THe peace and plenteous mercy of God our heauenly father, in his Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour, bee euer encreased in you by the holy spirit, qui efficit omnia in omnibus, Amen.
Father Traues though I might thinke my selfe more happy, if you would often write vnto me, yet because I ought to haue respect to your paynes, whiche nowe that olde man cannot so well sustaine as it might, I had rather loose my happines in yt behalfe, then will your grief, foras∣much as it can be no happines vnto mee which turneth to your payne, yet because payne is not payneful when it is ioyned with gayne, I therfore desire you for Gods sake o pray often for me, for if I shall not be worthy of your prai∣er, as the Lord who knoweth all thyngs doth right well see it, and so my conscience witnesseth, yet your good pray∣er shall returne into your owne bosome. And know this, that who so conuerteth a sinner by prayer, whether it bee by prayer, preachyng, or writyng letters, &c. the same hath saued a soule. Use therefore, for Gods sake I aske it, that paynes whereunto is ioyned profite, I meane prayer to God for me a miserable and most wretched sinner, and as for the gaynelesse payne in writyng to me, vse it yet as you may, and surely God for whose sake you doe it, in that he will reward a cup of cold water, wil in some thing requite you. And I know certainly, that if you did see what spiri∣tuall profite I receyue by your letters, I am certayne you would not thinke all your labour lost. For Christes sake therefore begin agayne to write vnto me, and reprooue me sharpely for my horrible vnthankfulnesse to GOD. You know how that God hath exonerated the loden consciēce of the great waighty burthen, for so I did write to you, yea the Lord hath in maner vnburthened me of the lesser burthen also: for I haue an as••uraunce of the payment of the same by Candlemas. Loe thus you see what a good God the Lord is vnto me. Oh father Traues geue thāks for me, and pray God to forgeue me my vnthankfulnesse. But what should I reherse the benefite of God towardes me. Alas I cannot, I am to little for all his mercies, yea I am not onely vnthankfull, but I am to farre contumeli∣ous agaynst God. For where you know the Sonne, the Moone, and the seuen starres did forsake me, & would not shine vpon me, you know what I meane per herum & he∣riles amicos, yet the Lord hath geuen me here in the Uni∣uersitie as good a liuyng as I would haue wished. For I am now a fellow of Pembroke hall, of the whiche I nor any other for me did euer make any sute: yea there was a contention betwixt the M. of Katherines hall, and the bi∣shop of Rochester, who is M. of Pembroke hall, whether should haue me, sit hoc tibi dictum. Thus you may see the Lordes carefulnes for me. My fellowship here is woorth 7. pound a yere, for I haue allowed me 18. pence a weeke, and as good as xxxiij. shillings foure pence a yeare in mo∣ney, besides my Chamber, Launder, Barbour, &c. and I am bound to nothing but once or twise a yeare to keepe a Probleme. Thus you see what a good Lord, God is vnto me. But I pray you what do I now to God for all this, I will not speake of the great mercies he sheweth vpon my soule. Surely father Traues I haue cleaue forgottē God, I am all secure, idle, proud, hard harted, vtterly voyde of brotherly loue, I am enuious and disdaine others, I am a very starke hypocrite, not onely in my words and works, but euen in these my letters to you. I am all sensual with∣out the true feare of God, an other manner of man then I haue bene sithens my call. Alas father Traues I wryte this to put my selfe in remembraunce, but I am wythout all sence, I do but only write it. For Gods sake praye for me which am onely in name a christian, in very deed a ve∣ry worldlyng, & to say to you the very truth, a most world¦ling of all other. I pray you exhort my mother now & then with my sister Margaret to feare the Lord, and if my mo∣ther had not sold the Foxe furre which was in my fathers gown, I would she would send it me, she must haue your counsaile in a piece of cloth.
Yours for euer, I. Bradford.