Common Places, Letters · Letter 11
To a certaine friend.
IT is euen in déed as you write right woorthie man and déere beloued friend in Chriſt, and I am euerie day taught more and more by experience it ſelfe that the death of the bodie of that moſt godly yong man Edward king of England, belongeth vntounto manie partes of the Church, and bringeth greater harme than many doe now perceiue. But God the father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt graunt that within a while they féele it not to their great ſorrowe. But I which after ſome ſort hauehave bin partaker of theſe matters, if I ſhould not bitterlie lament for the miſerable caſe of our excellent brethren, and for their moſt conſtant daungers aſwell of minde as of bodie, and ſhould not euerie day ſhed iuſt teares for the miſhappe of that people, verilie I ſhould be as a ſtone and péece of leade. While they be now grieuouſlie afflicted, laid open on euerie ſide to offences, burned euerie houre with the fires of temptations, while with extreme vngodlineſſe of hypocrites that Church is ſuppreſſed and trodden vnderunder foote, how may it be that I, and ſuch as I am can ſorrowe temperatlie and moderatlie? While I taught in that countrie, there were verie manie learners of the holie ſcriptures, and verie toward ſcholers in Diuinitie, whoſe harueſt was welnéere ripe, whom now againſt their willes I ſée either miſerablie wandering in vncertaine habitations, or elſe moſt vnhappilie ſubuerted if they tarie. There were in that kingdome a great ſort of moſt ſincere and learned Byſhops, who are ſhut vp in moſt ſtraite priſon, euen now readie to be plucked away as théeues vntounto death. In that nation were laid the foundations of the Goſpell and of a noble Church, and with a fewe yéeres labour the holie building was in good forewardneſſe, and better and better was euerie day hoped for. But now finallie vnleſſe God put to his helping hand, it is like to come to paſſe, that not ſo much as a ſteppe of godlineſſe in outward profeſſion will be left. Theſe and other thinges ſuffer not my heart to be at reſt nor my minde at quiet. Wherefore I beſéech God with all my heart that he will remitte ſome part of the puniſhment, and for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake wil forbeare to powre out his great wrath, otherwiſe we ſhall be oppreſſed with the heape of infinite euils. And that which I doe ſo earneſtlie wiſh, I beſéech you, that you in like manner will deſire of God, that yet at the length he wil take pitie of afflicted England, which I verie well know, did before this calamitie verie much fauour you and other godlie men, and good learning. And whereas you admoniſhe me that I ſhould here ſéeke and maintaine concord with them that teach, I iudge that you ſpeake the ſame of louelove and good will, and I aſſure you in déede that ſo much as in me lyeth, peace and charitie ſhall remaine inuiolate. I hauehave bin alwayes of milde nature and hauehave verie much loued peace and tranquillitie. Wherefore I minde not eſpeciallie now in my olde age to change my nature. Welnéere all the profeſſors of good artes and learning doe make much of me, and I in like manner doe louelove them. In the ſame wiſe dooth the caſe ſtand towardes the Miniſters of the Church, ſauing that I perceaue ſome of them beare me not ſo good will: yet neuertheleſſe I ceaſe not to hauehave them in the ſame eſtimation that is due vntounto the holie Miniſterie, and purpoſe ſo to continue. Wherefore, I will ſéeke and maintaine peace, as you admoniſh me, yet ſo neuertheleſſe, that when occaſion is offered, (not a ſnatched or ſought occaſion, but that which is iuſt and neceſſarie) I will teach and ſpeake that which I iudge true cōcerning that matter wherein I know they diſagrée from me, and that with ſuch moderation and temperance, as I will not gréeue or bitterlie taunt anie man that is of an other iudgement. But as for commaunding me to ſilence or recantation, neither hauehave I hitherto ſuffered it, neither will I now ſuffer it. For I iudge that to be moſt vnwoorthie for a godlie man, and him that publikelie teacheth the holie ſcriptures, ſo long as out of the word of God it cannot be ſhewed to be otherwiſe than I beléeue. For when that ſhould appeare, and I might know it ſo to be, I would not for anie cauſe delay to teſtifie the trueth and openlie to confeſſe it. Theſe thinges, woorthie Syr, and (as you write) my moſt néere ioyned brother in Chriſt, I ſpeake familiarlie to you as you ſée, and doe ſincerelie open my minde and thought, euen as it is affected: For I hauehave ſuch a confidence in your iuſtice and equitie, as I neuer will or can ſéeme to refuſe your owne ſelfe for a right and indifferent Iudge. Fare you well and liue you happilie to Chriſt and his Church. I would to God I might once at the length ſée you and talke with you according to my earneſt deſire. From Straſborough the 26. of Iune, 1554.