Strange and bloody nevves from Miniard, or, A bloodie massacre vpon five Protestants by a company of papists meeting them as they were going to Miniard to take ship for Ireland : also how they first encountred them and how after some discourse upon religion cruelly mnrdered [sic] them : as also how they were taken and carryed to Bristow Castle with the copy of a letter found in one of their dublets directed to the Bishop of Canterbvrie / as it was credibly reported by a gentleman of good worth ...

A COPY OF A LETTER SENT TO THE BISHOP OF CANTERBƲRY.

The Contents vvhereof are vvorthie our attension.

MY LORD,

MAy it please your Grace to accept these poore impolished lines of him that writes only of good will, earnestly wishing an emendation of life, and re∣formation of manners, then your Graces confutation; for it is the duty of every Christian to imitate his Creator, not to delight in the blood of any man, but to preserve it.

But again (my Lord) as it is the part of a man to supply the Corporall wants of his indigent brother: so especially, he is bound to supply the defects of the Mind, and to study the welfare of the better part of man, his precious soule, which after the first death in a moment, either ascends heaven, or descends hell.

My Lord, it must needs be a precious thing, when the whole world it self is not comparable to it. Were but this seriously digested in the stomacke of a sound judgment, I beleeve the world like Rocks and Quick∣sands would not so miserably shipwrack, such an infinit

number of mens soules as it doth. Your Grace knowes that rebus secundis omnes feri elati sunt, I will not say that your grace is so; but I would desire your Grace to enter into a serious Solilogue with your self, and to see whether it be so or no; and if your Grace for the honour of this world, and outward pomp and glory▪ have not made shipwrack of your Faith, and pleased man rather then God. No better time to bring a man home then that of affliction; for whereas Martyrs buy heaven, as Ignato spake, with their blood, and others steale it with their good deeds through Faith in Christ only, (as a learned Father sometime said) a man in af∣fliction is compelled to it.

My Lord, remember Manasses, how hee prayed in prison, do you likewise. And for the world and Glory thereof, care not for it: remember that thrice Noble Emperor Henry the 4th. when his Crowne was taken from his head, saw nothing but his Deus Ʋideat & judicet. Let God see and judg. God grant us treasure in Heaven, where no Thiefe can approach. Amen.

FINIS.