Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] 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 full of spiritual conso∣lation, to the sayd Ladie.

THe mercye of God the father, & the consolation of the holy ghost thorow Iesus Christ,* 1.1 be with you & strengthē you my deare mother and sister in the Lord, in these daungerous dayes, to the crowne of eternall glorye whiche is nowe offered to all faithfull souldiours in the Gospell. Amen.

As your good Ladiship doeth desire to heare from me, so am I desirous to wryte, as your gentlenesse and daily goodnes bine∣deth me. But Sathan of late hath letted me, who enuying al good exercises which I haue had and receiued by mine easie impri∣sonment in times past, hath brought me out of the kings Bench, into the bishop of Londons Colehouse, a darke and a vgly prison as any is about London (but my darke body of sinne hathe well deserued the same, and the Lord now hath brought me into out∣ward darkenes, that I might the more be lightened by him, as he is moste present with his children in the middest of darkenesse) where I can not be suffred to haue any candle light, neither inke nor paper, but by stealth. Wherefore I can not wryte to you as I would, neither as my duety is. As Christ my maister was sent frō Annas to Caiphas, so am I sent from Winchester Dioces to Lon∣don. I trust to make a speedye ende of my course: God geue mee grace and patience to be a faithfull follower of my master. I haue beene already this seuennight in his Colehouse, and haue of late bene foure times called to mine answere, but hitherto not cal∣led to iudgement, which I do daily looke for, but I feare they wil prolong me and trie me by straight imprisonmēt a whyle, in the which Gods will be done.

* 1.2Pray (deare Lady) that my faith faint not, which I praise God is presently more liuely wyth mee then it hathe beene in tymes past. I taste and feele the faithfulnesse of God in his promise, who hathe promised to be wyth hys in their trouble, and to delyuer them. I thanke the Lorde, I am not alone, but haue sixe other faithfull companions: who in our darknesse doe chearfully sing Hymnes and praises vnto God for his great goodnesse. Wee are so ioyful, that I wish you part of my ioy. For you that are so care∣full of my bodely reliefe, howe can I but wish you spirituall con∣solation, and that aboundantly? Let not, deare heart, my straite imprisonment any thing molest you: for it hath added and daily doth, vnto my ioy: but rather be glad and thankfull vnto GOD with me, that it hath pleased him to make me most wretched sin∣ner, woorthy to suffer any thing for his sake. Hitherto we haue not resisted vnto bloud God make vs neuer to count our bloud more precious in our eyes then his truth.

Ah my deare sister, I thanke you againe for your last letter you sent me: it is a singular comfort vnto me, as oft as I reade the same. I haue it in my bosome, and wil carie the same euen to the stake with me, in witnesse that Christ hath so constant and faith∣full a Ladie in Englande. God succoure and keepe that spirite in you, for it is the verye spirite of adoption of the childe of God. Suche chearefull and holy spirites vnder the crosse, bee accepta∣ble sacrifices in the sight of God: for Christ came to cast fire into the earth, and looketh that it shoulde be kindled. Be you feruent in spirite in our Christes cause, as you haue begonne, for that is the principall spirite wherewithall Dauid desired to be confir∣med. O howe I doe reioyce your Ladiship to goe arme in arme with me vnto Christe, or rather before me. I can not but ioye of suche a worshipfull fellowe. Me thinketh I see you to mourne, and desire to be loosed out of the earthly and fraile habitacle of this body. O how amiable and pleasant is it to dwel in the Lords tabernacle? Our Christe and his heauenly companye looke for vs: let vs haste and runne thereto, for beholde the Lord is ready to embrace vs. Mine owne bowels in the Lorde, be merry in the Lorde with your afflicted brother, who daily offereth your mer∣ciful almes: which most vnworthely I do receiue still of you, vn∣to the Lorde. But nowe deare mother, you neede not to burden so muche your selfe (as my last letters did signifie) for that my chargeable imprisonment is cut off, and a litle nowe serueth me: wherefore I praye you sende no more vntill I sende to you, for I haue sufficient and abounde. Gods peace be with you for euer. Out of my Lord of Londons Colehouse, the last of October.

Your owne, Iohn Philpot.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An other letter of M. Philpot to the same La∣dye.
• * 1.2

  Experience of Christ, comfor∣ting his Saintes in their persecu∣tion.