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.

¶Letters of Thomas Whittell.

¶A letter of Thomas Whittell to Iohn Careles prisoner in the kinges bench.

THe peace of God in Christ bee with you continuallye dearely beloued bother in Christ,* 1.1 with the assistaunce of Gods grace and holy spirit, to the working and perfour∣ming of those thinges which may comfort and edefye hys Churche (as ye dayly doe) to the glory of his name, and the encrease of your ioye and solace of Soule in this lyfe, and also your reward in heauen with Christ our Captain, whose faythfull Souldiours ye are in the life to come. A∣men.

I haue greatly reioyced (my deare hart) with thankes to God for you, since I haue hearde of your fayth and loue which you bare towardes God and his Sayntes, wyth a most godly ardent zeale to the verity of Christs doctrine and religion which I haue heard by the report of manye, but specially by the declaring of that valiaunt captayne in Christes church, that stout Champion in Gods cause, that Spectacle to the worlde, I meane our good brother Phil∣pot, who now lyeth vnder the Aultar and sweetly enioy∣eth the promised reward. And specially I and my cōdem∣ned fellowes gene thankes to God for your louyng and comfortable Letter in the deepenesse of our trouble (after the flesh) sent vnto vs to the consolation of vs al but most specially to me most sinnefull miser on mine own behalfe, but happye, I hope, through Gods louing kindnesse in Christ shewed vnto me: who suffered me to faynt & fayle through humaine infirmity, by the working of the Arche∣nemy in his sworne Souldiours the Bishops and Prie∣stes:* 1.2 In whom so liuely appereth the very visage & shape of Sathan, that a man (if it were not preiudice to Gods word) might well affirme them to be Deuils incarnate, as I by experience do speake. Wherefore, who so shall for cō∣science matters come in theyr handes, had need of the wy∣lynesse of the Serpent to saue his head, though it be wyth the wounding of his body, and to take diligent heede how he consenteth to theyr wicked writings, or setteth his hād to theyr conueyances.

Sore did they assault me and craftely tempt me to their wicked wayes, or at least to a denegation of my fayth and true opinions, though it were but by colour and dissimu∣lation. And (alas) something they did preuaile. Not that I did any thing at all like theyr opinions and false papisti∣call religion, or els doubted of the truth wherein I stand, but onely the infirmity of the fleshe beguiled me, desiring liberty by an vnlawfull meanes: GOD lay it not to my charge at that daye, and so I hartely desire you to praye. Howbeit vncertayne I am whether more profite came therby: profite to me, in that God suffered Sathan to buf∣fet me by his foresayd minister of mischiefe, shewinge me myne infirmity, that I should not boast nor reioyce in my selfe but onely in the Lord, who whē he had led me to hell in my conscience through the respect of his feareful iudge∣mentes agaynst me for my fearefulnes, mistrust and craf∣ty cloking in such spirituall and weighty matters (in the which mine agonye and distresse, I founde this olde verse true, Non patitur ludum fama, fides oculus) yet he brought me from thence agayne to the magnifiyng of his name, suspe∣cting of flesh and bloude, and consolation of mine owne soule, or els that I might feele disprofite in offending the congregation of God, which peraduenture wil rather ad∣iudge my fall to come of doubtfulnesse in my doctrine and religion, then of humaine imbecility.

Well, of the importune burden of a troubled conscience for denying or dissembling the knowne verity,* 1.3 I by expe∣riēce could say very much more, which perhaps I will de∣clare by writing, to the warding of other, if God graunte time: For now am I and my felowes ready to go hence e∣uen for Christs cause: Gods name be praysed who hath hi∣therto called vs. Pray, I pray you that we maye ende our course with ioy, & at your appoynted time you shall come after. But as the Lorde hath kept you, so will he preserue your life still, to the intent you should labour (as you do) to appease and conuince these vngodlye contentions and controuersies which now do too much raygn, brawling a∣bout termes to no edificatiō. God is dishonored, y^e church disquieted, & occasiō to speake euill of the gospel ministred

to our aduersaries. But such is the subtlety of sathan that whom he cannot winne with grosse Idolatry in open re∣ligion, thē he seeketh to corrupt and deceiue in opinions, in a priuate profession. But here I will abruptly leaue, lest with my rude & simple veyne I should be tedious to you, desiring you (my louing brother) if it shall not seeme grie∣uous vnto you, to write vnto me & my fellowes yet once agayne, if you haue leysure, and we tune to the same.

* 1.4Prouide me M. Philpots 9. examinations for a friend of mine, and I shall pay you therefore, by the leaue of al∣mighty God our heauenly Father, who correcteth all hys deare children in this world, that they should not be dam∣ned with the world, and tryeth the fayth of his Saynctes through many tribulations, that being founde constant to the end, he may crowne his owne giftes in them, & in hea∣uen highly reward thē: Whether I trust to goe before, loo∣king for you to followe (my faythfull frend) that we maye sing perpetuall praise to our louing Lord God for victory ouer Sathan and sinne, won for vs by Iesus Christ God and man, our onely and sufficient Sauiour and Aduocate, Amen. Farewell and pray in fayth.

Yours Thomas Whittell Minister, and nowe condemned to dye for the Gospels sake. 1556. Ianuary. 21.

¶All my felowes salute you. Salute all our faythful brethren with you.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A letter of Tho. Whit∣tell written to Iohn Careles.
• * 1.2

  His iudge∣ment and experience of Popish Prelates.
• * 1.3

  The burden of a trou∣bled consci∣ence.
• * 1.4

  He writeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the exa∣minations of M. Phil∣••••••.