cōtrariety of religion and diuersity of doctrine from Christ and his apostles that Sea and the Bishop therof at this day both ought to be called and are in dede Antichristian The Sea is the seate of Sathan and the Bishoppe of the same that mainteyneth the Abhominations thereof is Antichriste hym selfe in deede And for the same causes this sea at this daye is the same whiche s Ihon calleth in his reuelacion Babilon or the whore of Babilon and spiritually Sodoma and Egiptus the mother of fornications and of the abhominations vpon the earth And with this hore doth spiritually mell and lies with her and committeth most stincking and abhominable adultrye before God Al those Kinges and Prynces yea and all nations of thearth which consenteth and doth vse and practise her abhominacions That is of the innumerable multitude of thē to reherse some for example sake her dispensacions her Pardons and Pilgremages her inuocation of Sainctes her worshipping of Images her false coūterfaicte religion in her monkery and frerage in her traditiōs wher by Gods lawes are defiled as in her Massing and false ministring of Gods word and the sacraments of Christ amisse contrarye clene to Christes woorde and the Apostles doctrine whereof in perticularitie I haue touched somethinge before in my talcke had with the Sea of Londō and in other treatises more at large wherein if it shall please God to bring the same to light shal appere I trust by gods grace plain lye to the man of God and to hym whose rule in iudgement of religiō is Gods word That that religion that rule and order that doctrine and faithe whyche thys whore of Babilon and the beast wherevpon she doth sit mainteineth at this dai withall violence of fire and sword with spoile and banishment according to Daniels Prophecy and finallye with all falshead deceite Ipocrisye and all kinde of vngodlines are as clene contrary to gods word as darknesse is vnto lighte or light to darknes white to black or black to white or as Belial vnto Christ or Chirst vnto Antichrist him self I know my Lordes for sawe when I wrote this that to so many of you as should see this my writing and not beinge before endued with the spirite of grace and light of gods word so many wold at these my wordes Lordlike stāpe sporn at spit at it But sober your selues with pacience and be still know ye y t in mi writing of this mi mind was none other but in God as the liuing God dothe beare me witnes both to do you profit plesure And otherwise as for youre displeasure by that time that thys shall come to youre knowledge I trust bi gods grace to be in y e hands protection of thalmighty mi heauenly father and the liuing Lord which is as S Ihon saith y e gretest of all And thed thē I shall not nede I trow what any lord no nor what any king or prince can do vnto me My Lordes if in times paste ye haue bene contented to heare me sometimes in matters of Religion before the Prince in the pulpit and in the Parliament house and haue not semed to haue dispised what I haue saide when as els then if ye hadde perceiued iuste occasion ye mighte haue suspected in my talk thoughe it had bene reasonable ether desire of worldly gain or feare of displeasure How hathe thē your Lordships more cause to harkē to my word and to heare me paciently seing now ye cānot iustly thinck of me being in this case appoynted to die and loking daily whē I shal be called to come before the eternal iudge otherwise but that I onlye study now to serue my Lord god to say that thinge which I am perswaded assuredly by Gods worde shall and doth please him and profit all them to whome God shall geue grace to heare beleue what I do say And I do say euen that I haue said heretofore both of the sea of Rome and of the bishop therof I meane after this their presente state at this day Wherin if ye will not beleue the ministers of God the true preachers of his word truly I denounce vnto you in Verbum domini except ye do repent be time it shall turne to your confusion and to your smarte on the latter daye Forget not what I say my Lordes for Goddes sake forget not but remēber it vpon your death bed For I tell you moreouer as I knowe I muste be comptable of thys my speking thus to the eternal iudge who will iudge nothinge amisse so shall you be comptable of youre duetye in hearing and you shall be chardged if ye wil harken to Gods word for not obeying to the truth Alasse my Lordes how chaunseth this that this matter is now a new againe to be perswaded vnto you who woulde haue thoughte of late but your Lordships had bene perswaded in deede sufficiently or els that ye coulde euer haue agreed so vniformely with one consent to the abolishment of the vsurpacion of y e bishop of Rome If y t matter were then but a matter of pollicy wherin the Prince must be obeied howe is it nowe made a matter wherein as your Clergy saieth now and so saieth the Popes lawes in deede standeth the vnitie of the catholike Church and a matter of necessitye of our saluacion Hath the time being so short since the death of the .ii last kinges Henry the eight Edward his sonne altered the nature of the matter If it haue not but was of the same nature and daunger then as it is now and be now as it is saide by the Popes lawes and the instructions sette forthe in English to the Curates of the dioces of Yorke in deede a matter of necessitie to saluacion Howe then chaunsed that ye were all O my Lordes so light and so little passed vpon the Catholicke faithe and the vnitie therof without the whiche no mā can be saued as for your Princes plesures which were but mortal men to forsake the vnitie of youre Catholicke faithe that is to forsake Christe and his holy Gospell And furthermore if it were then and nowe so necessarye to saluacion howe chaunsed it also that ye al the hole body of the Parliament agreing with you did not only abolishe and expel the Bishop of Rome but also did abiure him in your persons and did decre in your actes great othes to be takē of bothe the spiritualty and temporalty whosoeuer shuld enter into aniwaity chargeable office in the commē wealth But on thotherside if that lawe and decree whiche maketh the supremacy of the Sea and Bishop of Rome ouer the vniuersall church of Chirst a thing of necessiti required vnto saluacion be an Antichristian lawe as it is in deede And such instructions as is geuen to the dioces of Yorke be in dede a setting forth of the power of y t beast of Babilon bi the craft and falshed of his false Prophets as of a truth
very short w t me mi mind was to haue don you good yet you caught in that litle time a losse But I trust it shalbe recompēced as it shal plese almighti god Farewel al my whole kindred countrymen Farewel in Christ altogether the Lord which is y e searcher of secreates knoweth that according to my harts desire mi hope was of late y t I shuld haue come among you and to haue brought w t me aboundaunce of Christes blessed Gospel accordinge to the duty of that office and ministery where vnto amōg you I was chosen named and appoynted by the mouthe of that oure late piereles Prince and king Edward And so also denounced openly in his court by his preuy counsaile I warne you al my welbeloued kinsfolkes and contreimen that ye be not amased or astonied at the kind of my departure or dissolutiō For I ensure you I thincke it the most honor that euer I was called vnto in all my life And therfore I thancke my Lord God hartely for it that it hathe pleased him to call me of his greate mercye vnto this highe honor to suffer deathe willinglye for hys sake and in hys cause vnto the which honor he called the holye Prophets and his dearely beloued Apostels and his blessed chosen martirs For knowe ye that I doubt no more but that the causes wherefore I am put to death are Gods causes and of truthe then I doubte that the Gospel which Ihon wrote is the Gospell of Christ or that Paules Epistles are the verye word of God And to haue a harte willinge to abide and stand in Gods cause and in Christes quarrell euen vnto deathe I ensure the O man it is an in estimable and a honorable gift of God geuen only to the true electes and dearly beloued childrē of God and inheritoures of the kingdome of heauen For the holye Apostle and also martyr in Christes cause Saint Peter saith If ye suffer rebuke in the name of Christ that is in Christes cause and for his truthes sake then ye are happye and blessed for the glory of the spirit of God resteth vppon you If for rebuke sake suffred in christes name a mā is pronoūced by the mouth of y e holy Apostle blessed and happye how much more happy and blessed is he that hathe the grace to suffer death also Wherfore al you that be my true louers and frēdes reioyse and reioyse with me againe And render with me harty thanckes to God oure heauenly father that for his Sonnes sake my Sauioure redeamer Christ he hath vouchsaued to call me beinge els without his gratious goodnesse in my selfe but a sinfull and a vile wretche to cal me I say vnto this high dignitie of his true Prophets and of his faithfull Apostles and of his holye elected and chosen Martyrs that is to die and to spende this Temporall life in the defence and maintenaunce of his eternall and euerlastinge truthe Ye knowe that be my Countrye men dwellinge vppon the Borders where alas the true man suffereth oft-times muche wronge at the theues hande if it chaunce a manne to be slaine of the theefe as it oft chaunceth there whiche wente oute with his neighboure to healpe hym to rescue his goodes againe that the more cruellye he be slaine and the more stedfaste hee stooke by hys neighboure in fighte agaynste the face of the theefe the more fauour and frendship shall all his posteritie haue for the slaine mans sake of all them that bee true as longe as the memorye of hys facte and hys Posteritye dothe endure Euen so ye that be my Kinsfolke and Countrye men knowe ye howe so euer the blinde ignoraunte and wicked worlde hereafter shall raile vppon my Deathe which thing they can not do worse then their fathers did of the death of Christ our sauioure of his holye Prophets Apostles and martirs Know ye I say that bothe before God and al them that be godlye and that truelye knoweth and followeth the lawes of God ye haue and shall haue by Gods grace euer cause to reioyse and to thanck God highly and to thinke good of it and in god to reioyse of me your fleshe and blud whome God of his gracious goodnes hath voutchsafed to associate vnto the blessed cōpany of his holy martirs in heauē I doubt not in the infinite goodnesse of my Lorde God nor in the faithfull fellowship of his electe chosen people but at bothe thier handes in my cause ye shall rather finde the more fauor grace For the Lord saith that he will be both to them and theirs that loueth him the more louinge againe in a thousand generacions The Lord is so full of mercy to them I saye theirs which do loue him in dede And Christe saithe againe that no man can shewe more loue then to geue his life for his frende Nowe also know ye all my true louers in God my kinsefolke and Countrymē that the cause wherfore I am put to death is euen after the same sorte and condicion but touchinge more nie Gods cause and in more weighty matters but in the generall kinde al one for both is Gods cause bothe is in the maintenance of righte bothe is for the commen wealth and both for the weale also of the Christian brother although yet there is in these two no small difference both concerning the ennemies the goodes stollen and the maner of the fight For know ye al as there when the pore true mā is robbed by y e thefe of his own goods truely gotten wherupon he hys houshold shuld liue is greatli wrōged and the thefe in stealing robbing with violence the pore mans goodes doth offend God doth trāsgresse his law is iniurious both to the pore man and to the commen welth so I say know ye al that euē here in the cause of my deathe the Church of England I meane the congregation of the true chosē children of God in this realm of England which I knowledge not only to be my neighbors but rather the congregation of my true spirituall brethren and sisters in Christ yea members of one body wherein by Goddes grace I am and haue ben grafte in Christe Thys Churche of Englande had of late of the infinite goodnesse and aboundaunte grace of almightye God greate substaunce greate ryches of heauenlye treasure greate plentye of Goddes true and sincere woorde the true and wholesome administracion of Christes holye Sacramenes the hole profession of Christes religion truelye and plainlye sette forth in Baptisme the plaine declaration and vnderstandynge of the same taught in the holy Cathechisme to haue ben learned of al true Christians This church had also a true and sincere forme and manner of the Lordes Supper wherin according to Christes own ordinaunce and holy institucion Christes commaundements were executed done For vpō the bread and wine set vpō the Lordes table thākes wer geuē the cōmemoration of the Lordes deathe was had the bread
wais of the deuil ther gostly father to stele from the vniuersall churche and perticulerly from euery man all heauenlye treasure true Faith true Charity and hope of saluacion in the bloud of our sauioure Iesus Christe yea to spoile vs of oure Sauiour Christ of his Gospell of his heauenlye spirite and of the heauenly heritage of the kingdom of heauen so derely purchased vnto vs with the deathe of our Maister and sauioure Christ. These be the goodes and godlye substaunce wherupon the Christian before God must liue And with out the which he cā not liue These goodes these theues these churche robbers go aboute to spoile vs of The whiche goodes as to the man of God they excel and farre passeth all worldlye treasure so to withstande euen vnto the deathe suche theues as go about to spoile bothe vs and the hole Churche of suche goodes is most highe and honorable seruice done vnto God These Churche robbers be also muche more false craftye and deceitfull then the theues vppon the borders For these haue not the crafte so to commende their thefte that they dare avouch it And therfore as acknowledging thē selues to be euill they steale commenlye vpon the nighte they dare not appere at iudgementes and sessions wher iustice is executed And whē they are taken and broughte thither they neuer hange no man but they be ofte times hanged for their faultes But these Churche robbers can so cloke and coloure their spirituall robbery that they can make the people to beleue falshed to be truthe and truthe falshed good to be euell and euell good lyghte to be darkenesse and darkenesse lyghte Superstition to be true Religion and Idolatrye to be the true worship of God and that whiche is in substaunce the creature of breade and wine to be none other substāce but onlye the substance of Christe the liuinge Lorde bothe God and manne And this there falshed and craft they canne so Iuggle and bewitche the vnderstandynge of the simple that they dare avouch it openlye in Courte and in town and feareth neither hanginge nor heddinge as the poore Theues of the borders do But stoute and strong like Nembrothe dare condempne to be burned in flaming fire quicke aliue who so euer will go aboute to bewray their falshed The kinde of fighte agaynste these Churche robbers is also of an other sorte and kinde then is that whiche is againste the theues of the borders For there the true menne goe forth againste thē with speare and launce with bowe and byll and al suche kinde of bodely weapons as the trew men hath But here as the enemies be of another nature so the watchmen of Christes flocke the warriours that fyght in the Lords war must be armed and fight with another kinde of weapons and Armour For here the enemies of God the souldiors of Antichrist althoughe the battell is set forth agaynst the Churche by mortall men beynge fleshe and bloud and neuertheles members of their father the deuil yet for that theyr graunde maister is the power of darkenesse theyr mēbers are spirituall wickednes wicked spirits spirits of errours of heresies of all deceate and vngodlines spirits of idolatrie superstitiō Hipocresie which ar called of S. Paule Principates powers Lordes of the worlde and spirituall subtilties conserninge heauenly thinges And therefore oure weapons muste be fit and meete to fight against suche not carnall nor Lordly weapons as spere or saūce but spiritual and heauēly we must fight against suche with the armor of God not entending to kill theyr bodies but their errors their false craft and heresies their Idolatry Superstition and Hipocrisye and to saue as much as lieth in vs both their bodies and soules And therfore as S. Paule teacheth vs we fight not against flesh and bloude that is we fight not with bodelye weapon to kill the man but with the weapōs of God to put to flight his wicked erroures and vice and to saue bothe bodye and soule Oure weapons therefore are faith hope and Charitie righteousnesse truthe pacience praier vnto God and our sword wherwith me smite our enemies we beat and batter beare down al falshed is the word of God With these weapōs vnder the banner of the Crosse of Christe we do fighte euer hauinge an eie vpon our graund Master Duke and capitaine Christ. And then we recken oure selues to triumph and to winne the crowne of euerlasting blisse when enduringe in this battell without anye shrinking or yelding to the ennemies after the example of oure graunde Capitaine Christe oure Master after the example of his holye Prophets apostles and martirs when I say we are slaine in our mortall bodies of our ennemies are most cruelly without all mercy murdered down like a mainy of shepe And the more cruell the more painefull the more vile and spitefull is the kind of the death wherunto we be put y e more glorious in God the more blessed and happy we recken withoute all doubtes our martirdome to be And thus much dere louers and frendes in God my countrymen kinsfolk I haue spokē for your cōfort least of mi death of whose life you loked peraduenture somtimes to haue had honesty pleasures and some cōmodities ye might be abashed or think ani euil but rather to reioyse if ye loue me in dede for y t it hath plesed God to cal me to a greter honor dignity thē euer I did enioy before either in Rochester or in the sea of London or euer shuld haue had in the Sea of Durham whervnto I was last of all elected and named yea I compte it greater honor before God in dede to die in his cause whereof I nothynge doubt then is any earthly or temporall promocion or honor that cā be geuen to a man in this worlde And who is he that knoweth the cause to be Goddes to be Christes quarrell and of his Gospell to bee the commen weale of all the electe and chosen children of God of all the inheritours of the kingdome of heauen who is he I say y t knoweth this assuredly by Gods word and the testimony of his owne conscience as through thinfinite goodnes of God not of my selfe but by his grace acknowledge my self to do who is I say that knoweth this and both loueth and feareth God in dede and in truth loueth beleueth in his master Christe and his blessed Gospel loueth his brotherhode the chosen children of God also lusteth and longeth for euerlastinge life who is he I saye againe y t wold not or can not finde in his hart in this cause to be contente to die God forbid that anye such should be that should forsake this grace of God I truste in my Lorde God the God of mercies the father of all comfort throughe Iesus Christe oure Lorde that he which hath put this mind wil and affection by his spirite in my hart to stand against the face of the ennemy in his cause and to chose
rather the losse of my worldlye substāce yea and of my life to then to deny his known truth that he will comfort me aid me and strengthē me euermore euen vnto thend and to the yelding vp of my spirite and soule into his holy handes wherof I most hartely beseche his holy sacred Maiestie of his infinite goodnes mercy through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Nowe that I haue taken my leaue of my Countrimen and kinsfolke and the Lord doth lende me life and geueth me laysour I will bid my other good frendes in God of other places also farewell And whome fyrste or before other then the vniuersitie of Cambrige wher as I haue dwelte longer founde more faithfull and harty frendes receiued more benefites the benefites of my natural parents onlye excepted then euer I did euen in my owne natiue countrye wherin I was borne Farewel therfore Cābridge my louing mother nurse If I shuld not acknowledge thy manifold benefits yea if I shuld not for thy benefites at the least loue the againe truely I were to be cōpted vngrate vnkind what benefites haddest thou euer that thou vsest to geue bestow vpon thy best beloued children that thou thoughtest to good for me thou diddest bestow on me all thy scole degrees Of thy common offices the chaplainship of the vniuersitie the Office of the proctorship and of a common reader And of thy priuate cōmodities emolumēts in colledges what was it thou madest me not partner of First scholer then felow after mi departure frō the thou called me again to a mastership of a right worshipful colledge I thāck the my louing kindnes for all this thy kindnes And I pray God y t his lawes and the sincere Gospell of Christe may euer be truely taught faithfully learned in thee Farewel Pembroke hal of late mine own Colledge my Cure and my charge what case thou arte in nowe GOD knoweth I knowe not well Thou wast euer named sithens I knew the which is nowe a .xxx. yeres agoe to be studious well learned a great setter forth of Christes Gospell and of Gods true word so I foūde the and blessed be God so I lefte the in deede Wo is me for the mine owne deare Colledge if euer thou suffer thi self by any meanes to be brought from that trade In thy Orchard y e wals buts and trees if they could speke wold beare me witnesse I learned withoute boke almoste all Paules Epistles yea and I wene all the Canonicall Epistles saue only the Apocalipse of whiche studye although in time a great part did departe from me yet the swete smell therof I trust I shall carrye wyth me into heauen For the profit ther of I thincke I haue felt in all my life time euer after And I wene of late whether they abide there now or no I can not tel ther was that did the like The Lord graūte that this zeale loue toward that parte of Goddes word which is a key a commentary to all holy scripture may euer abide in that colledge so long as the world shall endure From Cambridge I was called into Kent by the Archbishop of Cāterbury Thomas Cranmer y t most reuerend father and man of God And of him by and by sent to be Uicar of Herne in East Kent Wherefore farewell Herne the worshipfull and wealthy parishe the fyrste cure wherunto I was called to minister Gods word Thou hast hard of my mouth ofttimes the word of God preached not after the popiste trade but after Christes Gospell Oh that the frute had answered to the seede And yet I must knowledge me to be thy debtoure for the Doctrine of the Lordes Supper which thē at that time I acknowledge God had not reueled vnto me But I blesse God in al y e godly vertue and zeale of Goddes word which the Lorde by preachinge of his worde did kindle manifestlye both in the hart life and workes of that godly woman there my Lady Phynes God graunte y t his word toke like effecte there in manye other mo Farewell thou Cathedral churche of Canterburye the Metropolitike sea where of once I was a member To speake thinges pleasant vnto thee I dare not for daūger of conscience and displeasure of my Lord God And to say what lieth in my hart were now to much and I feare were able to doe thee now but a litle good Neuerthelesse for the frendship I haue founde in some there and for charity sake I wishe the to be washed cleane of all worldlinesse and vngodlinesse that thou maiste be founde of God after thy name in truth Christes Church in dede Farewell Rochester sometime my Cathedrall sea In whome to say the truth I did finde much gētlenesse and obedience whyche I truste thou wilte not saye the contrarye but I did vse it to Goddes glorye and thine owne profitte in God Oh that thou haddest and mighte haue continued and gone forewarde in the trade of Goddes lawe wherein I did leaue thee Then thy charg and burden shuld not haue bene so terrible and daūgerous as I suppose verelye it is like to bee alasse on the latter daye To Westminster other aduertisemente in God I haue not nowe to say then I haue said before to y e Cathedrall church of Canterbury And so God geue the of his grace that thou maist learne in dede and in truth to please him after his own lawes And thus fare you well Oh London London to whome now may I speake in the or whōe shall I bid farewel shall I speake to the Prebendaries of Poules alas all that loued Goddes worde and were true setters forth thereof are now as I heare saye some brēt and slain some exiled and banished and some holden in hard prisō and appoynted daily to be put to moste cruell deathe for Christes Gospell sake As for the rest of thē I know they coulde neuer broke me well nor I could neuer delight in them Shall I speake to the Sea therof wherein of late I was placed almoste and not fully by the space of iii. yeares But what may I say to it being as I heare say I am deposed and expulsed by iudgemente as an vniust vsurper of that rome O iudgement iudgement can this be iust iudgement to condemne the chief minister of Goddes word the pastor and bishop of the Dioces neuer bring him into iudgemente that he might haue hard what crimes were laide to his charge nor neuer suffer him to haue any place or time to answer for him selfe Thinckest thou that hereafter whē true iustice shall haue place that this iustice can euer be allowed either of God or of man well as for the cause and hole matter of mi deposition and the spoil of my goods which thou possessest yet I referre it vnto God which is a iust iudge And I beseke God if it be his pleasure that that whiche is but my personall wronge be not laid to thi charge on the latter
A Frendly Farewel which Master Doctor Ridley late Bishop of London did write beinge prisoner in Oxeforde vnto all his true Louers and frendes in God a litle before that he suffred for the testimony of the truthe of Christ his Gospell Newly set forth and allowed according to the order apoynted in the Quenes Maiesties Iniunctions Ecclesiasticus 4. For the truthe striue thou vnto death ¶ Imprinted at London by Ihon Day dwelling ouer Aldersgate beneath S. Martius 1559. The .10 of Nouembre Cum gratia priuilegio Regia Maiestatis per Septēnium IOHN FOXE to the gentle Reader AMongest manye other worthy sundrie Histories and notable acts which we haue in hande and entēde by the grace of Christe oure Lorde shortly to set abrode of such as of late daies haue ben persecuted murthered martyred for the trewe Gospell of Christ in Quene Maries raigne Firste to begin with this litell treatis of Doct. Nicholas Ridley late Byshoppe of London this shalbe to desyre thee gentle Reader to accept it and studiouslye to peruse it in the meane tyme whyle the other Uolumes be addressing which we ar about touching the full Historie processe and examinations of all our blessed brethren lately persecuted for rightuosnes sake Whiche Histories whā they shal come to light I suppose thou shalt see as horrible a slaughter of the Sainctes ioyned with as much crueltie of some English hertes as euer in anye one realme before Christe or after was sene In the meane time because all thynge can not be done at once the Uolumes be long accept well in worth this litle but pithie worke of this forsaid Bishoppe in expectation of greater thynges which shall perchaunce more largely satisfie thy desyre Cōcerning the contentes of this Booke the Argument doeth easely import For the worthines therof the name onely of the Author is a sufficient commendation though I bestow no prayse therof Firste whan thou readist it by the name of a Fare well thou maiest vnderstande a faithfull Declaration as of one beynge in that case nothing dissembling his consciēce in suche matters and cōtrouersies of religion wherfore he suffered Againe whan thou readist wrytten by Doctor Ridley Bishoppe of London by that onely name thou maiest vnderstande of what excellencie and learning the worke is to be thought procedynge from suche a man whose profounde learning is vnknowē to few Thus doble waies are we bounde to the Lorde who not onely by the bloud and death of his Sainctes confirmeth the testimonie of his trueth but also besydes theyr death leaueth such monumentes behinde them which no lesse cōfounde the aduersary as confirme the godly Briefly as there is nothing in this Boke that greatly neadeth any mans commendation beyng able ynough of his owne praise so neyther do I so mistrust thy vertuous towardnes good and Christian Reader in godly studie reading that thou shouldst greatly nead my exhortation thereunto or any Epistle before the worke saue only that I wold desyre the aide of thy Christiā prayer whereby the thinges maye the more luckely come forward whiche for thy sake at this present we do acheue to the fortheryng of God hys glory the testimony of true religion and establishing of thy conscience Thus desyring the brotherly helpe of thy prayer I wishe thee to fare wel with well fare in the Lorde The grace of Christe confyrme vs and stablyshe vs in all wel doing to the glorie of his name Amen ¶ A FRENDLIE farewell AS a man minding to take a farre iorney and to departe from his familiar frendes commenly and naturally hath a desyre to bid his frendes farewell before his departure So likewise nowe I lokyng when that I should be called for to depart hence frō you O all ye my deare beloued brethren and sisters in our Sauior Christ that dwell here in this worlde hauyng nowe a like minde towardes you all And also blessed be God of this such time and leasure wherof I right hartely thanke his heauēly goodnes I byd you all my deare brethren and sisters in Christ that dwell vppon the earth after suche maner as I can Farewell Farewell my deare Brother George Shypside whom I haue euer founde faithfull trustye and louing in all state and conditions And now in y e tyme of my crosse ouer all other to me most frēdly and stedfast And that whiche liked me best ouer al other thinges in Goddes cause euer herty Farewell my deare syster Alice his wife I am glad to hear of that that thou doest take Christs crosse which is laied now blessed be god both on thy back and mine in good part Thanke thou God that hath gyuen thee a godly and a louynge husbande Se thou honor him and obey him according to Gods lawe Honor thy mother inlawe his mother and loue all that perteyneth vnto him beyng readie to do them good as it shal lie in thy power As for thy children I doubt not of thy husbande but that he which hathe gyuen him a hert to loue and feare God and in God thē that perteine vnto him he shall also make hym frendely and benefyciall vnto thy children euen as if they had bene gotten of his owne body Farewell my welbeloued brother Iohn Rydley of the Waltown and you my gentle and louyng syster Elizabeth whome besydes the natural leauge of amitie your tender loue which you were sayd euer to beare towardes me aboue the rest of your brethren doeth bind me to loue My mind was to haue acknowledged this your louing affectiō to haue acquited it w t dedes not with words alone your daughter Elizabeth I bid farewell whō I loue for the meke gentle spirite that God hath geuē her which is a precious thing in the sight of God Farewell my beloued Sister of Unthancke with all your children my Nephewes and Nices since y e departure of my Brother Hughe my minde was to haue bene vnto thē in the stead of their father But the Lord God must will be their father if they wil loue him feare him and liue in y e trade of his law Farewell my welbeloued worshipfull Cozein Nicholas Ridley of Willymountswicke your wife And I thank you for al your kindnes shewed both to me and also to all your owne kinsfolke and mine Good Cozein as God hath set you in that our stocke and kindred not for any respect of your person but of his aboundant grace and goodnes to be as it were the Belwether to ordre and conduct the reast and hath also endued you with his manifolde giftes of grace bothe heauenly worldly aboue others So I pray you good Cosē as my trust hope is in you continue increse in maintenance of truthe honesty righteousnes all true godlines to the vttermost of your power to withstād falshed vntruth vnrighteousnes and all vngodlines whiche is forbid and condempned by the word and lawes of God Farewel my Cozē Raffe Whitfield oh your time was
euer hauing our eyes vpon Iesus Christ the ringleader capitain and profiter of our faith which for to haue the ioy set before him suffered the crosse not passing vpon ignomie and shame therof is set nowe at the righthande of the throne of God Count this y t he suffered such strife of sinners against him self that ye should not geue ouer nor fainte in your mindes As yet brethren we haue not withstād vnto death fighting against sinne Let vs neuer forget deare brethrē for Christes sake that fatherly exhortation of the wise that speaketh vnto vs as vnto his children the godly wisdom of god saying thus My sonne dispise not the correction of the Lord nor fal not frō him when thou art rebuked of him For whome the Lord loueth him dothe he correct scourgeth euery childe whome he receiueth what child is he whome the father doth not chasten If ye be free from chastisement wherof al are partners then are ye bastardes and no children Seing then when as we haue had carnall parents which Christened vs we reuerenced them shall not we be much more subiect vnto our spiritual father and shal liue And they for a little time taughte vs after their own mind but this father teacheth vs to our commoditye to geue vnto vs his holines All chastisement for the present time apereth not pleasant but painful But afterward it rendereth the frute of righteousnesse on them whiche are exercised in it Wherefore let vs be of good chere good brethren and lette vs plucke vp our feble membres that were fallen or began to fainte harte hande knees and all the reaste and lette vs walcke vp a righte and straighte that no Lympinge nor Haulting bring vs oute of the waye Let vs loke not vppon the thinges that be presente but with the eies of our faithe lette vs stedfastly beholde the thinges that be euerlasting in heauen And chose rather in respecte of y e whiche is to come with the chosen members of Christ to beare Christes Crosse then for his shorte life time to enioy all the riches honors and pleasers of the brode world Why shuld we Christians feare death cā death depriue vs of Christ which is all our comfort our ioy our life Nay forsoth But contrary deathe shall deliuer vs from this mortall body whiche lodeth beareth downe the spirite that it can not so wel perceiue heauēly things in the which so longe as we dwell we are absent from God Wherfore vnderstandinge oure state in that we be Christians that if our mortal bodye whiche is oure earthlye house were destroyed we haue a building a house not made with hāds but euerlasting in heauen c. Therefore we are of good cheare and knowe that when we are in the body we are absent from God For we walcke by faithe and not by cleare sighte But we haue fiance and had rather be from the body and present with God wherfore we striue whether we be present at home or absent abrode that we maye alwaies please him And who that hath true faith in our sauioure Christ wherby he knoweth somwhat truely what Christe oure sauioure is that he is the eternall sonne of God life light the wisdōe of the father all goodnes al truth all righteousnesse and whatsoeuer is good that hart cā desire yea infinite plenty of al these aboue that that mans hart can either conceiue or thinke For in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhed corporally And also that he is geuen vs of the father and made of God to be our wisdome our righteousnesse oure holinesse and oure redemptiō who I saye is he that beleueth this in dede that wold not gladly be with his master Christ Paule for this knowledge coueted to haue bene losed from the bodye and to haue bene with Christ For that he compted muche better for him self had rather to be losed then to liue Therfore these words of Christ to the theife on the crosse that asked of him mercye were full of comforte and solace This daye thou shalte be with me in paradise To dye in the defence of Christes Gospell is oure bounden duetie to Christe and also to oure neighbor To Christ for he died for vs rose again y t he shuld be Lord ouer all And seing he died for vs we also saith s. Ihon shuld ieopard yea geue oure life for oure brethren And this kinde of geuinge and losinge is gettinge and winninge in deede For he that geueth or loseth his life thus getteth and winneth it for euermore Blessed are they therefore that dieth in the Lorde And if they dye also in the Lordes cause they are mooste happye of all Lette vs not feare then death whiche can do vs no harme otherwise then for a moment to make the flesh to smart but that our faith which is fast fastned and fixed vnto the word of god telleth vs that we shall be anon after death in peace in the hands of god in ioy in solace and that frō deathe we shall go straighte vnto life For Ihon saieth he that liueth and beleueth in me shall neuer die and in an other place he shall depart from death into life And therefore thys deathe of the christian is not to be called deathe but rather a gate or entraunce into euerlasting life Therefore Paule calleth it but a dissolution and resolutiō And both Peter and Paul a puttinge of this Tabernacle or dwelling house meaning thereby the mortall bodye as wherein the soule or spirite dothe dwell here in this world for a smal time Yea this death may be called to the Christian an ende of all miseries For so long as we liue here we must passe through many tribulations before we can enter into the kingdome of heanen And now after that death hath shot hys bolt all the Christian mannes ennemies haue don what they can and after that they haue no more to do What could hurt or harme poore Lazarus that laye at the ritch mannes gate his former penury and pouerty his miserable beggery and horrible sores sicknes For so sone as death had strickē him with his dart so sone came the angels and caried him vp into Abrahams bosome what lost he by death who from misery and paine is set forth by the ministery of Angels in a place both of ioye and solace Farewel deare brethren farewel and let vs comfort our hartes in all troubles and in deathe with the worde of God For heauen and earth shal pearishe But the worde of God endureth for euer Farewel Christes dere beloued spouse here wādring in this world as in a straunge lande farre from thine own country and compassed about on euery hand with deadlye enemies which ceseth not to assalt the euer seking thy destruction Farewel farewel O ye the hole and vniuersall congregation of the chosen of God here liuinge vppon earth the true Church militant of Christe the true misticall bodye of Christ the very houshold familye of God and the sacred temple of the holy ghost Farewel Farewel O thou little flock of y e high heauenly pastor christe for to thee it hath pleased the heauenlye father to geue an euerlastinge aud eternall kingdome Farewell Farewel thou spiritual house of God thou holye and royall priesthode thou chosen generation thou won spouse Farewel Farewell N. R. FINIS
compared vnto Gods word truly iudged by the same it shal plainly appere y t they be then my Lords neuer thinck other but the day shal come when ye shalbe charged with this your vndoing of that that once ye had well done with this your periury breach of your oth which oth was done in iudgement iustice and truth agreable to Gods lawe The hore of Babilon maywel for a time dally with you and make you so dronke with the wine of her filthy stewes and horedome as wyth her dispensacions and promises of pardon A pena culpa that for drōkennes and blindnes ye may think your selues safe But be ye assured when the lyuing Lord shal trye the matter by the fire and iudge it according to his worde when all her abominations shall appeare what they be Thē ye my Lords I geue your Lordships warning in time repent if ye be happi and loue your owne soules helth repent I say or els without all dout ye shall neuer escape the hāds of the liuing Lord for the gilt of your Prince and the breach of your oth And as ye haue banketed line with the whore in the fornication of her whorishe dispensacions Pardons Idolatry such like abhomioacions so shal ye drink with her except ye repent be time of the cup of the Lords indignacion euerlasting wrath which is prepared for the beaste his false Prophets and al their partakers For he that is Partner with them in their whoredome and abhominacions must also be partner with them of their plages And on the latter day shalbe throwne in wyth them in the lake burninge wyth brimstone and vnquenchable fyre Thus fare you wel my Lordes al. I pray God geue you vnderstanding of his blessed will and plesure and make you to beleue and embrace the truthe Amen ¶ To the Prisoners in Christes Gospels cause and to al them whiche for the same cause are exiled and banished oute from theyr owne countrye chosynge rather to lose all worldly commodity then their master Christ. FArewell my deare beloued brethren in Christe both you my fellow prisonners and you also that bee exiled and banished oute of youre Countries because ye wyll rather forsake all worldlye commoditye then the Gospell of Christe Farewel al ye together in Christ farewell and be mearye For you knowe that the triall of your faith bringeth forth paciēce and paciēce shall make vs perfecte whole and sound on euery side And such after triall ye know shal receiue y e crown af life let vs therefore be paciente vnto the comming of the Lord. As the husbandman abideth paciently the former and latter rain For the encrese of his crop let vs likewise be pacient and plucke vp our harts for the cōming of the Lorde approcheth apase Let vs my deare brethren take example of patience in tribulation of the Prophets which spake likewise Gods word truelye in his name Let Iob be to vs an example of pacience And the ende which the Lord suffered whiche is ful of mercy and pity we know my brethren by gods word y t our faith is muche more precious then anye corruptible gold and yet y t is tried by the fire Euen so therefore oure faith is tried likewise in tribulations that it may be found when the Lord shall appere laudable gloryous and Honorable For if we for Christes cause do suffer that that is grateful before God for therunto are we called That is our state and our vocation wherwith let vs be content Christ we know suffred for vs afflictions leuing vs an example that we shuld folow his fotesteppes For he committed no sinne nor was there any guile founde in hys mouthe when he was railed vppon and all to reuiled he did not threaten but cōmitted y e punishmēt therof to hym that iudgeth a right Let vs euer haue in freshe remēbrance those wonderful cōfortable sentences spoken by y e mouth of our sauioure Christe Blessed are they which suffer persecution for ryghteousnes sake for theirs is y e kyngdom of heauē Blessed are you whē men reuile you persecute you and speake all euil againste you for my sake Reioyse be glad for greate is your reward in heauē For so did they persecute the prophets which were before you Therefore beare this alway in your mind y t if anye incōmodity doth chāce vnto vs for righteousnes sake y t happy are we whatsoeuer the world doth thincke of vs. Christ our master hath told vs before hande y t the brother shall put y e brother to death the father the sonne the children should rise against their parēts kil thē And y t Christes true apostles should be hated of all mē for his names sake But he that shal abide patiētly vnto thend he shalbe saued Let vs thē endure in al troubles paciently after thexāple of our master Christ be contented therw t. For he suffred being our master Lord how doth it not then become vs to suffer For the disciple is not aboue his master nor the seruaūt aboue his Lord. It may suffice the disciple to be as his master and the seruaunte to be as Lord. If they haue called the master of the family the master of the housholde Belzebub howe muche more shall they call so them of his houshold Feare them not thē saith our sauior for all preuities shalbe made plain Ther is now nothing secreate but it shall be shewed in lighte Of Christes wordes let vs neyther be ashamed nor afrayde to speake it For so oure master commaundeth vs saying That I tell preuely speke openli abrode and y t I tel you in your eare preach it vp on the house top And be not afraid of your selfe of them whyche kyll the bodye for the soule they canne not kyll But feare hym whyche canne caste boothe Bodye and soul into hel fire Know ye that the heauenly father hathe euer a gratious eie and respect toward you a fatherly prouidence for you so y t withoute his knowledge and permission nothing cā do you harme Let vs therfore cast al care vppon him and he shal prouide y t whyche shalbe best for vs. For if of .ii. small sparrowes which both are sold for a mite one of them lighteth not on the ground without the father And all the heeres of oure head are nombred feare not then saith oure Maister Christe for you are more worth then many small sparowes And let vs not stick to confesse our master Christ for feare of daunger whatsoeuer it shalbe remembryng the promisse that Christ maketh saieth euery one that shall confesse me before men him shal I confesse before my father which is in heauē But whosoeuer shal deny me hym shal I likewise deny before my father whyche is in heauen Christe came not to geue vnto vs heare a carnal amitie and a worldly peace or to knit his vnto y e worlde in ease and peace but rather to seperate deuide them from