¶A note concerning the trouble of Iulius Palmer, lately come to my handes.
To his assured friend and brother in Chryst Mayster Perry preacher at Beuerstone geue these.
* 1.1MAyster Perry after my harty commendations in the Lord Iesus Christ vnto you and your wife &c. wher∣as you haue written vnto me for my help in stoppyng the malicious and enuious mouth of Thomas Thackam, I would be as glad as any man to testifie the truth, both for that I know of the shameles malice of the sayd party, a∣gaynst the members of Christ, as also the godly and ver∣tuous behauiour of Palmer both before he was in prison, and after in prison, with the credite of that good and god∣ly worke of that history: but surely many thinges are out of my hed, which I cannot as yet remember. And for these things I know, I wryte vnto you. And first as touching the frendship shewed vnto the Lady Uane, and hys zeale therein vttered, trueth it is that hee receaued her into hys house for mony for a small space, in the whiche time they two did not well agree, for that she coulde not suffer hys wickednes of wordes and gestures vnreproued, but that his wife many times being of more honesty made ye mat∣ter well agayne, but to be short, suche was his frendshyp in the ende towardes that good Lady, being out of hys house, that she feared no man more for her lyfe, then him. And I being her man she gaue me great charge alwayes to beware of him. As touching his frendship towardes Iohn Bolton in prison, I am sure he neuer found any, as they that vsed to visite him, can somewhat say: Except you accompt this friendship, that he beyng bereft of hys senses, Thac. wrought him to yeld vnto the papistes, and as a right member of them became his suretie to be obe∣dient vnto them. And hee beyng burdened in conscience therewith, fled away vnto Geneua, for the which flieng Thac. had nothing sayd vnto hym, which sheweth that he was their instrument. And this friendship to Iohn Bol∣ton, for Downer I haue heard no euill of him: for Gate∣ley and Radley now Uicar of S. Laurence, and Bowyer a Tanner, they three left no meanes vnpractised to catche and persecute the members of Christ as I my selfe can well prooue. As touching Palmer, for that I many tymes frequented his company in his lodging, he woulde vtter sometymes vnto me the griefe of his mynd. Among other things once he told me, that for that he heard he was som∣what suspected with the womā of the house, he was much grieued withall, the which he vttred with many teares. I then counsailing him to depart thence to auoyd the occasi∣on of offence, he sayd no, but the Lord should try him or it were long: for sayd he, Thac. hath let me his schole, and now would haue it againe, and because I will not let him haue it, this he hath brought vppon me, but God forgeue him. Afterward beyng in prison, I talking with hym at the grate, he shewed me his iudgement of the scriptures, and deliuered it vnto me, what became of it I knowe not now. He praysed God highly for his estate, and then hee sayd he trusted it would appeare whether Thac. had sayd of him well or not. And further he sayd, that now Thack. hath his will to haue his schoole agayne: for if I woulde haue yelded vp the schoole, he would haue sent me away, I neuer trusted him so well sayd he, to communicate my mynd vnto hym before witnesse, but sometyme alone, and therfore he hath deuised a letter in my name, and brought it to light to cause me to bee examined of my conscience. This is as much as I can say at this tyme. Thus fare you well in the Lord, Amen. From Corsly this 18. of May.
Yours to commaund in Christ, Iohn Moyer Minister.
Haue me commended I pray you to all my friends at Readyng.