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.

¶Another letter of Maister Bradford, to father Traues.

Gratia misericordia, & pax, &c.

MY chance is not by this bringer to haue any warning in manner of his farewell, so that I am constrayned tyme coarcting me, to write not so much of thyngs (which I will omitte) as my desire was. Concernyng the great matter you know of, it hath pleased god to bring it to this end, that I haue a bill of my M. hand, wherin he is bound to pay the summe afore Candlemas next commyng. This thinks M. Latimer to be sufficient. Therefore I pray you to geue that gracious Lord thanks, and thanks, & thanks vpon it for me a most wretched ingrate sinner, which haue also in other thyngs no lesse cause to prayse Gods name, As for that I haue and sustain my M. sore displeasure, the which hath brough me (God I should say through it) vn∣to a more contempt of worldly thyngs, through the seque∣stration of such his busines, as tofore I had ado withall. I call it a contempt, well, take the word euen as it is, hy∣pocritically and vayne gloriously spoken: for the whiche fault amongst my others innumerable, I trust you remē∣ber in your prayers, whereof I haue (I would I knew) how much neede. There is yet another thyng whereof I will aduertise you euen to this ende, that you might pray if it be Gods will, that as I trust shortly to beginne, so he may vouchsafe to confirme that he hath begun, as (if I be not deceyued) I beleeue it is his workyng. If the thyng seeme by Gods sprite in you that I presume, then for the Lords sake aduertise me: for I am much geuen to that di∣sease, the Lord deliuer me. I haue mooued my M. therein already by letters, to see if I shall haue any liuyng of hym as hitherto I haue had, but I haue thereof no answer, nor as our naturall speech is any likelyhood of any grant. Yet that I haue alredy I trust, be able for me for 3. yeres, you looke what my purpose meaneth, I am so long afore I come to it. Therefore I doe it, because my long bablyng should be lesse tedious. Now shall you haue it. If Gods will be (whereunto pray I may be obedient) I am myn∣ded afore Midsomer to leaue London to goe to my booke at Cambridge, and if God shall geue me grace, to be a mi∣nister of his worde. Thus you haue of a ••lie an Elephant. Well, take it in good part though you see my etiam non, and not etiam, etiam. A tumblyng stone gathereth no mosse, so therfore pray for me. Perchaunce I do foolishly to forsake

so good a liuyng as I haue. I will say no more hereof, but pray for me. I trust as I said, for three yeres study, I haue sufficient, if my Maister take all from me: and when this is spent, God wil send more. I do not write this that you should thinke me to be in need of worldly helpe. And ther∣fore as Friers were woont secretly to beg. No in y^e Lords name I require you not to take it so: for I had rather ne∣uer send letter, afore I should be herein a crosse to you, for sufficit sua diei afflictio, we are more set by then many spa∣rowes. But if my Mother, or Sir Thomas Hall mur∣mure at it, or be offended with me, as you can, remedy it with your counsaile. Howbeit, as yet I will not write to them of it, vntill such tyme as I bee goyng. I am some∣thyng fickle mynded and vnconstant, therefore praye for me, that my hande beyng put to the plough (presumptu∣ously spoken) I looke not backe. You may gather by my wordes in this letter the Herodicall heart whiche lyeth in mee.

I haue sent you a booke of Bucer agaynst Winchester in English, lately translated, which I neuer red, therefore I cannot prayse it. And as I call to remembraunce, I did send you with the other bookes moe then you receyued, at the least one of them I remember, which is called, The Common places or the Declaration of the fayth by Ur∣banus Rhegius. Aske for it, or send me worde in whome the default is, you haue it not. Hereafter, and that shortly by God grace, I will send you primitiae laborum meorum, a worke or two which I haue translated into English, so soone as they bee printed, which will bee afore Whitson∣tide. Pray for me good father Traues, and God send you health of soule and body, as I would myne owne or any mans liuyng. But yet to warne you of that you knowe not in writyng your letters to me, you hit me home, and geue mee that I looke for. You are deceyued and so is all that knoweth me, I neuer came to any poynt of mortifi∣cation, therefore a little ticklyng sets me a flote, God help me, and geue God thankes for me, as all men bee most bounden. Thus when Iones beginne to write to you, I run as the Priest sayth Mattins, for I thinke I may bee bold on you. The holy Ghost preserue you, your wife and family, and perseuere his grace in you vnto the ende. I pray you pray for me a most (what should I call me) mi∣serable and blasphemous sinner. The peace of God bee with vs. From the Temple this xij. of May, 1548.

Sir Thomas Hall hath deceyued mee, but hymselfe most. I desire to speake with hym, as this Winter it may chaunce if I discharge not my self of myne office to see him. Pray for hym and for me.

A very hypocrite, Iohn Bradford.