousands of Gold and Silver Such loue oh Lord hast thou layd vppe within my breast that I hunger for thee as the Deere that is wounded desireth the soile Send thy holy Comforter O Lord to ayd comfort and strengthen this weake peece of earth which is empty of all strength of it selfe Thou remembrest Oh Lord that I am but dust and able to doe nothing that is good Therefore O Lord as of thine accustomed goodnesse and loue thou hast bidden me to this banket accounted me worthy to drinke of thine owne cup amongst thine elect even so giue me strength Oh Lord against this thine element which as to my sight it is most yrksome and terrible so to my mind it may at thy commandent as an obedient servant bee sweet and pleasant that through the strength of thy holy spirit I may passe through the rage of this fire into thy bosome according to thy promise and for this mortall receiue an jmmortall and for this corruptible may put on jncorruption Accept this burnt offring O Lord not for the sacrifice but for thy deare Sonnes sake my Saviour For whose testimonie I offer this free-will offring with all my heart and with all my soule O heauenly Father forgiue mee my sinnes as I forgiue all the world O sweet Son of God my sauiour spread thy wings ouer me O blessed Holy Ghost through whose mercifull inspiration I come hither to dye conduct me into euerlasting life Lord into thine hands I commend my spirit Amen ¶ A Prayer which Master George Marsh vsed daily to say O LORD Iesus Christ which art the onely Phisition of wounded consciences wee miserable sinners trusting in thy gracious goodnesse doe briefly open to thee the evill tree of our hearts with all the rootes boughes leaues knots and snags all which thou knowest for thou throughly perceiuest as well th'jnward lusts doubtings and denyings of thy prouidence as these grosse outward sinnes which wee commit in words deeds Wherefore wee beseech thee according to the little measure we haue receaued we being farre vnable and vnapt to praye that thou wouldest mercifully circumcise our stonye hearts and for these old hearts create within vs and replenish vs with a new spirit water and moysten vs with the juice of heauenly grace and Wels of spirituall waters whereby the jnward venome and noisome juice of the flesh may be dryed vp and custome of the old man changed and our hearts alwayes bringing forth Thornes and Bryars to be burned with fire frō hence forth may beare spirituall fruits in righteousnes and holinesse vnto life euerlasting Amen Beloued among other exercises I doe daily on my knees vse this confession of sinnes willing and exhorting you to doe the same and daily to acknowledge vnfainedly to God your vnbeliefe vnthankfulnes and disobedience against him This shall you doe if you will diligently consider and looke vppon your selues first in the pure glasse of Gods Commandements there see your jnward euils filthines and vncleanesse and so learne to vanquish the same that is to wit to fall into hearty displeasure against sinne and thereby be provoked to long after Christ. For we truely are sinners but he is just and the justifier of all them that belieue in him If wee hunger and thirst after righteousnesse let vs resort to his table for he is a liberall feast-maker Hee will set before vs his own holy body which was giuē for vs to be out meat and his pretious bloud which was shed for vs and for many for remission of sinnes to be our drinke He biddeth willeth calleth for guests which hunger and thirst Come sayth he all yee that are laden and labour vnto mee and I will refresh coole and ease you and you shall find rest vnto your soules ¶ A Prayer of Nicholas Sheterden before his death O Lord my God and Saviour which art Lord in heauen and earth maker of all things visible and jnvisible I am thy creature worke of thine hands Lord looke vpon mee and other thy people which at this time are oppressed of the worldly minded men for thy lawes sake yea for thy Law it selfe is now trodden vnderfoote and mens jnventions exalted aboue it and for that cause do I and many of thy creatures refuse the glory praise and commodities of this life and do chose to suffer adversitie and to be banished yea to be burnt with the Books of thy word for the hopes sake that is layd vppe in store For Lord thou knowest if wee would but seeme to please men in things contrarie to thy word wee might by thy permission enioy these comodities as other men do as Wife Children goods and friends which all I acknowledge to be thy gifts given vnto the end I shold serve thee And now Lord that the world will not suffer mee to enioy them except I offend thy Lawes behold I giue vnto thee my whole Spirit Soule and body And lo I leaue heere all the pleasures of this life and doe now leaue th' vse of them for the hopes sake of eternall life purchased in Christs blood and promised to all that fight on his side and are content to suffer with him for his truth whēsoever the world and the Deuill shall persecute the same O Father I presume not to come heere to thee trusting in mine owne righteousnes No but in the onely merits of thy Sonne my Saviour For the which excellent gift of Salvation I cannot worthilye prayse thee neither is any sacrifice worthy or to be accepted with thee in comparison of our bodies mortified and obedient to thy wil. And now Lord whatsoever rebellion hath been or is found in my members against thy will yet doe I heere giue vnto thee my body to the death rather then I will vse any strange worshipping which I beseech thee accept at my hands for a pure sacrifice Let this torment be to me the last enemie destroyed even death the end of miserie and the beginning of all joy peace and solace And when the time of the resurrection commeth let me enjoy againe these mēbers then glorified which now be spoyled and consumed by the fier O Lord Iesus receiue my spirit into thine hands Amen George Tankerfield GEorge Tankerfield sitting before a fier a little before his death at ST ALBANS after he had put off his hose and shooes stretched out his legge to the flame and when it had touched his foot he quickly withdrew his leg shewing how the flesh did perswade him one way and the spirit an other The flesh sayd ô thou foole wilt thou burne and needst not The spirit sayd be not afrayd this burning is nothing to eternall fier The flesh
sayd do not leaue the company of thy friends and acquaintance which loue thee and will let thee lacke nothing The spirit sayd the company of Iesus Christ and his glorious presence doth farre exceed all fleshly friends The flesh sayd doe not shorten thy time now for thou maist if thou wilt liue much longer The spirit sayd this life is nothing to that which is to come which lasteth for euer and ever ¶ The Prayer of Richard Browne who standing at the stake and holding vp both his hands sayd O Lord I yeild mee to thy grace Graunt mee pardon for my trespasse Let neuer the feend my soule chase Lord I will bow and thou shalt beat Let neuer my soule come in hell heat Into thy hands I commend my spirit ¶ A Godly and deuout Prayer mentioned in the storie of M r. Philpot Martyr fit for such as suffer at the stake MErcifull God and father to whome approached our Sauiour Christ in his feare need by reason of death and found comfort Gracious God and most bounteous Christ on whome Steuen called in his extreame need and receiued strength Most benigne and holy spirit who in the midst of all crosses and death did'st comfort th'Apostle ST Paul with more consolations in Christ thē hee felt sorrows terrors haue mercie vpon me miserable vild and wretched sinner who now draweth neere vnto the gates of death deserued both in body and soule eternall by reason of my manifold horrible old and new transgressions which to thine eies ô Lord are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee for the bitter death and bloodshedding of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy justice do require in respect of my sinnes that thou shouldst not heare me measuring mee with the same measure I haue measured thy Maiestie contēning al thy gracious calls yet let thy mercie which is aboue all thy works and wherwith th' earth is filled let thy mercy I say prevaile towards mee through and for the Mediation of onr Saviour for whose sake it hath pleased thee now to bring mee foorth as one of thy witnesses and a record bearer to thy veritie and truth taught by him to giue my life therefore To which dignitie ô Lord and deere father I acknowledge there was never any so vnfit nor vnworthy no not the theefe that hanged vppon the Crosse so I therfore most humbly beseech thee that thou woldst accordingly aid helpe and assist me with thy strength and heavenly grace that with Christ thy Sonne I may find comfort with Steven I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paul and all others which for thy names sake haue suffred affliction and death I may find thy sweet consolation so present with mee that I may by my death glorifie thy name propagate and ratifie thy truth comfort the hearts of the heavie confirm thy Church in thy veritie convert some to be converted so depart foorth of this miserable life where I doe nothing but heape sinne dayly vppon sinne and so enter into the fruition of thy blessed presence and mercie whereof giue and encrease in mee a liuely trust sence and feeling where through the terrors of death the torments of the fire the pangs of sinne the darts of Satan and the dolours of hell may never depresse mee but may bee driven away through the working of thy most gratious spirit which now plenteously endew mee withall that I may offer as I now desire to do in Christ by him my selfe wholy Soule and body to be an holy liuely and acceptable sacrifice in thy sight Deere Father whose I am and alwaies haue been even from my Mothers wombe yea even before the world was made to whom I commend my selfe soule and body familie friends Countrey and all thy whole Church yea even my very enemies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee entirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting foorth of the same Oh deare Father now giue me grace to come vnto thee purge and so purifie mee by this fire in Christs death passion through thy spirit that I may bee a burnt offring of sweet smel in thy sight who liuest and raignest with the son and holy Ghost now and for ever more Amen M. Bartlet Greene. ¶ A Sweet description of the miseries of this life and of the ioyes of the life to come written by M r. Bartlet Greene. BEtter is the day of death sayth Salomon then the day of birth Man that is borne of a woman liueth but a short time and is replenished with many miseries but happy are the dead that dye in the Lord. Man of a woman is borne in trauell to liue in miserie man through Christ doth dye to liue Straight as he commeth into this world with cries hee vttereth his miserable estate straight as he departeth with songs hee praiseth God for ever Scearce yet in his cradle 3 deadly enemies assaile him after death no adversarie can annoy him whilst he is heere hee displeaseth GOD when hee is dead hee fulfilleth his will In this life hee dyeth through sinne In the life to come he liueth in righteousnesse Through many tribvlations on earth he is still purged with joy vnspeakable in heaven hee is made perfect for ever Heere hee dyeth every houre there hee liveth continually Heere is sinne there is righteousnes Here is time there is eternitie Heere is hatred there is loue Heere is paine there is pleasure Heere is miserie there is felicitie Heere is Corruption there is jmmortalitie Heere we see vanitie there we shall behold the Maiestie of God with triumphant vnspeakable joy in glory everlasting Seeke therefore the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD the Father to whom with the holy Ghost be all glory and houour world without end Amen Lady Iane. ¶ An effectuall Prayer made by the Lady IANE in the time of her trouble O Lord thou god father of my life heare me poore and desolate woman who flyeth vnto thee onely in all troubles and miseries Thou O Lord art the onely defender and deliuerer of those that put their trust in thee therfore I beeing defiled with sinne encombred with affliction vnquieted with troubles wrapped in cares over-whelmed with miseries vexed with temptations and grieuously tormented with the long jmprisonment of this vilde masse of Claye my sinfull body do come vnto thee O mercifull Saviour crauing thy mercie and helpe with the which so little hope of deliuerance is left that I may vtterly despaire of any libertie Albeit it is expedient that seeing our life standeth vpon trying we should be visited sometime with some adversity whereby we might be tried whether wee be thy flocke or no and also know thee and our selues the better yet thou that sayd'st thou would'st not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our power be merciful vnto me now a miserable wretch
price Oh wretched sinner that I am not thankfull vnto this my Father who hath vouchsafed mee woorthy to bee a vessell vnto his honour But O Lord now accept my thankes though they proceed out of a not enough circumcised heart Salute all that loue vs in the truth Gods blessing bee with you alwayes Amen Euen now towards the offring vp of a burnt Sacrifice O my CHRIST helpe or else I perish Bishop Hooper ¶ Out of a Letter consolatory which he writ to certain godly Brethren taken in Bow Church-yard at prayer and layd in the Counter in Bread-streete REmember what lookers on you haue to see and behold you in your fight God and all his holy Angels who are ready alwaies to take you vp into Heaven if you be slaine in his fight Also you haue standing at your backes all the multitude of the faithfull who shal take courage strength and desire to follow such noble and valiant Christians as you be Be not afrayd of your adversaries for he that is in you is stronger then hee that is in them Shrinke not although it be paine to you your paines be not now so great as hereafter your joyes shall bee Read the comfortable Chapters to the Rom. 8 10.15 Heb. 11.12 And vppon your knees thanke God that ever you were accounted worthy to suffer any thing for his names sake Read the second of Lukes Gospell and there you shall see how the Sheapheards that watched vppon their Sheepe all night as soone as they heard that Christ was borne at Bethlem by by they went to see him They did not reason or debate with themselues who should keepe the Wolfe from the sheep in the mean time but did as they were commanded and committed their Sheepe vnto him whose pleasure they obayed So let vs now wee bee called commit all other things to him that calleth vs. Hee will take heede that all things shall be well He will helpe the Husband hee will comfort the Wife Hee will guide the Seruants hee will keepe the house hee will preserue the goods Yea rather then faile if it should lye vndone he will wash the Dishes and rocke the Cradle Cast therefore all your care vppon him for he careth for you ¶ Out of another Letter of M r. HOOPERS to his friends perswading them to constancy IT was an easie thing to hold with Christ whiles the Prince and the World held with him but now the world hateth him it is the true tryal who be his In the name and in the vertue theÌ„ of his holie spirit prepare your selues to adversity constancy Let vs not run away when it is most time to fight Remember none shall bee crowned but such as fight manfully You must now turne all your cogitatiâ—ns from the perill you see and marke the felicitie that followeth the perill either victorie of your enemies in this World or else a surrender for euer of your right in the inheritance to come Beware of beholding to much the felicite or miserie of this world for the consideration and too earnest loue or feare of either of them draweth from God Thinke with your selues the felicitie of the world is good but yet none otherwise then it standeth with the fauor of God It is to be kept but yet so farre forth as by keeping of it wee loose not God It is good abiding and tarrying still among our friends here but yet so that we tarrie not therwithall in Gods displeasure and to dwell hereafter with Deuils in fire euerlasting There is nothing vnder God but may bee kept so that God being aboue all things we haue be not lost Of Aduersity iudge the same Long imprisonment is painfull but yet libertie vppon euill conditions is more painfull The prisons stincke but yet not so much as sweet houses whereas the feare and true honour of God lacketh losse of goods is great but losse of Gods grace and fauour is greater I must bee alone and solitarie it is better to bee alone and haue God with mee then to bee in company with the wicked and want his presence I am a poore simple creature and cannot tell how to answere before such a great sort of Noble and learned wen it is better to make answere before the pompe and pride of wicked men then to stand naked in the sight of all heaven and Earth before the iust GOD at the latter day I shall die then by the hands of the cruell man hee is blessed that looseth his life full of miseries and findeth the life of eternall ioyes It is paine and griefe to depart from life and friends but yet not so much as to depart from grace and Heauen it selfe Felicitie nor adversitie then can apreare to be great if it be wayed with the joyes or paine of the life to come ¶ The last will and testament of Doctor Rowland Taylor I Say to my wife and to my Children the Lord gaue you vnto mee and the Lord hath taken me from you and you from mee blessed be the name of the Lord. I beleeue they are blessed that dye in the Lord. God careth for sparrowes and for the haires of our heads I haue euer found him more faithfull and fauorable then is any Father or husband Trust yee therefore in him by the meanes of our deere Sauiour Christs merits beleeue loue feare and obay him pray to him for hee hath promised to helpe Count me not dead for I shall certainely liue and neuer die I goe before you and you shall follow after to our long home I goe to the rest of my childreÌ„ Susan George Ellen Robert Zacharie I haue bequeathed you to the onely omnipotent I say to my deare friends of HADLEY and to all other which haue heard me preach that I depart hence with a quiet conscience as touching my doctrine for the which I pray you thanke God with me for after my small tallent I haue declared to you those lessons I gathered out of Gods blessed booke the Bible If I therefore or an Angell from Heaven should preach vnto you any other Gospell then that ye haue received Gods great curse vppon that preacher Beware for gods sake that ye deny not God neither decline from the woord of Faith least GOD decline from you and so ye doe everlastingly perish For Gods sake beware of Poperie for though it appeare to haue in it vnitie yet the same is in vanitie and Antichristianitie and not in Christs faith and veritie Beware of the sin against the holy Ghost now after such a light opened so plainlie and simplie truelie thorowlie and generally to all England The Lord grant all men his good and holy spirit increase of his wisdome contemning this wicked world heartie desire to bee with God the heavenly company through Iesus Christ our onely Mediatour advocate righteousnes life sanctification and onelie hope Amen Amen pray pray Rowland Taylor departing hence in sure hope without all doubting of eternall salvation I thanke God my
I beseech thee that I may neither bee too much puffed vppe with prosperity neither to much pressed downe with adversity least I beeing too full should denye thee my God or being too low brought should despaire blaspheme thee my Lord and Saviour O mercifull God consider my miserie best knowne to thee and bee thou now vnto mee a strong Tower of defence I humbly require thee Suffer me not to bee tempted aboue my power but either be thou a deliuerer to mee out of this great misery or else giue me grace patiently to beare thy heauy hand and sharpe correction It was tâ—y right hand that deliuered the poore people of Israell out of the haÌ„ds of Pharaoh which for the space of Fortie yeares did oppresse and keepe theÌ„ in bondage Let it therefore seeme good to thy fatherly goodnesse to deliuer me sorrowfull wretch for whome thy Sonne Christ shedde his pretious bloud on the Crosse out of this miserable captiuitie and bondage wherein I now am How long wilt thou bee absent for ever Oh Lord hast thou forgotten to bee gracious and hast thou shut vppe thy loving kindnesse in displeasure wilt thou bee no more entreated Is thy mercy clean gone for ever and thy promise come vtterly to an end for evermore Why doest thou make so long tarrying Shall I despaire of thy mercy O God farre be that from me I am thy workemanship created in Christ Iesus giue mee grace therfore to tarrie thy leisure and patiently to beare thy workes assuredly knowing that as thou caust so thou wilt deliuer me when it shal please thee nothing doubting or mistrusting thy goodness towards me for thou knowest better what is good for me then I doe therefore doe with mee in all things what thou wilt Onelie in the meane time arme me I beseech thee with thy armor that I may stand fast my loines being girt about with veritie having on the breast-plate of righteousnes and shodde with the shoes prepared in the Gospell of peace aboue all things taking vnto me the shield of Faith wherewith I may be able to quench al the fiery darts of the devil and taking the helmet of Hope and the sword of the Spirit which is thy most holy word praying alwaies with all manner of Prayer and Supplication that I may referre my selfe wholly to thy will abyding thy pleasure and comforting my selfe in those troubles that it shall please thee to send seeing such troubles be profitable for mee and seeing I am assuredly perswaded that it cannot but bee well all that thou dooest Heare mee ô mercifull Father for his sake whome thou would'st should bee a sacrifice for my sinnes to whome with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honour and glorie Amen ¶ A Prayer of the Lord Cromwell which he at the houre of his death O Lord Iesu which art the onely health of all men living and the everlasting life of them which die in thee I wretched sinner do submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will beejng sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie willingly now I leaue this fraile and wicked flesh in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise raise it vp restore it to me at the day of the resurrection of the just I beseech thee most mercifull Lord Iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and defend mee with the buckler of thy mercie against al the assaults of Satan I see and acknowledge that ther is in my selfe no hope of Salvation but all my hope and trust is in thy most mercifull goodnes I haue no merits nor good works which I may alleadge before thee of sinnes and evill works alas I see a great heape but yet thorow thy mercie I trust to be in the nuÌ„ber of theÌ„ to whom thou wilt not jmpute their sins but wilt accept me for just and righteous and to bee th'inheritor of everlasting life Thou mercifull Lord wastborn for my sake thou didst suffer both hunger thirst for my sake thou didst teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and workes thou wroughtest for my sake Thou suffred'st most greeuous paines and torments for my sake finally thou gavest thy most precious body and blood to be shed vppon the Crosse for my sake Now most merciful Saviour Let all these things profit mee that thou freely hast doone for mee Let thy blood clense wash away the spots and foulenes of my sinnes Let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merits of thy passion and blood shedding bee a satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my salvation in thy blood waver not but may be ever firme and constant that the hope of thy mercie and life everlasting never decay in me that loue may not bee cold in mee Finally that the weakenes of my flesh bee not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eies of my body and hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet the eyes of my Soule may still behold and looke vppon thee and my heart may still cry and say vnto thee Lord Iesu into thine hands I commed my Soule Lord receiue my spirit Amen ¶ The Prayer that Martin Luther sayd at his death MY Heavenly Father and eternall mercifull GOD thou hast manifested to mee thy deere son our Lord Iesus Christ. I haue taught him I haue knowne him I loue him as my life my health and my redemption whome the wicked haue persecuted maligned and with jniurie afflicted Draw my soule to thee After this hee sayd I commend my spirit into thine hands thou hast redeemed mee ô GOD of truth God so loved the world c. Anne Askew ¶ The Prayer of Anne Askew O Lord I haue more enemies then there bee haires on my head yet Lord let them never overcome mee with vaine words but fight thou Lord in my stead for on thee cast I my care With all the spight they can jmagine they fall vppon me which am thy poore creature Yet sweet Lord let me not set by them which are against mee for in thee is my whole delight And Lord I heartely desire of thee that thou wilt of thy mercifull goodnesse forgiue them that violence which they doe and haue done to me OpeÌ„ also their blind hearts that they may heereafter do that thing in thy sight which is only acceptable before thee and to set foorth thy veritie aright without all fantasies of sinnefull men So be it O Lord so be it By me Anne Askew William Flower ¶ The Prayer and confession which William Flower made at his death OH Eternall God most mightie and mercifull Father who hast sent down thy sonne vppon the earth to saue mee and all mankind who ascended vp into heaven againe and left his blood heere vppon the earth behind him for the redemption of our sinnes haue mercie
vppon mee haue mercie vpon me for thy deere Sonne our Saviour Christs sake in whom I confesse onely to bee all salvation and justification and that there is none other meane nor way nor holinesse in which or by which any man can be saved in this world This is my faith which I beseech men heere to beare witnes off Then sayd hee the Lords Prayer and so made an end Fier beeing set vnto him and burning therein he cried thrise with a loud voice O Sonne of GOD haue mercy vpon mee O Sonne of GOD receiue my soule and so his speach beeing taken from him hee spake no more lifting vp notwithstanding his stumpe with his other arme as long as he could ¶ Here followeth two worthy and godly Letters full of heavenly consolation written by that holie man of God M. Iohn Bradford Martyr fit for all such to read and obserue as feele in them a wounded spirit ¶ The first Letter written to Mistres H. a godly Gentlewoman comforting her in that common and godly sorrow which the feeling and sence of sinne worketh in Gods children I Humblie and heartilie praye the everlasting good God and Father of mercie to blesse and keepe your hart and mind in the knowledge and the loue of his truth and of his Christ through th'jnspiration working of the holy spirit Amen Although I haue no doubt but that you prosper and goe forwards daily in the way of Godlinesse more and more drawing towards perfection and haue no need of any thing that I can write yet because my desire is that you might be more fervent and persevere vnto the end I could not but write something vnto you beseeching you both often and diligentlie to call vnto your mind as a meane to stirre you hervnto yea as a thing which god most straightly requireth you to belieue that you are the beloued of God and that hee is your deare Father in through for Christ his deaths sake This loue and tender kindnesse of God towards vs in Christ is aboundantlie herein declared in that he hath to the godly worke of Creation of this world made vs after his jmage redeemed vs being lost called vs into his church sealed vs with his marke and signe Manuel of Baptisme kept and conserved vs all the daies of our life fedde nowrished defended and most mercifullie chastised vs and now hath kindled in our hearts the sparkles of his feare faith loue and knowledge of his Christ truth and therefore we lament because wee can lament no more our vnthankefulnesse our frailenes our diffidence and wavering in things whereof we should be most certain All these things we should vse as meanes to confirme our faith of this that God is our God and Father and to assure vs that he loueth vs as our Father in Christ to this end I say should we vse the things before touched especiallie in that of all things God requireth this faith and perswasion of his Father by goodnesse as his chiefest seruice For before he aske any thing of vs he saith I am the Lord thy God giuing himselfe and all he hath to vs to be our own And this he doth in respect of himselfe of his owne mercie truth and not in respect of vs for then were grace no more grace In consideration wherof when he saith Thou shalt haue none other Gods but mee thou shalt loue mee with all thy heart c. Though of dutie wee are bound to accomplish all that he requireth and are culpable and guiltie if wee doe not the same yet he requireth not these things further of vs then to make vs more in loue and more certaine of this his covenant that hee is the Lord our GOD. In certaintie whereof as he hath giuen this world to serue our need and commoditie so hath he giuen vs his son Christ Iesus and in Christ himselfe to be a pledge and gage wherof the Holie Ghost doth now and then giue vs some tast and sweet feeling and smell to our eternall ioye Therefore as I said because God is your Father in Christ and requireth of you straightly to belieue it giue your selfe to obedience although you doe it not with such feeling as you desire First must faith goe before and then feeling will follow If our jmperfection frailty many evils should bee occasions whereby Satan would haue vs doubt as much as in vs lyeth let vs abhorre that suggestion as of all others most pernicious for so indeed it is For whē we stand in doubt whether God bee our Father or no we cannot bee thankfull to God we cannot heartily pray or thinke any thing we do acceptable to God we cannot loue our neighbours and giue ouer our selues to care for them and doe for them as we should do and therfore Satā is most busie hereabouts knowing full wel that if we doubt of gods eternall sweet mercies in Christ wee cannot please God or doe any thing as we should to man Continually casteth he into our memories our jmperfection frailty folly and offences that we shold doubt of gods mercie and fauour towards vs. Therefore my good Sister we must not bee sluggish herein but as Satan laboreth to loosen our faith so must we labour to fasten it by thinking on the promises and covenant of god in Christs bloud namelie that God is our God with all that ever he hath which Covenant dependeth and hangeth vpon Gods owne goodnes mercie and truth onely and not on our obedience and worthines in any poynt for then should we never bee certaine Indeed God requireth of vs obedience and worthines but not that thereby wee might be made his childrē and he our Father but because he is our Father and wee his children through his own goodnes in christ therfore requireth he faith and obedience Now if we want this obedience worthinesse which hee requireth should wee therefore doubt whether he bee our Father Nay that were to make our obedience worthines the cause and so to put Christ out of place for whose sake God is our Father But rather because hee is our Father and wee feele our selues to want such things as he requireth wee should be stirred vppe to an holy blushing and shamfastnesse because wee are not as wee should bee and therevpon should wee take occasion to go to our father in prayer on this manner Deare Father thou of thine owne Mercie in Christ Iesus hast chosen me to bee thy child and therefore thou would'st I should be brought into thy Church and faithfull company of thy children wherein thou hast kept me hitherto thy name bee praised therefore Now I see my selfe to want faith hope loue c. which thy children haue and thou requirest of me wherethrough the deuill would haue me doubt yea vtterly to despaire off thy Fatherly goodnesse favour and mercie Therefore I come to thee as to my merciful father through thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and pray thee to helpe me
good Lord helpe me and giue mee Faith Hope loue thankfulnesse c. and graunt that thy holy spirit may be with me for ever and more and more to assure mee that thou art my father that this mercifull couenant that thou madest with mee in respect of thy grace in Christ and for Christ and not in respect of any my worthinesse c. On this sort I say you must pray and vse your cogitatiōs when Satan would haue you to doubt of your Salvation He doth all he can to prevaile heerein against you Do you all yee can to prevaile heerein against him Though you feele not as you would yet doubt not but hope beyond hope as Abraham did For alwaies as I sayd faith goeth before feeling As certaine as God is Almightie as certaine as GOD is mercifull as certaine as God is true as certaine as Iesus Christ was crucified is risen and sitteth on the right hand of God his Father as certaine as this is Gods commandement I am the Lord thy GOD c. so certaine ought you to beleeue that God is your Father As you are bound to haue none other Gods but him so are ye no lesse bound to beleeue that god is your God What profit shold it be to you to belieue this to be true I am the Lord thy god to others if you should not beleeue that this is true to your selfe The Devill beleeueth on this sort And whatsoever it be that wold moue you to doubt of this whether God be your God through Christ that same commeth vndoubtedly of the Deuill Wherefore did god make you but because hee loved you might hee not haue made you blind dumb deafe lame frantick might hee not haue made you a Iew a Turk a Papist And why did he loue you what was there in you to mooue him to loue you surely nothing moued him to loue you and therefore to make you and so hitherto to keepe you but his owne goodnes in Christ. Now thē in that his goodnesse in Christ still remaineth as much as it was that is even as great as himselfe for it cannot bee lessened how should it bee but that he is your God Father Beleeue this beleeue this my good sister for god is no changeling them whome hee loueth hee loveth to the end Cast therefore your selfe wholly vppon him and thinke without all wauering that you are Gods child that you are a Citizen of heaven that you are the temple of the holy Ghost c. If heereof you bee assured as you ought to bee then shall your conscience be quietted then shall you lamēt more and more that you want many things which God loueth then shall you labour to be holy in soule and in body then shall you endeavour that Gods glorie may shine in all your words and works then shall you not be afraid what man can doe vnto you then shall you haue wisedome to answere your aduersaries as shal serue for their shame and to your comfort then shall you bee certaine that no man can touch one haire of your head further then it shall please your father to your everlasting joy then shal you be most certaine that God as your good father will be more carefull of your children and make better prouision for thē if al you haue were gone then you can then shall you beeing assured I say of Gods fauour towards you giue over your selfe wholly to helpe care for others that bee in need then shall you cōtemne this life and desire to be at home with your good and sweet Father then shall you labour to mortifie all things that would spot either soule or body All these things spring out of this certaine perswasion and faith that God is our Father and wee his children by Christ Iesus Al things should helpe our faith herein but Satan goeth about in all things to hinder vs. Therefore let vs vse earnest and hearty prayer let vs oftē remember this covenant I am the Lord thy God let vs looke vppon Christ and his precious bloud shed for th' obsignation and sealing of this covenant let vs remember all the free promises of god in his Gospell let vs set before vs GODS benefits generally in making this world in ruling it in governing it in calling and keeping his Church c. Let vs set before vs Gods benefits particularly how he hath made vs his Creatures after his jmage how he hath made vs of perfect lyms forme beauty memory c. How hee hath made vs Christians and given vs a right judgement in his Religion how ever since wee were born he hath blessed kept norished and defended vs how hee hath often beaten chastised and fatherly corrected vs how he hath spared vs and now doth spare vs giuing vs time space place grace This if you do and vse earnest and often prayer and so flee from all things which might troble the peace of your conscience giving your selfe to diligence in your vocation you shall at length find that which god grant mee with you a sure certaintie of Salvation without all such wavering as should hinder your peace with GOD in CHRIST to your eternall joye and comfort Amen Amen Yours to be vsed in Christ Iohn Bradford ¶ The second Letter written to a faithfull Woman in her heauinesse and trouble of mind most comfortable for all to read that are afflicted or broken hearted for their sinnes GOD our Father for his mercies sake in Christ with his eternall consolatiō so comfort you as I desire to be comforted in my most need yea hee will comfort you my deare Sister only cast your care vppon him and hee neuer can nor will forsake you Whom he loueth hee loueth to the end none of his chosen can perish Of which nūber I know your selfe to be one my dearely beloved Sister GOD jncrease the faith thereof daily more and more in you hee giue vnto you to hang whollie on him and on his providence and protectiō For who so dwelleth vnder that secret thing and helpe of the Lord hee shall bee Cocke-sure for evermore He that dwelleth I say for if we be flitters as was Lot a flitter from Zoar where God promised him protectiō if he had dwelled there still we shall remoue to our losse as hee did into the Mountaines Dwell therefore that is trust and that finally to the end in the Lord my deare Sister and you shall be as Mount Syon As the Mountaines compasse Ierusalem so doth the Lord all his people How then can he forget you who are as deare to him as the apple of his Eye for his deare Sons sake Ah deare heart that I were now with you to bee a Symon to you to helpe carry your Crosse with you God send you some good Symon to bee with you and helpe you You complaine in your Letters of the blindnesse of your mind the troubles you feele My dearly beloued GOD make you thankefull for that which God
no motion nor sence of any comfort from him To whome the sayd Austen answering desired him patiētly to waite the Lords leisure howsoeuer his present feeling was and to play the man nothing doubting but the Lord in due season would satisfie his desire with plentie of Consolation whereof hee sayd hee was right certaine and sure and therefore desired him whensoeuer any feeling of GODS heavenly mercies should begin to touch his heart that hee would giue him some signe thereof The next day when the time of his Martyrdome was come and as hee was going to the stake come to the sight of it albeit all the night before prayjng for comfort and courage hee felt no answere of his praier sodainely he was so mightily replenished with the comfort of Gods holy Spirit and heavenly joies that hee cried out clapping his hands to Austen sayjng these words hee is come Austen hee is come hee is come and that with such joy and alacritie as one seeming rather to bee risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life then as one passing out of this world by any paines of death M. Iohn Lambart IOHN LAMBART having his nether parts consumed with fire lifting vp such hands as hee had and his fingers ends flaming with fire cryed to the people None but Christ None but Christ. Adam Damplip THIS good man beejng advertised by his keeper that his execution drew neere was never seen to quaile but was as merrie and eate his supper that night as chearefully as ever hee did in all his life at which his keeper and the rest of the prisoners wondring asked him how hee could take such newes so chearefully Ah my Maisters sayth he doe yee thinke I haue beene thus long Gods prisoner in the Marshalsey and haue not yet-learned to die Yes yes I doubt not but God will strengthen me therein Kerby Martyr ONE KERBY beeing councelled by M. WINKFIELD to pittie himselfe and to take no more vppon him then hee should bee able to performe the fire saith hee is hot the terrour is great the paine wil be extreame and life is sweet To whom KERBY answered M. WINKFIELD be at my burning and you shall say there standeth a Christian Souldier in the fire For I know that Fire and Water Sword and all other things are in the hāds of God who will suffer no more to bee layd vppon vs then hee will giue strength to beare Thomas Bilney MR. THOMAS BILNEY beeing put in mind that though the fire which he should suffer the next day should be of great heat vnto his body yet the comfort of GODS spirit should coole it to his euerlasting comfort and refreshing At those words putting his finger towards the flame of the candle thē burning before them as also hee diuers times did and feeling the heat thereof O sayd hee I feele by experience and haue knowne it long by Philosophy that fire by gods ordinance is naturally hot but yet I am perswaded by Gods holy word and by th' experience of some spoken of in the same that in the flame they felt no heat and in the fire they felt no consumption And I constantly beleeue that howsoeuer the stubble of this my body shal be wasted by it yet my Soule and Spirit shall be purged thereby A paine for the time after which notwithstanding followeth vnspeakeable Ioy. And then entreated notably vpon the first and second verses of the 43 Chap. of Isaias which sentēces for the joy cōfort some of his friends tooke in them caused them to be faire written out the comfort whereof they left not to their dyjng day The sayd BILNEY beeing visited by certain of his friēds the night before he suffred they found him eating an Alebrew with such a cherefull heart and quiet minde as made them wonder thereat sayjng they were not a little glad to see him at that time so cheerefully to refresh himselfe To whome hee made this answere Oh sayd he I follow the example of the Husbandmen in the Countrie who hauing a ruinous house to dwell in doe yet bestow cost as long as they remaine in it to vphold the same And so do I now with this ruinous house of my body refreshing the same as you see with these good creatures of God Iames Baynam THis BAYNAM as hee stood at the stake in the midst of the flaming fire which fire had halfe consumed his armes and his legges hee was heard to speake these words O yee Papists Behold yee looke for Miracles and heere yee may see a Miracle for in this fire I feele no more paine then if I were in a bed of down but it is to me as sweet as a bed of Roses Henry Voes THe like speach I finde of a young man burnt at Bruxels who when the fire was kindled at his feet sayd me thinks you strew Roses vnder my feete Hugh Laverocke THis Laverocke a lame Creple IOHN APPRICE a blind man being chained both of them to the stake LAVERCOCK casting away his Crutch and comforting his fellow Martyr fayd Be of good comfort my brother for my L. of London is our good Phisition Hee will shortly cure vs both thee of thy blindnes and me of my lamenesse William Hunter WILLIAM HVNTER apprētice of the age of 19 yeares standing at the stake sayd Son of God shine vppon me and jmediately the Son in the Element shone out of a darke cloud for it was a glomie day so full in his face that hee was constrained to turne his face an other way The sayd WILLIAM HVNTER beeing brought downe from London to be burnt remained by the way two dayes at Burntwood whether his Father and Mother came to comfort him who heartely desired of GOD that hee might cōtinue in the good way hee had begun vnto the end and his mother sayd vnto him that shee was glad shee was euer so happy as to beare such a Sonne who could find in his heart to loose his life for Christs sake Then said WILLIAM to his mother For my little paine which I shall suffer which is also but for a moment Christ hath promised me Mother saith he a Crowne of life And may not you bee glad of that Mother With that his Mother kneeled downe on her knees sayjng I pray GOD strengthen thee my Sonne vnto the end And I thinke thee as well bestowed as any Child that euer I bare At which words M. HIGBED one that was then to suffer for the same cause tooke her in his armes sayjng I rejoyce much to see you in this mind and you haue good cause so to doe Robert Samuel MR. ROBERT SAMVEL Minister was kept in streight prison by the Bishops Chancellor of NORVVICH Wherein hee was chained boult vpright to a great post in such sort that standing only on tip-toe hee was faine to stay vp the whole poyse of his body thereby And to make amends they added a far greater torment keeping him without meat and drinke whereby
certaine all the haires of your head are numbred Be certain your good Father hath appointed your bounds over which the devill dare not looke Commit your selfe to him hee is hath been and will bee your keeper Let Christ be your marke and scope to prick at Let him be your patterne to worke by Let him be your ensample to follow giue him as your heart so your hand as your mind so your tongue as your Faith so your feet And let his word be your Candle to goe before you in al matters of Religion Blessed is he that Walketh not to these Popish praiers nor standeth at them nor sitteth at them glorifie God both in soule and body ¶ Fifteene short sentences left by Robert Smith Martyr to ANNE SMITH his wife 1 SEEke first to loue God deere wife with your whole heart and then it shall be easie for you to loue your neighbour 2 Be friendly to all creatures but especially to your owne Soule 3 Be alwaies an enemie to the Deuill the world but chiefely to your owne flesh 4 In hearing of good things ioyne the eares of your head and heart together 5 Seeke vnitie and quietnesse with all men but specially with your conscience for it will not easily be pacified 6 Loue all men but specially your enemies 7 Hate the sinnes that are past but especially those to come 8 Be as ready to further your enemie as hee is to hinder you that yee may bee the child of God 9 Defile not that which Christ hath cleansed least his blood bee layd to your charge 10 Remember that god hath hedged in your tongue with the teeth and lippes that it might speake vnder correction 11 Be ready at all times to looke to your brothers eye but especially to your owne eye For he that warneth an other of that hee himselfe is faultie giueth his neighbour the cleere Wine and himselfe the dregges 12 Beware of riches and worldly honor for without vnderstanding prayer and fasting it is a snare like to consuming fier of which if a man take a little it will warme him but if too much it will consume him 13 Shew mercie to the Saints for Christs sake Christ shall reward you for the Saints sake 14 Among all other prisoners visit your owne Soule for it is inclosed in a perillous prison 15 If you loue GOD hate euill c. Your Husband RO SMITH If yee will meet with me againe Forsake not Christ for any paine CERTAINE deuout Prayers which some of the godly Martyrs made at the hower of their death ¶ The Prayer which M r. HOOPER Bishop of Glocester made at his death LORD sayd he I am Hell but thou art Heaven I am swill and a sincke of sinne but thou art a gracious GOD and a merciful Saviour and Redeemer Haue mercie therefore vppon me most miserable and wretched offender after thy great mercie and according to thine jnestimable goodnes thou art assended into Heaven receiue me Hell to be partaker of thy joyes where thou sittest in equall glory with the Father For well thou knowest Lord wherefore I am come hither to suffer and why the wicked doe persecute this thy poore seruant not for my sinnes and transgressions committed against thee but because I will not allow of their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood and to the deniall of the knowledge of thy truth wherwith it did please thee by thy holy spirit to jnstruct mee the which with as much diligence as a poore wretch might being called thereto I haue set forth to thy glory And well thou seest my Lord God what terrible paynes and cruel torments be here prepared for thy poore Creature such Lord as without thy strength none is able to beare or patiently to passe But all things that are jmpossible with man with thee are possible Therefore strengthen me of thy goodnesse that in the fire I breake not the bounds of patience or else asswage the terrour of the paines as shall seeme most to thy glory Heere the party who heard thus much of his prayer beeing espied of the Maior was commaunded away and could be suffred to heare no more ¶ The Prayer of Doctor CRANMER Archbishop of Canterburie when it was thought he would haue made his Recantation O Father of Heauen O Sonne of GOD redeemer of the world O holy Ghost three persons and one GOD haue mercy vppon me most wretched Caytiffe and miserable sinner I haue offended both against Heauen and Earth more then my tongue can expresse Whether then may I goe or whether should I flee To heauen I am ashamed to lift vppe mine eyes and in Earth I find no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore o Lord do I runne to thee do I humble my selfe saying O Lord my GOD my sinnes be great but yet haue Mercie vppon mee for thy great Mercie The great mistery that God became man was not wroght for small or few offences Thou didst not giue thy Sonne O Heauenly Father vnto death for little sinnes onely but for all the greatest sinnes of the world so that the sinner returne to thee with his whole heart as I doe heere at this present Wherfore haue mercie vppon mee ô GOD whose property it is always to haue mercie haue mercie vpon mee ô Lord for thy great mercie I craue nothing for mine owne merits but for thy names sake that it may be hallowed thereby and for thy deere Sonne Iesus Christs sake And now therefore O our Father c. His repentance for subscription vttered a little before his death And now I come to the great thing that so much troubleth my conscience more then any thing that ever I did or sayd in my whole life and that is the setting abroad of a writing contrarie to the truth which now I heere renownce refuse as things written with my hand contrary to the truth which I thought in mine heart and written for feare of death and to saue life if it might be and that is all such bils and papers which I haue written or signed with mine hand since my degradatiō wherein I haue written many things vntrue And for as much as my hand offeded in writing cōtrary to my heart mine hand shal be punished therefore for may I come to the fire it shall first be burned which accordingly he did For being at the stake whē the fire began to flame hee put his right hand vnto it which hee held so stedfast and jmmoueable saving that once with the same hand hee wiped his face that all men might see his hand burned before it touched his body ¶ The Prayer of Steven Knight made vppon his knees at his death O Lord Iesus Christ for whose loue I willingly leaue this life and desire rather the bitter death of the Crosse with the losse of all earthly things then to abide the blaspheaming of thy most holy name or to obay men in breaking thy holy Commandemēt Thou seest oh
please him Ah my Ioyce thinke you God to bee mutable Is hee a changeling Doth not he loue to the end theÌ„ whom hee loveth Are not his gifts and calling such as he cannot repent him off theÌ„ for els were he no God If you should perish then wanted hee power For I am certain his will towards you is not to bee doubted off Hath not the spirit which is the spirit of truth told you so And will you hearken with Eue to the liing Spirit which would haue you to despaire God forbid it for to doubt and stand in a maÌ„mering would cause you that you should never truely loue God but ever serue him of a servile feare least hee should cast you off for your vnworthinesse and vnthankfulnesse as though your thankfulnes or worthines were any causes with God why hee hath chosen you or will finally keepe you Ah my owne deare heart Christ onely Christ onely and his mercie and truth In him is the cause of your election This Christ this Mercie this Truth of God remaineth for euer is certaine for euer I say for euer If an Angell from Heaven should tell you contrarie accursed bee he Your thankefulnes and worthinesse are fruits and effects of your election they are no causes These fruites and effects shall be so much the more fruitfull and effectuall by how much the more you wauer not Therefore dearely beloved arise and remember from whence you are fallen You haue a Sheapeheard who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth night nor day No Man nor Deuill can pull you out of his hands Night and day hee commandeth his Angells to keepe you Haue you forgotten what I read to you out of the Psalme The Lord is my Sheepheard I can want nothing Doe you know that GOD sparred Noah into the Arke on the one side so that hee could not get out So hath hee done to you my good Sister so hath hee done to you Tenne Thousand shall fall on your right hand two Thousand on your lâ—ft hand yet no euill shall touch you Say boldly therefore Many a time from my youth vppe haue they fought against mee but they haue not preuailed no nor neuer shall preuaile for the Lord is round about his people And who are the people of God but such as hope in him Happie are they that hope in the Lord and you are one of those my deare heart for I am sure you haue hoped in the Lord I haue your wordes to shewe most manifestly I know they were written vnfainedly I need not say that euen before God you haue simply confessed to mee and that oftentimes no lesse And if once you had this hope as you doubtles had it thogh now ye fele it not yet shall ye feele it againe for the anger of God lasteth but for a moment but his mercy lasteth for euer Tell mee my deare heart who hath so weakned you surely not a perswasion which came of him that called you For why should ye wauer Why should ye wauer be so heauie hearted whome looke yee on on your selfe on your worthines on your thankefulnesse on that which God requireth of you as Faith Hope Loue Feare Ioye c. Then can yee but wauer indeed for what haue you as God requireth Belieue you hope you loue you c. as much as ye should doe No no nor neuer can in this life Ah my dearely beloued haue you so soone forgotten that which should bee had in memory namely that when you should bee secure and quiet in conscience theÌ„ should your faith burst throghout all things not onely that you haue in you or else are in Heaven Earth or Hell vntill it come to Christ crucified and th' eternall sweet mercies of God and his goodnesse in Christ. Heere heere is the resting place heere is your Spouses bed Creepe into it and in your armes of faith embrace him bewaile your weakenesse your vnworthines your dissidence and you shall see he will turne to you What sayd I you shall see Nay I should haue said you shall feele he will turne to you You know that Moses when hee went into the Mount to talke with God hee entred into a darke cloud and Helias had his face couered when GOD passed by Both these deare friends of God heard God but they saw him not but you would bee preferred before them See now my deare heart how couetous you are Ah be thankefull be thankefull but God be praised your couetousnes is Moses couetousnes well with him you shall be satisfied but when Forsooth when hee shall appeare Heere is not the time of seeing but as it were in a glasse Isaak was deceived because hee was not content with hearing onely Therefore to make an end of these many words wherewith I feare me I do but hinder you from better exercises in as much as you are indeed the child of God elect in Christ before the beginning of all times in as much as you are given to the custody of Christ as one of GODS most precious jewels in as much as Christ is faithfull and hitherto and for euer hath and shal haue al power so that you shall never perish no one haire of your head shall not be lost I desire you I craue at your hands with all my very heart I aske of you with hand pen tongue mind in Christ through Christ for Christ for his names sake bloud mercies power and truths sake my most entirely beloued sister that you admit no doubting of gods final mercies towards you howsoeuer ynu feele your selfe but complaine to God and craue of him as of your tender Father all things and in that time which shal be most opportune you shall find feele farre aboue that your hart or the heart of any creature can conceiue to your eternall joy Amen Amen Amen The good spirit of God alwaies keep vs as his deere children he comfort you as I desire to be comforted my deerely beloved for evermore The peace of Christ dwell in both our harts for ever Amen Gods holy spirit alwaies comfort keepe you Amen Amen This 1. of Ianuarie by him that in the Lord wisheth to you as well and as much felicitie as to his owne heart IOHN BRADFORD FINIS A TABLE DIRECting to the names of the Martyrs and to the speciall matters that are mentioned in this Booke A Fol. Adam Damplip his speach to his keeper 27. Agnes Bongeor her complaint 80 81. She is comforted 83. Alice Bindon her straight handling 110 118. Anne Askew her prayer 170. B Bartlet Greene his description of temporall miseries c. 155 156 157. Bradbegges Wife shee commends her two children Patience and Charitie to the Bishop 76. C Fol. Cutbert Simpson Boner commends his patience 39. His comfortable vision 40. D Doctor Taylor Pag. 44. E Elizabeth Folks her answere pretily retorted 73 Eliza Yong her sweet speech 90 91. F Father Latimer 7 14 15. G George Wise-hart his speach to his executioner 58.
heavenly father through his Sonne Iesus Christ my certaine Saviour Iohn Warren IN the confession of his Faith hath this sweete speach Without Christ no heauenly guift is giuen nor sin forgiuen Iohn Warren Vpholster Alice Binden SHee beeing at the stake tooke forth a shilling of Phillip and Marie which her Father had bowed and sent her when she was first sent to prison desiring her Brother there present to returne the same to her father againe with obedient salutations and to tell him It was the first peece of money that he sent her after her troubles began which as she protested shee had kept and now sent him to doe him to vnderstand that shee neuer lacked mony while she lay in prison And yet what extremity she endured in prison this briefe Relation following may testifie Her constancy beeing such in the profession of the trueth that shee could no waye bee remooved from it her fond husbād who first had procured her jmprisonmēt had also taken money of the Constable to carrie her to prison himselfe told the Bishop that she had a Brother called Richard Hale who if his Lordship could keepe from her she would turne for he comforteth her sayd hee and giveth her mony and perswadeth her not to relent This councell beeing as soone apprehended as tendered was forth-with put also in execution For thervpon the Bishop gaue cōmandement she should bee committed to his prison called Mondayes hole giving also straight charge that if her Brother at any time came at her he should be layd hold on This prison was within a Court where the Prebends Chambers were beeing a vault beneath the ground and the window beeing jnclosed with a pale of height by estimation 4 foot and a halfe and distant from the same three foot so that she looking frō beneath might onelie see such as stoode at the pale Her Brother in the meane while sought her with no lesse danger of life then diligēce But in regard of many impediments hee could never know where she lay till comming by gods vnsearchable providence very earlie thither in a morning her Keeper being thē gone to Church to ring for he was Bel-ringer chanced to heare her voice as she poured out her sorrowfull complaints vnto God saying the psalmes of David in which place hee could none otherwise releeue her but by putting money in a loafe of bread and sticking the same on a pole and so reached it vnto her for neither with meate nor drinke could hee sustaine her And this was 5 weekes after her cōming thither All which time no creature was knowne to come at her more then her keeper Her lyjng in that prison was onely vppon a little short straw between a paire of stocks and a stone wall beeing allowed 3 farthings a day that is a halfe peny bread a farthing drinke neither could shee get any more for her money wherfore she desired to haue her whole allowance in bread and vsed water for her drinke Thus did she lye 9 weekes during all which time shee never chaunged her apparell whereby she became at the last a most piteous loathsome creature to behold At her first comming into this place shee did greevously bewaile her state with great sorrow and lamentation reasoning with her selfe Why her Lord God did with so heauie iustice suffer her to be sequestred from her louing fellowes into so extreame miserie In these dolorous mournings did she continue till on a night as shee was in her sorrowfull supplications rehearsing this verse of the Psalme why art thou so heauie O my soule And againe The right hand of the Lord can change all this she received comfort in the middest of her miseries and after that continued very joyful vntill her deliverance from the same In March following the Bishoppe called her before him demaunding of her whether shee would goe home and goe to Church or no promising her great favour if shee would be reformed To whom she answered I thinke and am throughly perswaded by the great extremitie that you haue already shewed mee that you are not of God neither can your dooings bee godly and I see sayth she that you seeke my vtter destruction shewing how lame she was of the cold shee had taken and for lacke of foode while she lay in that painefull prison Then did the Bishop deliuer her from that filthie hole and sent her to West-gate where after shee had been changed and for a while been cleane kept her skinne did wholly pill and scale off as if shee had been poysoned with some mortall venom where shee continued till the 19 of Iune on which day shee was bereaved of life by the terrible fier One thing more touching this good woman is to be noted that while she was in prison shee practised with a prison fellow of hers the wife of one Potkin to liue both of them with 2 pence halfe-penny a day to try thereby how wel they could sustaine penurie and hunger before they were put to it for they had heard that when they should remoue from thēce to the Bishops prison their allowance should be but 3 farthings a day a peece and thus they lived 14 daies ere shee was remoued ¶ Thomas Wats his farewell to his Wife and children AFter his priuate praier made to himselfe hee came to his Wife and sixe Children being there and sayd these words in effect Wife and my good Children I must now depart away from you Therefore hencefoorth know I you no more but as the Lord hath giuen you vnto me so I giue you againe vnto the Lord whom I charge you see you obay and feare him aad beware yee turne not to this abhominable Papistrie against the which anon you shall see mee by Gods grace giue my blood Let not the murthering of Gods Saints cause you to relent but take occasion therby to be the stronger in the Lords quarrell and I doubt not but hee will bee a mercifull Father vnto you In the end hee bad them farewell and kissed them all was carried to the fier ¶ BRADFORDS Mementoes to the Lord RVSSELL afterwards called the good Earle of Bedford REmember LOTS Wife which looked backe Remember that none are Crowned but such as striue lawfully Remember FRAVNCIS SPIRA Remember that all you haue is at Christs commaundement Remember he lost more for you then you can loose for him Remember that it is not lost which you loose for his sake for you shall find much more heere and elsewhere Remember you shall dye when where and how ye cannot tel Remember that the death of sinners is terrible Remember that the death of Gods Saints is precious in his sight Remember the multitude goeth the wide way which windeth to wo. Remember the straight way which leadeth to life hath but few trauellers Remember Christ biddeth you enter in thereat Remember hee that trusteth in the Lord shall receiue strength to stand against all the assaults of his enemies Be