To Maister Iohn Caluin.
* 1.1 BY what meanes (worthie Sir) God plucked me out of the Ly∣ons mouth, euen I my selfe doe not yet well knowe, much lesse can I declare it vnto you. But as Peter being brought out of prison by the Angel, thought that those thinges that were doone, he had séene but by a dreame: euen so I, as yet scarcelie thinke it true that I am escaped. Howbeit I am safe and in health here at Strasborough, wherof I thought good to certifie you with spéede, that you together with me and other good brethren maie giue thankes to God, & I earnestlie beséech your godlie Church, that they by their heartie prayers will indeuour to obtaine the assis∣taunce of God, whereby the calamities that oppresse the English Church maie bee miti∣gated. * 1.2 There the Archbishoppe of Canter∣burie and Yorke, the Bishoppes of Wor∣cester and Oxford, with manie other learned and godlie Preachers are fast in holde, and together with manie other holie men stande in extreme daunger. I knowe that these thinges according to your godlinesse will bée greeuous vnto your eares: but now I shew you of two thinges that maie somwhat mi∣tigate your sorrowe. First that although the infirmitie of some bewraie it selfe, yet is there a great constancy of many more thā we had thought, so as I doubt not but we shall haue manie famous Martyrs, if Winche∣ster, which nowe beareth all the sway, shall beginne to shewe his crueltie. * 1.3 Secondlie that it is the iudgement in a manner of all men, that this calamitie will not long in∣dure: who (as they be wise) haue good con∣iectures of this their opinion. Wherefore let vs also desire God, that he will quicklie treade downe Sathan vnder the féete of his Church. As for me, I am vncertaine whe∣ther I shall still abide here at Strasborough. Perhappes the controuersie about the Eu∣charist will somewhat let me. Howbeit I doe not much force. But this séemes to bée no small matter, that the better and learned∣er sort are desirous to kéepe me still. Whi∣ther soeuer the Lord shall call me, thither am I willing to goe. Yet this did not a little gréeue me, that Iames Sturmius, to whō both ye common weale and the Schoole is greatlie beholding, departed from hence the verie same daie that I came into this Citie, to wit the 30. daie of October. And it is thought that his brother Peter Sturmius shall be cho∣sen in his stéede among the orders of the schooles: But Iohn Sturmius the gouernour of the schoole, laboreth by all meanes to haue me tarie here. Howbeit what he shal bring to passe I know not. This neuerthelesse must I shewe you, that my purpose was in my iourney to goe to Geneua, and to bee there for a while in your companie. But the win∣ter which is nowe at hande hath terrified me from anie further iourney, doubtlesse that which I haue nowe deferred I hope the next spring I shal bring to passe. And if you think that I be able to doe you anie pleasure here, onelie giue we warning and it shall suffice. I wish you well to fare in the Lorde, and that you maie long remaine in safetie to the Church of Christ. At Stras∣borough the 3. of Nouem∣ber. 1553.