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 sent to hys wife.

THe God and father eternal, which brought again from death our Lord Iesus christ, keep thee deare wife now and euer, amen, and al thy parentes and friendes, I praise God for his mercy, I am in the same state that ye lefte me in, rather better then woorse, looking dayly for the liuing God, before whome I hunger full sore to appeare, and re∣ceaue the glory, of whiche I trust thou art willing to be a partaker. I geue God most harty thankes therefore, desi∣ring thee of all loues, to stand in that faith which thou hast receiued, and let no man take away the seed that almighty God hath sowne in thee, but lay hands of euerlasting lyfe, which shall euer abide, when both the earth, and all earth∣ly frends shall perish, desiring them also to receaue thank∣fully our trouble whiche is momentane and light, and as S. Paule sayth not worthy of the thinges whiche shall be shewed on vs, that we patiētly carying our crosse may at∣tayne to the place where our sauiour Christ is gone before to the which I beseeche God of his mercye bryng vs spee∣dely. I haue bene much troubled about your deliuerance fearing muche the perswasions of worldlinges, and haue founde a friend, whiche will (I trust) finde a meane for you if you bee not alreadye prouyded desirynge you in anye case to abide suche order, as those my

friendes shall appoint in God. And beare well in mind y^e wordes which I spake at our departing, that as god hath found vs, and also elected vs worthy to suffer with hym. We may endeuour our selues to follow vprightly in thys our vocation, desiring you to present my hartye commen∣dations to all our friendes, and in especiall to youre Pa∣rentes, keeping your matter close in any wise. Geue most harty thankes to my frend, whiche onely for oure cause is come to Windsor. Continue in prayer. Do well. Be fault∣les in all thinges. Beware abhominations. Keepe you cleane from sinne. Praye for me, as I doe for you. I haue sent you a peece of golde for a token, and moste entierlye desire you to send me word if ye lacke any thing. The lord Iesu preserue you and yours. Amen. From Newgate the 15. of Aprill.

By your husband here and in heauen Robert Smith.

This foresayde Robert Smith the valiaunt and con∣stant martyr of christ, thus replenished (as ye haue heard) with the fortitude of Gods spirite, was condemned at Lō∣don by Boner there Bishop,* 1.1 the xii. day of Iulye, and suf∣fered at Uxbridge the 8. day of August: who as he had bene a comfortable instrument of God before to all them that were in prison with him, so nowe also being at the stake, hee did no lesse comforte the people, there standyng aboute hym, willing them to thinke well of his cause, and not to doubte but that his bodye dying in that quar∣rell, shoulde rise agayne to life. And sayde hee, I doubte not, but that God wil shew you some token thereof. At length he being well nigh halfe burnt,* 1.2 and all blacke with fire, clustered together as in a lumpe like a blacke cole, all men thinking him for dead, sodaynely rose vp right before the people, lifting vp the stumpes of his armes, and clap∣ping the same together, declaring a reioysing heart vnto them, and so bending downe agayne, and hanging ouer the fire, slept in the Lord, and ended this mortall life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Martyr∣dome and com∣fortable death of Rob. Smith of Vxbridge. An. 1555. August. 8.
• * 1.2

  A token of com∣fort and resur∣rection geuen by R. Smith at his Martirdome.