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.

Letters of Nicholas Shetterden, and first a letter to his mother.

AFter my humble and bounden duety remembred, welbelo∣ued Mother,* 1.1 this shalbe to wishe you increase of grace and and godly wisedome, that yee may see and perceiue the craftye bewitching of Sathan our mortal enemy, which as I haue diuers times declared vnto you, doth not openly shewe himselfe in hys owne likenes, but vnder colour of deuotion deceiueth them that keep not a dilligent eye vpon him,* 1.2 but hauing confidence in mans traditions and customes of the worlde, leauing the com∣maundementes of God, and Testament of his Sonne Christ Ie∣sus our Lord, doe grow more into superstition & hipocrisie, then into wisedome and true holynesse. For this is most true, that Sa∣than the enemy of soules, dothe by his ministers make many be∣leue, that those thinges whiche they compell vs vnto for theyr bellyes sake, haue many godly significations, although they be most contrary to Gods will, as doubtlesse they be, euen as did the serpent in Paradise to our first mother Eue. What (sayd he) hath God commaunded yee shall not eate of all the trees in the Garden? The woman sayd of the fruites of the trees in the Gar∣den we may eate: but of the tree in the middest of the Garden, sayd God, see ye eate not, least ye dye.* 1.3 Euē so our Ministers now a dayes say: hath God commaunded ye shall not make you anye Image or likenes of any thing? Yea forsoothe. Tush say they, what harme can they doe? May we not remember God the better whē we see his Image or Picture? For they are good bookes for the lay men: but in deed they be better for the priestes, because they receiue the offeringes.

And looke howe truely the promise of the serpent was kepte with Eue, so is the perswasion of our Priests found true to vs.* 1.4 For as Adam and Eue did become like God in knowing good and euill, so are we in remembring God by hys Image. For Adams eyes were so open, that he lost both innocencye and righteous∣nes, and was become most miserable of all creatures: and euen so we remember Christ so well by Images, that we forget his com∣maundements, and count his Testament confirmed in his bloud for starke madnesse or heresie: so miserably haue wee remembred him, that of all people we are most blinde:* 1.5 and this doth followe vpon our presumption, when wee remember God by breking of hys law, and therefore surely except we repent shortly, God wil remember vs in his wrath, & reward vs with his plagues: as sure as there is a God it will come to passe.

But I know the craftines of them herein (I thanke God) whi∣che wil say: Where went he to schoole?* 1.6 Is he wiser then our great Doctours that studyed all their life? And loe, they saye that it is good hay, although we smell it musty our selues, yet must we be∣leue it is sweete, and then pay them well for theyr so saying, and all is safe. But I might saye agayne: What sir, be ye wiser then Christ, and God hys father, or the holy Ghost? What wiser then the Prophetes, and the holy Apostles, and all the holye Martyrs? I pray you sir, where had you your high learning? It is higher thē God (being in heauen) is able to teache, or haue ye set it lower in hell then euer Christ durst to venter? For it is some straunge learning belike, that Christ nor his Apostles could neuer attaine to the knowledge of it. But vayne men are neuer without some shift: For peraduenture they will not be ashamed to saye, that Christ cōming on his fathers message, did forget half his errād by the way. For I dare say, the greater halfe of theyr ceremonyes were neuer commaunded by Christ: Yea I doubt it would bee hard to finde one in the Churche perfectly as hee lefte: so Ro∣mishly hath Antichrist turned the church vpsidedown for lukers sake.

Beloued Mother, as I oftentymes sayde vnto you, euen so now I beseeeche you from my very hart roote in Christ, to con∣sider

your owne soules health is offered you, doe not cast it off: we haue not long time here. Why should we deceiue our selues either for ease of our fleshe, or for the winning of this worldes treasure? I know that some will say to you, why should wee con∣demne our fathers that liued thus? God forbid that wee shoulde condemne any that did according to their knowledge But let vs take heede that they condemne not vs: for if they had hearde the word as we haue, and had bene warned as wee haue, it is to bee thought that they would more thankefully haue receaued it thē we do:* 1.7 yea they were more faythfull in that they knewe, then many now are. Therefore they shall be our condemnation, if wee doe not embrace this grace offered vs. And surely looke how many of them God will accept and saue, those shall wee neuer see, nor haue any part among them: for our disobedience is more great then their ignoraunce. Wherefore if we will meete our fathers in blisse and ioye, let vs not refuse his mercye offered more largely to vs, then to them, euen according to Christes promise, which sayd, after such great ignoraunce, as to seek hym from country to country, and finde him not. Yet shall the Gospel (sayth he) be preached in all the world, and then shall the ende come.

And now let vs knowe the time of our visitation, and not turne backe agayne, seeing we are once deliuered: for surely God will not beare it at our handes to turne backeward.* 1.8 Oh remem∣ber Lots life God must needes punish out of hand our shamefull backesliding, eyther with induration and hardnes of hart, so that they shall persecute his Churche and true seruauntes, or els re∣ward it with open vengeaunce and plagues. And therefore good mother, accept this my simple letter as a fruite of my loue & obedience to you. Would God we might be so knitte in fayth & trust in Gods word and promises here in this lyfe, as wee myght together enioye the blisse and consolation of eternall lyfe: which I desire and seeke aboue all worldly treasure, as ye partly know. If I woulde seeke the good will of men contrarye to my consci∣ence, I could make some my frendes, whiche now peraduenture are ielous ouer me amisse.* 1.9 But I thanke God, let them waye the matter betweene God and theyr consciences, and they haue no iust cause so to do: neuerthelesse I would they would yet refrain and put theyr matter and myne into the euen ballaunce of gods most holy worde, there to be wayed by the mynde of the holye Ghost, expressed vnto vs by the holy Patriarckes, and Prophetes and by Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour and Mediatour, and by his holy Apostles: and then I doubt not, but our matter shall be ended with peace, and ioyfulnes of hart, whiche God graunt vs for his mercies sake. Amen.

Your owne childe Nicholas Shet∣terden prisoner for the trueth in Westgate. 1555.

A letter to his brother VVater Sheterden,

* 1.10I Wishe you healthe in Christe, true knowledge of hys word & a faithful obedient hart vnto y^e same. It is shew¦ed me my brother, y^t yee willed me by a letter made to a frend of yours, to perswade with me, that I shoulde be ruled by mine Uncle, which saith he wil bestow his goods very largely vpon me, If I shoulde not stand to highe in mine own conceipt. But my good brother, I trust ye doe not iudge so euill of me, that I should haue a fayth to sell for money. For though he or you were able to geue me the treasure of the whole countrey, yet I thanke my Lorde God, I do iudge it but an heape of dongue, in respecte of y^e treasure hid w^tin: yet I do esteme a buckle of your shoe, if it come with good wil. And for to be counselled and ruled by him or you, or any other my frends: I do not, neither haue refused it, if they require no more of me then my power, & that which belongeth to mortall men. But if they require of me any thing which pertayneth to God onely, there is neither high nor low, frend nor foe, I trust in God, shall get it of me, nor yet the Aungels in heauen.

For though I be not learned (as the vayne men of the world call learning) yet I thanke my Lorde God,* 1.11 I haue learned out of Gods booke, to know God from his crea∣tures, and to know Christ from hys sacramentes, and to put a difference betweene the merites of Christes Passion and hys Supper, & a difference betwene y^e water of Bap∣tisme, and the holy Ghost, and not to mixe and mingle all thinges confusely together, so that if one aske me a questi∣on or a reason of my fayth, I must say thus, I beleeue as holy Church beleeueth: if he aske me what is the order of that fayth, I should be so ignoraunt that I could not dis∣cerne God from his creatures, nor Christ from his sacra∣mentes. If I should so monstrously vtter my faythe, that I were not able to iudge betweene Christes byrth and his buriall, nor which were first, of his mortification, and hys glorification, who would beleue that my faith wer sound?

For some affirme that Christ did not geue to his Apo∣stles a mortall and a passible bodye, but an immortall & glorified body, so that he should haue a glorified bodye be∣fore his death & so his glorification was before hys resur∣rection: and that he was risen before he was crucified, and crucified before hys Baptisme, and then they may as well say, he was Baptised before his Byrth, and borne before hee was conceiued, and conceiued before he was promised & that were euen right Antichrist to turne al things back∣ward, & then say: Oh ye must beleue, for God is almighty he can do all things &c. Truth it is that God is almighty in deede,* 1.12 and yet I may not beleeue thinges contrarye to hys word, that Christes body was glorified before he dy∣ed: for Gods omnipotency doth not stand in thinges con∣trary to hys will, but in performyng his will at his plea∣sure in tyme, Neither doth he require of vs to iudge or be∣leue of his almighty power, that he hath made the ende of the world to come, before the beginning, or yet the fruit to come before y^e blossome, & yet is he neuertheles almightye.

But if peraduenture yee shall thinke with youre selfe, Why, they are learned:* 1.13 it were maruell but they shoulde know what is the trueth, as well as other whiche neuer kept no such study. &c. To that I answere, that if they had studied Gods word the author of truth, as they haue done Logicke, and Duns, with the Legend of lyes, they shuld haue bene as expert in the truth, as they be now in balde reasons. But thus hath God fulfilled his promise, y^t suche should be deluded with lyes, which would not beleue nor walke in his truth.

And agayne: this is a good cause to make vs thynke surely, that thys was the cause that God gaue them ouer at the first to erroure, after the Apostles time by litle & li∣tle, as they grewe in sinne. For seeing wee had hys trueth now among vs a few yeares, because we did not obey vn¦to it, we see what a sodayne chaunge God hathe brought vpon vs for our sinnes sake. And why shuld not we think that this and such lyke disobedience was the cause y^t God tooke his word from all Christendome at the first, and cast a darkenes vpon them that would not walke in his light.* 1.14 For it is euident enough to see how lyke theyr doynges be to Christes and hys Apostles, and that seene, eyther wee must iudge Christes doings very slender, and theirs good or els that in deede they be the very Antichristes, whiche should come and turne all thinges out of frame. Thus I haue bene bold to trouble you, which I trust shall not bee altogether in vayne. Pray for me, as I doe for you.

Your brother Nicholas Shetterden, prisoner for the truth in Westgate.

An other letter to hys brother.

GOd, whiche is the geuer of all goodnes, and that freely for hys loue to vs (not onely without our desertes, but contra∣ry to the same) graunt you my brother suche encrease of Godlye knowledge and loue vnto the vertues thereunto belonging,* 1.15 as may geue you such a tast in heauenly things that all treasures of earthly thinges may sauoure to you, as in deede they are, moste vayne and vncertayne, so shall ye neuer take them for no better then they be. Yea, whether God take them from vs, or geue them vnto vs, we shall know our selues neither richer nor poorer be∣fore God: But if we lay vp in our hartes the treasure of his word we shall not onely enriche our selues agaynst the tyme of neede, but also arme oure selues agaynst the battell with weapons and harnes, whiche is inuincible, and clothe oure selues agaynst the maryage: For beholde, the Lorde hath called vs of long tyme to the feast, and blowne the trumpet to prepare the battell.* 1.16 Let vs know the tyme of our visitation, least the Lord sittyng on his mount bewayle our destruction, which he desireth not, but be∣cause he is iust to punishe such as continue in sinne, euen as he is mercifull to forgeue the repentaunt that turne in tyme: for so is God that cannot deny hymselfe.

Let vs therfore in this day, while it is called to day, heare his voyce, and not harden your hartes by resistance of hys will, least he sweare in hys wrath, that we shall not enter into hys rest. Let vs count that sufficient, that wee haue spent the tyme past (as S. Peter sayth) after the will of the Gentiles, in eatyng and dryn∣king, chamberyng and wantonnesse, and in abhominable Idola∣trye &c. And nowe let vs assay a new lyfe and trade our mem∣bers in vertue an other while, least peraduenture wee might run past any returne in the contrary. But if we now returne and laye hand of his worde in deede and veritie, as wee haue long tyme done in talke and libertie, then wil God heape vpon vs such cer∣tificate of conscience, as shall kindle our consolation in hym, so that all treasure shall be dounge,* 1.17 to that excellent knowledge of our Sauiour. Deare brother, my harts desire and prayer to God is, that we may together enioy the blisse of eternall inheritance by one spirituall regeneration and new byrth, as we are ioyned by nature. But alacke, the way and meane thereunto hath bene much neglected of me (I will not say of you) for I had rather ye should accuse your selfe: for no doubte the best of vs both hat••e not sought for wisedome in Gods worde, as some in the worlde

whom we knowe, haue sought for money: therefore they shall be our Iudges, if we do not learne by them: yea the very Emmet, as S••lomon saith, doth teach vs to prouide for the time to come: for ••hee prouideth in Sommer against Winter.* 1.18

This is the best token I haue for you nowe, which thoughe it be simple, yet shal it declare partly my hearts desire to you ward, which is euen as mine owne soule.* 1.19 Let nothing dismay you▪ for my cause: but be ye sure I shall haue victorie in the truthe, which truth is stronger then kings,* 1.20 wine, or women. For as Zorobabel sayeth: Wine is vnrighteous, the king is vnrighteous, women are vnrighteous, yea al the children of men are vnrighteous, but the truthe endureth, and is alwaies strong, and conquereth for euer without end: Therfore this is to desire you & all other my frends that wish me good, to pray that God will alwaies keepe me in his truthe as he hath begonne, which prayer if it be of such a minde as laboureth to depart from euill, shall be to me the greatest plea∣su••e vnder heauen. For I desire nothing in comparison of Gods truthe I thanke him of his mercy, which so hath wrought, for I take it as a sure seale of the endlesse ioy which shall hereafter fol∣lowe: which God bring vs vnto, when his will and pleasure is, A∣men.

From Canterburie.

By yours Nicholas Shetterden.

An other Letter of Nicholas Shetterden to his mother.

O My good mother, whom I loue with reuerence in the Lord,* 1.21 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.* 1.22 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:* 1.23 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.

The copie of a letter wrytten to his wife.

I Wrote vnto you as one y^t longed more to heare of your healthe,* 2.1 then of all worldly treasure, willing you to en∣treate Esau the elder brother by nature gently, geuing to him his own, yea, and offer him one of the droues, and say they be Iacobs, and are sent for a present to my Lorde E∣sau, but he wil not take it. &c. Now my beloued ye knowe the blessing of oure father is, that the elder shall serue the younger, & wisedom our mother hath taught vs the same, and I know ye do complaine of your * 2.2 seruaunt the flesh, that he is rebellious, diobedient, and vntoward: vnruely and crookedly ye thinke he doth his seruice: but yet behold, how shall ye plead your cause before an indifferent iudge: for if it be true that his seruice be not according to hys due∣tie, as it is many times found in seruaunts: yet (I say) can you shewe your cause to no indifferent iudge, but hee shall obiect against you that he is not kept like a seruant, but he lacketh both meat and drinke, and other necessaries meete and due for a seruaunt: so shall ye take more shame of your own complaint, then remedy or vantage against your ser∣uant, and it shalbe a cloke for him to hide all his rebellion and vntoward seruice, because ye haue misused him.

And therefore my sentence is, that yee paciently beare with him in small faultes, and amende your owne greate faultes, as oppression, crueltie and couetousnes, requiring more then a seruaunt can do, specially being tired wyth la∣bour, famined wyth hunger, and lamed with stripes. And these things amended, if hee doe hys seruice negligently, (as no doubt sometime he wil) yet then ye may boldly cor∣rect him with discretion, & sometime if he do not hys taske, ye may make hym go to bed supperlesse: but yet beate hym not with durable strokes, neither withholde hys meate in due time, and pinche him not by the belly continually, but * 2.3 let him haue some thing to ioy in: onely watch hym, and keepe him from doing of harm. Though he be but a stran∣ger in the life that is in God: yet be good to straungers for we are all straungers in darkenesse, and captiues in sinne, as well soule and spirite, being in Egypt, as now the flesh is yet vnbaptised with the terrible red Sea of deathe, and remember that one lawe abideth for the stranger, I meane one reward abideth both bodye and soule in the lande of e∣uerlasting rest. And therefore intreat him gently, and deale with him iustly now: * 2.4 for the time will come that the yoke of bondage shall be taken from his necke, and he shall be a fellow heire with your yonger brother.

Circumcise him therefore, but doe not misuse hym, nor keepe him from hys owne, but deale mercifully wyth the straunger, that he may saye: Oh of what vnderstanding heart is this people, who hath God? Or where is God so nigh as to these? God make you wise and politike in hart, victorious in fielde of this world, to rule the nations with a rodde: but kill not the Gabaonites wyth whome peace is taken: but lette them drawe water, and hew woode,* 2.5 but geue them their meate and drinke due for labourers, and be glad because your disease is so remedied: for it is better and easier for a thirstie labouring man to drinke, then for a dronken man to tell a sober tale. Yea, it is a token that yee haue earnestly followed your labour, and not kepte com∣panie with dronkardes and belly Gods: and therefore be glad I say, yea and glad againe: for great is your rewarde in heauen: yea blessed shall they be, that in this your zeale shall meete you, and withdrawe your hande from reuen∣ging your selfe vppon that churlish Naball: which thing I hope to doe nowe with these sweete reasons, and frailes of Figges, I being of one house with your seruaunt Na∣ball. I dare say to you, that churlishnesse is hys name: but reuenge not, for the Lorde shal do it in his due time. Fare∣well mine owne heart.

Yours in bondes at Westgate. Nicholas Shetterden.

The next day after the condemnation of these foresayd, which was the 26. day of Iulye, were also condemned for the same Articles W. Coker, W. Hopper of Cambroke, Henry Laurence, Richarde Wright of Ashforde, W. Stere of Ashforde. But because the execution of these Martyrs pertaineth not to thys moneth, more shall be sayde (the Lorde willing) of them, when we come to the moneth fo∣lowing of August.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A letter of Ni∣cholas Sheter∣den to his mo∣ther.
• * 1.2

  Sathan trans∣formeth him∣selfe into an Angell of light.
• * 1.3

  As the Serpent seduced Eue by an Aple: so Priestes seduce the people by Images.
• * 1.4

  Images more profitable bookes for Priests then for lay men.
• * 1.5

  Sheterden pro∣phesieth of Gods plagues.
• * 1.6

  Learning a∣gainst or with∣out Gods word, is vayne and to no pur∣pose.

  Antichrist hath turned the Church cleare vpside downe.
• * 1.7

  The fathers that heard no better: are not to be condemned but rather will con∣demne vs that heare and re∣ceaue it not.
• * 1.8

  Gods visitation not to be refu∣sed.
• * 1.9

  Experience how Gods Martyrs seeke not the world.
• * 1.10

  My vncle hath bene with me & made great promises and great threates also.
• * 1.11

  So should he haue 2. bodyes at once, one glo∣rified, and an o∣ther mortall. No order nor reason in the popes doctrine.
• * 1.12

  We are bound 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beleeue what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath ex∣pressely willed, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 able to d••▪
• * 1.13

  He spea∣keth not a••gaynst the true vse of Logike.
• * 1.14

  Why God taketh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 worde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 realme••••.
• * 1.15

  An other letter of Nicholas Sheterden to his bro∣ther.
• * 1.16

  Tyme of Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be receaued.
• * 1.17

  Certificat•••••• of conscien••••▪
• * 1.18

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.19

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.20

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.21

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 his mo∣••••er an o∣••••er letter 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.22

  ••••stimony 〈…〉〈…〉 against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Id••ll of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Aultar.
• * 1.23

  ••hat soe∣••er the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 word ••ust needes 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 2.1

  ••n other ••etter of 〈…〉〈…〉 wy••e.
• * 2.2

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 2.3

  Corporis cu∣ram agite. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ad concupiscē∣tia••.
• * 2.4

  The body of man is redemed as well as the soule.
• * 2.5

  The Gabaonites though they be but strangers & not to be pam∣pared yet are they not to be cast out.