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 of Mayster Ridley, vnto Mayster Bradforde and other his prison fel∣lowes. An. 1555.

DEarely beloued, I wish you grace, mercy, and peace.* 1.1

According to your minde. I haue runne ouer all your papers, and what I haue done (which is but small) therein may appeare. In two places I haue put in two loose leaues. I had muche adoe to read that was written in your great leaues, and I weene some where I haue al∣tered some words,* 1.2 because I could not read perfectly that which was written. Sir, what shall best be done w^t these thinges, now ye must consider: for if they come in sight at this time, vndoubtedly they must to the fire with theyr fa∣ther: and as for any safegard that your custody can be vnto them, I am sure you looke not for it. For as you haue bene partner of the worke, so I am sure you looke for none o∣ther, but to haue and receiue like wages, and to drynke of the same cup. Blessed be God that hath geuen you liberty in the meane season, that you may vse your penne to hys glory, and the comforte (as I heare say) of many. I blesse God dayly in you, and all your whole company, to whom I beseeche you commend me hartily. Nowe I loue my country man in deed & in trueth,* 1.3 I meane Doctor Taylor not for my earthly countryes sake, but for oure heauenlye fathers sake, and for Christes sake, whome I heard say, he did so stoutly in tyme of perill confesse, and yet also for our countryes sake and for all our mothers sake,: but I mean of the kingdome of heauen, and of heauenly Hierusalem, and because of the spirite, whiche bringeth in hym, in you, and in your company such blessed fruites of boldnes in the Lords cause, of pacience, and constancie. The Lord which hath begun this work in you all, performe and perfite this his owne deede, vntill his owne day come. Amen.

As yet I perceaue yee haue bene not bayted, and the cause therof God knoweth, which wil let thē doe no more to his, then is his pleased will and pleasure to suffer them to doe for his owne glory, and to the profite of them which be truely his. For the father whiche doth guide them that be Christes to Christ, is more mighty then all they, and no man is able to pul thē out of the fathers handes: except I saye, it please our father, it please our mayster Christe to suffer them, they shall not stirre one heare of your heades.

My brother P. the bearer hereof, and mayster Hoo∣pers letters woulde that we shoulde saye what we thinke good concerning your * 1.4 minde, that is, not for to answere except ye might haue somewhat indifferent Iudges. We are (as yee knowe) separated, and one of vs cannot in a∣ny thing consult with an other, and much strayte watch∣ing of the Baliffes is about vs, that there be no priuye conference amongest vs. And yet as wee heare, the scholers beareth vs more heauily then the townesmen. A wonderfull thing, among so many, neuer yet scholler offe∣red to any of vs (so farre as I know) any maner of fauor, eyther for or in Christes cause.

Nowe as concerning your demaund of our counsell, for my part I do not mislike that which I perceiue ye are minded to do. For I looke for none other, but if ye aun∣swere afore the same Commissioners that we did, ye shall be serued and handled as we were, though ye were as wel learned as euer was either Peter or Paule. And yet fur∣ther I thinke, that occasion afterward may be geuen you, and the consideration of the profite of your auditory may perchaunce moue you to do otherwise.

Finally, determinetely to say what shalbe best, I am not able, but I trust he, whose cause ye haue in hand, shall put you in minde to do that which shalbe most for his glo∣ry, the profite of his flock, and your owne saluation. This letter must be common to you and Maister Hooper, in whome and in his prison fellowe good father C. I blesse God, euen from the bottome of my hart: for I doubt not but they both doe to our maister Christ, true, acceptable, and honourable seruice, and profitable to his flocke: the one with his penne, and the other w^t his fatherly example

of pacience and constancie, and all manner of true god∣linesse. But what shall I neede to say to you: Let thys be common among your brethrē, among whom (I dare say) it is with you as it is with vs,* 1.5 to whome all things heere are common, meat, mony, and whatsoeuer one of vs hath that, can or maye doe an other good. Althoughe, I sayde the Bailiffes and our Hostesse straitly watche vs, that we haue no conference or intelligence of anye thinge abroade, yet hath God prouided for euery one of vs, in steade of our seruauntes, faithfull fellowes, whyche will be content to heare and see, and to doe for vs what soeuer they can. It is Gods worke surely, blessed be God for his vnspeakable goodnesse. The grace of oure Lorde Iesus Christe, and the loue of God, and the communication of the holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. Amen.

* 1.6As farre as London is from Oxforde, yet thence wee haue receiued of late, both meate, money, and shyrts, not onely from suche as are of our acquaintaunce, but of some (whome thys bearer can tell) with whome I hadde neuer to my knowledge any acquaintance. I knowe for whose sake they doe it: to him therfore be all honor, glory, and due thankes.

And yet I pray you do so much as to shewe them that we haue receiued theyr beneuolence, and (God be blessed) haue plentie of al such things. This I desire you to do: for I know they be of M. Hoopers, & your familiar acquain∣taunce. Maister Latimer was crased: but I heare nowe, (thankes be to God) that he amendeth againe.

Nicholas Ridley.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An other letter of B. Ridley an∣swering to M. Brad∣ford.
• * 1.2

  This was a treatise of The Lordes Supper, with other thinges▪ which M. Bradford sent to him to peruse & to iudge thereof.
• * 1.3

  Commen∣dation of D. Taylor.
• * 1.4

  This matter was concer∣ning the de∣liberation of the priso∣ners in Lō∣don, what to doe if they were called to o∣pen dispu∣tation.
• * 1.5

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.6

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉