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 Nicholas Shetterden to his mother.

O My good mother, whom I loue with reuerence in the Lord,* 1.1 and according to my duety, I desire your fauou∣rable blessing, and forgeuenes of al my misdedes towards you. Oh my good mother, in fewe wordes I wish you the same salutation, which I hope my selfe to feele, and partly tast of before this come to you to reade: And in the resur∣rection, I verely beleeue to haue it more perfectly in body and soule ioyned together for euer: and in that daye God graunt you to see my face with ioy: but deare mother then beware of that greate Idolatrie and blasphemous Masse. O lette not that be your God, whiche mice and wormes can deuoure.* 1.2 Beholde I call heauen and earth to recorde, that it is no God, yea the fire that consumeth it, and the moystenesse that causeth it to moulde, and I take Christes Testament to witnesse, that it is none of his ordinaunces, but a meere inuention of men, and a snare to catche inno∣cents bloud: and now that God hath shewed it vnto you, be warned in time: O geue ouer olde customes, & become new in y^e truth. What state soeuer your fathers be in, leaue that to God:* 1.3 and let vs followe the counsell of his woorde. Deare mother, imbrace it with heartye affection, reade it wyth obedience, lette it be your pastime, but yet caste of all carnall affections, and loue of worldly things: so shall we meete in ioy at the last day, or els I bid you farewell for e∣uermore: Oh, farewell my friendes and louers all, God graunt me to see your faces in ioy. Amen.

From Westgate the 11. of Iuly. 1555.

Your childe wrytten with his hande, and sealed with his bloude, Nicholas Shetterden be∣ing appoynted to be slaine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 his mo∣••••er an o∣••••er letter 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.2

  ••••stimony 〈…〉〈…〉 against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Id••ll of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Aultar.
• * 1.3

  ••hat soe∣••er the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 word ••ust needes 〈…〉〈…〉.