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 very louing frendes and maysters. M Goringe, M. Ferneham, M. Fleetwood, M. Rusewll. M. Bel, M Hus∣sey, M. Calthrop, M. Boyer, and other my mai∣sters of the Temple, Bartlet Greene wi∣sheth health of bodye and soule.

VEry friendes are they, whiche are knitte together wyth the knotte of Charitie. Charitie doth not decaye, but increase in them that dye faythfully: whereof it followeth, that thoughe we be absent in body, yet are we present in the spirite, coupled together with the vnity of fayth in the bonde of peace, whyche is loue. How hee is worthy the name of a friend, that measureth hys frendship with the distaunce of place, or parting of persons? If thy frend be out of sight, is thy friendshyp ended? If he be gone into the Countrey, wilt thou cease to loue hym? If hee be passed the seas, will you so for sake hym? If hee be caryed into heauen, is Charitie hindred thereby? On the one side we haue the vse of the fathers from the primatiue Church, that gaue thankes for theyr frendes that dyed in the fayth, to proue that Charitie dyed not with death. On the other side (sayth Horace) Coelum non ani∣mum mutant, qui trans mare currunt.

What speake I of Horrace? Sayth not saincte Paule the same thynge: For we are members of hys bodye, of his flesh, and of his bloud, yea, we are members one of an other. Is the hand or arme foote or legge a member, when it is disseuered from the bodye? How can we be members, excepte we be ioyned together? What is the line that coupleth vs, but loue? When all thinges shal fayle loue fayleth neuer. Hope hath hys ende, when wee get that wee hoped for. Fayth is finished in heauen, loue endureth for euer: Loue (I say) that proceedeth of charitie, for carnall loue, when that which he loued is lost, doth pearish wyth the fleshe. Neyther was that euer but fleshly loue, which by distaunce of place, or se∣uering of bodyes, is parted asunder. If loue be the ende or sūme of the lawe, if heauen and yearth shall pearishe, it one iote of Gods wordes shall not decaye, why shouldee we thinke that loue lasteth not euer.

I neede not to write much to you my frendes, neyther can I haue laysure nowe that the keepers are risen: but thys I saye: if we keepe Chrystes commaundemente in louynge eache other, as he loued vs, then should our loue be euerlasting. This frend∣ship Paule felt when it moued him to saye, that neyther lengthe nor bredth (meanyng no distaunce of place) neyther height nor depth shoulde seuere hym from the loue of Christe. Waighe well thys place, and meate it wyth Paules measures: so shall we find that if our loue be vnfayned, it can neuer bee ended. Nowe may you saye, why wrytest thou this? Certes to the ende that if oure frendshippe bee stable, you may accomplishe thys the laste re∣quest of your friende, and performe after my death the friend∣shippe wee beganne in oure lyfe, that amitie maye encrease vntill GOD make it perfecte at oure next meetynge toge∣ther.

Mayster Feetewood, I beseeche you remember Wittrance and Cooke, two singular men amongest common prisoners, M Fernham and mayster Bell, with M. Hussey (as I hope) wyll dispatch Palmer and Richardson with his companions. I praye

you M. Calthrop thinke on Iohn Groue, an honest poore man, Traiford, and Rice Aprice his accomplices. My cosin Tho∣mas Witton (a Scriuener in Lombardstreete) hath promised to further their deliuerie: at the least hee can instruct you whiche waye to worke. I doubt not but that Maister Boyer will labour for the good wife Cooper (for she is worthy to bee holpen) and Berard the Frenchman. There bee also diuers other well dispo∣sed men, whose deliueraunce if ye will not labour for: yet I humbly beseeche you to seeke their reliefe, as you shall see cause, namely of Henry Aprice, Lancelot, Hobbes, Lother, Homes, C••rre, and Bockyngham, a young man of goodly giftes in witte and learnyng, and (sauyng that he is somewhat wilde) likely to doe well hereafter. There bee also two women, Conyngham and Alice Alexander that may proue honest. For these and all other poore prisoners, here I make this my humble sute, and prayer to you all my Maisters, and especiall good frendes, be∣seechyng you of all bondes of amitie, for the precious bloud of Iesus Christ, in the bowelles of mercie: to tender the causes of miserable captiues: helpe to clothe Christ, visite the afflicted, comfort the sorrowfull, and releue the needy. The very God of peace guide your hartes to haue mercy on the poore, and loue faythfully together, Amen. This present Monday, when I looke to dye, and liue for euer.

Yours as euer Bartlet Greene.

Notes

• A letter of M. Bartlet Grene to certayne of his louing friendes in the Temple What true frendship is. True frend∣ship is not measured by distance of place or of person••
• Loue onely coupleth together.
• All other thinges fayle, loue onely indu∣reth for euer.
• Loue vnfai∣ned neuer endeth.
• The sute of M. Grene for the sa∣uing of cer∣tayne poor•• prisoners in Newgate.