The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, John Bradford
JOHN BRADFORD
The Life of John Bradford, who died Ano Christi 1555.
JOhn Bradford was born at Manchester in Lancashire, His Birth and Education.and by his parents brought up in learning: And afterwards he served Sir John Harrington, a man much employed under Hen. the 8th, and Edward the 6th: In which place he had opportunity of much advantaging himself: For his Master found him so active,His fidelity. and fit for his imployments, that above all others he made most use of his faithfull service: And thus he continued with him for certain years: But God intending him for better employment, having given up a just account to his Master,He goes to Cambridge. with his good approbation▪ he went to Cambridge, where by his diligence in studie, he profited so much in knowlege, and so pleased all by his godly, and blameless conversation, that after one years ab…de in the University he was made Master of Arts,His preferment in the Vniversity. and chosen Fellow into Pembroke-Hall. There Master Bucer falling into acquaintance with him, highly priz'd, and perswaded him to enter into the Ministrie, which he modestly excused for want of learning:Note. To whom Bucer said, If thou have not fine Manchet, yet give the peopl… Barlie-bread or such as thou hast. Being thus perswaded to enter into the Ministrie,He enters into the Ministry. Bishop Ridley made him a Prebend in St Pauls, where he continued preaching three yeares faithfully, reproving sin …, yet sweetly preaching Christ crucified, and pithily i… …yning Errors, and Heresies, and perswading to a …odli… life.
In the beginning of Queen Marie's reign. Bourn, He defends Bourn from death.Bishop of Bath made a leditious Sermon at Paul's-Crosse, which …o moved the people to indignation, that they were ready to pull him out of the Pulpit, and one throw a dagger at him: Whereupon Bourn requested Master Br…dford (who was behind him) to stand in his place, and to quiet the people which according…y he did… whom when the people saw, they cried, Bradford, Bradford, … save thy life Bradford; Bourn not yet thinking himselfe safe, requested Master Bradford to conveie him into the School-master's house, which accordingly he did, going at his …, and shel…ering him from the people: whereupon one said to him. Ah Bradford, Bradford, Thou savest him that will help to burn thee. In the afternoon Master Bradford preached at Bow-Church, and sharply reproved the people for their seditious carriage: Yet within three daies after,He is ill requi…ed for it. he was sent for before the Council, and charged with sedition for this act, and by them was sent prisoner, first to the Tower: Then from thence they removed him to the Kings Bench in …outhwark, and after his condemnation, he was sent to the… …ounter in the Poultry: In which places for the time that he remained prisoner he preached twice a day,He Preacheth in Prison. unlesse sicknesse hindred, and often administred the Sacrament: Preaching, Reading, and praier was his whole life: He eat but one meal a day, and that a spare one too, and his continual study was upon his knees: In the mid'st of dinner he used to meditate with his hat in his eyes,A soft heart. from which flowed plenty of teares dropping on his trencher. He was in such credit with his Keeper in Southwark, that at an Evening he would give him leave upon his bare word to go into London, to visit a sick friend, and he was so mindfull of his promise, that he used to returne to prison again, rather preventing his hour, then breaking his fidelity.His Character. He was of person somewhat tall, and slender, spare of body, of a faint sanguine colour, with …n awberne beard. Hee …lept not above four hours in …he night,Studious. and till sl…ep came, his book went not out of his …and. His recreation was honest companie, and Christian discourse a litte after dinner, and so to praier, and his book again.Note. He counted that hour ill spent wherein he did not some good, either with his pen, studie, or exhorting others, &c. His charity.He was no niggard of his purse, but would liberally communicate what he had to his fellow-prisoners. Once a week he visited the Thieves on the other side the Prison, giving them godly exhortations, and distributing some mony amongst them. An intimate friend of his asked him if hee should procure his liberty, what he would doe, and whither he would goe? To whom he answered, that he cared not …hether he were delivered out of prison or no; but if he should, that then he would marry, and abide secretly in England, and teach the people as the time would suffer him. He was had in great reverence and admiration of all good men:He was well e…med of all. So that many which knew him not but by fame onelyonly, much lamented his death, yea many Papists wished heartily that he might live. Few daies passed wherein he shed not some teares before he went to bed: Nor was there any prisoner with him, but receiv'd some profit by him. He had many opportunities of escaping,Flight refused. but would not embrace them. The night before he was carried to Newgate, he dreamed that chaines were brought for him to the Counter, A dream prophetical.and that the day following, he should be carried to Newgate, and that the next daie he should be burn'd in Smithfield, which accordingly came to pass: For that day in the afternoon, the Keepers wife came running into his chamber, saying, O Mr. Bradford, I bring you heavy news, for to morrow you must be burned, your chain is now a buying, and presently you must go to Newgate. With that Mr Bradford put off his cap,He rejoyceth at the news of his death. lift up his eyes to heaven, and said, I thank God for it: I have looked for this a long time, it comes not now to me suddenly, but as a thing waited for every day and hour: the Lord make me worthy thereof. He spent the rest of the evening in prayers,His fervent praye…s. well watered with tears, whereby he ravished the mindes of the hearers. The morning before he should be burn'd, as he was putting on a clean shirt, in which he was to suffer, he made such a prayer of the Wedding Garment, that some present were in such great admiration, that their eyes were as throughly occupied in looking on him, as their ears were attentive to hear his prayer. At his departing out of his chamber he prayed earnestly, and gave money to every servant and officer in the house, exhorting them to fear and serve God continually, labouring to eschew all manner of evill. Then turning to the wall he prayed vehemently, that his words might not be spoken to them in vain, but that the Lord would work it effectually in them for his Christs sake.His departure out of Newgate. The prisoners with weeping tears took their farewel of him Whilst he remained a prisoner, he was oft examined before the Bishops, and proffered life if he would recent; to whom he answered,Tentation resisted. Life with Gods displeasure is worse than death; and death in his true favour is true life. When he came into Smithfield, (where another young man was to suffer with him)His behaviour at his death. he fell flat on his face and prayed; then caking a faggot in his hand, he kissed it, and the stake also; then putting off his raiment, hee stood by the stake, and lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven, said, O England, England, repent of thy sinnes, repent of thy sinnes: Beware of Idolatry, beware of false Antichrists, Note.take heed they doe not deceive thee: and turning his head to the young man, he said, Be of good comfort brother, for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night; and then embracing the reeds, he said: Strait is the way,His Martyrdom. and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternall salvation, and few there be that finde it; and so he slept in the Lo…d.
He was very charitable,His Charity. in so much as in a hard time he sold his Chaines, Rings, and Jewels to relieve those that were in want. He was so humble from the sense of his corruptions,His Humility. that he subscribed some of his Letters out of …rison thus, The most miserable, hard-hearted, unthankfull sinner John Bradfo…d. A very painted Hyp…crite John Bradford. Miserrimus peccator Joh. Bradford; The sinfull John Bradford, &c. He suffered Martyrdome Anno Christi 1555.
In his Examination before the Bishop of Winchester, Hee often told him,His conference with Gardiner. that he had sworn six times never to admit of the authority of the Bishop of Rome; and therefore (said he) I dare not answer you, if you examine me as a Delegate from him, lest I should b…eake my oath. To which Gardiner answered, that he pretended stoutly to defend the Doctrine taught in King Edward's dayes; yet (said he) thou darest not answer me.
Bradford.]
That all men may know that I am not afraid, saving mine oath, ask me what you will, and I will plainly answer by Gods grace, although I see my life lieth thereon. But, oh Lord, into thy hands I commend it, come what will, onelyonly sanctifie thy name in me, as in an instrument of thy grace. Now ask me what you will.
Gardiner.]
What say you to the blessed Sacrament? Doe you not believe Christs reall presence there in his naturall body?
Bradf.]
My Lord, I do not believe that Christ is corporally present in the Sacrament; but that he is present there to the faith of the due Receiver. As for Transubstantiation, I plainly and flatly beleive it not.
At another time one of the Earle of Darby's men came to him saying, Ah Master Bradford, consider your Mother, Sister, Friends, Kinsfolk, and Country, what a great discomfort will it be to them to see you die as an Heretick? To whom he answered, I have learned to forsake Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Friends, and all that ever I have; yea, and my own self; for else I cannot be Christs Disciple. And in a Letter to his Mother and Brethren, His godly Letters.hee thus writes; I am now in prison, sure enough from starting, and I thank God I am ready with my life and blood to seale those Truths which I have preached unto you, if God shall account me worthy of that honour; for its a sp…ciall benefit of God to suffer for his Name and Gospel, as now I doe, I heartily thanke him for it, and am sure that I shall be partaker of his glory: If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him, as St. Paul speaks. Therefore be not faint-hearted, but rather rejoice, at least for my sake, who am now in the highway to heaven, for thorough many afflictions we must enter into that Kingdome. Now will God make known who are his: When the winde doth not blow, we cannot discerne the Wheat from the Chaffe; but when the blast comes, the Wheat remains, but the Chaffe flyes away, and the Wheat is so far from being huRt by the winde, that its more cleansed, and known to be Wheat. Gold, when its cast into the fire, is made more precious, so are Gods children by the crosse of afflictions. Gods children are now chastised here, that they may not be condemned with the world:Sin the forerunner of persecution. But sure great plagues from God hang over this Realm for it. And no marvell if Gods hand lies so heavy upon us; for lately as there was never more knowledge, so never lesse godly living. It was counted a foolish thing to serve our God truly; and fervent prayer was not passed upon. Preaching was but a pastime; the Communion was counted too common; Fasting to subdue the flesh was far out of use; Almes were almost nothi…g. Ma…ice, Covetousness and Uncleanness were common every where, with Swearing, Drunkenness, and Idlenesse; and therefore all this evill is come upon us, &c. Yea I my selfe loved not his Truth as I should, therefore God thus punisheth me, nay in punishing blesseth mee: And I thanke him more for this prison than for any parlour▪ yea than for any pleasure that ever I had; for in it I finde God, my sweet, good God alwaies.
And in another place.
Let us repent, and be heartily sorry that wee have so carnally, so hypocritically, so covetously, so vain-gloriously professed the Gospel: Let the anger, and plagues of God, most iustly fallen upon us, bee applied …o our …, that from the bottome of our hearts every one of us may say. It's … lord that have sinned against thee; it's my hypocrisie, my vain-glory, my covetousnesse, uncleanness, carnality, security, idlenesse, unthankfulnesse▪ self love, &c. that hath deserved the taking away our good King, …of thy Word and true Religion, of thy good Ministers by exile, imprisonment, and death. It's my wickednesse that cause h…ccesse, and encrase of authority, and peace to thine enemies. O be mercifull, be mercifull unto us, &c.