Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

Talke betweene Maister Bradford and one Perceuall Creswell, and after that with Doctour Harding.

VPon the 14. of February, Perciuall Creswell,* 1.1 an olde acquayntaunce of Bradfordes came to him, bryngyng with him a kinsman of Mayster Fecknams, who after ma¦ny wordes sayd.

Creswell.

I pray you let me make labour for you.

Bradford.

You may do what ye will.

Creswell.

But tell me what sute I should make for you.

Brad.

Forsooth that ye wil do, do it not at my request, for I desire nothing at your handes.* 1.2 If the Queene will geue me life, I will thanke her. If she will banishe me, I will thanke her. If shee will burne me, I will thanke her: If she will condemne me to perpetuall prisonment. I wyll thanke her.

Hereupon Creswell went away,* 1.3 and about a xi. of the clocke he and the other man came againe, & brought a book of Mores making, desiring Bradford to read it ouer.

Bradford:

taking the booke, sayde: Good perciuall, I am setled for being moued in this article.

Creswell.

Oh, if euer ye loued me, do one thing for me.

Bradford.

What is it.

Creswell.

Desire and name what learned man or men yee will haue to come vnto you. My Lord ••o York, my Lord of Lincolne, my Lorde of Bath, & others will gladly come vnto you.

Brad.

No, neuer will I desire them or anye other to come to conferre with me, for I am as certayne of my doctrine as I am of any thing, But for your pleasure, and also that all men may knowe I am not ashamed to haue my fayth ••ifted and tryed, bring whom ye will, and I will talk with them, So they went their way.

About 3. of the clocke in the after noone Mayster Doc∣tor Harding,* 1.4 who was then the B. of Lincolns Chaplayn came to Bradford, and after a great and solemne protesta∣tion, shewing how y^t he had prayed to God before he came to turne his talke to Bradfords good, hee began to tell of the good opinion he had of Bradford, and spent the time in such tratling, so that their talke was to little purpose: saue that Bradford praied him to consider from whence he was fallen, and not to folow the world, nor to loue it: For the loue of God is not where the world is.

Harding.

But Harding counted Bradford in a damnable

estate, as one being out of the church, & therfore willed him to take heede of his soule, & not to dye in such an opinion.

Brad.

What M. Harding, quoth Bradford? I haue heard you with these eares maintaine this that I stand in.

Harding.

I graunt that I haue taught that the doctrine of transubstantiation was a subtill doctrine, but otherwise I neuer taught it. And so he enueying against mariages of Priestes,* 1.5 and namely against Peter Martyr. Martin Bucer, Luther, and such, which for breaking theyr vowes were iustly geuen vp into heresies (as he sayd) Bradford seyng him altogether geuen vp to Popery, after admo∣nishment therof, bad him farewell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Perciuall Cres∣well talketh with Bradford.
• * 1.2

  Creswell offe∣reth to make sute for Brad∣ford.
• * 1.3

  Mores booke brought to Bradford.
• * 1.4

  D. Harding commeth to M. Bradford.
• * 1.5

  D. Harding in∣ueyeth agaynst Peter Martyr Bucer, & Luther.