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.

¶An other letter of Maister Bradford, to father Traues.

Gratia misericordia & pax a Deo patre nostro, & Domino Iesu Christo Domino nostro.

IF myne heart were not altogether Adamantine, your kynd letters to me vnkynd miser, would cause me from the bottome of the same, to confesse myne ingratitude to∣wards you vpon your behalfe anempst me so much deser∣ued, but as I am to do, so shew I my selfe to write, and as I am vnable in the one, so am I foolish in the other, in all those vnkyndnesses, rudenes, &c. whereof you accuse your selfe. I am enforced to acknowledge my selfe most iustly condemned, not so fainedly by me confessed, as most truly by you experienced. In your letters as in a glasse, I may learne by you in deiecting your selfe, to espy my nakednes which tofore I thought clothed duplici vestitu, now onelye but with fig leaues hypocritishly gilded, of which deiecti∣on wrought in you by the holy ghost, be not proude: For what haue you that ye haue not receiued? but be thankful to the Lord, not onely therefore, but also for those surges which you feele now thorough the cares accompanieng marriages, now thorough education and bringing vp of your children and family, now thorough that crosse of the common accustomed trade of liuyng: for Multas tribulatio∣nes oportet ingredi regnum Dei. Through many tribulatiōs we must enter into the kingdome of heauen, ye they be the cognisances of Gods election. The letter Thau the instru∣ments which worke suspiria aeternae vitae, & therefore to be embraced. Beleeue me it is y^e moste excellent gift of God a man to deiect and humble himselfe, and to feele the cros∣ses of Christ as crosses. But I most hypocriticall wretch, not worthy that this earth should beare me, am euen a go∣yng to bed with Iesabel, and such as commit fornication with her, which is afflictio maxima, Oh Lord helpe me and deliuer me for Iesus sake, annoynt myne eyes with oint∣mēt that I may see, oh geue me not ouer into a lewd mind and reprobate sense, but awake my sleeping soule y^t Christ may shine in me. You know the crosse, the fatherly crosse the louyng Lord hath layd vpon me, but I, but I am little or nothyng mooued therewith. I worke therein (yet not I but Gods spirit) not of a repentant faythfull mynde, but (I cannot tell how) of a slouthfull blynd retchlesse entent. Oh Lord forgeue me for saying so (it is thy gift) forgeue me myne vnthankfulnes for Iesus sake, and graunt mee as herein I blasphemed and dishonested thy holy name, so do thou by thy holy spirit glorifie by me the same. So be it, So be it.

Sithens my commyng to London, I was with M. Latymer, whose counsaile is as you shall heare, which I purpose by Gods grace to obey (if it be thy will oh Lord, fiat.) He willed me (as I haue done) to write to my mai∣ster who is in the countrey, and to shew hym that if with∣in a certaine tyme which I appoynted xiiij. dayes, hee doe not go about to make restitution, that I will submitte my selfe to my L. Protector and the kings maiesties counsaile to confesse the fault and aske pardon. This lyfe is vncer∣tayne and fraile, and when time is it must not be deferred. And what should it profite me to win the whole world, & to loose myne owne soule. If as I iustly haue deserued, I be put to death for it, Gods will be done. At the lest, slan∣der, reproch, rebuke, losse of worldly frends, losse of liuing &c. shall ensue. What than? Lord thy will be done, thine I am, if death come, welcome be it, if slaunder, &c. Euen as thou wilt Lord▪ So be it. Onely graunt me a penitent lo∣uyng obedient hart, & of meere loue to go forwards here∣in, and not to shrinke, to stand and not to fall, y^t thy name onely be praysed herein, Amen. Pray, pray for me, cry for me, and when you shall heare any thyng, comfort my mo∣ther, to whom for that this bringer hath not geuen me an houres warnyng of his departure, I haue not only writ∣ten nothyng, but also haue thus pratled to you, who (as no man else would) I thinke you will beare with me. For as God knoweth, to whose grace I commit you & your bedfellow with all your children and familye. The short∣nes of tyme, and this sayd bringers importaunce is onely the let I neither send you spectacles, the price of the Para∣phrases, nor thanks for your cheese, as by the next that cō∣meth▪ I will God willyng send the premisses to you, and a goodly Testament for Sir Thomas Hall which is at the bindyng. But be not acknowen that I haue now written to you, for so I haue prayed this bringer. God be with vs and pray for me, and abhorre not my rude scribling, which if it were as well written, as it is ment, woulde deserue pardon. Thus make I an ende, imputing to the hastines of this bringer all blame which you may lay vnto me. From the Temple this Sonday, immediately after M. Latimers famous Sermon, whiche this bringer as hee sayth did heare.

By your poorest friend, Iohn Bradford.

It shall not be long God willyng, but you shall both haue and heare from me. Keepe with you Melancthons Common places, for I haue an other.