A.D. 1555. See and where occasion were given, and matter came to mind: for the law shall Mary. be their shoot-anchor, stay, and refuge. Therefore there is no remedy (namely now, when they have the master-bowl in their hand, and rule the roost), but patience. Better it is to suffer what cruelly they will put upon us, than to incur God's high indignation. Wherefore, good my lord, be of good cheer in the Lord, with due consideration what he requireth of you, and what he doth Appendix. promise you. Our common enemy shall do no more than God will permit him. God is faithful, which will not suffer us to be tempted above our strength, etc.' Be at a point what ye will stand unto; stick unto that, and let them both say and do what they list. They can but kill the body, which otherwise is of itself mortal: neither yet shall they do that when they list, but when God will suffer them; when the hour appointed is come. To use many words with them it shall be but in vain, now that they have a bloody and deadly law prepared for them. But it is very requisite that ye give a reasonable account of your faith, if they will quietly hear you; else ye know, in a wicked place of judgment a man may keep silence, after the example of Christ. Let them not deceive you with their sophistical sophisms and fallacies: you know that false things may have more appearance of truth, than things that be most true: therefore Paul giveth us a watch-word, 'Let no man deceive you with likeliness of speech.'' Neither is it requisite that with the contentious ye should follow strife of words, which tend to no edification, but to the subversion of the hearers, and the vain bragging and ostentation of the adversaries. Fear of death doth most persuade a great number. Be well ware of that argument; for that persuaded Shaxton (as many men thought), after that he had once made a good profession openly before the judgment-seat. The flesh is weak, but the willingness of the spirit shall refresh the weakness of the flesh. 6 "The number of the criers under the altar must needs be fulfilled: if we be segregated thereunto, happy be we. That is the greatest promotion that God giveth in this world, to be such Philippians, to whom it is given not only to believe, but also to suffer, etc. But who is able to do these things? Surely all our ability, all our sufficiency, is of God. He requireth and promiseth. Let us declare our obedience to his will, when it shall be requisite in the time of trouble, yea, in the midst of the fire. "When that number is fulfilled, which I ween shall be shortly, then have at the papists, when they shall say, ‘Peace, all things are safe,' when Christ shall come to keep his great parliament, to the redress of all things that be amiss." But he shall not come as the papists feign him, to hide himself, and to play bopeep as it were under a piece of bread: but he shall come gloriously, to the terror and fear of all papists; but to the great consolation and comfort of all that will here suffer for him. Comfort yourselves one another with these words.' 8 6 Par "Lo, sir, here have I blotted your paper vainly, and played the fool egregiously; but so I thought better than not to do your request at this time. don me, and pray for me; pray for me, I say; pray for me, I say. For I am sometimes so fearful, that I would creep into a mouse-hole; sometimes God doth visit me again with his comfort. So he cometh and goeth, to teach me to feel and to know mine infirmity, to the intent to give thanks to him that is worthy, lest I should rob him of his due, as many do, and almost all the world. Fare ye well. "What credence is to be given to papists, it may appear by their racking, writhing, wringing, and monstrously injuring of God's holy Scripture, as appeareth in the pope's law: but I dwell here now in a school of obliviousness. Fare you well once again, and be you steadfast and unmovable in the Lord. Paul loved Timothy marvellous well, notwithstanding he saith unto him,' Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel;' and again, Harden thyself to suffer afflictions.'10 'Be faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life,' saith the Lord." "1 (4) 2 Tim. ii. Mary. A. D. 1555. False reports See THE LETTERS OF THE REVEREND BISHOP AND MARTYR, NICHOLAS RIDLEY. A Letter sent from Bishop Ridley and his Prison-fellows, unto Well-beloved in Christ our Saviour, we all, with one heart, wish to you, with all those that love God in deed and truth, grace and health, and especially to our dearly-beloved companions which are in Christ's cause, and the cause both of their brethren, and of their own salvation, to put their neck willingly under the yoke of Christ's cross. How joyful it was to us all to hear the report of Dr. Taylor, and of his godly confession, etc., I ensure you, it is hard for me to express. Blessed be God, which was and is the giver of that, and of all godly strength and stomach in the time of adversity. As for the rumours that have or do go abroad, either of our relenting or massing, we trust that they which know God and their duty towards their spread by brethren in Christ, will not be too light of credence. For it is not the slanderer's the policy of the evil tongue, but a man's own evil deed, that can with God defile a man; and papists. therefore, with God's grace, ye shall never have cause to do otherwise than ye Appendix. say ye do, that is, not to doubt but that we will, by God's grace, continue, etc. Like rumour as ye have heard of our coming to London, hath been here spread of the coming of certain learned men prisoners, hither from London; but as yet we know no certainty whether of these rumours is or shall be more true. Know you that we have you in our daily remembrance, and wish you, and all the rest of our foresaid companions, well in Christ. Ridley fellow It should do us much comfort, if we might have knowledge of the state of the rest of our most dearly beloved, which in this troublesome time do stand in Christ's cause, and in the defence of the truth thereof. Somewhat we have heard of master Hooper's matter; but of the rest never a deal. We long to hear of father Crome, Dr. Sands, master Saunders, Veron, Beacon, Rogers,1 etc. We are in good health, thanks be to God, and yet the manner of our entreating doth change as sour ale doth in summer. It is reported to us of our keepers, that the university beareth us heavily. A coal chanced to fall in the night out of the chimney, and burnt a hole in the floor, and no more harm was done, the bailiff's servant sitting by the fire. Another night there chanced (as master bailiffs told us) a drunken fellow to multiply words, and for the same he was set in Bocardo. Upon these things (as is reported) there is risen a rumour in the town and country about, that we should have broken the prison with such violence, as that, if master bailiffs had not played the pretty men, we should have made a scape. We had out of our prison a wall that we might have walked upon, and our servants had liberty to go abroad in the town or fields; but now both they and we are restrained of both. My lord of Worcester passed by through Oxford, but he did not visit us. The and his same day began our restraint to be more, and the book of the communion was prisoner taken from us by the bailiffs at the mayor's commandment, as the bailiffs did in Bocar- report to us. No man is licensed to come unto us: afore, they might, that strained would, see us upon the wall; but that is so grudged at, and so evil reported, of their that we are now restrained, etc. Sir, blessed be God, with all our evil reports, liberty.. grudges, and restraints, we are merry in God; all our cure and care is and shall do, re The in be (by God's grace) to please and serve him, of whom we look and hope, after these temporal and momentary miseries, to have eternal joy and perpetual felicity with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Peter and Paul, and all the heavenly company of the angels in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. As yet there gratitude was never learned man, nor any scholar, or other that visited us since we came scholars into Bocardo, which now in Oxford may be called a college of "Quondams."3 in not vi- For as ye know, we be no fewer than three, and I dare say, every one well bishops in contented with his portion, which I do reckon to be our heavenly Father's Bocardo. fatherly, good, and gracious gift. Thus fare you well. We shall, with God's of the siting the (1) This letter seemeth to be written a little before, about the time of the burning of master Rogers. (2) Whatsoever fault is done, the cause is laid upon the poor Christians. (3) Bocardo, a college of Quondams! grace, one day meet together, and be merry. The day assuredly approacheth Mary. apace; the Lord grant that it may shortly come; for, before that day come, I fear me the world will wax worse and worse. But then all our enemies shall A.D. be overthrown, and trodden under foot; righteousness and truth then shall have _1555. the victory, and bear the bell away, whereof the Lord grant us to be partners, and all that loveth truly the truth. mistress We all pray you, as ye can, to cause all our commendations to be made unto all such as ye know did visit us and you, when we were in the Tower, with their friendly remembrances and benefits. Mistress Wilkinson and mistress The goodWarcup have not forgotten us, but, ever since we came to Bocardo, with their ness of charitable and friendly benevolence have comforted us: not that else we did Wilkinlack (for God be blessed, who ever hitherto hath provided sufficiently for us); son and but that is a great comfort, and an occasion for us to bless God, when we see Warcup. that he maketh them so friendly to tender us, whom some of us were never familiarly acquainted withal. Yours in Christ, Nich. Ridley. A Letter of Ridley, sent to a Cousin of his. Anne menteth who, for God's Holy Spirit be with you now and ever; Amen.—When I call to remembrance, beloved cousin, the state of those that for fear of trouble, either for loss of goods, will do in the sight of the world those things that they know and are Ridley laassured are contrary to the will of God, I can do no less but lament their case, the state being assured the end thereof will be so pitiful (without speedy repentance), of them that I tremble and fear to have it in remembrance. I would to God it lay upon fear of some earthly burden, so that freedom of conscience might be given unto them. trouble, I wrote (as God knoweth) not of presumption, but only lamenting the state of do wind those, whom I thought now in this dangerous time should have given both you world, and and me comfortable instruction. But alas! instead thereof we have persua- go consions to follow (I lament to rehearse it) superstitious idolatry. Yea, and that they to worst of all is, they will seek to prove it by the Scripture. The Lord for his science. mercy turn their hearts; Amen. Commend me, etc. Yours, Nicholas Ridley. A worthy Letter of Ridley to Master Bradford. Brother Bradford, I wish you and your company in Christ, yea, and all the holy brotherhood, that now with you in divers prisons suffereth and beareth patiently Christ's cross for the maintenance of his gospel, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. with the their con Two main up the sy Sir, considering the state of this chivalry and warfare, wherein I doubt not but we be set to fight under Christ's banner, and his cross, against our ghostly enemy the devil, the old serpent Satan, methink I perceive two things to be his most perilous and most dangerous engines, which Satan hath to impugn Christ's verity, his gospel, and his faith; and the same two also to be the most massy posts and mighty pillars, whereby he maintaineth and upholdeth his satanical synagogue. These two, sir, are they, in my judgment: the one, pillars his false doctrine and idolatrical use of the Lord's supper; and the other, the holding wicked and abominable usurpation of the primacy of the see of Rome. By nagogue these two, Satan seemeth to me principally to maintain and uphold his king- of Satan. dom; by these two he driveth down mightily (alas I fear me) the third part of the stars in heaven. These two poisonful rotten posts he had so painted over Satan's poison with such a pretence and colour of religion, of unity in Christ's church of the painted catholic faith, and such like, that the wily serpent is able to deceive (if it were over with possible) even the elect of God. Wherefore John saith, not without great tences of cause, If any know not Satan's subtleties and the profundities thereof, I will religion. wish him none other burden to be laden withal.' false pre Sir, because these be his principal and main posts, whereupon standeth all Ridley's his falsehood, craft, and treachery, therefore, according to the poor power that purpose. God hath given me, I have bended mine artillery to shoot at the same. I know it to be but little, God knoweth, that I can do, and of my shot I know they pass not. Yet I will not (God willing) cease to do the best that I can, to shake Mary. those cankered and rotten posts. The Lord grant me good success, to the glory of his name, and the furtherance of Christ's gospel. I have almost (I A.D. thank God) for this present time spent a good part of my powder in these 1555. scribblings, whereof this bearer shall give you knowledge. Good brother Bradford! let the wicked surmise and say what they list; know you for a certainty, by God's grace, without all doubt, that in Christ's gospel's cause, against and upon the aforesaid God's enemies, I am fully determined to live and die. Farewell, dear brother; and I beseech you and all the rest of our brethren to have good remembrance of the condemned heretics (as they call them) of Oxford, in your prayers. The bearer shall certify you of our state. Farewell in the Lord.-From Bocardo. Nich. Ridley. Yours in Christ, Another Letter of Ridley unto Master Bradford, and other his Dearly beloved, I wish you grace, mercy, and peace. According to your mind, I have run over all your papers,' and what I have done (which is but small) therein may appear. In two places I have put in two loose leaves. I had much ado to read that was written in your great leaves, and I ween somewhere I have altered some words, because I could not read perfectly that which was written. Sir, what shall be best done with these things, now ye must consider; for if they come in sight at this time, undoubtedly they must to the fire with their father, and as for any safeguard that your custody can be unto them, I am sure you look not for it; for as you have been partner of the work, so I am sure you look for none other, but to have and receive like wages, and to drink of the same cup. Blessed be God, that hath given you liberty in the mean season, that you may use your pen to his glory, and the comfort (as I hear say) of many. I bless God daily in you, and all Commen- your whole company, to whom I beseech you commend me heartily. Now I dation of love my countryman in deed and in truth, I mean Dr. Taylor, not for my earthly country's sake, but for our heavenly Father's sake, and for Christ's sake, whom I heard say, he did so stoutly in time of peril confess, and yet also for our country's sake, and for all our mother's sake; but I mean of the kingdom of heaven, and of heavenly Jerusalem, and because of the Spirit, which bringeth forth in him, in you, and in your company, such blessed fruits of boldness in the Lord's cause, of patience and constancy. The Lord which hath begun this work in you all, perform and perfect this his own deed, until his own day come; Amen. Dr. Tay lor. As yet I perceive ye have not been baited, and the cause thereof God knoweth, which will let them do no more to his, than is his pleased will and pleasure to suffer them to do for his own glory, and to the profit of them which be truly his. For the Father, which doth guide them that be Christ's to Christ, is more mighty than all they, and no man is able to pull them out of the Father's hands: except, I say, it please our Father, it please our master Christ, to suffer them, they shall not stir one hair of your heads. My brother Punt (the bearer hereof, and master Hooper's letters) would that we should say what we think good concerning your mind; 2 that is, not to answer, except ye might have somewhat indifferent judges. We are, as ye know, separated, and one of us cannot in any thing consult with another, and much strait watching of the bailiffs is about us, that there be no privy conference amongst us: and yet, as we hear, the scholars bear us more heavily than the townsmen. A wonderful thing, among so many, never yet scholar offered any of us (so far as I know) any manner of favour, either for or in Christ's cause. Now as concerning your demand of our counsel, for my part I do not mislike that which I perceive ye are minded to do; for I look for none other, but, if ye answer afore the same commissioners that we did, ye shall be served and handled as we were, though ye were as well learned as ever was either Peter or (1) This was a treatise of the Lord's Supper with other things which master Bradford sent to him to peruse, and to judge thereof. (2) This matter was concerning the deliberation of the prisoners in London; what to do, if they were called to open disputation. Paul. And yet further I think, that occasion afterwards may be given you, Mary. and the consideration of the profit of your auditory may perchance move you to do otherwise. A.D. 1555. Finally, determinately to say what shall be best, I am not able; but I trust he, whose cause ye have in hand, shall put you in mind to do that which shall be most for his glory, the profit of his flock, and your own salvation. This letter must be common to you and master Hooper, in whom and in his prisonfellow, good father Crome, I bless God, even from the bottom of my heart; for I doubt not but they both do to our master Christ, true, acceptable, and honourable service, and profitable to his flock; the one with his pen, and the other with his fatherly example of patience and constancy, and all manner of true godliness. But what shall I need to say to you, Let this be common among Commuyour brethren? among whom (I dare say) it is with you, as it is with us, to whom nion of all things here are common, meat, money, and whatsoever one of us hath, that Ridley, can or may do another good. Although, I said, the bailiffs and our hostess Hooper, Taylor, straitly watch us, that we have no conference or intelligence of any thing and abroad, yet hath God provided for every one of us instead of our servants, faith- others. ful fellows, which will be content to hear and see, and to do for us whatsoever provision they can. It is God's work surely, blessed be God for his unspeakable good- for his ness! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the com- saints. munication of the Holy Ghost be with you all: Amen, Amen. saints in God's As far as London is from Oxford, yet thence we have received of late, both The christian meat, money, and shirts, not only from such as are of our acquaintance, but charity of some (whom this bearer can tell) with whom I had never to my knowledge of certain any acquaintance. I know for whose sake they do it; to him therefore be all persons. honour, glory, and due thanks. And yet I pray you do so much as to show them, that we have received their benevolence, and (God be blessed) have plenty of all such things. This I desire you to do; for I know they be of master Hooper's and your familiar acquaintance. Master Latimer was crazed; but I hear now (thanks be to God) that he amendeth again. Nicholas Ridley. Another Letter of Ridley unto Master Bradford.' O dear brother, seeing the time is now come, wherein it pleaseth the heavenly Father, for Christ our Saviour's sake, to call upon you, and to bid you to come, happy are you that ever you were born, thus to be found awake at the Lord's calling: "Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been trusty in small matters, he shall set thee over great things, and thou shalt enter into the joy of thy Lord." O dear brother, what meaneth this, that you are sent into your own native country? The wisdom and policy of the world may mean what they will, but I trust God will so order the matter finally by his fatherly providence, that some great occasion of God's gracious goodness shall be plenteously poured abroad amongst his, our dear brethren in that country, by this your martyrdom. Where the martyrs for Christ's sake shed their blood, and lost their lives, oh! what wondrous things hath Christ afterward wrought to his glory, and confirmation of their doctrine. If it be not the place that sanctifieth the man, but the holy man doth by Christ sanctify the place, brother Bradford, then happy and holy shall be that place wherein thou shalt suffer, and which shall be with thy ashes in Christ's cause sprinkled over withal. All thy country may rejoice of thee, that it ever brought forth such a one, which would render his life again in his cause, of whom he had received it. Brother Bradford, so long as I shall understand thou art in thy journey, by God's grace I shall call upon our heavenly Father for Christ's sake, to set thee safely home: and then, good brother, speak you, and pray for the remnant which are to suffer for Christ's sake, according to that thou then shalt know more clearly. (1) This letter of bishop Ridley was written to master Bradford soon after his condemnation, when it was thought that he should be had to Lancashire. (2) " Eugè serve bone, et fidelis, quia super pauca fuisti ñdelis, super multa te constituet, et intrabis in gaudium Domini." Matt. xxv. |