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.

¶To my deare frend and brother Iohn Went, and other his prison felowes in Lollardes Tower.

HE that preserued Ioseph prisoner in Egypt, fed Daniel in the Lions denne,* 1.1 and deliuered Paul, Peter and the Apostles out of prison, vouchsafe of his goodnes to keep, feed, and deliuer you my good brother Went, with the other our felow souldiors your prison felowes, as may be most to his glory, to your consolatiō, and the edification of his Church.

I cannot but praise God most earnestly, when I heare of your constancy in the fayth and ioye in the crosse of Christ which you now beare and suffer together,* 1.2 with many other good members of Christ: which is a token that by Christ you are counted wor∣thy the kingdome of God, as Paule sayth. And though the world counteth the yoake and crosse of Christ as a most pernicious and hurtfull thing, yet we which haue tasted how frendly the Lord is, cannot but reioice in this persecution as touching our selues, in as much as the cause for the which we suffer is the Lordes cause, and not ours:* 1.3 at whose hand if we endure to the end, we shall re∣ceiue through his liberall promise in Christ, not onely a greate reward in heauen but also the kingdome of heauen it selfe, & al∣so in the meane season be sure to bee defended and cared for, so that we shall lacke no necessarye thinges, neither a heare of our heades shall perishe without his knowledge. Oh what is he that would mistrust, or not gladly serue so louing a father? O how vn∣happy are they that forsake him and put theyr trust in man?* 1.4 But how blessed are they that for his loue and for his holy woordes sake, in these troublesome dayes doe committe theyr soules and bodyes into his handes with wel doing, counting it greater hap∣pines and riches to suffer rebuke with Christ and his Church,* 1.5 thē to enioy the pleasures of this life for a litle short seasō? This crosse that we nowe beare hath bene common to all the faythfull from Abell hitherto,* 1.6 and shalbe to the end, because the Deuill hauyng great wrath agaynst God and his Christ,* 1.7 can not abide that hee should for his manifolde mercies bee lauded and magnified, and Christ to be taken and beleued vpon for our onely and sufficient redemer,* 1.8 Sauiour, and aduocate: and therefore, because we will not deny Christ, nor dissemble with out fayth, but openly protest and professe the same before the world, he seeketh by all meanes to styrre vp his wicked members, to persecute and kill the bodies of the true Christians: as S. Iohn sayth, the Deuill shall cast some of you into prison, And Dauid sayth, I beleued, and therfore haue I spoken, but I was sore troubled. This notwithstanding, goe for∣ward deare brethren, as ye haue begon, to fight the Lords battel, considering Christe the Captayne of your warre, who will both fight for you, geue you victorye, and also highlye rewarde your paynes. Consider to your comfort, the notable and chiefe shep∣heardes and souldiours of Christe, whiche are gone before vs in these dayes, I meane those learned and godly Bishops, Doctours, & other ministers of Gods word: whose fayth and examples we that be inferiours ought to folowe, as S. Paule sayth: Remember them that haue declared vnto you the worde of God,* 1.9 the ende of whose conuersation see that ye look vpon, and folow theyr faith. The grace & blessing of God, with the ministery of his holy An∣gels, be with you for euer, Amen. All my prison felowes greete you.

From the Colehouse this 4. of December,

By your poore brother Thomas Whittell, an vnwor∣thy Minister of Christ, nowe his prisoner for the Gospels sake. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 16.
• * 1.2

  1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1.
• * 1.3

  1. Peter. 2.
• * 1.4

  Math. 10.
• * 1.5

  1 Peter. 4.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 11.
• * 1.7

  Apoc 12.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 can 〈…〉〈…〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 persecuted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 onely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈…〉〈…〉 this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Apo••. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 115.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13.