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 letter of M. Saunders to his wife.

GRace, mercy, and peace in Iesus Christ our Lord.

Entirely beloued wife, euen as vnto mine owne soule and body, so do I dayly in my harty prayer wish vnto you, for I doo dayly, twise at the least in this sort remember you. And I do not doubt (deare wife) but that both I and you, as we be written in the booke of life, so we shall together enioy the same euerlasting∣ly, through the grace and mercy of God our deare father, in hys sonne our Christ. And for this present life, let vs wholy appoynt our selues to the will of our good God, to glorifie him either by life or by death, and euen that same mercifull Lord make vs wor∣thy to honour him either way as pleaseth him Amen. I am mery, I thanke my God and my Christ,* 1.1 in whome and through whome I shall (I knowe) be able to fight a good fight, and finishe a good course, and then receiue the crowne which is layde vp in store for me, and all the true Soldiours of Christ. Wherefore wife, let vs in the name of our God, fight lustely to ouercome the flesh, the deuil and the world. What our harnesse and weapons be in this kind of fight, looke the 6. vnto the Ephesians, and pray, pray, pray. I would that you make no suite for me in any wise.* 1.2 Thanke you knowe whome, for her most sweete and comfortable putting me in remembrance of my iourney whether I am passing. God send vs all good speede, and a ioyfull meeting. I haue too fewe suche frends to further me in that iourney, which is in deede the grea∣test friendship. The blessing of God be with you all, Amen.

A prisoner in the Lord Laurence Saunders.

This his constancie is sufficiently commended and de∣clared by his valiant buckling with two mighty enemies,* 1.3 Antichrist and death. To neither of these did he geue place: but by suffering their malice, got y^e victory ouer them both. One of the conflictes which he had with Antichrist & hys members, I haue gathered out of a letter of his own hand writing. It was with Doctour Weston, a man, whome though I should prayse, yet would all good and godly mē worthely disprayse. Of this the said Laurence Saunders thus writeth in a letter which he sent to one of his frends, which wrote to him to knowe what Doct. Weston dyd at the Marshalsey: whereunto he thus aunswereth.

M. Weston came to conferre with M. Grimoald. What he hath cōcluded with him,* 1.4 I know not: I wish it may be to Gods glory, Amen, Amen. M. Weston of his gentlenes visited me, & of••red me frendship in his worldly wily sort, &c. I had not so much good maner, as to take it at his hād: for I said, that I was well inough, and ready cherefully to abide the extremity, to keepe thereby a good cōscience. You be a sleepe in sin (said he.) I would awake (quoth I) and do not forget Vigilate & orate. i. Watch & pray. What church was there,* 1.5 said he 30. yeres past? What church was there, quoth I, in Helias time? Ioane of Kent, sayd he, was of youre Church. No, quoth I, we did cōdemne her as an heretick.

Who was of your Church, sayd he 30. yeares past? Such (quoth I) as that Romish Antichrist, and his rabble haue reputed and condemned as heretickes, Wicklife, sayd he, Thorpe, Old castle, &c. Yea, quoth I, with many moe, as storyes do tell.

The B. of Rome hath, sayd he, long tyme played a part in your tayling sermons: but now be ye sure he must play another maner of part. The more pitie, quoth I, and yet some cōfort it is to see how that the best learned,* 1.6 wisest, & holiest of you all, haue heeretofore had him to play a part likewise in your sermōs & writings, though now to please the world, you do turne with the weathercocke. Did you euer said he, heare me preach against the Bishop of Rome? No (quoth I) for I neuer heard you preach. But I trowe you haue ben no wiser then other, &c. with more about the Sacrament. Pray, pray. God keepe your family & blesse it.

What a blessed taste thys good man had of Gods holy spirit, by diuers and sondry his letters may right wel ap∣peare to him that is disposed to peruse the same:* 1.7 whereof certayne we haue here thought good, the Lord willing, to expresse, first beginning with that whiche he wrote out of the Marshalsey to D. Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, pri∣soners for the like cause of Christ in Oxford.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Tim. 4.
• * 1.2

  M, Saunders would haue no suite made for him.
• * 1.3

  Antichrist and death two ene∣mies.
• * 1.4

  This Doct. Weston and M. Gri••moald dyed both about the Corona∣tion of Q. Elizabeth.
• * 1.5

  The church goeth not alwayes by number.
• * 1.6

  Winchesters booke De Vera Obe∣dientia.
• * 1.7

  What a blessed taste of M. San∣ders had of chri¦stes comforts▪