Certain most godly, fruitful, and comfortable letters of such true saintes and holy martyrs of God, as in the late bloodye persecution here within this realme, gaue their lyues for the defence of Christes holy gospel written in the tyme of their affliction and cruell imprysonment.

To Maistres Anne Hartipole, who was fal∣len from the syncerity of the gospel which she had before long knowē and professed, to the Pope and his Idolatrous religion.

THe grace of God and true lyght wherewith he lighteneth the hartes of all the true and faythfull beleuers, louers, and followers of his holy Gospell, lyghten your harte by the mightye operation of his holy spirit, Amen.

I haue not hetherto beene accustomed to write vnto you in the matters of oure cōmon fayth, which is now daūgerously assaulted, especially for that otherwyse by corporall presence and mutuall conference, we haue had consolation in the same, as the time present dyd requyre. In the which I perceiued your iudgement and constancy to be so much, that I receiued by your good and godlye example, strength in the same, as I haue done euen from the begyn∣nyng, before I was called vnto the lyghte of the gospell, in the whych you wente before me and ministred occasion to me to follow, at such tyme as that blessed woman Anne As∣kewe (nowe a glorious Martyr in the syghte of Iesus christ) was harboured in your house: so that I thought it su¦perfluous and not nedefull to wryte thereof vnto you, that of so long tyme haue ben instructed, and by so many learned bookes confyrmed. But now hearyng that the old serpente our auncient enemy, which lyeth in continual wayte of our steppes, hath bytten you by the heele and geuen you a foule fall, I cannot but be hartely sory, and as brotherly charitye moueth me, testifye the same vnto you by writyng, for that I maye not presently otherwyse open my selfe in thys be∣halfe. Alas syster that so syncere profession, shoulde receyue so grosse an infection, to the dishonoure of god and of hys churche. What meaneth it that you are so sodeinly departed from Ierusalem vnto Hierico, to be a companion of theues & idolaters, to the vtter ouerthrowyng of that good which you haue professed: for as sainct Iames teacheth vs, he that offendeth in one, is gyltye in all, and to come to Idolatrye and straunge worshyppyng of god forbidden by his word,

is of all transgressions the moste detestable. Therefore I cannot cease to wonder howe you could so soone be allured or drawen therto. I had thought the loue of the truthe had beene so graffed in youre harte, that neyther persecution, sworde, fyre, nor gallowes myght haue broughte thys to passe, that at the voyce of a handemayde in the fyrste temp∣tation, you shoulde haue denyed Christe. For not to walke after the synceritye of hys Gospell in deede, is to denye hym, and none can be pertakers of the Lordes table and of the table of deuylles, whyche is the popyshe Masse, and the malignaunte synagoge vsyng the same. Me thynke I heare your excuse, pretendyng your conscience to be sounde before GOD notwythstandyng, and that your conscience wyll geue you leaue thus to doe wyth the common sorte of dissemblers both wyth God and man: but I must tell you playn (Syster) in Gods cause, that your conscience so affec∣ted, is a syckelye and vnsound conscience and craftely blin∣ded, for before GOD there is no suche conscience alowed, whyche alloweth your bodye to do that whiche it condem∣neth. We shall receyue all accordynge to that whyche we doe in oure bodies, whether it bee good or euyll, and it is commaunded vs as well to glorifye GOD in our bodies as in oure soules. We must shewe oure faythe by our out∣warde conuersation, that men seynge oure good workes, myghte glorifye oure father whiche is in heauen. Wyll ye nowe wyth youre presence goe aboute to beautifye that whyche hetherto you haue iustely destroyed? What do you elles in so doynge, but notifye your selfe to bee an infydell to the churche of Christe, that wyll be contente to associate your selfe wyth her enemye, for the contentation of man? Hathe euer any personne of God so done, that was alow∣ed therein? Bee not deceyued good Syster, wyth the per∣swasible wordes of man, neyther be afrayd of his threates. Followe the Gospell of Christe accordynge to true know∣ledge, and feare to doe that whyche by the same is straight∣lye forbydden you. Tempte not GOD anye longer by thys euyll doynge, for you can doe nothynge more hay∣nous in hys syghte. Lette thys haltyng bee healed vppe, and turne not from the ryghte wayes of the Lord. Be not ashamed of his gospel, neither of the crosse, which is y^e badge

of the true and vnfayned professons therof, whyche you see now hys faythefull (praised be his name therfore) are so wel content and wyllyng to beare: but rather as you are cal∣led, take vppe your crosse, and be assured thereby to enter into Christes glorye: for onlesse we suffer wyth hym, we shall not raygne wyth hym, and yf we dye not with Christ, we shall not lyue wyth Christe. The crosse nowe is the re∣dye way to heauen, therfore I wish you should choose to be afflitted with the people of god, rather then to liue in the ta∣bernacles of the wicked. Do not any more that whych of all thynges ye haue now most cause to repent, neyther lay dai∣ly the foundation of repentance, but let this fal be a teaching vnto you of the wante of faythe whyche is in you, and so become more feruente in prayer, and godlye exercises, that wyth thys newe yeare, ye maye become a newe woman in a godlye and newe perfection, the whyche GOD for hys mercies sake in Christ, worke bothe in you and me to the ende. Amen.

VVritten in hast by your brother in captiuity. Iohn Philpot.

Notes

• Luk 10