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.

¶These verses were also written in a booke of mayster William Fleetwood, of the same house.

My resting roode is founde, vayne hope & hap a dew. Loue whome you list w^t chāge, death shall me rid frō you. Bartlet Greene.

Amonges others diuers and singular good vertues of this good manne, especially in him was to bee noted such a modest nature, so humbly thinking of himselfe, as in few men is to be found, euer de••ecting hymselfe vnder that was in him, and euer seeming to be lesse then he was so that nothing lesse hee coulde abide▪ then to heare of hys prayse or commendation: as well declareth not onely his letter written to M. Philpot,* 1.1 wherin he doth earnest∣ly expostulate with hym, for slaundring hym with prayse of his witte and learning, and other manifold vertues of great excellency, but also by his owne speache and aun∣sweres in his examination wherein he casteth from hym all knowledge of learning and cunning, when notwith∣standing he had more in hym, then to anye mennes eyes dyd appeare.

So great and admirable was this gift of modesty graf∣ted in the nature of him, so farre abhorring from a•• pryde and arrogancie, that as he could not abide any thinge that was spoken to his aduauncement or prayse: so neither did there appeare in hym any shewe or bragge in those things wherein he might iustly glorye, whiche were his punish∣mentes and sufferinges for the cause and quarrel of christ. For when hee was beaten and scourged with roddes by Byshoppe Boner (which scarse any man would beleue, nor I neither, but that I heard it of him, whiche hearde it of his mouth) and he greatly reioyced in the same, yet his shamefast modestie was suche, that neuer hee woulde ex∣presse any mention therof, least he shoulde seeme to glorye to muche in hymselfe, saue that onely he opened the same to one M. Cotten of the Temple a friend of hys, a little before his death.

Moreouer,* 1.2 to this rare and maydenly modestie in him was also adioyned the like nature of mercye and pittifull compassion: whiche affection though it seemed to be little regarded of some, yet in my minde is there no other thing wrought in nature, wherein man resembleth more truely the image of the high maiestie of almightye GOD then thys. And as in thys respecte of mercifull tendernesse, manne onely excelleth all other beastes: so almost no lesse may thys manne seeme to passe many other men, whose customable propertie and exercise was to visite the poore prysoners wyth hym in prison, both with bodily reliefe, and also wyth spirituall comforte: and finding manye of them (I meane suche as were there for thefte, and other naughty factes) verye penitent and sorye for theyr euill demeanours, in hope of theyr amendment, dyd not onely by mouthe, but also by hys letters require, yea, as it were of duetye in loue, dyd charge his friendes, to tra∣uayle for theyr deliueraunces: such was the pittye and charritable mercye of thys godlye and most true member of Christes Churche: as appeareth by this letter here fol∣lowing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The singular modesty, and humble nature of M. Grene.
• * 1.2

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nature of M. Grene.