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.

A prayer that the Lord Cromwell sayd at the houre of his death.

O Lord Iesu, which art the onely health of all men liuing,* 1.1 and the euerlasting life of them which die in thee: I wretched sinner do submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will, and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercy, willingly now I leaue this fraile and wicked fleshe in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to me agayne at the last day in the resurrection of the iust. I beseech thee, moste merciful lord Iesus Christ, that thou wilt by thy grace make strōg my soule against all temptations, and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against all the assaults of the deuill. I see and know∣ledge that there is in my selfe no hope of saluation, but all my cō∣fidence, hope and trust, is in thy most mercifull goodnesse. I haue no merites nor good works, which I may alledge before thee. Of sinnes and euill workes (alas) I see a great heape: but yet tho∣rough thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whome thou wilt not impute their sinnes: but wilt take and accept me for righteous and iust, and to be the inheritour of euerlasting lyfe. Thou mercifull lord wast borne for my sake, thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake: thou didst teach, pray, and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and workes thou wroughtest for my sake: thou suffredst most grieuous paines and tormentes for my sake: finally, thou gauest thy most precious body and thy bloud to be shed on the crosse for my sake. Nowe most mercifull Sauior, let al these things profit me, that thou frely hast done for me, which hast geuen thy selfe al so for me. Let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the spots and foulenes of my sinnes Let thy righ∣teousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnes. Let the merites of thy passion and bloudsheding be satisfaction for my sinnes. Geue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy bloud wa∣uer not in me, but may euer be firme and constant. That the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me, that loue waxe not cold in me. Finally, that the weaknes of my fleshe be not ouercome with the feare of death. Graunt me mercifull Sauiour, that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my body, yet the eyes of my soule may still behold and looke vpon thee, and when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue, yet my heart may cry and say vnto thee: Lord into thy hands I commend my soule, Lord Iesu receaue my spirit. Amen.

And thus his prayer made, after he had godly & louing∣ly exhorted them that were about him on the scaffold,* 1.2 he quietly committed his soule into the hands of God, and so paciently suffred the stroke of the axe, by a ragged and but∣cherly miser, which very vngodly performed the office.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The prayer of the L. Cromwel at his death▪
• * 1.2

  The death of the ••. Cromwel▪