THE MIRROR OF MARTYRS. IN A SHORT VIEW lively expressing the force of their Faith, the fervency of their Love, the wisdom of their Sayings, the patience of their Sufferings, etc. With their Prayers and preparation for their last farewell. Whereunto is added two godly Letters written by M. BRADFORD, full of sweet consolation for such as are afflicted in conscience.  ¶ They loved not their lives unto the death. Revel. 12.11. 
AT LONDON, ¶ Printed by T. P. for Io: Budge, and are to be sold at his Shop at the great South door of S. Paul's, and at Britain's Burse. An. 1613.   
Deut. 15.15. 
¶ Remember that thou wast a bondman in the Land of EGYPT: and that the Lord thy God redeemed thee.  Deut. 16.3. 
¶ Remember the day thou camest out of the Land of EGYPT, all the days of thy life.   

TO ALL SUCH as from a true heart delight to see the mighty power of CHRIST magnified in his Martyrs, salvation.  
Dear Christian Reader, who either wantest leisure to read, or ability to buy that rich and plentiful Storehouse of Story, Doctrine, and Comfort, the Acts and Monuments: penned by the most innocent hearted man of God, and true nathanael, Mr. JOHN FOXE: and yet knowing th'incomparable worth of the things contained therein, dost often wish thyself some of that precious store for thy present use, Lo here, a Mirror fitched thence, which how so ever in regard of the smallness, it cannot show thee all; yet mayest thou here behold the choice of many memorable things, which will yield thee sound comfort, and profitable delight.  
Accept then (good Reader I pray thee in stead of the greater) this little Institution of a Christian Martyr, with the same mind with which it is now offered unto thee, & use it to the same ends for which it was at the first framed into this so small a Volume & if in reading the whole or any part thereof, thou, or any of thine, do reap but the least good; be thankful therefore to thy good God, and help me with thy prayers.  
Thine ever in Christ, C. C.   

THE FAITHFUL Soul, to her spouse CHRIST.  

Cant. 6.  I Am my welbeloveds, & my well-beloved is mine. 
2.   

Cant. 8.  Set me as a seal on thine heart, 
6.  and as a signet upon thine arm: for Love is strong as death: jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are fiery coals, and a vehement flame.  
Much water cannot quench Love, 
Verse. 7.  neither can the floods drown it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for Love, they would greatly contemn it.   

A PREAMBLE before the Book.  
HAppy, happy, yea thrice, and everlastingly happy is that Soul which by Faith feels itself handfasted unto Christ! Though it meet with a prosperous estate in this world, it easily swells not: and if it meet with th'adverse things of the world, it easily quails not. For it hath the word of Christ, and the Spirit of Christ residing and dwelling in it. She is not to learn in whom she hath believed: neither can she ever be finally forced from believing. Bring her to trial, and prove whether of the two, Christ or Belial she will embrace; offer her Gold to forego CHRIST she greatly contemns it: Let the mighty terrify with threats, she fears not their fear, nor is careful upon the peril of life, to give them a direct answer: she regards not whip; she dreads not rackings: upon honourable conditions she esteems the prison a Palace; fetters of jron, Ornaments of fine Gold: the darkest dungeon, a delightsome dwelling; rather than she will violate the chastity of her faith to CHRIST her only Spouse, she will willingly endure headding and hanging; yea burning and broiling: In a word, nothing can be able to separate this sweet soul from that love of GOD to her; which is in CHRIST jesus her Lord. Now the image of such a soul who desires to see, and by sight thereof to be transformed inro the same image: Let him often with a spiritual eye pry into this Mirror of Martyrs, following: Where he shall behold their Faith victorious, their Hope lively, their peace passing all understanding, their joy unspeakable and glorious: their Speech always gracious, their prayers full of fervour, their lives full of Beauty, their ends full of Honour: This Honour shallbe to all the Saints.   
Revel. 7.13. 
WHat are these? And whence come these?  Verse 14. 
THese are they that came out of great tribulation, and have washed their long white Robes in the blood of the Lamb.  Verse 15. 
THerefore are they in the presence of the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his Temple, and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell among them.  Verse 16. 
THey shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, neither heat.  Verse 17. 
FOr the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall govern them, and shall lead them to the lively fountains of waters, and GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  Revel. 14.12. 
Here is the patience of Saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of jesus.  Verse 13. 
ANd I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.  Psal. 116.15. 
PRecious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints.  Psal. 72.14. 
ANd dear shall their blood be in his sight▪  Revel. 6.10. 
HOw long Lord, which art holy & true! dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  Verse 11. 
ANd it was said unto them that they should rest for a little season, until their fellow servants & their brethren that should be killed even as they were, were fulfilled.   

TO THE RIGHT Noble and Virtuous Princess, the Lady ELIZABETH'S Grace, Eldest daughter to our Sovereign Lord King james.  
THat neither this poor and weak service which is here to be offered to the Church of Christ, nor the memory of his faithful Martyrs which in this small Brief I endeavour to revive, and celebrate, might be the less esteemed of the good, or any way vilified of the bad, by coming abroad without the Patronage and protection of some person of Eminency in the said Church: it was needful for me most Noble Lady, to make choice of such a Patron as for Eminency of place, and virtues, might h●ue large room in the hearts of the former; and also whose sole authority might suffice to put to silence the ignorance of the foolish. All which meeting together in your Grace, my humble suit is, that through your Princely hands this poor Mite may now be cast into the Lord's Treasury. Wherein your Grace shall walk in her Royal steps, who (though dead, 
Queen Eliz.  yet now seems to live in you) by her sacred hands did first consecrate the larger volume, whence this Epitome is extracted, to the use of the Church and people of God.  
Be pleased then most Gracious Lady (for the matter belongeth unto you) to receive under your favourable protection this Mirror or memorial of the Martyrs, who living, had the protection of Angels: and when the Lord shall have performed to your Grace all the good that he hath promised, and of all loyal hearts is earnestly expected, it shall then be no offence unto your Princely mind that you have so done.  
That great GOD who by his omnipresence filleth Heaven and Earth with his Glory, fill and replenish your Grace's heart with all the gifts and graces of his blessed Spirit; which may beautify and adorn your person in the sight of God and Man in this life: and hereafter Crown you with jmmortall Glory for ever and ever in his Kingdom of Glory, Amen.  
Your Grace's most humbly devoted In all humble and dutiful affection, CLEM: COTTON.   

THE MIRROR OF the Martyrs. ¶ In a short view lively expressing and showing the force of their Faith, the fervency of their Love, the wisdom of their Sayings, the patience of their Sufferings, their Constancy, Comforts, and sweet meditations in the midst of all their Conflicts.  
¶ With their Prayers and preparation for their last farewell.  

Bishop Hooper.  
THE Godly Bishop HOOPER being brought unto the place where he should suffer, seeing a Pardon lying upon a stool to be tendered unto him if he would recant, cried to them that stood by, If you love my soul, away with it: If you love my soul, away with it.  
A blind Boy being suffered to come unto him (after much entreaty) to confer with him: Mr. HOOPER hearing his talk, the water stood in his eyes: Ah poor Boy said he, GOD hath taken from thee the sight of thy bodily eyes, for what cause he best knoweth: but he hath given thee another sight much more precious; for he hath endued thy soul with the eye of knowledge and faith. GOD give thee grace that thou lose not that sight: for them shouldst thou be blind both in body and Soul.  
The day before his Martyrdom, he spent the most of the day in prayer, unless any were licensed to speak with him, amongst the which Sr. Anthony Kingston was one: who being brought into his Chamber found him at prayer, and at the first view of him, burst forth into tears. Mr. HOOPER at the first blush knew him not. Then said Sr ANTHONY why my Lord, know you not me, an old friend of yours, Anthony Kingston?  
Yes Mr. Kingston I know you well said Mr. HOOPER and I am glad to see you in good health, & do praise GOD for it.  
KINGSTON, But I am sorry to see you in this case: for as I understand, you are come hither to die: But alas consider that life is sweet, and death is bitter. Therefore seeing life may be had, desire to live: for life hereafter may do good.  
HOOPER. Indeed it is very true M. Kingston I am come hither to die, and to end this life here; because I will not gainsay the former truth I have heretofore taught in this Diocese amongst you: and I thank you for your friendly counsel, though not so friendly as I could have wished it. Life indeed is sweet, and death is bitter; but alas consider that the death to come is more bitter, and the life to come more sweet. Therefore for the desire & love I have to the one, & the fear and terror I have of th'other, I do not so much regard this death, nor esteem this life: but have settled myself through the strength of God's Spirit, patiently to pass through the torments and extremities of the fire now prepared for me; rather then to deny God's word and truth.  
The night before he suffered, his desire was to go to bed that night betimes, saying, that he had many things to think on: and so did at 5 of the clock, and slept one sleep sound, and bestowed the rest of the night after in prayer. Being got up in the morning, he desired that none should come unto him, that he might be solitary till the hour of his death.   

Bishop Ridley.  
Worthy Bishop RIDLEY going to his burning at Oxford, looking back, espied Mr. LATIMER coming after: to whom he said, Oh be ye there? yea said Father LATIMER, have after as fast as I can. Bejng come to the stake, he ran to Mr. LATIMER, jmbraced him and kissed him, and as they that stood near reported) comforted him, saying: Be of good comfort Brother; for GOD will either assuage the fury of the fire, or else strengthen us to abide it.  
Being at the stake, he held up both his hands to Heaven, and said: Oh heavenly Father, I give thee most hearty thanks, that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee even unto death.  
A Faggot being brought which was kindled with fire and laid down at M. RIDLEYS' feet, Father LATIMER spoke on this manner to him: Be of good comfort M. RIDLEY, and play the man: we shall by God's grace light such a Candle this day in ENGLAND, as I trust shall never be put out.  
By reason the fire was ill made, M. RIDLEY continued long in his torments, in so much as he often cried, I cannot burn, I cannot burn: for Christ's sake let the fire come to me: Lord have mercy upon me: let the fire come to me, I cannot burn.   

M. john Philpot.  
THE valiant servant of Christ M. john Philpot having the news of his death brought him by one of the sheriffs men, that he must the next day be burned at a stake, said, I am ready: God grant me strength, and a joyful resurrection. And so went to his chamber and powered out his spirit unto the Lord, giving him most hearty thanks, that had made him worthy to suffer for his truth.  
As he was entering into Smithfield, the passage was somewhat foul, and two Officers took him up to bear him to the stake. Then he said merrily, What? will ye make me a Pope? I am content to go to my journeys end on foot. But first coming into Smithfield, he kneeled down there, saying these words, I will pay my vows in thee O Smithfield.   

john Bradford.  
HOly BRADFORD having news brought him in great haste by the Keeper's wife of the Counter, that he should be burned the next day, and that his Chain was a buying: with that put off his Cap, and lifting up his eyes to Heaven, said: I thank God for it: I have long looked for this time, and therefore it cometh not to me now suddenly; but as a thing expected every hour, the Lord make me worthy thereof. After which he went alone, and prayed secretly a long time.  
A little before they carried him from the Counter to Newgate, he made a notable prayer of his farewell, with such plenty of tears, and abundance of the spirit of prayer, that it ravished the minds of the hearers.  
Also when he shifted himself with a clean shirt that was made for his burning, he made such a prayer of the wedding Garment, that some there present so admired him, that their eyes were no less thoroughly occupied in beholding him, than their ears gave place to the hearing of his prayers.  
At his departing the chamber, he made in like sort a prayer, in which he vehemently desired of God that his words might not be spoken in vain.  

¶ His behaviour at his death.  
MR. Bradford coming to the stake fell flat upon his face, praying the space of one minute of an hour, the Sheriff willed him to make an end, because the press was great: at that word standing upon his feet, he took a Faggot in his hand and kissed it, and so likewise the Stake: so putting off his raiment, he went to the Stake holding up his hands, and casting up his countenance to heaven, said thus, O England, England, repent thee of thy sins, repent thee of thy sins, etc.  
To the young man that suffered with him he said, Be of good comfort Brother, for we shall have a merry Supper with the Lord this night, and spoke no more words that any man heard, but jmbracing the Reeds, said thus, Strait is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth unto life eternal, and few there be that find it.    

M. William Tims.  
WIlliam Tims being convented before Bonner & Winchester: Tims said the Bishops; thou hast a good fresh spirit, it were well if thou hadst learning to thy spirit: Yea my Lords said TIMS, and it were well also that as you be Learned men; so ye had a good Spirit to your learning.   

Bishop Latimer.  
Reverend LATIMER writes thus to Bishop RIDLEY, Lo Sir, I have blotted your papers and played the fool egregiously: but so I thought it better, than not to fulfil your request at this time. Pardon me, and pray for me: pray for me, pray for me I say. For I am sometimes so scarefull that I could creep into a mouse hole: Sometimes God doth visit me again with his Comforts. So he is coming and going, coming and going; to teach me to know mine own infirmity, that I might thank him who is worthy, lest I should rob him of his glory, as many do, and almost all the world, fare ye well.  

¶ The 3 requests which Father Latimer was wont to make.  
THe first was, that as GOD had appointed him to be a preacher of his word; 
His blood violently gushed out of his heart, at his burning at Oxford.  so also he would give him grace to stand to his doctrine unto the death, and that he might give his heart blood for the same.  
The second was, that GOD of his mercy would restore his Gospel to Enggland once again: and these words once again, once again, he did so inculcate and beat into the ears of the Lord, as though he had seen god face to face, and would have no nay.  
His third request was for the Lady ELIZABETH our late Sovereign, whom in his prayer he was wont to name, & even with tears begged of God, that she might live to be a comfort to this comfortless Realm.    

Bishop Ridley.  
RIDLEY writes thus in a Letter to Bradford, we look every day to be called on: I ween I am the weakest many ways of our company: and yet I thank our Lord God and heavenly Father through Christ, that since I heard of our dear Brother ROGERS departing, and his stout Confession of Christ and his truth even unto death, mine heart blessed be God rejoiced so in it, that since that time (I say) I never felt any lumpishness nor heaviness of heart, as I grant I have felt sometimes before: O good Brother Bradford blessed be God for thee, and blessed be the time that ever I knew thee.   

john Rogers.  
MASTER ROGERS that Morning he should be burned, being in a sound sleep, was hardly awaked with much shogging, when the keeper's wife came suddenly up to give him warning of his burning. At length being awaked, and bid to make haste, Nay then said he, and if it be so, I shall not need to tie my points.  
The Sunday before he suffered, he drank to M. HOOPER being then in a Chamber underneath him in Newgate, and bade them commend him to him, and to tell him, that there was never little fellow would better stick to a man, than he would stick to him: supposing they should have been burned together.   

Laurence Saunders.  
MR. SANDERS at the time of his first examination before STEVEN GARDINER, reporto his bedfellow that lay with him the night following, that in the time of his examination, he was so wonderfully comforted, that not only in his spirit, but also in body he received a certain taste of that holy Communion of Saints; whilst a most pleasant refreshing issued from every part and member of his body unto the seat of the heart, and from thence did ebb and flow to & fro unto all the parts again.  
In a Letter to his Wife: fain would this flesh make strange of that which the spirit doth embrace. Oh Lord how loath is this loitering sluggard to pass forth into God's path? It fancieth forsooth much fear of fraybugs? and were it not for the force of Faith, which pulleth it forwards by the rains of Gods most sweet promise; and hope which pricketh on behind; great adventure there would be of fainting by the way. But blessed & everlastingly blessed be that heavenly Father of ours, who in his Christ our sufficient Saviour, hath vouchsafed to shine in our hearts by the light of his knowledge in the face of jesus Christ.  
His Wife coming to visit him in prison, was forbidden to enter the prison; by reason whereof the keeper took the little babe she had in her arms and carried him to his Father. LAURENCE SANDERS seeing him rejoiced greatly, saying, that he esteemed more of such a boy, then if 2000 pound should be given him. And to the standers by which praised the goodliness of the child, he said, what man fearing God, would not lose this life presently, rather than by preserving it here, he should adjudge this boy to be a bastard, and his wife an Whore, and himself an Whoremonger, yea were there no other cause why a man of my estate should lose his life, yet who would not give it to avouch this child to be legitimate, and his marriage to be lawful and holy.  
Being come to the stake where he was burned, he fell prostrate to the ground and prayed: And rising up again, he took the stake in his arms to which he should be chained, and kissed it, saying, Welcome the Cross of Christ: Welcome everlasting life.   

Robert Glover Gen.  
MR. GLOVER a day or two before he should be burnt, felt his heart so lumpish and heavy, that he found in himself no aptness not willingness to die, but rather a dullness of Spiritful of much discomfort to bear the bitter Cross of Martyrdom ready now to be laid upon him: Whereupon, fearing in himself lest the Lord had utterly withdrawn his wont favour from him; he made his moan to one AUGUSTINE BERNHERE his dear friend, signifying unto him how earnestly he had prayed unto the Lord, and yet could receive no motion nor sense of any comfort from him.  
To whom the said Austen answering, desired him patiently to wait the Lords leisure, howsoever his present feeling was; and to play the man, nothing doubting but the Lord in due season would satisfy his desire with plenty of Consolation, whereof he said he was right certain and sure: and therefore desired him whensoever any feeling of GOD'S heavenly mercies should begin to touch his heart, that he would give him some sign thereof.  
The next day when the time of his Martyrdom was come, and as he was going to the stake & come to the sight of it, albeit all the night before prayjng for comfort and courage, he felt no answer of his prayer: suddenly he was so mightily replenished with the comfort of God's holy Spirit and heavenly joys, that he cried out clapping his hands to Austen sayjng these words, he is come Austen, he is come, he is come: and that with such joy and alacrity as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life, then as one passing out of this world by any pains of death.   

M. john Lambart.  
JOHN LAMBART having his neither parts consumed with fire, lifting up such hands as he had, and his fingers ends flaming with fire, cried to the people, None but Christ, None but Christ.   

Adam Damplip.  
THIS good man beejng advertised by his keeper that his execution drew near, was never seen to quail, but was as merry, and eat his supper that night as cheerfully as ever he did in all his life; at which his keeper and the rest of the prisoners wondering, asked him how he could take such news so cheerfully: Ah my Masters saith he, do ye think I have been thus long God's prisoner in the marshalsea, and have not yet-learned to die? Yes, yes, I doubt not but God will strengthen me therein.   

Kerby Martyr.  
ONE KERBY being counseled by M. WINKFIELD to pity himself, and to take no more upon him than he should be able to perform: the fire saith he is hot, the terror is great, the pain willbe extreme, and life is sweet. To whom KERBY answered, M. WINKFIELD be at my burning, and you shall say, there standeth a Christian Soldier in the fire. For I know that Fire, and Water, Sword, and all other things are in the hands of God, who will suffer no more to be laid upon us than he will give strength to bear.   

Thomas Bilney.  
MR. THOMAS BILNEY being put in mind, that though the fire which he should suffer the next day should be of great heat unto his body, yet the comfort of GOD'S spirit should cool it to his everlasting comfort and refreshing: At those words putting his finger towards the flame of the candle them burning before them (as also he divers times did) and feeling the heat thereof, O said he I feel by experience and have known it long by Philosophy, that fire by gods ordinance is naturally hot, but yet I am persuaded by God's holy word, and by th'experience of some spoken of in the same, that in the flame they felt no heat, and in the fire they felt no consumption: And I constantly believe▪ that howsoever the stubble of this my body shallbe wasted by it, yet my Soul and Spirit shall be purged thereby. A pain for the time: after which notwithstanding followeth unspeakable joy.. And then entreated notably upon the first and second verses of the 43 Chap. of Isaias, which sentences for the joy & comfort some of his friends took in them, caused them to be fair written out; the comfort whereof they left not to their dyjng day. The said BILNEY being visited by certain of his friends the night before he suffered, they found him eating an Alebrew with such a cheerful heart and quiet mind, as made them wonder thereat, sayjng, they were not a little glad to see him at that time so cheerfully to refresh himself. To whom he made this answer, Oh said he, I follow the example of the Husbandmen in the Country, who having a ruinous house to dwell in, do yet bestow cost as long as they remain in it, to uphold the same: And so do I now with this ruinous house of my body; refreshing the same as you see, with these good creatures of God.   

james Baynam.  
THis BAYNAM as he stood at the stake in the midst of the flaming fire, which fire had half consumed his arms and his legs, he was heard to speak these words, O ye Papists. Behold ye look for Miracles, and here ye may see a Miracle: for in this fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of down; but it is to me as sweet as a bed of Roses.   


An. 1525.  Henry Voes.  
THe like speech I find of a young man burnt at Brussels, who when the fire was kindled at his feet, said, me thinks you strew Roses under my feet.   

Hugh Laverocke.  
THis Laverocke a lame cripple, & JOHN APPRICE a blind man, being chained both of them to the stake; LAVERCOCK casting away his Crutch, and comforting his fellow. Martyr, said, Be of good comfort my brother, for my L. of London is our good Physician, He will shortly cure us both: thee of thy blindness, and me of my lameness.   

William Hunter.  
WILLIAM HUNTER apprentice of the age of 19 years standing at the stake, said, Son of God shine upon me: and jmediately the Son in the Element shone out of a dark cloud (for it was a gloomy day) so full in his face, that he was constrained to turn his face an other way. The said WILLIAM HUNTER being brought down from London to be burnt: remained by the way two days at Burntwood, whether his Father and Mother came to comfort him, who heartily desired of GOD that he might continued in the good way he had begun, unto the end; and his mother said unto him, that she was glad she was ever so happy as to bear such a Son who could find in his heart to lose his life for Christ's sake. Then said WILLIAM to his mother: For my little pain which I shall suffer which is also but for a moment, Christ hath promised me Mother (saith he) a Crown of life. And may not you be glad of that Mother? With that his Mother kneeled down on her knees, sayjng, I pray GOD strengthen thee my Son unto the end. And I think thee as well bestowed as any Child that ever I bore. At which words M. HIGBED (one that was then to suffer for the same cause) took her in his arms, sayjng, I rejoice much to see you in this mind, and you have good cause so to do.   

Robert Samuel.  
MR. ROBERT SAMVEL Minister, was kept in straight prison by the Bishop's Chancellor of NORWICH: Wherein he was chained boult upright to a great post, in such sort, that standing only on tiptoe, he was fain to stay up the whole poised of his body thereby. And to make amends, they added a far greater torment, keeping him without meat and drink, whereby he was miserably vexed with hunger and thirst, saving that he had allowed him every day 2 or 3 mouthfuls of bread and 3 spoonfuls of water, rather to reserve him to further torment, then to preserve his life. O the worthy constancy of the Martyr! O pitiless hearts of the Papists, worthy to be complained of before god & nature! O the wonderful strength of Christ in his Martyrs! How oft-times would he have drunk his own water, but his body was so dried up with long emptiness, that he was not able to make water, no not so much as one drop.  
Now after he had been thus long famished with hunger (see a strange thing that happened to him, of which himself was the reporter) he fell as it were into a slumber, at which time one clad all in white, seemed to stand before him: which ministered comfort unto him, by these words, Samuel, Samuel be of good cheer, and take a good heart unto thee: for after this day, thou shalt never hunger nor thirst: Which thing came even to pass accordingly: for speedily after he was burned, and from the time till he should suffer he felt neither hunger nor thirst.   

Cut. Simpson, Deacon.  
CVtbert sympson's patience was thus commended by Bishop Boner: ye see saith BONER what a personable man this is: & touching his patience, I say unto you, that if he were not an Heretic, I would affirm that he were a man of the greatest patience that ever yet came before me. For I tell you, he hath been thrice racked in one day. Also in my house he hath felt some sorrow, and yet I never saw his patience broken.  
The day before he was condemned (being in the stocks in the Bish: coalhouse) Cloney his keeper came in with the keys about 9 of the clock at night after his usual manner, to view his prison, and to see whether all were present: who when he spied the said Cuthbert to be there, departed again, locking the doors after him.  
Within 2 hours after at a 11 of the clock towards midnight (whether awake or in a slumber I cannot say) he heard one coming in, first opening the outward door, than the second, and after the third door, and so looking in to the said CUTHBERT, having no Candle nor Link that he could see, but giving a brightness and light most comfortable & joyful to his heart, saying, Ha, unto him; and departed away again. Who it was he could not tell. But this he declared 4 or 5 times with his own mouth to one M. AUSTEN, to his wife, & THOMAS SAMSON, besides many others in Newgate, a little before his death. At the sight whereof he received such a joyful comfort, that he also expressed no little joy and solace in telling of it.   

john Rough.  
MR. JOHN ROUGH Minister, having been at the burning of one AUSTO in Smithfield, returning homeward met M. FARRAR a Merchant of Halifax, who asked where he had been? I have been saith he where I would not for one of mine eyes but I had been. Where have you been said M. FARRAR? Forsooth saith he, I have been to learn the way. And so told him the whole matter of the burning of AUSTO, where shortly after he was burned himself.   

D. Rowland Taylor.  
MR. Doctor TAYLOR being come to Chelmesford in the way towards his Martyrdom, was received there of the Sheriff of SUFFOLK to conduct him to HADLEY to be burnt. At supper the Sheriff of ESSEX laboured him with might and main to have him return to the unity of the Catholic Romish Church, affirming that that which he spoke proceeded of a good heart & good will towards him, and thereupon drank to him: The Yeomen of the Guard also said, upon that condition M. Doctor we all drink to you. When they had all drank, and the Cup was come to him, he stayed a while as one studyjng what answer he might give. At length he spoke thus to them, M. Sheriff, and my Masters all, I heartily thank you of your good will. I have given ear to your words. And to be plain with you I do perceive that I have been deceived myself, and am like to deceive a great many at HADLEY of their expectation. At which speech they all rejoiced, yea good M. Doctor said the Sheriff, it is the comfortablest word you spoke yet. Why should ye cast away yourself in vain, play a wise man's part, and I dare warrant you, you shall have favour. And then they began to pray him to explain his meaning further unto them.  
Then said Doctor Taylor, I will tell you how I am deceived myself, and how I think I shall deceive a great many. I am as you see a man that hath a great Carcase whicht I though should have been buried in Hadley Church-yard, had I died in my bed as I well hoped I should have done: but therein I see I was deceived: And there are a great many of Worms in HADLEY Church-yard that should have had jolly feeding upon this Carcase, which they have long looked for. But now I know we be deceived, both I and they: for this Carcase must be burnt to ashes, and so shall they lose their bait and feeding which they expected.  
The same Morning in which he was called up by the Sheriff to go to his burning about 3 of the clock in the morning, being suddenly awaked out of his sound sleep, he sat up in his bed and putting on his Shirt, he had these words; speaking somewhat thick after his accustomed manner, Ah whoreson thieves, ah whoreson thieves, rob God of his honour, rob God of his honour.  
Being risen and tyjng his points, he cast his arms about a baulk which was in the chamber between M. BRADFORDS' bed and his, and clasping his hands about it; o M. BRADFORD said he, what a great swing should I give, if I were hanged?  
Beejng come within 2 miles of HADLEY, he desired to light off his horse to make water: Which done, he leapt and fetched a frisk or twain as men commonly do in dancing, why M. Doctor said the Sheriff, how do ye now? well I thank God M. Sheriff said he, never better, for now I know I am almost at home, I lack but 2 styles to go over and I am even at my Father's house. But M. Sheriff, shall we not go through HADLEY? Yes, you shall said the Sheriff. Then said he, O God I thank thee that I shall yet once ere I die see my flock, whom thou Lord knowest I have most dearly loved, & truly taught. Good Lord bless them, and keep than steadfast in thy truth.  
At the time of his degrading by Bishop Boner, bejng furnished fully with all his attire according to their ridiculous custom, he set his hands by his side walking up and down, and said: How say ye now my Lord, am I not a goodly fool? How say ye my masters? If I were now in Cheap, should I not have boys enough to laugh at these apish toys, and toying trumperies? when all his trinkets were taken from him, he said, good Lord deliver me from you: and gojng from them up to his chamber, he said, good Lord deliver me from you, good Lord deliver me from you.   

john leaf.  
THis JOHN LEAF a prentice to one HUMPHREY gaudy tallow Chandler, who was burned with M. JOHN BRADFORD, had 2 bills sent him into the Counter in breadstreet after his judgement, th'one containing a recantation, th'other his confession: to know to which of them he would subscribe. Hearing first the bill of his recantation read unto him, (because he could neither write nor read himself) that he refused: and when he heard th'other read unto him, which he liked well off, in stead of a pen, he took a pin, and so pricking his hand, sprinkled the blood upon the said bill, willing the reader thereof to show the Bishop, that he had sealed the same with his blood already.   

Richard Woodman.  
THe conflicts whieh Richard Woodman had with the fear of death, recorded in his own words, as followeth.  
Then 3 days after, my Lord Chamberlain sent 3 of his men to take me, whose names were Deane, jeffrey,, and Francis, I being at plough with my folks, right in the way as they were coming to my house, least mistrusting them of all other, came unto them and asked them how they did. And they said they arrested me in the King and Queen's name, and that I must go with them to my Lord Chamberlain their Master. Which words made my flesh to tremble and quake in regard the thing was sudden. But I answered them, that I would go with them. Yet I desired them to go with me to my house that I might break my fast, and put on some other gear: And they said I should. Then I remembered myself, saying in my heart, why am I thus afraid? They can lay none evil to my charge, If they kill me for well doing, I may think myself happy. I remembered how I was contented gladly to die before, in that quarrel, and so have continued ever since, and should I now fear to die? God forbid I should, for than were all my labour in vain. So by and by I was persuaded I praise god, considering it was but the frailty of my flesh which was loath to forego my wife, children, & goods: for I saw nothing but present death before mine eyes. And as soon as I was persuaded in mine heart to die, I regarded nothing in this world, but was as merry, glad, and joyful I praise God as ever I was. This battle lasted but a quarter of an hour, but it was sharper for the time then death I dare say.   

M. Glover.  
ROBERT GLOVER had a contrary effect in his troubles, as his own words testify. After I came into prison saith he and had reposed myself a while, I wept for joy and gladness my bellyful, musing much of the great mercies of GOD, and as it were, saying thus unto myself, O Lord who am I, on whom thou shouldst bestow thus thy great mercy, to be numbered among thy Saints, which suffer for thy gospel sake? And so beholding on the one side my jmperfection, unableness, sinful misery, and unworthiness; and on th'other side the greatness of God's mercy, to be called to so high promotion, I was as it were amazed and overcome for a while with joy and gladness, concluding thus with myself in mine heart, O Lord thou showest power in weakness, wisdom in foolishness, Mercy in sinfulness: who shall let thee to choose where and whom thou wilt? As I have ever zealously loved the profession of thy word, so have I ever thought myself unworthy to be partaker of th'afflictions of the same.  
The same ROBERT GLOVER, at an other time was much discouraged by Satan, not to persevere in his suffering, suggesting to him his unworthiness to suffer for Christ and his Gospel, but these his suggestions were thus repelled by him.  
What were all those whom GOD in former time chose to be his witnesses? were they not men subject to sin and imperfection as other men be? All we saith john have received of his fullness. They were no bringers of any goodness to GOD: they were altogether receivers. They chose not GOD first, but he chose them. They loved not GOD first, but he loved them, yea, when they were enemies to him, and full of sin. He is and willbe the same God still. As rich in mercy, as mighty, as ready, as willing to forgive sins now without respect of persons, as he was then; and so willbe to the world's end, to all that call upon him. It is no arrogancy, nor presumption in any man to burden God with his promise, challenging his aid and assistance in all perils and dangers; Calling upon him in the name of Christ, for whose sake, whosoever cometh to the Father, is sure to receive more than he can wish or desire.  
I also answered the enemy on this manner: I am a sinner, and therefore unworthy to be a Martyr. What then? must I deny GOD'S word, because I am a sinner; and not worthy to profess it? What bring I to pass in so doing, but adding sin to sin? What is a greater sin, then to deny the truth of Christ's Gospel? I might also by the like reason, forbear to do any of GOD'S commandments, when I am provoked to pray, th'enemy may say unto me, thou art not worthy to pray, and therefore I shall not pray. I shall not forbear to steal, etc. because I am not worthy to do any of GOD'S commandments. These be delusions of the Devil, which must be overcome by continuance of prayer, and with the word of GOD applied according to the measure of every man's gift.   

George Wise-heart.  
THis WISE-HEART a Scottishman (rightly so called in regard of that true wisdom of the spirit wherewith his heart was filled,) beejng come to the place of execution, the hangman came unto him upon his knees, craving forgiveness of him. To whom he answered, come hither to me: when he was come nigh him, he kissed his cheek, and said, lo here is a sign that I forgive thee; my heart do thine office. And by and by he was put upon the Gibbet and martyred.   

Walter Mill.  
WALTER MILL a Scottish Minister beejng disturbed in his prayer in the time of his examination, having ended the same, said; we ought more to obey GOD then Men. I serve one more mighty, even th'omnipotent Lord. And where ye call me Sr. Walter, they usually call me WALTER, and not Sr. WALTER. I have been one of the Pope's Knights too long.  
Beejng threatened with the sentence of death: I know I must die once saith he, and therefore as Christ said to judas, Quod facis, fac citius. Ye shall know, that I will not recant the truth; for I am Corn, I am no Chaff: I will not be blown away with the wind, nor burst with the flail: I will abide both.   

Patrick Hamleton.  
MR. Patrick Hamleton beejng in the fire, was heard by certain faithful men of credit then alive, there to cite and appeal the black friar campbell that accused him, to appear before the high GOD as general judge of all men, to answer to the innocency of his death, and whether his accusation were just or no, between that and a certain day of the next month which he there named. Moreover, by the same witness it is testified, that the said Friar died immediately before the same day came, without remorse of conscience that he had persecuted the poor Innocent.   

Robert Farrar.  
BIshop FARRAR being visited of a Knight's son called RICHARD JONES a little before his death, the said RICHARD seemed much to lament the painfulness of the death he had to suffer. To whom the Bishop answered, that if he saw him once to st●r●e in the pains of his burning, he should give no credit to his doctrine. And as he said, so he right well performed the same: For so patiently he stood, that he never moved, but even as he stood holding up his stumps of his hands, so he still continued, till one RICHARD GRAVEL with a staff dashed him upon the head, and so struck him down into the fire.   

Rawlins White.  
THis White a fisherman, a very aged man in the Town of Cardiff in Wales, grew very expert in the Scriptures by the help of a little boy he had, beejng his own Son, who daily read the same, to him every night after supper, Summer and Winter, and now and then some other good Book. In which kind of virtuous exercise the old man had such delight and pleasure, that as it seemed, he practised himself rather in the study of the Scripture, then in the trade or Science which before time he had used: so that RAWLINS within few years, in the time of King EDWARD, by the help of his little boy, as a special Minister no doubt appointed by GOD for that purpose, profited and went forward in such sort, that he was not only able to resolve himself touching his former blindness and ignorance (for by all likelihood he was before King EDWARD'S days a Papist) but was also able to admonish and jnstruct others. So as when occasion served, he would go from one place to another visiting such as he had best hope in. And thus in that Country became a notable professor of the truth, beejng at all times and in all such places not without the help of his little boy. And to this his jndustrie GOD added to him a singular gift of memory, so that by the benefit thereof he could and would do that in alleging and rehearsing the text, which men of riper knowledge by their notes and other helps of memory could hardly accomplish. In so much that upon alleging some place of Scripture, he was able very often to cite the Book, the leaf, yea and the very sentence: such was the wonderful work of GOD in this simple and unlearned Father.  
In the days of Queen MARIE it so fell out, that GOD called him not only formerly to believe in him, but then to suffer for his sake: in which his sufferings, the Lord endued him with invincible constancy, in so much as being convented before the Bishop of Landaffe, The Bishop would needs with his company fall to prayer in his Chapel, to see (as he said) if GOD would turn the poor Man's heart: which RAWLINS hearing, said, now you deal well my Lord, and like a good Bishop indeed. Go to therefore my Lord, pray you to your God, and I will pray to my GOD: I know that my GOD will hear my prayer, and perform my desire. By and by the Bishop and his men fell to prayer. And RAWLINS turning him to a pew somewhat near, fell down upon his knees; covering his face with his hands. Bejng all risen from prayer: The Bishop said, now Rawlins how is it with thee? wil't thou revoke thine opinions, or no? Surely said Rawlins; my Lord, Rawlins you left me, and Rawlins you find me, and by GOD'S grace Rawlins I will continue.  
The Bishop seejng his prayers took none effect, was persuaded by some about him (before he read the sentence) to have a Mass, thinking that GOD would thereby work some Miracle upon the old man, when RAWLINS heard the sacring bell ring, (as the use is) he rose out of his place and came to the quire door, and there standing a while turned himself to the people, speaking these words, Good people, if there be any brethren amongst you, or at the least, if there be but one brother amongst you, l●t that same one bear witness at the day of judgement, that I bow not to this Idol, meaning the host the Priest held over his head.  
Hearing that the time of his burning drew near, he sent to his wife willing her to provide him his wedding garment, in which he meant to be burned, meaning his Shirt. Beejng brought out of prison and seejng himself guarded with a great company of bills and gleaves, he said, alas what needs all this ado? I will not start away by GOD'S grace: but with all my heart and mind I give unto GOD most hearty thank th●t hath made me worthy to abide all this for his holy names sake.  
At the light of his Wife and Children whom he saw in the way as he went to be burnt, it so pierced his heart, that the tears trickled down his cheeks: but suddenly misliking his jnfirmitie, he began to be angry with himself, and striking himself on the breast with his hand, used these words, Ah flesh, stayest thou me so? wouldst thou fain prevail? well, I tell thee do what thou canst, thou shalt not by GOD'S grace get the victory.  
When he came to the sight of the stake, he set himself forwards very boldly, but in going towards it, he fell down upon his knees and kissed the ground, and in rising again, the earth a little sticking upon his nose, he said these words, Earth unto Earth, and dust unto dust: thou art my Mother, and unto thee shall I return. Then went he cheerfully and very joyfully unto the stake, setting his back close unto it, and when he had stood there a while, casting his eye upon the Reporter of this history, and calling him to him, said, I feel a great fight between the flesh and the Spirit, and the flesh would very fain get the mastery: And therefore I pray, if you see me any thing tempted, hold up but your finger to me, and I trust I shall remember myself.  

The reporter.  
THere was observed in this good Father going to his death, and standing at the stake, a wonderful change in nature. For whereas he was wont before to go stooping, or rather crooked through the jnfirmitie of age: and having a sad countenance, and feeble complexion, & withal a feeble and soft voice and gesture: Now he went and stretched up himself & bore withal a most pleasant countenance, not without great courage, both in speech and behaviour.    

Thomas Spurdance.  
THis SPURDANCE being asked of the Bish. when he was at mass, and received the ceremonies of the Church, answered,  
Never said he since I was borne.  
No? said the Bishop, how old art thou?  
He said, I think forty.  
Why, how used you yourself 20 years agone said the Bishop?  
as ye do now, said he.  
And even now quoth the Bishop, he said, he used not the ceremonies since he was borne.  
No more I have my Lord said he, since I was borne again. john. 3.   

Elizabeth Folkes.  
ELIZABETH bejng examined if she believed not that Christ's body was in the Sacrament Substantially, and really, yes saith she I believe it is a real lie, and a substantial lie indeed.   

julius Palmer.  
PALMER showing his unmovable constancy in standing to the truth, and beejng now ready to yield up his life for the same truth, Sr. RICHARD ABRIDGES said unto him, well PALMER saith the Knight, I perceive that one of us two must be damned, for we be of 2 sundry faiths, and sure I am there is but one Faith that leadeth to life and salvation.  Pal. 
O sir I hope that both of us shallbe saved.  Brid. 
How may that be PALMER?  Pal. 
Very well sir. For as it hath pleased our Merciful Saviour according to the Gospel's parable, to call me at the third hour of the day, even in my flowers, at the age of 24 years; even so I trust he hath called, and will call you at the 11 hour, in this your old age, and give you everlasting life for your portion.  Brid. 
Sayst thou so? well Palmer, well, I would I might have thee but one month in mine house, I doubt not but I would convert thee, or thou shouldst convert me.   

Bradbegs Wife.  
THis good woman had 2 children named Patience and Charity. At the time of her condemnation she told the Bishop that if he would needs burn her, yet she trusted he would take and keep Patience and Charity, (meaning her two children) Nay by the Faith of my body saith the Bishop will I not: 
The By: of Dover.  I will meddle with neither of them both.   

M. Frith.  
IOhn Frith after much trouble, bejng at length sent for to CROYDEN from the tower to appear before th'archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, sitting therewith other Bishops, to receive his last doom; was earnestly laboured withal by one of his Gentlemen, and his Porter, who were the messengers that set him, to free himself out of the Bishop's hands. For they greatly lamented FRITHS case, beejng sure if he came to CROYDEN he would be cast away, such was his constancy: in regard whereof upon Bristol Causey, the Gentleman plotted a way for FRITH to escape, and drew the porter to his part. In the end they acquaint Frith with their purpose, who with a smiling countenance made them this answer, And is this the effect of your secret consultation so long continued between you? Surely you have lost a great deal more time than this ere now: and so are ye like to do at this time, for if you both should leave me here alone, and should go tell the Bishops that you had lost FRITH, and that he had escaped away from you, I would surely follow you as fast as I could, and would bring them news of Friths finding. Do ye think (said he) I am afraid to declare mine opinion to the Bishops of England in a manifest truth?   

Agnes Bongeor.  
THis dear Servant of Christ bejng condemned to be burned, had prepared herself to go with her fellow Martyrs to the stake, the same morning they went: but it was her hap of all the rest to be kept back, in regard her name was wrong written, to wit, Agnes Boyer, for Agnes Bongeor: What piteous moan this good woman made, how bitterly she wept; what strange thoughts came into her mind, how naked and desolate she esteemed herself, into what plunge of despair & care her poor Soul was cast; it was lamentable to behold; because she went not with her fellows to give her life in the defence of her Christ and his Gospel, for of all things in the world she least expected this restraint. For that very Morning in which she was kept back from burning, she had put on a smock which she had prepared only for that purpose: and also having a little jnfant sucking on her, she likewise sent it away to another nurse; So little looked she for life. Bejng in this great perplexity of mind, a friend of hers came to her, demanding of her whether ABRAHAM'S obedience was accepted before GOD, for sacrificing his Son ISAAK, or in that he would have offered him, unto which she made this answer, I know that Abraham's will before God was allowed for the deed, for he would have done it, if the Angel of the Lord had not stayed him: but I said she am unhappy, the Lord thinks me not worthy of this dignity, and therefore ABRAHAM'S case and mine is not alike.  Friend. 
Why? you were resolved to go with your company, if GOD had been so pleased.  Agnes. 
Yes with all my heart, and for that I went not with them, it is my chiefest grief.  Friend. 
Dear sister I pray thee consider ABRAHAM and thyself well, & thou shalt see, thou nothing differest from him at all.  Agnes. 
Alas sir, there is a far greater matter in ABRAHAM then in me: for Abraham was tried with the offering of his Child, but so am not I; our cases therefore are not alike.  Friend. 
Good sister weigh the matter jndifferently: Abraham I grant would have offered his own Son: and have not you done the like in your little sucking babe, which you were content to part with? But consider that whereas Abraham was commanded but to offer his Son, you are heavy and perplexed because you cannot offer yourself; which goeth somewhat more near you, than Abraham's obedience did, and therefore in God's sight and acceptation is assuredly no less allowed. After which talk between them she began a little to stay herself, and gave herself wholly to th'exercises of prayer, and reading, wherein she found no little comfort, waiting for the time of her Martyrdom, which at length she obtained.   

Thomas Hudson Martyr.  
SEaman, Carman, and Hudson, beejng all three fastened to the stake in a pit called the Lolards pit without Bishopsgate in NORWICH: HUDSON suddenly slippeth from under the chame from his two fellows, to the wonder of many, whereby arose much doubtfulness in men's minds. But sweet HUDSON felt not his Christ. He felt more in his heart and conscience, than they could conceive off. In the mean while his 2 companions at the stake cried out to him to comfort him, what they could: exhorting him in the bowels of Christ, to be of good comfort. But alas good soul he was compassed (GOD knoweth) with great dolour and grief of mind, not for his death, but for lack of feeling the comfort of the holy ghost, the comforter. And therefore beejng very careful, he humbly fell on his knees praying vehemently and earnestly unto the Lord, who at length according to his mercies of old sent comfort, and then rose he with great joy, as a man new changed even from death to life, saying, Now I thank God I am strong and pass not what man can do unto me. So went he to the stake to his fellows again, who all suffered together most joyfully.   

Roger Holland.  
HOLLAND having leave given him to speak after sentence pronounced by BONER Bishop of LONDON, uttered these words. I told you even now that your authority was from God, and that by his sufferance you do these things: and now I tell you, God hath heard the prayers of his servants, which hath been poured out with tears for his afflicted Church which daily you persecute, as now ye do us. But this I dare be bold in God to say, (which by his spirit I am moved to speak) that God will shorten your hand of cruelty, that for a time you shall not molest his Saints: and this shall you in short time well perceive my dear brethren to be most true: for after this day in this place, 
This was spoken in the month of june 15 8, and Q. Mary died Sep. following the 1.7.  shall there not be any by him (Boner he means, put to the trial of fire and Faggot. And after that day, was there never any that suffered in Smithfield for the testimony of the Gospel, God be thanked.   

WIlliam Picks somewhat before his apprehension, went into his Garden and took with him a Bible of Roger's translation, where he sitting with his face towards the South, reading on the said Bible, suddenly fell down upon his Book between 11 and 12 a clock at noon, 4 drops of fresh blood, not knowing from whence they came. Then he seeing the same was sore astonished, and could by no means learn from whence they should fall: and wiping out one of the drops of blood with his finger, called his wife & said, In the virtue of God wife what: means this? Will the Lord have 4 Sacrifices? I see well enough the Lord will have blood. His will be done, and give me grace to abide the trial. Afterward he looked daily to be apprehended of the Papists, which came to pass accordingly.   

Prests' Wife.  
ONe priests Wife of Exeter, being asked of the Bishop whether she had an husband & children, or not, answered, I have an husband and Children, and I have them not. So long as I was at liberty, I refused neither husband nor children: but standing here as I do in the cause of Christ and his truth, where I must either forsake Christ, or my husband, I am content to stick only to Christ my spiritual Husband, and to forsake th'other.  
Being oft-times offered money to relieve her necessities, she would for the most part refuse it, saying, That she was going to a Country, where Money bears no Mastery.   

Elizabeth Yong.  
ELIZABETH YOUNG beejng committed to close prison, the keeper was charged by Doctor MARTIN in her hearing, to give her one day bread & an other day Water, to which she made this answer, Sir, If you take away my meat, God I trust will take away my hunger.   

john Cardmaker.  
MR. CARDMAKER disputing with one about the Real presence, asked the party whether the Sacrament whereof he spoke had a beginning or no. Which he affirmed. The said Mr. CARDMAKER thus inferred thereupon: If the Sacrament (said he) as you confess have a beginning and an ending, than it cannot be God: for GOD hath neither beginning nor ending, and so willing him to note it well, he departed from him.   

john Bradford.  
MR. BRADFORD beejng solicited by one percival CRESWEL to make suit for him, after many words, said.  Cres. 
I pray you let me labour for you.  Brad. 
You may do what you will.  Cres. 
But tell me, what suit I should make for you.  Brad. 
Forsooth that that you will do, do it not at my request, for I desire nothing at your hands. If the Queen will give me life, I will thank her. If she will banish me, I will thank her. If she will burn me, I will thank her. If she will condemn me to perpetual prison, I will thank her.  

¶ Out of a Letter of Bradfords, to Crammer, Ridley, and Latimer.  
THis day I think, or to morrow at the uttermost. Hearty HOOPER, sincere SANDERS, and trusty TAYLOR, end their course, and receive their Crown. The next am I, which hourly look for the porter to open me the gates after them, to enter into the desired rest.    

Cranmer Archbishop.  
Such was the patience & mildness of that worthy Martyr Thomas Cranmer towards his enemies, that it was grown to a common proverb: Do my L. of Canterbury a shrewd turn, & then you may be sure to have him your friend for your labour, while you live.   

Laurence Saunders.  

¶ Out of a Letter written to his wife.  
TO number the mercies of God unto me in particular, were to number the drops of water which are in the Sea, the sands on the shore, the stars in the sky. O my dear wife, and ye the rest of my friends, rejoice with me I say, rejoice with thanksgiving for this my present promotion, in that I am made worthy to magnify my God, not only in my life by my slow mouth, & uncircumcised lips, bearing witness unto his truth: but also by my blood to seal the same to the glory of my GOD, and confirmation of his true church. And as yet I testify unto you, that the comfort of my sweet Christ, doth drive from my fantasy the fear of death. But if my dear Husband Christ do for my trial, leave me alone a little to myself, alas, I know in what case I shall be then: but if for my proof he do so, yet am I sure he will not be long or far from me. Though he stand behind the wall and hide himself as Solomon saith in his mystical song, yet will he peep in by a crest to see how I do. He is a very tender hearted joseph: though he speak roughly to his brethren, and handle them hardly, yea & threaten grievous bondage to his best beloved Benjamin: yet can he not contain himself from weeping with us, and upon us, with falling on our necks, and sweetly ●issing us▪ Such, such a brother is our Christ unto all etc.   

¶ Out of another Letter to his wife.  
WE be shortly to be dispatched hence to our good Christ, Amen, Amen. Wife, I would have you to send me my Shirt: you know whereunto it is consecrated, let it be sowed down on both sides, and not open. O my heavenly Father look upon me in the face of thy Christ, or else I shall not be able to abide thy countenance, such is my filthiness. He will do so, and therefore I will not be afraid what sin, death, hell, and damnation, can do against me.    

¶ Out of a Letter written to M. ROBERT GLOVER the same morning he was burned.  
OH dear Brother, whom I love in the Lord, being loved also of you in the Lord, be merry and rejoice for me, now ready to go up to that mine jnheritance, which I myself indeed am most unworthy of, but my dear Christ is worthy, who hath purchased the same for me with so dear a price. Oh wretched sinner that I am, not thankful unto this my Father, who hath vouchsafed me worthy to be a vessel unto his honour. But O Lord, now accept my thanks, though they proceed out of a (not enough) circumcised heart. Salute all that love us in the truth, God's blessing be with you always, Amen. Even now towards the offering up of a burnt Sacrifice. O my CHRIST help, or else I perish.   

Bishop Hooper.  

¶ Out of a Letter consolatory, which he writ to certain godly Brethren taken in Bow Church-yard at prayer, and laid in the Counter in Bread-streete.  
REmember what lookers on you have to see and behold you in your fight; God and all his holy Angels, who are ready always to take you up into Heaven, if you be slain in his fight. Also you have standing at your backs all the multitude of the faithful, who shall take courage, strength, and desire to follow such noble and valiant Christians as you be. Be not afraid of your adversaries: for he that is in you, is stronger than he that is in them. Shrink not although it be pain to you: your pains be not now so great, as hereafter your joys shall be. Read the comfortable Chapters to the Rom. 8 10.15. Heb. 11.12. And upon your knees thank God that ever you were accounted worthy to suffer any thing for his name's sake. Read the second of Luke's Gospel, and there you shall see how the Shepherds that watched upon their Sheep all night, as soon as they heard that Christ was borne at Bethlem, by & by they went to see him. They did not reason or debate with themselves, who should keep the Wolf from the sheep in the mean time, but did as they were commanded, and committed their Sheep unto him, whose pleasure they obeyed. So let us, now we be called, commit all other things to him that calleth us. He will take heed that all things shall be well. He will help the Husband, he will comfort the Wife. He will guide the Servants, he will keep the house, he will preserve the goods. Yea, rather than fail, if it should lie undone, he will wash the Dishes, and rock the Cradle. Cast therefore all your care upon him, for he careth for you.   

¶ Out of another Letter of Mr. HOOPERS to his friends, persuading them to constancy.  
IT was an easy thing to hold with Christ whiles the Prince and the World held with him, but now the world hateth him, it is the true trial who be his. In the name and in the virtue them of his holy spirit prepare yourselves to adversity & constancy. Let us not run away when it is most time to fight. Remember none shall be crowned but such as fight manfully. You must now turn all your cogitati●ns from the peril you see: and mark the felicity that followeth the peril: either victory of your enemies in this World, or else a surrender for ever of your right in the inheritance to come. Beware of beholding to much the felicity or misery of this world: for the consideration and too earnest love or fear of either of them draweth from God. Think with your selves: the felicity of the world is good: but yet none otherwise than it standeth with the favour of God. It is to be kept: but yet so far forth as by keeping of it we lose not God. It is good abiding and tarrying still among our friends here: but yet so that we tarry not therewithal in God's displeasure, and to dwell hereafter with Devils in fire everlasting. There is nothing under God but may be kept, so that God, being above all things we have, be not lost.  
Of Adversity judge the same. Long imprisonment is painful, but yet liberty upon evil conditions is more painful. The prison's stink: but yet not so much as sweet houses whereas the fear and true honour of God lacketh: loss of goods is great, but loss of God's grace and favour is greater. I must be alone and solitary: it is better to be alone and have God with me, then to be in company with the wicked, and want his presence. I am a poor simple creature, and cannot tell how to answer before such a great sort of Noble and learned wen: it is better to make answer before the pomp and pride of wicked men, then to stand naked in the sight of all heaven and Earth, before the just GOD at the latter day. I shall die then by the hands of the cruel man: he is blessed that looseth his life full of miseries, and findeth the life of eternal joys. It is pain and grief to depart from life and friends: but yet not so much as to depart from grace and Heaven itself. Felicity nor adversity then can appear to be great, if it be weighed with the joys or pain of the life to come.    

¶ The last will and testament of Doctor Rowland Taylor.  
I Say to my wife, and to my Children: the Lord gave you unto me, and the Lord hath taken me from you, and you from me: blessed be the name of the Lord. I believe they are blessed that dye in the Lord. God careth for sparrows, and for the hairs of our heads. I have ever found him more faithful and favourable, then is any Father or husband. Trust ye therefore in him by the means of our dear Saviour Christ's merits: believe, love, fear and obey him: pray to him, for he hath promised to help. Count me not dead for I shall certainly live, and never die. I go before you, and you shall follow after to our long home. I go to the rest of my children Susan, George, Ellen, Robert, Zacharie: I have bequeathed you to the only omnipotent.  
I say to my dear friends of HADLEY, and to all other which have heard me preach: that I depart hence with a quiet conscience, as touching my doctrine: for the which I pray you thank God with me, for after my small talent, I have declared to you those lessons I gathered out of God's blessed book the Bible. If I therefore or an Angel from Heaven should preach unto you any other Gospel then that ye have received, God's great curse upon that preacher.  
Beware for god's sake that ye deny not God, neither decline from the word of Faith, lest GOD decline from you, and so ye do everlastingly perish.  
For God's sake beware of Popery, for though it appear to have in it unity, yet the same is in vanity, and antichristianity, and not in Christ's faith and verity.  
Beware of the sin against the holy Ghost, now after such a light opened so plainly and simply, truly, thoroughly, and generally to all England.  
The Lord grant all men his good and holy spirit; increase of his wisdom, contemning this wicked world, hearty desire to be with God & the heavenly company, through jesus Christ our only Mediator, advocate, righteousness, life, sanctification, and only hope. Amen, Amen, pray, pray.  
Rowland Taylor, departing hence in sure hope without all doubting of eternal salvation, I thank God my heavenly father through his Son jesus Christ my certain Saviour.   

john Warren.  
IN the confession of his Faith hath this sweet speech, Without Christ no heavenly gift is given, nor sin forgiven.  
john Warren Upholster.   

Alice Binden.  

Of the Parish of Staple Hurst in ●he County of Kent.  She being at the stake, took forth a shilling of Philip and Marie, which her Father had bowed and sent her, (when she was first sent to prison) desiring her Brother (there present) to return the same to her father again, with obedient salutations: and to tell him It was the first piece of money that he sent her after her troubles began, which (as she protested) she had kept, and now sent him: to do him to understand, that she never lacked money while she lay in prison.  
And yet what extremity she endured in prison, this brief Relation following may testify. Her constancy being such in the profession of the truth, that she could no way be removed from it, her fond husband (who first had procured her jmprisonment, & had also taken money of the Constable to carry her to prison himself) told the Bishop that she had a Brother called Richard Hale, 
jan. 22. 1556.  who if his Lordship could keep from her, she would turn: for he comforteth her (said he) and giveth her money, and persuadeth her not to relent.  
This council being as soon apprehended as tendered; was forthwith put also in execution. For thereupon the Bishop gave commandment she should be committed to his prison called Monday's hole, giving also strait charge that if her Brother at any time came at her, he should be laid hold on.  
This prison was within a Court where the prebend's Chambers were, being a vault beneath the ground, and the window being jnclosed with a pale; of height by estimation 4 foot and a half, and distant from the same three foot, so that she looking from beneath might only see such as stood at the pale. Her Brother in the mean while sought her, with no less danger of life, than diligence. But in regard of many impediments he could never know where she lay, till coming by gods unsearchable providence very early thither in a morning (her Keeper being then gone to Church to ring, for he was bell-ringer) chanced to hear her voice as she poured out her sorrowful complaints unto God; saying the psalms of David: in which place he could none otherwise relieve her, but by putting money in a loaf of bread, and sticking the same on a pole, and so reached it unto her; for neither with meat nor drink could he sustain her. And this was 5 weeks after her coming thither. All which time no creature was known to come at her, more than her keeper.  
Her lyjng in that prison was only upon a little short straw, between a pair of stocks and a stone wall: being allowed 3 farthings a day; that is a half penny bread, & a farthing drink: neither could she get any more for her money: wherefore she desired to have her whole allowance in bread, and used water for her drink. Thus did she lie 9 weeks, during all which time, she never changed her apparel: whereby she became at the last a most piteous & loathsome creature to behold.  
At her first coming into this place, she did grievously bewail her state with great sorrow and lamentation, reasoning with herself: Why her Lord God did with so heavy justice suffer her to be sequestered from her loving fellows, into so extreme misery. In these dolorous mournings did she continue, till on a night, as she was in her sorrowful supplications, rehearsing this verse of the Psalm: why art thou so heavy O my soul? And again, The right hand of the Lord can change all this: she received comfort in the midst of her miseries: and after that, continued very joyful until her deliverance from the same.  

Ma. 25 Anno 1557.  In March following the Bishop called her before him: demanding of her whether she would go home and go to Church or no, promising her great favour if she would be reform.  
To whom she answered, I think, and am thoroughly persuaded by the great extremity that you have already showed me, that you are not of God, neither can your doings be godly, and I see saith she, that you seek my utter destruction, showing how lame she was of the cold she had taken, and for lack of food while she lay in that painful prison.  
Then did the Bishop deliver her from that filthy hole, and sent her to West-gate, where after she had been changed, and for a while been clean kept, her skin did wholly pill and scale off, as if she had been poisoned with some mortal venom, where she continued till the 19 of june, on which day she was bereft of life by the terrible fire.  
One thing more touching this good woman is to be noted, that while she was in prison she practised with a prison fellow of hers, the wife of one Potkin, to live both of them with 2 pence halfpenny a day, to try thereby how well they could sustain penury and hunger, before they were put to it, for they had heard, that when they should remove from thence to the Bishop's prison, their allowance should be but 3 farthings a day a piece, and thus they lived 14 days ere she was removed.   

¶ Thomas Wats his farewell to his Wife and children.  
AFter his private prayer made to himself, he came to his Wife and six Children being there, and said these words in effect: Wife and my good Children, I must now depart away from you. Therefore henceforth know I you no more: but as the Lord hath given you unto me, so I give you again unto the Lord; whom I charge you see you obey, and fear him: and beware ye turn not to this abominable Papistry, against the which anon you shall see me by God's grace give my blood. Let not the murdering of God's Saints cause you to relent, but take occasion thereby to be the stronger in the Lord's quarrel, and I doubt not but he will be a merciful Father unto you. In the end he bade them farewell, and kissed them all & was carried to the fire.   

¶ BRADFORDS' Mementoes to the Lord RUSSELL, afterwards called the good Earl of Bedford.  
REmember LOT'S Wife which looked back. Remember that none are Crowned, but such as strive lawfully. Remember FRANCIS SPIRA. Remember that all you have, is at Christ's commandment. Remember he lost more for you, than you can lose for him. Remember that it is not lost which you lose for his sake, for you shall find much more here, and elsewhere. Remember you shall die; when, where, and how, ye cannot tell. Remember that the death of sinners is terrible. Remember that the death of God's Saints is precious in his sight. Remember the multitude goeth the wide way, which windeth to wo. Remember the strait way which leadeth to life, hath but few travelers. Remember Christ biddeth you enter in thereat. Remember he that trusteth in the Lord, shall receive strength to stand against all the assaults of his enemies.  
Be certain, all the hairs of your head are numbered. Be certain, your good Father hath appointed your bounds, over which the devil dare not look. Commit yourself to him: he is, hath been, and will be your keeper. Let Christ be your mark and scope to prick at: Let him be your pattern to work by: Let him be your ensample to follow: give him as your heart, so your hand: as your mind, so your tongue: as your Faith, so your feet: And let his word be your Candle to go before you in all matters of Religion. Blessed is he that Walketh not to these Popish prayers, nor standeth at them, nor sitteth at them: glorify God both in soul and body.   

¶ Fifteen short sentences left by Robert Smith Martyr, to ANNE SMITH his wife.  
1 Seek first to love God dear wife with your whole heart, and then it shall be easy for you to love your neighbour.  
2 Be friendly to all creatures, but especially to your own Soul.  
3 Be always an enemy to the Devil & the world, but chiefly to your own flesh.  
4 In hearing of good things, join the ears of your head and heart together.  
5 Seek unity and quietness with all men, but specially with your conscience: for it will not easily be pacified.  
6 Love all men, but specially your enemies.  
7 Hate the sins that are past, but especially those to come.  
8 Be as ready to further your enemy, as he is to hinder you, that ye may be the child of God.  
9 Defile not that which Christ hath cleansed, lest his blood be laid to your charge.  
10 Remember that god hath hedged in your tongue with the teeth and lips, that it might speak under correction.  
11 Be ready at all times to look to your brother's eye, but especially to your own eye. For he that warneth an other of that he himself is faulty, giveth his neighbour the clear Wine, and himself the dregs.  
12 Beware of riches and worldly honour: for without understanding, prayer, and fasting, it is a snare, & like to consuming fire, of which if a man take a little it will warm him, but if too much, it will consume him.  
13 Show mercy to the Saints for Christ's sake, & Christ shall reward you for the Saints sake.  
14 Among all other prisoners, visit your own Soul: for it is enclosed in a perilous prison.  
15 If you love GOD, hate evil, etc.  
Your Husband RO: SMITH.  

If ye will meet with me again,  
Forsake not Christ for any pain.     

CERTAIN devout Prayers, which some of the godly Martyrs made at the hour of their death.  

¶ The Prayer which Mr. HOOPER Bishop of Gloucester, made at his death.  
LORD, said he, I am Hell, but thou art Heaven: I am swill and a sink of sin, but thou art a gracious GOD, and a merciful Saviour and Redeemer. Have mercy therefore upon me most miserable and wretched offender, after thy great mercy, and according to thine jnestimable goodness: thou art ascended into Heaven; receive me Hell to be partaker of thy joys, where thou sittest in equal glory with the Father. For well thou knowest Lord wherefore I am come hither to suffer, and why the wicked do persecute this thy poor servant: not for my sins and transgressions committed against thee, but because I will not allow of their wicked doings, to the contaminating of thy blood, and to the denial of the knowledge of thy truth wherewith it did please thee by thy holy spirit to jnstruct me: the which with as much diligence as a poor wretch might (being called thereto) I have set forth to thy glory. And well thou seest my Lord & God what terrible pains and cruel torments be here prepared for thy poor Creature: such Lord as without thy strength none is able to bear or patiently to pass. But all things that are jmpossible with man, with thee are possible. Therefore strengthen me of thy goodness, that in the fire I break not the bounds of patience; or else assuage the terror of the pains as shall seem most to thy glory.  
here the party who heard thus much of his prayer, being espied of the Mayor, was commanded away and could be suffered to hear no more.   

¶ The Prayer of Doctor CRANMER Archbishop of Canterbury: when it was thought he would have made his Recantation.  
O Father of Heaven: O Son of GOD, redeemer of the world: O holy Ghost three persons and one GOD have mercy upon me most wretched Caitiff, and miserable sinner: I have offended both against Heaven and Earth, more than my tongue can express. Whether then may I go, or whether should I flee? To heaven I am ashamed to lift up mine eyes, and in Earth I find no place of refuge or succour. To thee therefore o Lord do I run; to thee do I humble myself, saying. O Lord my GOD, my sins be great, but yet have Mercy upon me for thy great Mercy. The great mystery that God became man, was not wrought for small or few offences. Thou didst not give thy Son O Heavenly Father unto death for little sins only, but for all the greatest sins of the world: so that the sinner return to thee with his whole heart, as I do here at this present. Wherefore have mercy upon me o GOD, whose property it is always to have mercy: have mercy upon me o Lord, for thy great mercy. I crave nothing for mine own merits, but for thy name's sake, that it may be hallowed thereby, and for thy dear Son jesus Christ's sake. And now therefore, O our Father, etc.  
His repentance for subscription; uttered a little before his death.  
And now I come to the great thing, that so much troubleth my conscience more than any thing that ever I did or said in my whole life, and that is, the setting abroad of a writing contrary to the truth: which now I here renounce & refuse as things written with my hand contrary to the truth which I thought in mine heart, and written for fear of death, and to save life if it might be; and that is, all such bills and papers which I have written or signed with mine hand since my degradation: wherein I have written many things untrue. And for as much as my hand offended in writing contrary to my heart; mine hand shallbe punished therefore: for may I come to the fire, it shall first be burned: which accordingly he did. For being at the stake, when the fire began to flame, he put his right hand unto it, which he held so steadfast and jmmoveable (saving that once with the same hand he wiped his face) that all men might see his hand burned before it touched his body.   

¶ The Prayer of Steven Knight, made upon his knees at his death.  
O Lord jesus Christ, for whose love I willingly leave this life, and desire rather the bitter death of the Cross, with the loss of all earthly things, then to abide the blaspheming of thy most holy name, or to obey men in breaking thy holy Commandment. Thou seest (oh Lord) that where I might live in worldly wealth to worship a false God and honour thine enemy, I choose rather the torment of the body and loss of this my life, and have counted all things but vild, dust, and dung, that I might win thee: which death is dearer unto me then thousands of Gold and Silver. Such love (oh Lord) hast thou laid up within my breast, that I hunger for thee as the Dear that is wounded desireth the soil. Send thy holy Comforter (O Lord) to aid, comfort, and strengthen this weak piece of earth, which is empty of all strength of itself. Thou remember'st (Oh Lord) that I am but dust, and able to do nothing that is good. Therefore (O Lord) as of thine accustomed goodness and love, thou hast bidden me to this banquet, & accounted me worthy to drink of thine own cup amongst thine elect: even so give me strength (Oh Lord) against this thine element, which as to my sight it is most irksome and terrible: so to my mind it may at thy commandent (as an obedient servant) be sweet and pleasant, that through the strength of thy holy spirit, I may pass through the rage of this fire into thy bosom according to thy promise: and for this mortal, receive an jmmortall; and for this corruptible, may put on jncorruption. Accept this burnt offering (O Lord) not for the sacrifice, but for thy dear sons sake my Saviour. For whose testimony I offer this free-will offering, with all my heart, and with all my soul. O heavenly Father forgive me my sins, as I forgive all the world: O sweet Son of God my saviour, spread thy wings over me. O blessed Holy Ghost, through whose merciful inspiration I come hither to die: conduct me into everlasting life. Lord into thine hands I commend my spirit. Amen.   

¶ A Prayer which Master George Marsh used daily to say,  
O LORD jesus Christ which art the only Physician of wounded consciences, we miserable sinners trusting in thy gracious goodness, do briefly open to thee the evil tree of our hearts, with all the roots, boughs, leaves, knots and snags, all which thou knowest: for thou thoroughly perceivest as well th'inward lusts, doubtings, and denyings of thy providence; as these gross outward sins which we commit in words & deeds. Wherefore we beseech thee according to the little measure we have received, we being far unable and unapt to pray, that thou wouldst mercifully circumcise our stony hearts, and for these old hearts, create within us and replenish us with a new spirit: & water and moisten us with the juice of heavenly grace and Wells of spiritual waters, whereby the jnward venom and noisome juice of the flesh, may be dried up, and custom of the old man changed: and our hearts always bringing forth Thorns and Briars to be burned with fire; from hence forth may bear spiritual fruits in righteousness and holiness unto life everlasting, Amen.  
Beloved, among other exercises I do daily on my knees use this confession of sins, willing and exhorting you to do the same, and daily to acknowledge unfeignedly to God your unbelief, unthankfulness, and disobedience against him. This shall you do if you will diligently consider and look upon yourselves, first in the pure glass of God's Commandments, & there see your jnward evils, filthiness, and uncleanness, and so learn to vanquish the same, that is to wit, to fall into hearty displeasure against sin, and thereby be provoked to long after Christ. For we truly are sinners: but he is just and the justifier of all them that believe in him. If we hunger and thirst after righteousness, let us resort to his table, for he is a liberal feast-maker. He will set before us his own holy body, which was given for us to be out meat, and his precious blood which was shed for us, and for many, for remission of sins, to be our drink. He biddeth, willeth, calleth for guests which hunger and thirst: Come (saith he) all ye that are laden and labour unto me and I will refresh, cool and ease you, and you shall find rest unto your souls.   

¶ A Prayer of Nicholas Sheterden before his death.  
O Lord my God and Saviour, which art Lord in heaven and earth, maker of all things visible and jnvisible. I am thy creature & work of thine hands. Lord look upon me and other thy people which at this time are oppressed of the worldly minded men, for thy laws sake, yea; for thy Law itself is now trodden underfoot, and men's jnventions exalted above it; and for that cause do I, and many of thy creatures refuse the glory, praise, and commodities of this life, and do chose to suffer adversity, and to be banished, yea to be burnt with the Books of thy word, for the hopes sake that is laid up in store. For Lord thou knowest, if we would but seem to please men in things contrary to thy word, we might by thy permission enjoy these commodities as other men do; as Wife, Children, goods, and friends, which all I acknowledge to be thy gifts, given unto the end I should serve thee. And now Lord, that the world will not suffer me to enjoy them except I offend thy Laws, behold I give unto thee my whole Spirit, Soul, and body. And lo I leave here all the pleasures of this life, and do now leave th'use of them, for the hopes sake of eternal life purchased in Christ's blood, and promised to all that fight on his side, and are content to suffer with him for his truth, whensoever the world and the Devil shall persecute the same. O Father, I presume not to come here to thee trusting in mine own righteousness: No, but in the only merits of thy Son my Saviour. For the which excellent gift of Salvation, I cannot worthily praise thee, neither is any sacrifice worthy or to be accepted with thee, in comparison of our bodies mortified and obedient to thy wil And now Lord whatsoever rebellion hath been, or is found in my members against thy will, yet do I here give unto thee my body to the death, rather than I will use any strange worshipping, which I beseech thee accept at my hands for a pure sacrifice. Let this torment be to me the last enemy destroyed, even death the end of misery, and the beginning of all joy, peace, and solace: And when the time of the resurrection cometh, let me enjoy again these members then glorified, which now be spoiled and consumed by the fire. O Lord jesus receive my spirit into thine hands. Amen.   

George Tankerfield.  
GEorge Tankerfield sitting before a fire, a little before his death at ST. ALBAN, after he had put off his hose and shoes, stretched out his leg to the flame and when it had touched his foot, he quickly withdrew his leg, showing how the flesh did persuade him one way, and the spirit an other. The flesh said, o thou fool, wilt thou burn and needst not? The spirit said, be not afraid, this burning is nothing to eternal fire. The flesh said, do not leave the company of thy friends and acquaintance which love thee, and will let thee lack nothing. The spirit said, the company of jesus Christ and his glorious presence, doth far exceed all fleshly friends. The flesh said, do not shorten thy time now, for thou mayst if thou wilt, live much longer. The spirit said, this life is nothing to that which is to come, which lasteth for ever and ever.   

¶ The Prayer of Richard Browne, 
Anno. 1518.  who standing at the stake and holding up both his hands said.  

O Lord I yield me to thy grace,  
Grant me pardon for my trespass.  
Let never the fiend my soul chase.  
Lord I will bow, and thou shalt beat,  
Let never my soul come in hell heat.   
Into thy hands I commend my spirit.   

¶ A Godly and devout Prayer mentioned in the story of Mr. Philpot Martyr, fit for such as suffer at the stake.  
Merciful God and father to whom approached our Saviour Christ in his fear & need by reason of death, and found comfort: Gracious God, and most bounteous Christ, on whom Steven called in his extreme need and received strength: Most benign and holy spirit, who in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort th'Apostle ST. Paul with more consolations in Christ than he felt sorrows & terrors; have mercy upon me miserable, vild, and wretched sinner, who now draweth near unto the gates of death, deserved both in body and soul eternal, by reason of my manifold, horrible, old, and new transgressions, which to thine eyes o Lord are open and known. Oh be merciful unto me for the bitter death and bloodshedding of thine only son jesus Christ. And though thy justice do require in respect of my sins, that thou shouldst not hear me, measuring me with the same measure I have measured thy Majesty, contemning all thy gracious calls: yet let thy mercy which is above all thy works, and wherewith th'earth is filled, let thy mercy I say prevail towards me through and for the Mediation of our Saviour, for whose sake it hath pleased thee now to bring me forth as one of thy witnesses, and a record bearer to thy verity and truth taught by him, to give my life therefore; (To which dignity o Lord and dear father I acknowledge there was never any so unfit nor unworthy, no not the thief that hanged upon the Cross) so I therefore most humbly beseech thee, that thou wouldst accordingly aid, help, and assist me with thy strength and heavenly grace, that with Christ thy Son I may find comfort: with Steven I may see thy presence and gracious power: with Paul and all others which for thy name's sake have suffered affliction and death, I may find thy sweet consolation so present with me, that I may by my death glorify thy name, propagate and ratify thy truth, comfort the hearts of the heavy, confirm thy Church in thy verity, convert some to be converted, & so depart forth of this miserable life, where I do nothing but heap sin daily upon sin, and so enter into the fruition of thy blessed presence and mercy: whereof give and increase in me a lively trust, sense, and feeling, where through the terrors of death, the torments of the fire, the pangs of sin, the darts of Satan, and the dolours of hell, may never depress me; but may be driven away through the working of thy most gracious spirit, which now plenteously endue me withal that I may offer (as I now desire to do in Christ by him) myself wholly, Soul and body, to be an holy, lively, and acceptable sacrifice in thy sight. Dear Father whose I am, and always have been even from my Mother's womb, yea even before the world was made to whom I commend myself, soul, and body, family, friends, Country, and all thy whole Church, yea, even my very enemies according to thy good pleasure: beseeching thee entirely to give once more to this Realm of England the blessing of thy word again, with godly peace, to the teaching and setting forth of the same. Oh dear Father now give me grace to come unto thee, purge and so purify me by this fire in Christ's death & passion, through thy spirit, that I may be a burnt offering of sweet smell in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the son and holy Ghost, now and for ever more, Amen.   

M. Bartlet Greene..  
¶ A Sweet description of the miseries of this life, and of the joys of the life to come, written by Mr. Bartlet Greene.  
BEtter is the day of death (saith Solomon) than the day of birth. Man that is borne of a woman liveth but a short time, and is replenished with many miseries, but happy are the dead that dye in the Lord.  
Man of a woman is borne in travel to live in misery: man through Christ doth die to live. Strait as he cometh into this world, with cries he uttereth his miserable estate: strait as he departeth, with songs he praiseth God for ever. Scearce yet in his cradle, 3 deadly enemies assail him: after death no adversary can annoy him: whilst he is here, he displeaseth GOD: when he is dead, he fulfilleth his will. In this life he dieth through sin: In the life to come he liveth in righteousness. Through many tribulations on earth he is still purged: with joy unspeakable in heaven, he is made perfect for ever. here he dieth every hour: there he liveth continually. here is sin; there is righteousness. Here is time, there is eternity. here is hatred: there is love. here is pain: there is pleasure. here is misery: there is felicity. here is Corruption: there is jmmortalitie. here we see vanity: there we shall behold the Majesty of God, with triumphant & unspeakable joy, in glory everlasting. Seek therefore the things that are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD the Father, to whom with the holy Ghost be all glory and honour world without end, Amen.   

Lady jane.  
¶ An effectual Prayer made by the Lady JANE in the time of her trouble.  
O Lord thou god & father of my life, hear me poor and desolate woman, who flieth unto thee only in all troubles and miseries. Thou (O Lord) art the only defender and deliverer of those that put their trust in thee: & therefore I being defiled with sin, encumbered with affliction, unquieted with troubles, wrapped in cares, overwhelmed with miseries, vexed with temptations, and grievously tormented with the long jmprisonment of this wild mass of Clay my sinful body: do come unto thee O merciful Saviour craving thy mercy and help: with the which so little hope of deliverance is left, that I may utterly despair of any liberty. Albeit it is expedient, that seeing our life standeth upon trying, we should be visited sometime with some adversity, whereby we might be tried whether we be thy flock, or no, and also know thee and ourselves the better: yet thou that saidst thou wouldst not suffer us to be tempted above our power, be merciful unto me now a miserable wretch I beseech thee; that I may neither be too much puffed up with prosperity, neither to much pressed down with adversity: lest I being too full should deny thee my God, or being too low brought, should despair & blaspheme thee my Lord and Saviour. O merciful God, consider my misery, best known to thee, and be thou now unto me a strong Tower of defence, I humbly require thee, Suffer me not to be tempted above my power, but either be thou a deliverer to me out of this great misery, or else give me grace patiently to bear thy heavy hand and sharp correction. It was t●y right hand that delivered the poor people of Israel out of the hands of Pharaoh, which for the space of Forty years did oppress and keep them in bondage. Let it therefore seem good to thy fatherly goodness to deliver me sorrowful wretch (for whom thy Son Christ shed his precious blood on the Cross) out of this miserable captivity and bondage wherein I now am. How long wilt thou be absent, for ever? Oh Lord hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and hast thou shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure? wilt thou be no more entreated? Is thy mercy clean gone for ever, and thy promise come utterly to an end for evermore? Why dost thou make so long tarrying? Shall I despair of thy mercy O God? far be that from me. I am thy workmanship created in Christ jesus: give me grace therefore to tarry thy leisure, and patiently to bear thy works: assuredly knowing that as thou caused, so thou wilt deliver me when it shall please thee, nothing doubting or mistrusting thy goodness towards me: for thou knowest better what is good for me, than I do: therefore do with me in all things what thou wilt. Only in the mean time arm me I beseech thee with thy armour, that I may stand fast, my loins being girt about with verity, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and shod with the shoes prepared in the Gospel of peace, above all things taking unto me the shield of Faith, wherewith I may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devil, and taking the helmet of Hope, and the sword of the Spirit, which is thy most holy word: praying always with all manner of Prayer and Supplication, that I may refer myself wholly to thy will, abiding thy pleasure, and comforting myself in those troubles that it shall please thee to send: seeing such troubles be profitable for me, and seeing I am assuredly persuaded, that it cannot but be well, all that thou doest. Hear me o merciful Father for his sake whom thou wouldst should be a sacrifice for my sins, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory, Amen.   

¶ A Prayer of the Lord Cromwell which he at the hour of his death.  
O Lord jesus which art the only health of all men living, and the everlasting life of them which die in thee: I wretched sinner do submit myself wholly unto thy most blessed will, beejng sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed unto thy mercy: willingly now I leave this frail and wicked flesh, in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise raise it up & restore it to me at the day of the resurrection of the just. I beseech thee most merciful Lord jesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soul against all temptations, and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against all the assaults of Satan. I see and acknowledge that there is in myself no hope of Salvation, but all my hope and trust is in thy most merciful goodness. I have no merits nor good works which I may allege before thee: of sins and evil works alas I see a great heap: but yet thorough thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not jmpute their sins, but wilt accept me for just and righteous, and to be th'inheritor of everlasting life. Thou merciful Lord wastborn for my sake, thou didst suffer both hunger & thirst for my sake: thou didst teach, pray, and fast for my sake: all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake: Thou suffred'st most grievous pains and torments for my sake: finally, thou gavest thy most precious body and blood to be shed upon the Cross for my sake. Now most merciful Saviour, Let all these things profit me, that thou freely hast done for me. Let thy blood cleanse & wash away the spots and foulness of my sins. Let thy righteousness hide and cover my unrighteousness. Let the merits of thy passion and blood shedding be a satisfaction for my sins. Give me Lord thy grace, that the faith of my salvation in thy blood waver not, but may be ever firm and constant: that the hope of thy mercy and life everlasting never decay in me. that love may not be cold in me.  
Finally, that the weakness of my flesh be not overcome with the fear of death. Grant me merciful Saviour, that when death hath shut up the eyes of my body, and hath taken away the use of my tongue, yet the eyes of my Soul may still behold and look upon thee, and my heart may still cry and say unto thee, Lord jesus into thine hands I comed my Soul, Lord receive my spirit. Amen.   

¶ The Prayer that Martin Luther said at his death.  
MY Heavenly Father and eternal & merciful GOD, thou hast manifested to me thy dear son our Lord jesus Christ. I have taught him, I have known him, I love him as my life; my health, and my redemption: whom the wicked have persecuted, maligned, and with injury afflicted. Draw my soul to thee. After this he said, I commend my spirit into thine hands, thou hast redeemed me o GOD, of truth God so loved the world, etc.   

Anne Askew.  
¶ The Prayer of Anne Askew.  
O Lord I have more enemies than there be hairs on my head: yet Lord let them never overcome me with vain words, but fight thou Lord in my stead, for on thee cast I my care. With all the spite they can jmagine they fall upon me which am thy poor creature: Yet sweet Lord let me not set by them, which are against me: for in thee is my whole delight. And Lord I heartily desire of thee, that thou wilt of thy merciful goodness forgive them that violence which they do and have done to me. Open also their blind hearts that they may hereafter do that thing in thy sight which is only acceptable before thee, and to set forth thy verity aright without all fantasies of sinful men. So be it O Lord, so be it.  
By me Anne Askew.   

William Flower.  
¶ The Prayer and confession which William Flower made at his death.  
OH Eternal God, most mighty and merciful Father, who hast sent down thy son upon the earth to save me, and all mankind, who ascended up into heaven again, and left his blood here upon the earth behind him, for the redemption of our sins: have mercy upon me, have mercy upon me, for thy dear Son our Saviour Christ's sake, in whom I confess only to be all salvation, and justification, and that there is none other mean nor way, nor holiness, in which, or by which any man can be saved in this world. This is my faith, which I beseech men here to bear witness off. Then said he the Lords Prayer, and so made an end. Fire being set unto him and burning therein, he cried thrice with a loud voice, O Son of GOD have mercy upon me, O Son of GOD receive my soul: and so his speech being taken from him, he spoke no more, lifting up notwithstanding his stump with his other arm as long as he could.   

¶ Here followeth two worthy and godly Letters full of heavenly consolation, written by that holy man of God M. john Bradford Martyr: fit for all such to read and observe as feel in them a wounded spirit.  

¶ The first Letter written to Mistress H. a godly Gentlewoman, comforting her in that common and godly sorrow which the feeling and sense of sin worketh in God's children.  
I Humbly and heartily pray the everlasting good God and Father of mercy to bless and keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and the love of his truth, and of his Christ through th'inspiration & working of the holy spirit, Amen.  
Although I have no doubt but that you prosper and go forwards daily in the way of Godliness, more and more drawing towards perfection, and have no need of any thing that I can write; yet because my desire is that you might be more fervent and persevere unto the end, I could not but write something unto you, beseeching you both often and diligently to call unto your mind as a mean to stir you hereunto, yea, as a thing which god most straightly requireth you to believe, that you are the beloved of God, and that he is your dear Father, in, through, & for Christ & his death's sake▪ This love and tender kindness of God towards us in Christ is abundantly herein declared, in that he hath to the godly work of Creation of this world, made us after his image, redeemed us being lost, called us into his church, sealed us with his mark and sign Manuel of Baptism, kept and conserved us all the days of our life, fed, nowrished, defended, and most mercifully chastised us, and now hath kindled in our hearts the sparkles of his fear, faith, love, and knowledge of his Christ & truth: and therefore we lament because we can lament no more our unthankfulness, our frailness, our diffidence, and wavering in things whereof we should be most certain.  
All these things we should use as means to confirm our faith of this, that God is our God and Father, and to assure us that he loveth us as our Father in Christ▪ to this end I say, should we use the things before touched, especially in that of all things God requireth this faith and persuasion of his Father by goodness as his chiefest service. For before he ask any thing of us, he saith, I am the Lord thy God, giving himself, and all he hath to us, to be our own. And this he doth in respect of himself, of his own mercy & truth, and not in respect of us, for than were grace no more grace. In consideration whereof, when he saith, Thou shalt have none other Gods but me, thou shalt love me with all thy heart, etc. Though of duty we are bound to accomplish all that he requireth, and are culpable and guilty if we do not the same, yet he requireth not these things further of us, then to make us more in love, and more certain of this his covenant that he is the Lord our God. In certainty whereof, as he hath given this world to serve our need and commodity: so hath he given us his son Christ jesus, and in Christ, himself to be a pledge and gauge: whereof the Holy Ghost doth now and then give us some taste and sweet feeling and smell to our eternal joy.  
Therefore as I said, because God is your Father in Christ, and requireth of you straightly to believe it, give yourself to obedience, although you do it not with such feeling as you desire. 
Note.  First must faith go before, and then feeling will follow. If our jmperfection, frailty, & many evils should be occasions whereby Satan would have us doubt; as much as in us lieth let us abhor that suggestion as of all others most pernicious: for so indeed it is. For when we stand in doubt whether God be our Father or no, we cannot be thankful to God, we cannot heartily pray, or think any thing we do acceptable to God; we cannot love our neighbours and give over ourselves to care for them, and do for them as we should do: and therefore Satan is most busy hereabouts, knowing full well that if we doubt of gods eternal sweet mercies in Christ, we cannot please God, or do any thing as we should to man. Continually casteth he into our memories our jmperfection, frailty, folly, and offences, that we should doubt of god's mercy and favour towards us.  
Therefore my good Sister, we must not be sluggish herein, but as Satan laboureth to loosen our faith, so must we labour to fasten it by thinking on the promises and covenant of god in Christ's blood, namely, that God is our God with all that ever he hath; which Covenant dependeth and hangeth upon Gods own goodness, mercy, and truth only, and not on our obedience and worthiness in any point; for than should we never be certain. 
Note.  Indeed God requireth of us obedience and worthiness, but not that thereby we might be made his children, and he our Father: but because he is our Father and we his children through his own goodness in christ, therefore requireth he faith and obedience. Now, if we want this obedience & worthiness which he requireth, should we therefore doubt whether he be our Father? Nay, that were to make our obedience & worthiness the cause, and so to put Christ out of place, for whose sake God is our Father. But rather because he is our Father and we feel ourselves to want such things as he requireth we should be stirred up to an holy blushing and shamefastness, because we are not as we should be: and thereupon should we take occasion to go to our father in prayer on this manner.  
Dear Father, thou of thine own Mercy in Christ jesus hast chosen me to be thy child, and therefore thou wouldst I should be brought into thy Church and faithful company of thy children: wherein thou hast kept me hitherto, thy name be praised therefore. Now I see myself to want faith, hope, love etc. which thy children have and thou requirest of me; wherethrough the devil would have me doubt, yea, utterly to despair off thy Fatherly goodness, favour and mercy. Therefore I come to thee as to my merciful father through thy dear Son jesus Christ, and pray▪ thee to help me: good Lord help me, and give me Faith, Hope, love, thankfulness, etc. and grant that thy holy spirit may be with me, for ever, and more and more to assure me that thou art my father: that this merciful covenant that thou madest with me in respect of thy grace in Christ, and for Christ, and not in respect of any my worthiness, etc.  
On this sort I say you must pray and use your cogitations when Satan would have you to doubt of your Salvation. He doth all he can to prevail herein against you. Do you all ye can to prevail herein against him. Though you feel not as you would, yet doubt not, but hope beyond hope as Abraham did. For always as I said, faith goeth before feeling. As certain as God is Almighty, as certain as GOD is merciful, as certain as God is true, as certain as jesus Christ was crucified, is risen, and sitteth on the right hand of God his Father, as certain as this is God's commandment, I am the Lord thy GOD, etc. so certain ought you to believe that God is your Father. As you are bound to have none other Gods but him: so are ye no less bound to believe that god is your God. What profit should it be to you to believe this to be true, I am the Lord thy god, to others; if you should not believe that this is true to yourself? The Devil believeth on this sort. 
Note.  And whatsoever it be that would move you to doubt of this whether God be your God through Christ, that same cometh undoubtedly of the Devil. Wherefore did god make you, but because he loved you? might he not have made you blind, dumb, deaf, lame, frantic? might he not have made you a jew, a Turk, a Papist? And why did he love you? what was there in you to move him to love you? surely nothing moved him to love you, and therefore to make you, and so hitherto to keep you, but his own goodness in Christ. Now then in that his goodness in Christ still remaineth as much as it was that is, even as great as himself (for it cannot be lessened) how should it be but that he is your God & Father? Believe this, believe this my good sister, for god is no changeling: them whom he loveth, he loveth to the end.  
Cast therefore yourself wholly upon him, and think without all wavering, that you are God's child, that you are a Citizen of heaven, that you are the temple of the holy Ghost etc. If hereof you be assured as you ought to be, then shall your conscience be quieted, then shall you lament more and more that you want many things which God loveth: then shall you labour to be holy in soul and in body: then shall you endeavour that God's glory may shine in all your words and works: then shall you not be afraid what man can do unto you: then shall you have wisdom to answer your adversaries, as shall serve for their shame, and to your comfort: then shall you be certain that no man can touch one hair of your head further than it shall please your father, to your everlasting joy: then shall you be most certain, that God as your good father will be more careful of your children and make better provision for than, if all you have were gone, than you can: then shall you (being assured I say of God's favour towards you) give over yourself wholly to help & care for others that be in need: then shall you contemn this life, and desire to be at home with your good and sweet Father: then shall you labour to mortify all things that would spot either soul or body. All these things spring out of this certain persuasion and faith, 
Note.  that God is our Father and we his children by Christ jesus. All things should help our faith herein: but Satan goeth about in all things to hinder us.  
Therefore let us use earnest and hearty prayer: let us often remember this covenant I am the Lord thy God: let us look upon Christ and his precious blood shed for th' obsignation and sealing of this covenant: let us remember all the free promises of god in his Gospel: let us set before us GOD'S benefits generally in making this world, in ruling it, in governing it, in calling and keeping his Church, etc. Let us set before us Gods benefits particularly, how he hath made us his Creatures after his image, how he hath made us of perfect limbs, form, beauty, memory, etc. How he hath made us Christians, and given us a right judgement in his Religion: how ever since we were born, he hath blessed, kept, nourished and defended us: how he hath often beaten chastised, and fatherly corrected us: how he hath spared us, and now doth spare us, giving us time, space, place, & grace. This if you do and use earnest and often prayer, and so flee from all things which might trouble the peace of your conscience, giving yourself to diligence in your vocation, you shall at length find that (which god grant me with you) a sure certainty of Salvation, without all such wavering as should hinder your peace with GOD in CHRIST, to your eternal joy and comfort, Amen, Amen.  
Yours to be used in Christ john Bradford.   

¶ The second Letter written to a faithful Woman in her heaviness and trouble of mind: most comfortable for all to read that are afflicted or broken hearted for their sins.  
GOD our Father for his mercy's sake in Christ, with his eternal consolation so comfort you, as I desire to be comforted in my most need: yea, he will comfort you my dear Sister, only cast your care upon him, and he never can nor will forsake you. Whom he loveth, he loveth to the end: none of his chosen can perish. Of which number I know yourself to be one my dearly beloved Sister. GOD jncrease the faith thereof daily more and more in you: he give unto you to hang wholly on him, and on his providence and protection. For who so dwelleth under that secret thing and help of the Lord, he shall be Cocksure for evermore. He that dwelleth I say: for if we be flitters as was Lot a flitter from Zoar, where God promised him protection if he had dwelled there still, we shall remove to our loss, as he did into the Mountains.  
Dwell therefore, that is trust, and that finally to the end in the Lord, my dear Sister; and you shall be as Mount Zion. As the mountains compass jerusalem: so doth the Lord all his people. How then can he forget you who are as dear to him as the apple of his Eye, for his dear Sons sake. Ah dear heart that I were now with you to be a Simon to you, to help & carry your Cross with you. God send you some good Simon to be with you and help you.  
You complain in your Letters of the blindness of your mind & the troubles you feel. My dearly beloved, GOD make you thankful for that which God hath given you: he open your eyes to see what & how great benefits you received, that you may be less covetous or rather jmpatient for so (I fear me) it should be called, and more thankful. Have you not received at his hands sight to see your blindness, and thereto a desirous and seeking heart to see where he lieth in the mid day, as his dear Spouse speaketh of herself in the Canticles? Ah joice, my good joice, what a gift is this? many have some sight, but none this sighing, none this sobbing, none this seeking which you have (I know) but such as he hath married to himself in his eternal sweet mercies. You are not content with the Magdalen to kiss his feet, but you would with Moses see his face: forgetting how he biddeth us seek his face, Psalm 27. yea, and that ever more, Psa. 105. which signifieth no such sight as you desire to have in this life, who would see God now face to face, whereas he cannot be seen, but covered under some thing, yea, something which is as you would say clean contrary to God: as to see his mercy in his anger. In bringing us to Hell, Faith seeth him bringing us to Heaven: in darkness it beholdeth brightness: in hiding his face from us, it beholdeth his merry countenance. How did job see God, but you would say under Satan's cloak? For who cast the fire from Heaven upon his goods? who overthrew his house, and stirred up men to take away his Cattle, but Satan? And yet job pierced through all these and saw Gods working, saying, The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken, etc.  
In reading the Psalms, how often do you see that David in the shadow of death saw God's sweet love? And so my dearly beloved I see that you in your darkness & dimness by faith do see charity & britnes: by faith I say, because faith is of things absent, of things hoped for, of things which I appeal to your own conscience whether you desire not. And can you desire any thing which you know not? And is there of heavenly things any other true knowledge, than by faith?  
Therefore my dear heart, be thankful, for before God I writ it, you have great cause. Ah my joice how happy is that state in which you are. Verily, you are in the blessed state of gods dear children: for they mourn, and do not you so? and that not for worldly weal, but for spiritual riches; Faith, Hope, and Charity. Do not you hunger and thirst for righteousness? And I pray you, saith not Christ, happy are such. How should GOD wipe away the tears from your eyes in heaven, if on earth you shed no tears? How could Heaven be a place of rest, if on Earth you did find it? How could you desire to be at home, if in your journey you found no grief? How could you so often call upon God & talk with him as I know you do, if your enemy should sleep all the day long? How should you elsewhere be made like unto Christ, I mean in joy, if in sorrow you sobbed not with him? If you will have joy and felicity, you must needs feel sorrow and misery. If you will go to heaven, you must sail by hell. If you will embrace Christ in his robes, you must not think scorn of him in his rags. If you will sit at Christ's table in his Kingdom, you must first abide with him in his temptations. If you will drink of his Cup of glory, forsake not his cup of jgnominie.  
Can the head corner stone be rejected, and the other more base stones in God's building be in this world set by? you are one of his living stones in this building: be content therefore to be hewn and snagged at, that you may be made more meet to be joined to your fellows which suffer with you Satan's snatches, and frets of the flesh, wherethrough they are enforced to cry, Oh wretches that we are, who shall deliver us? you are of God's corn, fear not therefore the flail, the fan, millstone, nor oven. You are one of CHRIST'S Lambs: look therefore to be fleeced, halled at, and even slain. If you were a market sheep, you should go in more fat pasture. If you were for the fair, you should be stalled and want no meat: but because you are for GOD'S own use, therefore you must pasture upon the bare common, abiding the storms and tempests that will fall. Happy & twice happy are you my dear sister, that God haileth you now whither you would not, that you might come whither you would. Suffer a little and be still. Let Satan rage against you, let the world cry out, let your conscience accuse you, let the law lead you, and press you down, yet shall they not prevail, for Christ is Emanuel, that is, GOD with us. If God be with us, who can be against us. The Lord is with you; your Father cannot forget you; your spouse loveth you. If the waves and surges arise, cry with Peter, save Lord I perish, and he will put out his hand and help you. Cast out your anchor of Hope, and it will not cease for all the stormy surges, till it take hold on the rock of God's truth and mercy.  
Think not that he which hath given you so many things corporally, as jnductions of spiritual & heavenly mercies, and that without your deserts or desire, can deny you any spiritual thing desiring it. For if he hath given you to desire, he will give you to have and enjoy the thing desired. The desire to have, and the going about to ask, aught to certify your conscience, that they be his earnests of the things which you ask, he will give you: yea, before you ask, and whilst you are about to ask, he will grant the same as Isaiah saith, to his glory and your eternal consolation. He that spared not his own Son for you, will not, nor cannot think any thing too good for you, my heartily beloved. If he had not chosen you as certainly he hath, he would not thus have called you: he would never have justified you: he would never have so glorified you with his gracious gifts which I know to be in you, praised be his name therefore: he would never have so exercised your faith with temptations as he hath done, and doth, if I say he had not chosen you. If he have chosen you (as doubtless dear heart he hath done in Christ, for in you I have seen his earnest, and to me you could not deny it, I know both where and when) if I say he have chosen you, than neither can you, nor ever shall you perish. For if you fall, he putteth under his hand: you shall not lie still: so careful is Christ your keeper over you. Never was Mother so mindful over her child, as he is over you. And hath he not always been so?  
Speak woman, when did he finally forget you? And will he now trow ye in your most need do otherwise, you calling upon him and desiring to please him? Ah my joice, think you God to be mutable? Is he a changeling? Doth not he love to the end then whom he loveth? Are not his gifts and calling such as he cannot repent him off them, for else were he no God. If you should perish, than wanted he power: For I am certain his will towards you is not to be doubted off. Hath not the spirit, which is the spirit of truth, told you so? And will you hearken with Eve to the liing Spirit which would have you to despair? God forbid it, for to doubt and stand in a mammering, would cause you that you should never truly love God, but ever serve him of a servile fear, lest he should cast you off for your unworthiness and unthankfulness, as though your thankfulness, or worthiness, were any causes with God why he hath chosen you, or will finally keep you.  
Ah my own dear heart, Christ only, Christ only, and his mercy and truth. In him is the cause of your election. This Christ, this Mercy, this Truth of God remaineth for ever, is certain for ever, I say for ever. If an Angel from Heaven should tell you contrary, accursed be he. Your thankfulness and worthiness are fruits and effects of your election, they are no causes. These fruits and effects shall be so much the more fruitful and effectual, by how much the more you waver not.  
Therefore dearly beloved, arise and remember from whence you are fallen. You have a Sheapeheard who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth, night nor day. No Man, nor Devil can pull you out of his hands. Night and day he commandeth his Angels to keep you. Have you forgotten what I read to you out of the Psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd, I can want nothing. Do you know that GOD sparred Noah into the Ark on the one side, so that he could not get out? So hath he done to you my good Sister, so hath he done to you. Ten Thousand shall fall on your right hand, & two Thousand on your l●ft hand yet no evil shall touch you. Say boldly therefore, Many a time from my youth up have they fought against me, but they have not prevailed, no nor never shall prevail, for the Lord is round about his people. And who are the people of God, but such as hope in him? Happy are they that hope in the Lord: and you are one of those my dear heart, for I am sure you have hoped in the Lord: I have your words to show most manifestly, & I know they were written unfeignedly.  
I need not say, that even before God you have simply confessed to me, and that oftentimes no less. And if once you had this hope, as you doubtless had it, though now ye feel it not, yet shall ye feel it again: for the anger of God lasteth but for a moment, but his mercy lasteth for ever. Tell me my dear heart, who hath so weakened you? surely not a persuasion which came of him that called you. For why should ye waver? Why should ye waver, & be so heavy hearted? whom look ye on? on yourself? on your worthiness? on your thankfulness? on that which God requireth of you, as Faith, Hope, Love, Fear, joy, etc. Then can ye but waver indeed: for what have you as God requireth? Believe you, hope you, love you, etc. as much as ye should do? No, no, nor never can in this life. Ah my dearly beloved, have you so soon forgotten that which should be had in memory? namely, that when you should be secure and quiet in conscience, them should your faith burst throughout all things, not only that you have in you, or else are in Heaven, Earth, or Hell, until it come to Christ crucified, and th'eternal sweet mercies of God, and his goodness in Christ. here, here is the resting place, here is your Spouses bed: Creep into it, and in your arms of faith embrace him, bewail your weakness, your unworthiness, your dissidence: and you shall see he will turn to you. What said I you shall see? Nay, I should have said you shall feel he will turn to you.  
You know that Moses when he went into the Mount to talk with God, he entered into a dark cloud: and Helias had his face covered when GOD passed by. Both these dear friends of God heard God, but they saw him not, but you would be preferred before them. See now my dear heart, how covetous you are? Ah, be thankful be thankful; but God be praised your covetousness is Moses covetousness: well with him you shall be satisfied, but when? Forsooth when he shall appear. here is not the time of seeing, but as it were in a glass▪ Isaak was deceived because he was not content with hearing only.  
Therefore to make an end of these many words, wherewith I fear me I do but hinder you from better exercises: in as much as you are indeed the child of God, elect in Christ before the beginning of all times: in as much as you are given to the custody of Christ, as one of GOD'S most precious jewels: in as much as Christ is faithful, and hitherto and for ever hath and shall have all power, so that you shall never perish, no; one hair of your head shall not be lost: I desire you, I crave at your hands with all my very heart, I ask of you with hand, pen, tongue & mind, in Christ, through Christ, for Christ, for his name's sake, blood, mercies, power, and truth's sake (my most entirely beloved sister) that you admit no doubting of gods final mercies towards you, howsoever ynu feel yourself: but complain to God, and crave of him as of your tender Father, all things and in that time which shall be most opportune, you shall find & feel far above that your heart or the heart of any creature can conceive, to your eternal joy, Amen, Amen, Amen.  
The good spirit of God always keep us as his dear children: he comfort you as I desire to be comforted my dearly beloved for evermore. The peace of Christ dwell in both our hearts for ever Amen. God's holy spirit always comfort & keep you Amen, Amen. This 1. of januarie by him that in the Lord wisheth to you as well and as much felicity, as to his own heart.  
JOHN BRADFORD.    
FINIS.   

A TABLE DIRECting to the names of the Martyrs, and to the special matters that are mentioned in this Book.  


A  
Fol.  Adam Damplip, his speech to his keeper. 
27.  Agnes Bongeor, her complaint. 
80, 81.  She is comforted. 
83.  Alice Bindon, her strait handling. 
110, 118.  Anne Askew, her prayer. 
170.    


B  Bartlet green, his description of temporal miseries, etc. 
155, 156, 157.  Bradbegges Wife, she commends her two children Patience and Charity, to the Bishop. 
76.    


C  
Fol.  Cuthbert Simpson. Boner commends his patience. 
39  His comfortable vision. 
40.    


D  Doctor Taylor, Pag. 
44.    


E  Elizabeth Foulkes, her answer, prettily retorted. 
73  Eliza: Young, her sweet speech. 
90, 91.    


F  Father Latimer. 
7, 14, 15.    


G  George Wise-hart, his speech to his executioner. 
58.  George Marsh, his prayer. 
140.  George Tankerfield, his conflicts with the flesh. 
147.    


H  Hugh Latimer, his speech to Mr. Ridley at the stake. 
Fol. 7.  His comforts were going & coming. 
14.  His 3 requests. 
15.  Hugh Laverocke, his speech. 
33.  Henry Voes, his speech. 
32.    


I  james Baynham, his speech at his death. 
32.  john Hooper, his speech at the stake. 
2.  His speech to a blind boy. 
2.  His answer to Sr. Ant: Kingston. 
3, 4, 5▪  Notes out of his letters, from 99, to 227. 
 john Bradford, how he took the news of his death. 
10.  With what efficacy he made his prayers in the Counter. 
11.  His behaviour at his death. 
12.  His answer to Creswell. 
92, 93.  His Mementoes. 
120  A note out of a Letter of his to Cranmer. 
93.  His two Letters. 
174, 193.  john Cardmaker, his question and answer to it. 
Fol. 91.  john Philpot, how he took the news of his death. 
8.  His speech he used in Smithfield. 
9  A Prayer mentioned in his story. 
149.  Ioh: Rough, his speech to one Farrar. 
42.  john Warren, his sweet sentence. 
100  john Frith, his answer to them that would have wrought his escape. 
78.  john Lambart, his speech at the stake. 
26.  john Rogers, his saying when he heard of his burning. 
18.  His saying to Bishop Hooper. 
19  john leaf, he liked better the bill of his confession, then that of his recantation. 
50.  julins Palmer, his charitable answer to Sir Richard Abridges. 
74, 75.    


K  Kerby, his speech to M. Wink-field. 
28.    


L  Laurence Saunders Preacher, his comfort at his first convention. 
Fol. 19  What a sluggard he found of his flesh. 
20  His speech upon the sight of his child. 
21  His speech at the stake. 
22.  Notes out of a Letter to his wife. 
95.96, 97.  Out of a Letter to M. Glover. 
98.  Lady jane, her Prayer. 
158  Lord Cromwell, his Prayer. 
164.  Letters of M. Bradfords'. 
174, 193.    


M  Martin Luther, his Prayer. 
169.    


N  Nicholas Ridley, his saying to Latimer. 
6, 7.  His mournful complaint in the fire. 
8.  What comfort he felt after the news of M. Roger's burning. 
17.  Nicholas Sheterden, his Prayer. 
142.    


P  Patrick Hamleton, he foretells the death of his persecutor. 
Fol. 60.61.  Prests' Wife, her answers. 
89, 90.    


R  Rawlins White, expert in the Scripture. 
64.  Sundry of his speeches. 
68.69.70.  Richard Woodman, his conflict with the fear of death. 
51.  Richard Browne, his Prayer. 
148.  Robert Farrar, his speech to M. Richard jones. 
61.  Robert Glover, his lumpishness before his death. 
23, 24.  With supply of comfort. 
25.  His comfort & conflict. 
53, 55, 56, 57  Robert-Samuell, his extreme handling. 
36, 37.  His vision of comfort. 
38.  Robert Smith, his sentences 
23.  Roger Holland, his prophesy. 
86, 87.  Rowland Taylor, his pleasant answer to the Sheriff. 
44.  
Fol.  His speech when he came near Hadley. 
47.  To Boner when he was degraded. 
48.  His last will and Testament. 
106, to 109.    


S  Steven Knight, his Prayer. 
134.    


T  Thomas Bilney, his saying to his friends. 
29, 31.  He putteth his finger in the Candle to try his strength. 
28.  Thomas Spurdance, his answer to the Bishop. 
72, 73.  Thomas Hudsons' conflict and comfort. 
84, 85.  Thomas Wats, his farewell. 
199.  Thomas Crammer, a proverb of him. 
94.  His Prayer. 
130.  His Repentance. 
132, 133.  He burns his right hand first. 
133.    


W  
Fol.  William Hunter, his Mother thinks him well bestowed on Christ. 
35.  Walter Mill, he would not be called Sir Walter, and why. 
59  His constancy. 
60.  William Picks, foretells his trouble. 
88  
89.  William Flower, his Prayer. 
172.    
FINIS.