Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Continuation – Account 1

Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2 · Book 11 · Continuation – Account 1

p. 1690duplicate page p. 1691himselfe in it, and calling on the name of the Lord Iesus he was quickely out of payne, &c.

After the martyrdome was ended & that he was fallen a sleepe in the Lord, there were some superstitious old women did blasphemously say that the Deuill was so stronge with him and all such hereticks as he was that they could not feele any payne almost, nor yet be sory for theyr sinnes.

*The history and examinations of Robert Smith, constantly maynteining the trueth of Gods word, and suffering for the same in the monethmonth of August.

Robert Smith of London, Martyr.RObert Smith was brought vntounto Newgate the fifte of Nouember, in the first and second yere of the king and queene, by Ioh. Mathew, yeomā of the gard o… the quenes side, by the commaundemēt of the Counsell. This Smith first gaue himselfe vntounto seruice in the house of sir Thomas Smith knight, being thē Prouost of Eton: from thence he was preferred to Windsore, hauing there in the colledge a clerkship of x. poūd a yere. Of stature he was tall & slēder, actiue about many things, but chiefly delighting in the art of Painting,Robert Smith actiue in the art of paynting. which many times, rather for his minds sake thē for any liuing or lucre, he did practise & excercise. In religion he was feruent, after he had once tasted the trueth: wherin he was much confirmed by the preachings & readings of one M. Turner of Windsore & others: wherupō at the comming of Queene Mary he was depriued of hys Clerkship by her visitors, & not long after he was apprehended, and brought to examinatiō before Boner, as here foloweth, written and testified with his owne hand.

¶The first examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Boner.

The first examination of Rob. Smith before B. Boner.ABout nine of the clocke in the morning, I was among the rest of my brethren brought to the Bishops house: and I first of al was brought before him into his chamber to whom the bishop sayd, as foloweth, after he had asked my name.

Boner.

How long is it agoe since the time that ye were cō fessed to any priest?Confession not neede fall.

Smith.

Neuer since I had yeres of discretion. For I neuer saw it needfull, neither cōmaūded of God to come to shew my faultes to any of that sinfull nūber, whō ye call priests.

Boner.

Thou shewest thy selfe euen at the first chop to be a ranke heretick, which being wery of painting, art entred into Diuinity, and so fallen, through thy departing frō thy vocation into heresy.

Smith.

Although I hauehave vnderstanding in y^e said occupation, yet (I prayse God) I hauehave had litle need all my life hitheyto to liue by the same,Reiectio criminis ingeniosa & diuina. but hauehave liued without the same in mine own house as honestly in my vocation, as ye hauehave liued in yours, and yet vsed the same better then euer you vsed the Pulpit.

Boner.

How long is it ago since ye receiued the sacrament of the aultar, and what is your opinion in the same?

Smith.

I neuer receiued the same since I had yeres of discretion,The Sacrament of the Altar. nor neuer will, by Gods grace: neither do esteeme the same in any poynt, because it hath not gods ordinance, neither in name, nor in other vsage, but rather is set vp & erected to mocke God withall.

Boner.

Do ye not beleue that it is the very body of Christe that was borne of the virgin Mary, naturally, substantially and really, after the wordes of consecration?

Smith.

I shewed you before it was none of Gods ordynaunces, as ye vse it: thē much lesse to be God, or any part of his substance, but onelyonly bread & wine erected to the vse aforesaid: yet neuerthelesse, if ye can approue it to be the body that ye spake of, by the word, I will beleue it: if not, I will, as I do, accoūt it a detestable Idol, not God, but contrary to God and truth.

Boner.

Boners argumēt to proue the Sacrament.Thē after many raging words & vayne obiectiōs, he sayd there was no remedy but I must be burned.

Smith.

Ye shall do no more vntounto me, then ye hauehave done to better mē then either of vsus both. But thinke not therby to quench the spirit of god, neither therby to make your matter good. For your sore is too well sene to be healed so priuily w^t bloud. For euē the very childrē hauehave al your deedes in dirision: so that although ye patch vp one place with authority, yet shall it breake out in forty to your shame.

Boner.

Then after much ado, & many railing sentences, he sayd throwing away y^e paper of mine examinatiō: wel euē now by my truth, euen in good earnest: if thou wilt go and be shriuen, I will teare this paper in peces.

Smith.

To which I aunswered: It would be too much to his shame to shew it to men of discretion.

After which aunswere, I was caried downe into the garden with my Gaoler, & there remayned vntill my brother Harwood was examined:Steuen Harwod examined before the Bishop. Robert Smith examined by the Bishop. & thē being agayn brought vp before the sayd Bishop, he demaunded if I agreed with Harwood in his confession, vponupon these articles folowing.

Boner.

What say you to the Catholicke church? Do ye not confesse there is one in earth?

Smith.

Yes verely, I beleue that there is one Catholicke Church, or faythfull Congregation, which as the Apostle sayth, is builded vponupon the Prophets and Apostles, Christ Iesus being the head corner stone: which church in all her wordes and workes, mainteineth the word, and bringeth the same for her authority, & without it doth nothing, nor ought to doe, of which I am assured, I am by grace made a member.

Boner.

Ye shall vnderstand, that I am boūd when my brother offendeth, & will not be reconciled,Where was the visible Church amongest the Protestants? Where was the visible Church amongest the Apostles? to bring him before the congregation: now if your Church be the same, where may a man finde it, to bring his brother before the same?

Smith.

It is written in the Actes of the Apostles, that whē the tyranny of the Bishops was so great agaynst the churche in Iewry, they were fayne to congregate in houses & priuy places, as they now do: and yet were they neuerthelesse the Church of God: and seing they had theyr matters redressed being shut vp in a corner, may not we do the like now a dayes?

Boner.

Yea, theyr Church was knowne full wel.Here he would not aunswere me to the Church of Iury, but flyeth to the 5. of Corinth. For saint Paul writ to the Corinthians to hauehave the man punished & excommunicate, that had committed euil with his fathers wife. Whereby wee maye well perceiue, it was a knowne church, but yours is not knowne.

Smith.

Then could ye not persecute it, as ye do: but (as ye say) the Churche of God at Corinth was manifest both to God and Paul: euē so is this Church of God in England whome ye persecute, both knowne to God, and also euen to the very wicked although they know not, nor will not know theyr truth nor conuersation: yea and your sinneful number hauehave professed theyr verity, and maineteyned the same a long season.

Boner.

Well, thou sayest that the church of God was onelyonly at Corinth when Paul writ vntounto them, and so will I put in writing: shall I?

Smith.

I do maruell greatly, my Lord, that ye are not ashamed to lay snares for your Brethren on this manner.How Boner layeth snares to catch the innocent. This is now the third snare you hauehave layd for me. First to make me confesse that the Churche of Englande is not the church of Christ: Secōdly, to say, it is not knowne· Thirdly, to say the church of God is not vniuersall, but particular: and this is not the office of a bishop. For if an innocent had come in your way, you would hauehave done your best (I see) to hauehave entangled him.

Harps.

Well frend, quoth one of my Lordes Chapleynes, you are no innocent, as it appeareth.

Smith.

By the grace of God, I am that I am: & this grace in me, I hope, is not in vayne.

Boner.

Well, quoth my Lord, laughing: tell me, how sayst thou of the church.

Smith.

I tolde you whereupon the true Chrch is builded, and I affirme in England to be the congregation of God, and also in Omnem terram, as it is written: Theyr sounde is gone forth into all landes, and that this is the afflicted & persecuted Church, which ye cease not to imprison, slay & kyll.The church of Christ is not vniuersally in one particular place. And in Corinth was not all the congregation of God, but a number of those holy and elect people of God. For Paul neither Peter were present at Corinth when they wrote, & yet were they of the Church of God, as many thousandes moe, which also communicate in that holy spirit.

Boner.

What call ye Catholick, and what call you church?

Smith.

Catholique is vniuersall,Talke betweene Robert Smith and the Bishops Chapleyne. Absurditye graunted by the Catholickes that the body of Christ goeth into the belly, and …o so into the draughte. Comparisō betweene the Iewes that spit in Christs face and Papists which let fall him into the draught. and Church is a congregation knit together in vnity.

Then after much like v…ne talke, it was layde to my charge, that my felowe and I spake one thing. Whereof I praysed God, and was sent agayne to a garden. Where after a while, as my Brother Harwood and I had bene together, commeth one of my Lords Chapleynes, that much desired to common with me, demaunding first if I were not a prisoner.

Smith.

I am in this fleshe a Prisoner, and subiecte to my Mayster and yours: but I hope yet the Lordes free man through Christ Iesu.

Doct.

I do much desire to talke with you louingly, for because ye are a man that I muche lament, with many other sweet wordes.

To which I aunswered: Sub melle latet venenum. And after much ado about his God, I cōpelled him to say, that it must needs enter into the belly, & so fal into the draught. To which he answered.

Doct.

What derogation was it to Christ, whē the Iewes spit in his face?

p. 1692Smith.

If the Iewes being his enemies, did but spit in his face, and we being his frends throw him into the draught, which of vsus hauehave deserued the greatest damnation? Then by your argument, he that doth iniury to Christ, shal hauehave a most plenteous saluation.Note this Catholicke doctrine, which re…bleth the body of Christ to the incomprehensible: … of …. The questiō … what Christ is … to doe … the Sacramēt, but what …e ….

Doct.

Then start he away, and would hauehave his humanity incōprehensible, making a comparison betwene our soule and the body of Christ, bringing in to serue his turne, whiche way Christ came in among his disciples, the dores being shut?

Smith.

Although it be sayd, that when he came the doores were shut, yet hauehave I as much to proue, that the doores opened at his cōming, as ye hauehave to proue he came through the dore. For that mighty God that brought the Disciples out of prisons, which yet whē search came, were foūd shut, was able to let Christ in at the dore, although it were shut: and yet it maketh not for your purpose, for they saw hym, heard him, and felt him, and so can we not say ye doe, neyther is he in more then in one place at once. At which aunswere, when he had made many scoffinges, he departed away from me, and we were caryed vntounto my Lordes Hall; where we were bayted of my Lordes band, almost all the day, vntill our keeper seing theyr misorder, shut vsus vp all in a fayre Chamber, while my Lord went into his Synagogue, to condemne M. Denly and Iohn Newman.

Then brought they vp my Lorde Maior to heare our matter aboue in the chamber, and I first of all was called into the chamber,Rob. Smith brought agayne before the Bishop and the Lord Mayor. where my Lord intended to sup. Where my Lord Maior being set with the Bishop and one of the Sheriffes, wine was walking on eueryevery side, I standyng before them as an outcast, which made me remember how Pilate & Herode were made frendes, but no man was sory for Iosephes hurt. But after my Lords had well drūke, my ar…icles were sent for, & read, and he demaunded whether I sayd not, as was written.

Smith.

That I hauehave sayde, I hauehave sayde, and what I hauehave sayd, I do meane vtterly.

Boner.

Well my Lorde Maior, your Lordship hath hearde somewhat, what a stout hereticke this is, and that his Articles hauehave deserued death: Yet neuertheles for so much as they report me to seeke bloud,B. Boner excuseth himselfe of blouddines. and call me bloudy Boner, where as God knoweth, I neuer sought any mans bloud in all my life, I hauehave stayed him from the Consistory thys day, whither I might hauehave brought him iustly: and yet here before your Lordship, I desire him to turne, and I will with all speed dispatch him out of trouble: and this I professe before your Lordship and all this audience.

Smith.

Why, my Lord, do ye put out this fayre visor before my Lord Maior, to make him beleue that ye seeke not my bloud, to cloke your murthers through my stoutnesse, as ye call it? HaueHave ye not had my brother Tomkins before you,B. Boner p…ued to be cruell & bloudy. whose hand when you had burned most cruelly, ye burnt also his bodye, and not onelyonly of him, but of a greate many of the members of Christ, men that feared God, and liued vertuously, and also the Queenes Maiestyes moste true subiectes, as theyr goodes and bodies hauehave made manifest? and seing in these Sayntes ye hauehave shewed so little mercy, shall it seeme to my Lord and this audience, that ye will shew me more fauour? No, no, my Lorde. But if ye meane as ye say, why then examine ye me of that I am not bound to aunswere you vntounto?

Boner.

Well, what sayst thou by the Sacrament of the aultar?By this question it may appeare whether the B. sought bloud or no. The Papists dea… God, hauing body without bloud. is it not the very body of Christ, fleshe, bloud, & bone, as it was borne of the virgin?

Smith.

I hauehave aunsweared, that it is none of Gods order, neither any Sacrament, but mans owne vayne inuention, and shewed him the Lordes institution. But when he was so earnest before the audiēce, declaring that we knew nothing, brynging out his Hoc est corpus meum, to laye in my Dishe, I prooued before the audience, that it was a dead God, declaring the destinction appoynted betwene the two creatures of bread and wine, and that a body with out bloud hath no life. At which Harpsfield found himselfe much offended, and tooke the tale out of my Lords mouth, saying:

Harps.

I will approoue by the Scriptures, that ye blaspheme God in so saying: for it is geuen in two partes, because there is two thinges shewed, that is to saye his body and his Passion, as sayth S. Paule: and therefore is the bread his body, and the wine the representatiō of his death and bloud shedding.

Smith.

Ye falsify the worde, and racke it to serue your purpose. For the wine was not onelyonly the shewing of his passion, but the bread also: for our Sauiour sayth: So oft as ye do this, do it in remembraunce of me. And S. Paule sayth: So oft as ye eate of this bread, and drinke of this cup, ye shall shewe the Lordes death till he come. And here is as much reuerence geuen to the one, as to the other.

Wherefore yf the bread be his body, the cuppe must be his bloud, and as wel ye make his body in the cup,Euen as the bread is the body: so is the cup the bloud. as his bloud in the bread. Then vp rose my Lorde and went to the table: where my Lorde Maior desired me to saue my soule. To whome I answeared, I hope it was saued thorow Christ Iesus, desiring him to hauehave pity on his owne soule, and remember whose sword he caryed.

At which I was caryed into the Garden, and there abode vntill the rest of my frendes were examined,Rob. Smith commaunded of Boner into Limbo. and so were we sent away with many foule farewelles, to Newgate agayne, my Lord Bishop geuing the keeper a charge to lay me in limb….

¶An other examination of Robert Smith before the sayd Bishop.

VPonUpon Saterday at eight of the clocke, I was brought to his chamber agayne, and there by him examined,An other examination of R. Smith. Boner beginneth with an vntruth. as foloweth.

Boner.

Thou Robert Smith. &c. sayst, that there is no catholicke Church here on earth.

Smith.

Ye hauehave heard me both speake the contrary, and ye hauehave written it as a witnes of the same.

Boner.

Yea, but I must aske thee this question: how sayest thou?

Smith.

Must ye of necessity beginne with a lye? it maketh manifest that ye determine to end with the same. But there shall no Lyers enter into the kingdome of God. Neuerthelesse, if ye will be aunsweared, aske mine articles that were written yesterday,The Church. and they shall tel you that I hauehave confessed a Church of God, as well in earth as in heauen, and yet all one Church, & one mans members, euen Christ Iesus.

Boner.

Well, what sayest thou to auriculer confession? is it not necessary to be vsed in Christes Church, and wilt not thou be shriuen of the priest?

Smith.

It is not needefull to be vsed in Christes Church, as I aunswered yesterday. But if it be needefull for your Churche, it is to picke mens purses.Auricular confession is but a pickepurse matter. And such pickepurse matters is all the whole rabble of your ceremonies: for all is but mony matters that ye maynteyne.

Boner.

Why, how art thou able to proue that confession is a pickepurse matter? Art thou not ashamed so to say?

Smith.

I speake by experience. For I hauehave both hearde and seene the fruites of the same. For firste it hath bene, we see, a bewrayer of kinges secretes,The inconueniences of auricular confession. and the secretes of other mens consciences. Who being deliuered, and glad to be discharged of theyr sinnes, hauehave geuen to Priests great summes of mony to absolue them, & sing Masses for theyr soules health.

And for ensample, I beganne to bring in a pageant, that by report was played at saynt Thomas of Acres, and where I was sometime a childe waiting on a Gentleman of Northfolke,A false practise of a Priest vnderunder confession. which being bounde in conscience through the perswasion of the Priest, gaue away a great summe of his goodes, and forgaue vntounto M. Gressam a great summe of money, and to an other as much. The priest had for his part a summe, and the house had an annuitie to keepe him, the which thing when his brother heard, he came down to London, & after declaration made to the Counsayle, how by the subtilty of the Priest he had robbed his wyfe & children, recouered a great part agayne, to the value of two or three hundred poundes of Maister Gressam and his other frende: but what he gaue to the house, could not be recouered. This tale began I to tell. But when my Lord saw it sauored not to his purpose, he began to reuile me, & sayde: By the Masse, if the Queenes maiesty were of his mynde, I should not come to talke before any man, but should be, put into a sacke, & …ogge tyed vntounto the same, & so should be throwen into the water.

Smith.

To which I answered againe, saying: I know you speake by practise, as much as by speculation: for both you & your predecessors hauehave sought all meanes possible to kyll Christ secretely: record of M. Hunne, whom your predecessor caused to be thrust in at the nose, w^t hot burning needles, and then to be hanged, & sayde y^e same Hunne to hauehave hanged himselfe: and also a good brother of yours, a Byshop of your professiō hauing in his prison an innocēt mā, whom because he saw he was not able by the scriptures to ouercome, he made him priuily to be snarled, & his flesh to be torne and plucked awaye with a payre of pinsers, and bringing him before the people, sayd, the Rattes had eaten him. Thus according to your othe, is all your dealing and hath bene: and as you taking vponupon you the office,Example of terrible cruelty shewed vponupon a poore innocent. doe not without othes open your mouth, no more do you without murder maynteyne your traditions.

Boner.

Ah, ye are a generation of lyers: there is not one true word that commeth out of your mouthes.

p. 1693Smith.

Anno 1555. August.Yes, my Lorde, I hauehave sayde that Iesus Christ is dead for my sinnes, and risen for my iustification, and thys is no lye.

Boner.

Then made he his man to put in my tale of y^e gentleman of Northfolke, and would hauehave had me recite it agayne: which when I would not doe, he made his man to put in suche summes as he imagined. At the ende of thys, commeth in M. Mordant knight,Syr Iohn Mordant Knight. and sate downe to heare my examination. Then sayd my Lord. Howe sayest thou Smith to the seuen sacramentes? Beleeuest thou not that they be Gods order, that is to say, the sacrament of. &c.

Smith.

I beleue that in Gods Church are but two Sacramentes,2. Sacramentes. that is to say, the sacrament of regeneration, & the sacrament of the Lordes supper: and as for the Sacrament of the aultar, and all your sacraments, they may wel serue your church, but Gods church hath nothing to do w^t them, neither hauehave I any thing to do to aunswere them, nor you to examine me of them.

Boner.

Why, is Gods order chaūged in baptisme? In what poynt do we dissent from the word of God?Baptisme in what poyntes it is abused by the Catholickes.

Smith.

First in halowing your water: in coniuring of the same: in baptising children, with annoynting and spitting in their mouthes, mingled with salt, and with many other lend ceremonies, of which not one poynt is able to be proued in Gods order.

Boner.

By the masse this is the vnshamefast heretique that euer I heard speake.

Smith.

Well sworne my Lord, ye keepe a good watch.

Boner.

Well, M. Controller, ye catche me at my wordes: but I will watch thee as well, I warrant thee.

Mordant.

By my troth, my Lord, quoth M. Mordant, I neuer heard the like in all my life. But I pray you my lord, marke well his aunswere for Baptisme. He dissalloweth therin, holy oyntmēt, salt, and such other laudable ceremonies which no Christian man will deny.

Smith.

That is a shamefull blasphemy agaynst Christ, so to vse any mingle mangle in baptising young infants.

Boner.

I beleue, I tell thee, that if they dye before they bee baptised, they be damned.

Smith.

Yee shall neuer bee saued by that beliefe. But I pray you my Lord, shewe me, are we saued by water, or by Christ?

Boner.

By both.

Smith.

Then the water dyed for our sinnes: and so muste ye say,This was spokē more to confound the opinion of water, then to let children to hauehave water. that the water hath life, and it being our seruaunt, & created for vsus, is our sauiour: this, my Lord, is a good doctrine, is it not?

Boner.

Why, how vnderstandest thou these scriptures? Except a man be borne of water and of the spyrit, he can not enter into the kingdome of God.

And againe, Suffer (sayth our Sauiour) these children to come vntounto me: and if thou wilt not suffer them to be baptised after the laudable order, thou lettest them to come vntounto Christ.

Smith.

Where ye alleadge Saynt Iohn, Except a man &c. and will thereby proue the water to saue, and so the deede or worke to saue and putte away sinnes, I will send you to Saynt Paule, which asketh of the Galathians: Whether they receiued the spirite by the deedes of the law, or by the preaching of fayth? and there concludeth, that the holye Ghoste accompanyeth the preaching of fayth, and with the worde of fayth entreth into the harte. So nowe if Baptysme preache me the washinge in Christes bloud, so doeth the holy Ghost accompanye it, and it is vntounto me as a Preacher, and not a Sauiour. And where ye say, I let the children to come vntounto Christ,The water of Baptisme a preacher, and not a Sauiour. it is manifest by our Sauiours wordes, that ye let them to come, that will not suffer them to come to him without the necessitye of water. For he sayth: suffer them to come vntounto me and not vntounto water, and therefore if ye condemne them, ye condemne both the merites and wordes of Christ. For our Sauiour sayeth: Except ye turne and become as childrē, ye cannot enter into the Kyngdome of GOD. And so broughte I out manye other ensamples, to make manifest, that Christ hath cleansed original sinne, bringing in ensamples out of scriptures for the same.

Boner.

Then thou makest the water of none effect, and then put away water.The element of water in Baptisme bringeth not the holy Ghost.

Smith.

It is not (sayth Saynt Peter) the washynge awaye of the filth of the fleshe, but in that a good conscience consenteth vntounto GOD. And for to prooue that water onelyonly bringeth not the holye ghost, it is written in the 8. of the Actes, that Simon receiued water, but would hauehave receyued the holy ghost for money.The holy Ghost receaued of some before Baptisme. Also that the holy ghost hath come before baptisme, it is written that Iohn had the holy ghost in his mothers wombe. Cornelius, Paule, and the Queene of Candace seruant, with many other receiued the holy ghost before Baptisme. Yea, and although your generation hauehave set at nought the worde of God, and like swine turned hys wordes vpside downe, yet must his Church keep the same in order that he lefte them, whiche his Churche dare not breake: and to iudge children damned that be not baptised, it is wicked.

Mord.

By our Lady syr, but I beleue that if my childe dye without water, he is damned.

Boner.

Yea, and so do I, and all Catholicke men, good M. Mordant.

Smith.

Well my Lord, such Catholicke, such saluation.

Boner.

Well Syr, what say you to the Sacrament of Orders?

Smith.

Ye may call it the Sacrament of misorders:The Sacrament of orders. for all orders are appoynted of God. But as for your shauing, annoynting, greasing, poling, & roūding, there are no such thinges appointed in Gods book, and therfore I hauehave nothing to do to beleue your orders. And as for you, my lord, if ye had grace or intelligēce, ye wold not so disfigure your selfe as ye do.

Boner.

Sayest thou so?Boner shaueth himselfe in anger of Robert Smyth. nowe by my troth and I wyll goe shaue my selfe to anger thee withal: and so sent for his barber, which immediatly came. And before my face at y^e doore of the next chamber he shaued himselfe, desiring me before he went, to answere to these articles.

Boner.

What say you to the holy bread and holy water,Holy bread. Holy water. A…nnoynting. to the sacrament of annoynting, & to all the rest of such ceremonies of the church?

Smith.

I say, they be bables for fooles to play withall, & not for the children of God to exercise themselues in: and therfore they may go among the refuse. Then went away Maister Mordant, and my Lord went to shauing, leauing there certayne Doctors, as he called thē, to assay what they could doe, of whō I was baited for halfe an houre: of whō I also asked this questiō: Where were all you in the dayes of Kyng Edward, that ye spake not that which ye speake now?

Doct.

We were in England.Talke betwene Rob. Smyth and the Doctors.

Smith.

Yea, but then ye had the faces of men, but nowe yee hauehave put on Lyons faces again, as sayth S. Iohn: Ye shew your selues now as full of malice as ye may be. For ye hauehave for eueryevery time a viser: yea, & if an other king Edward shoulde arise, ye would then say, Downe with the Pope, for hee is Antichrist, and so are all his Angels.

Then was I al to reuiled, and so sent away, & brought in agayne to come before these men: & one of them that baited me before, asked me if I disobeyed confession?

Smith.

To whom I answered: Looke in mine articles, and they shall shew you what I allow.

Doct.

Your articles confesse that you allow not auriculare confession.

Smith.

I allow it not, because the word aloweth it not, nor commaundeth it.

Doct.

Why, it is written, thou shalt not hide thy sinnes & offences.Against auricular confession.

Smith.

No more do I when I confesse them to almightye God.

Doct.

Why, ye can not say, that ye can hide them frō God, and therefore you must vnderstand the wordes are spoken to be vttered to them that do not know them.

Smith.

Ye hauehave made a good aunswere: then must y^e priest confesse himselfe to me, as I to him. For I know his faultes and secretes no more then he knoweth mine. But if ye confesse you to the Priest, and not vntounto God, ye shall hauehave the reward that Iudas had: for he confessed him selfe to the priest, and yet went and hanged himselfe by and by: and so as many as do not acknowledge theyr faultes to God, are sayd to hide them.

Doct.

What did they that come to Iohn to be baptised?

Smith.

The came and confessed theyr sinnes vntounto almighty God.

Doct.

And not vntounto Iohn?

Smith.

If it were vntounto Iohn, as ye are not able to proue, yet was it to God before Iohn, and the whole Congregation.

Doct.

Why, Iohn was alone in the wildernes.Conf…ssing vntounto …ohn in the wilderne… was not to him, but before him …o God.

Smith.

Why, and yet the scriptures say he had many Disciples, and that many Phariseis and Saduces came to hys Baptisme. Here the Scriptures and you agree not. And if they confessed themselues to Iohn, as ye say, it was to all the Congregation, as saynt Paule doth to Timothy, and to all that reade his Epistle, in opening to all the hearers, that he was not worthy to be called an Apostle, because he had bene a Tyraunt. But as for eare confession, ye neuer heard it allowed by the worde. For the Prophete Dauid maketh his confession vntounto God, and sayeth: I will confesse my sinnes vntounto the Lord. Daniell maketh his confession vntounto the Lorde: Iudith, Tobye, Ieremye, Manasses, wyth all the forefathers did euen so. For the Lorde hath sayde: p. 1694Call vppon mee in the time of trouble, Anno 1555. Iuly.and I will deliuer thee. Knocke, aske, seeke, with such like, and this is the woorde of God. Now bring somewhat of the word to helpe your self withall. Then they raged and called me dogge, and said I was damned.

Smith.

Nay, ye are dogges, that for because holy thinges are offered, you wyll slaye your frendes. For I maye say with S. Paul: I hauehave fought with beastes in the likenes of mē. For here I hauehave bene bayted these two dayes, of my Lord & his great Bulles of Basan, and in his hall beneath hauehave I bene bayted of the rest of his bande. With this came my Lord from shauing, and asked me how I liked him?

Smith.

Forsoothe, ye are euen as wise as ye were before ye were shauen.

Boner.

How standeth it, mayster Doctours, hauehave ye done any good?

Doct.

No, by my troth my Lord, we can do no good.

Smith.

Then is it fulfilled which is written: How can an euill tree bring forth good fruit?

Bonor.

Nay, noughty felow, I set these gentlemē to bring thee home to Christ.

Smith.

Such Gentlemen, such Christes: and as truely as they hauehave that name from Christ, so truely doe they teache Christ.

Boner.

Well, wilt thou neither heare them nor me?

Smith.

Yes I am compelled to heare you: but ye can not compell me to folow you.

Boner.

Well, thou shalt be burned at a stake in smithfield if thou wilt not turne.

Smith.

The maruerlous boldenes of Robert Smith geuē him of God agaynst Christes enemyes.And ye shall burne in hell, if ye repent not: but my Lord, to put you out of doubt, because I am wery, I wyll strayne curtesy with you. I perceiue ye will not with your Doctors come vntounto me, and I am not determined to come vntounto you, by Gods grace. For I hauehave hardened my face agaynst you as hard as brasse. Thē after many rayling sentences I was sent away. And thus hauehave I left the trueth of mine answeres in writing (gentle Reader) being compelled by my frends to do it: that ye may see how the Lord hath according to his promise, geuen me a mouth and wisedome for to answere in his cause, for which I am condemned, and my cause not heard.

¶The last examination of Robert Smith.

THe 12. of Iuly I was with my brethren brought into the Consistory,The last examination of Robert Smith before B. Boner with his condēnat…on in the Consistory. and mine articles read before my Lord Maior and the Shiriffes, with all the assistances: to which I answered, as foloweth.

Boner.

By my fayth, my Lord Maior, I hauehave shewed him as much …auor as any man liuing might do: but I perceiue all his lost, both in him and all his company.

Smith.

At this word which he coupled with an othe, came I in, and taking him with the maner sayd: My Lord, it is written: Ye must not sweare.

Boner.

Ah, mayster controller, are ye come? Loe, my Lord Maior, this is Mayster Speaker, poynting to my brother Tankerfield, and this is Mayster Controller, pointing to me. And then beginning to read my articies, he perseuered till he came at my tale of the gentleman of Northfolke, and then demaūded of my Lord Maior, if he heard of the same before. To which he answered, No. To whō I answered.

Smith.

My Lorde Maior shall it please you to heare me to recite it, as I hearde it & tolde it, & then shall you heare the truth. For this tale that my Lord hath told, is vntrue.

Boner.

How say you good M. Mordant, spake he not this that is here, as it is written? were ye not by?

Mord.

Yes, my Lord, that it is: I heard him say it.

Smith.

Syr Iohn Mordant came in after this story was tolde.How heard ye me say it, and were not present whē I spake it? should such a man make a lye? it is manifestlye proued that the Prophet sayth: Euen as the king sayth. so saith the Iudge, that he may doe him a pleasure agayne. And so was brought out my Gaoler for tryall therof, who there openly professed, that neyther mayster Mordant nor the Doctors before mentioned were present when I spake it. At which maister Mordant with blushing cheekes, sayde, hee heard thē read, and heard me affirme the same, which was also not true. Then proceded my lord with the rest of mine articles, d…maunding of me, if I sayd not as was written. To whiche I aunswered, No: and turning to my Lorde Maior,The word… of Robert Smith to the Lord Mayor. I sayd: I require you, my Lord Maior in Gods behalfe, vntounto whom perteineth your sword & Iustice, that I may here before your presence answere to these obiections that are layd agaynst me, and hauehave the probatiō of the same: and it any thing that I hauehave sayd or will say, be to be approued (as my Lord saith) heresy, I shall not only with all my hart forsake the same, and cleaue to the truth, but also recant wheresoeuer ye shall assigne me, and all this audience shalbe witnesses to the same.

Maior.

Why Smyth, thou canst not denye, but this thou sayedst?

Smith.

Yes my Lord, I deny that which he hath written,Here my brother Tankerfield recited the story of my Lord Byshops Cooke. because he hath both added to, & diminished from the same: But what I hauehave spoken, I will neuer deny.

Maior.

Why, thou spakest agaynst the blessed Sacrament of the aultar.

Smith.

I denyed it to be any Sacrament, and I do stand here to make probation of the same: and if my Lorde here, or any of his Doctors be able to approue either the name, or vsage of the same, I will recant mine error. Thē spake my Brother Tankerfielde, and defended the probation of thinges, which they called heresy, to the which the Bishop aunswered.

Boner.

By my troth, Mayster speaker, ye shall preache at a Stake.

Smith.

Well sworne, my Lord, ye keepe a good watch.

Boner.

Well, mayster Controller, I am no Saynt.

Smith.

No, my Lord, nor yet good Bishop.Boner no Saint. For a Bishop sayth S. Paule, should be faultles, and a dedicate vessell vntounto god, and are ye not ashamed to sit in iudgement, & be a blasphemer, condemning Innocents?

Boner.

Well, M. Controller, ye art faultles.

Smith.

My Lorde Maior, I require you in Gods name,This Maior was Syn…oh Lion. Here my brother Tankerfield pulled out of his bosome a testament requiring iudgement by the same, but it would not be heard. that I may hauehave Iustice. We be here to day a great many of Innocentes, that are wrongfully accused of heresy. And I require you, if you will not seeme to be parciall, let me hauehave no more fauour at your handes, then the Apostle had at the handes of Festus and Agrrippa, which beyng Heathen and Infidels, gaue him leaue not onelyonly to speake for himselfe, but also hearde the probation of his cause. This require I at your hands, which being a Christian Iudge, I hope will not denye me that right, whiche the Heathen hauehave suffered: if ye doe, thē shall all this audience, yea, & the Heathen speake shame of your fact. For a City (saith our sauiour) that is builded on a hill, can not be hid: if they therefore hauehave the truth, let it come to light. For al that wel do, come to the light, and they that do euill hate the light.

Then my Lorde Maior hanginge downe his head, sayd nothing, but the Byshop tolde me, I shoulde preache at a Stake, and so the Shiriffe cryed, with the Byshop,This Sheriffe was M. Woodrofe. away with me.

Thus came I in before thē foure times, desiring Iustice, but could hauehave none: and at length my frendes requiring with one voyce the same, & coulde not hauehave it,Iustice required in the Bishops Consistory, but could not be had. we had sentence, and then …eing caried out, were brought in agayne, and had it eueryevery man seuerally geuen. But before the Bishop gaue me sentence, he told me in derision of my Brother Takerfielde, a tale betweene a Gentleman and his Cooke. To whiche I aunsweared: My Lorde, yee fill the peoples eares with fantasies and foolish tales, and make a laughing matter at bloud: but if ye were a true byshop, ye should leaue these railing sentences, and speak the wordes of God.

Boner.

Well, I hauehave offred to that noughty felow mayster Speaker, your companion the Cooke, that my Chancellor should here instruct him: but he hath here with great disda…ne forsaken it. How sayest thou, wilt thou hauehave him instruct thee, and lead thee in the right way?

Smith.

My Lorde,A lawfull request not heard. if your Chauncellour shall doe me any good, and take any paynes, as ye say, let him take mine articles in his handes, that ye hauehave obiected agaynst me, and either proue one of them heresy, or any thing that you doe, to be good: and if he be able so to doe, I stand here wyth all my hart to heare him: if not, I hauehave no neede, I prayse God of his sermon: for I come to answere for my life, and not heare a sermon.

Then beganne the sentence, In Dei nomine. The Bishops sentence beginneth with a wrong name. Where finde the Catholickes in the scripture to put any to death for their conscience sake.To whiche I answered, that he beganne in a wrong name, requiring of him, where hee learned in Scriptures to geue sentence of death agaynste any man for his conscience sake. To the which he made no aunsweare, but went forwarde to the end and immediately cryed. Away with me. Then I turned me to the Maior, and sayde: Is it not enough for you my Lord Maior, and ye that are the shiriffes, that ye hauehave left the strayt way of the Lord, but that ye must condemne Christ causeles?

Boner.

Well Mayster Controller, nowe ye can not say, but I hauehave offered you fayre, to hauehave instruction. And now I pray thee, call me bloudy Bishop, and say, I seeke thy bloud.

Smith.

Wel, my Lord, although neither I, nor any of this congregation do report the truth of your fact, yet shal these stones cry it out, rather then it shall be hidden.

Boner.

Away with him, away with him.

Woodrofe.

Away with him, take him away.

Smith.

Well, good frendes, yee hauehave seene and hearde the great wrong that we hauehave receiued this day, & ye are al recordes, p. 1695that we hauehave desired the probation of our cause by Gods booke, and it hath not bene graunted: but we are cō demned, and our cause not heard. Neuerthelesse my Lord Maior, for as much as here ye hauehave exercised Gods sword causelesse,Robert Smith wrongfully condemned by the Byshop. The wordes of Robert Smith agayne to the Lord Mayor. and will not heare the righte of the poore, I committe my cause to almighty God, that shall iudge all men according vntounto right, before whō we shall both stand without authority: and there will I stand in the right, and hauehave true iudgement, to your great confusion, except ye repent, which the Lord graūt you to do, if it be his will. And then was I with the rest of my brethren caryed awaye to Newgate.

Thus gentle Reader, as neare as I can, I hauehave set out the truth of my examination, and the verity of mine vniust condemnation for the truth, requiring god, that it may not be layd to the charge of thee, O England, requiring your harty prayers vntounto God for his grace & spirit of boldnes: with hope euen shortlye to set to my seale, at Uxbridge, the 8. of August, by Gods grace: pray that it may be to his honor, my saluation, and your consolation, I pray you.

Da gloriam Deo.

Robert Smith.

Thus hast thou (good Reader) not onelyonly to note, but also to folow in this man, a singular example of Christian fortitude, which so man…ully and val…auntly did stande in the defence of his maysters cause. And as thou seest hym here boldly stand in examination before the Bishoppe and Doctours: so was he no lesse comfortable also in the pryson among his felowes. Whiche also is to be obserued no lesse in his other prison felowes,The godly behauiour of Robert Smith and his fellowe in pryson. who being there together cast in an outward house within Newgate, had godly cō ference with themselues, with dayly praying, and publick reading, whiche they to theyr greate comforte vsed in that house together: amongst whom this foresayd Smith was a chiefe doer. Whose industry was alwayes solicitous, not onelyonly for them of his owne company, but also his diligēce was carefull for other prisoners, whom he ceased not to dehort and diswade from theyr olde accustomed iniquity: and many he conuerted vntounto his Religion. Diuers letters he wrote there in the prison to sūdry his frendes partly in metre, partly in prose. And first in metre as followeth.

❧ A Picture describing the maner and place of them which were in bondes for the testimony of the truth, conferring together among themselues.

Elizabeth Warne. George Tankerfield. Robert Smith. George King. William Hale. Cuthbert Simson. Iohn Newman.¶O ye that louelove the Lord, see that ye hate the thing that is euill.

THe God that geueth life and light,

And leadeth into rest:

That breaketh bondes and bringeth out

The poore that are opprest,

And keepeth mercy for the meeke,

His treasure and his store:

Increase the life in perfect louelove,

Both now and euermore.

That as thou hast begun to ground,

In fayth and feruent louelove:

Thou mayest be made a mighty mount,

That neuer may remoue.

That thine ensample may be shewed

Among all thine encrease:

That they may liue and learne the like,

And passe theyr time in peace.

Thy salutations that were sent,

I hartely retayne:

And send thee seuenty times as much,

To thee and thine agayne.

And for because I know the gole,

That thou doest most desire:

I send thee here a paper full,

Is fined in the fire.

In hope thou wilt accept it well,

Although it be but small:

Because I hauehave none other good,

To make amendes with all.

For all thy free and frendly factes.

Which thy good will hath wrought:

I send the surely for a shift

The thing that cost me nought.

Absteyne from all vngodlines▪

In dread direct your dayes:

Possesse not sinne in any wise,

Beware of wicked wayes.

Hold fast your fayth vnfaynedly,

Build as ye hauehave begon:

And arme your selfe in perfect fayth,

To do as ye hauehave done.

Least that the wicked make a mocke,

That ye hauehave take in hand:

In leauing of the perfect rocke,

To build vponupon the sand.

Beware these filthy Pharisies▪

Their building is in bloud:

p. 1696Eate not with them in any wise,

Their leauen is not good.

Their salte is all vnsauery,

And vnderunder good ententes

They mayntayne all their knauery,

And murder Innocentes.

They seeke to sit in Christes seate,

And put him out of place:

And make all meanes that may be made,

His doynges to deface.

They keepe him downe with bils & bat…

That made the blinde to see:

They make a God for myce and Rattes,

And say the same is he.

They shew like sheepe & sweate like Wolues

Their baytes be all for bloud:

They kill and slay the simple soules,

And rob them of ther good.

The darke illusions of the deuill,

HaueHave dimned so their eyes,

That they cannot abide the truth,

To sturre in any wise.

And if ye keepe the perfect path,

As I hauehave hope you doe,

Ye shall be sure to hauehave suche shame,

As they may put you to.

For all that leade a godly life,

Shall surely suffer losse:

And eke the world will seeke theyr shame

And make them kisse the crosse.

Ye shalbe killed sayth Christ,

Your sorrowes shall not cease:

And yet in your afflictions

I am your perfect peace.

For in the worlde ye shall hauehave woe,

Because ye are vnknowne:

And for because ye hate the world,

The world will louelove his owne.

Be feruent therefore to the death,

Agaynst all their decrees:

And God shall surely fight for thee

Agaynst thine enemies.

Commit your cause vntounto the Lord,

Reuenge not any euill:

And thou shalt see the wicked want,

When thou shalt hauehave thy will:

For all afflictions that may fall,

That they can say or doe:

They are not sure of the wealth,

We shall attayne vntounto.

For I hauehave seene the sinners spread,

Theyr braunches like a bay:

And yet ere one could turne his head,

Were withered cleane away.

Beware that mony make ye not

In riches to aryse

Agaynst the goodnes of the Lord,

Among the worldly wise.

For many mischiefes it hath made,

That may not be exprest:

And many euils it hath begonne,

Which may not be redrest.

For money maketh many one,

In riches to rebell:

And he that maketh gold a God,

He hath a soule to sell.

It maketh Kinges to kill and slay,

And wast their wittes in warre:

In leauing of the Wolfe at home,

To hunt the Foxe a farre.

And where they should see iustice done

And set their realme in rest:

By mony they be made a meane,

To see the poore opprest▪

It maketh Lordes obey the lawes

That they doe ill and nought:

It maketh Bishops suck the bloud,

That God hath dearely bought.

And where they shuld be faythfull friends

And father to the flocke:

By money they do turne about,

Euen like a weather Cock.

The Prieste doth make a mony meane

To hauehave agayne his whoores,

To put away his wedded wife,

And children out of doores.

It holdeth backe the husbandman,

Which may not be forborne:

And will not suffer him to sow,

And cast abroad his corne.

In like case it doth let agayne,

When that the seede they sowe:

It choketh vp the corne agayne,

So that it cannot growe.

The husband he would hauehave a wife,

With nobles new and olde:

The wife would hauehave the husband hangd

That she might hauehave his gold,

It maketh murthers many a one,

And beareth much with bloud:

The childe would see the parentes slayne▪

To sease vppon their good.

And though it be a blessed thing,

Created in the kinde:

It is a necessary euill,

Annexed to the mind.

For who so playeth with the pitch,

His fingers are defiled:

And he that maketh gold a God

Shall surely be beguiled.

Be frendly to the fatherles,

And all that are opprest:

Assist them alwayes out of hand,

And see them set at rest.

In all your doinges and your deedes

Let mercy still remayne:

For with the measure that ye meate,

Shall ye be mette agayne.

Be alwayes lowly in your life,

Let louelove enioy her owne:

The highest trees are seldome sure,

And soonest ouerthrowne.

The Lyons lacke and suffer sore,

In hunger and in thurst:

And they that doe oppresse the poore,

Continue still accurst.

The Bee is but a little beast

In body or in sight:

And yet she bryngeth more encrease,

Then other Crow or Kyte.

Therefore beware in any wise,

Keepe well your watche alway:

Be sure of oyle within your lampe,

Let not your light decay.

For death despiseth them that lacke,

And hateth them that hauehave:

And treadeth downe the riche and poore

Together in the graue

Exhort your Children to be chast,

Rebuke them for their ill:

And let them not at any wise

Be wedded to theyr will.

Laugh not with them, but keep them low

Shew them no mery cheare:

Least thou doe weepe with them also,

But bryng them vp in feare.

And let your light and liuing shyne,

That ye be not suspect

To hauehave the same within your selfe,

For which they are correct.

Be meeke and modest, in a meane

Let all your deedes be done:

That they which are without the law,

May see how right ye runne.

Keepe well the member in your mouth,

Your tongue see that ye tame:

For out of little sparkes of fire,

Proceedeth out a flame.

And as the poyson doth expresse

The natures of the Tode:

Euen so the tongue doth manifest,

The hartes that feareth God.

For therewith blesse we God aboue,

And therewith curse we men:

And therby murders doe aryse,

Through women now and then.

And seeing God hath geuen a tongue▪

And put it vnderunder power:

The surest way is for to set

A hatch before the doore.

For God hath set you in a seate,

Of double low degree:

Fyrst vntounto God, and then to man

A subiect for to be.

I write not, that I see in you

These thinges to be suspect:

p. 1697But onelyonly set before your face,

How sinne should be correct.

For flesh and bloud I know ye are,

As other women be:

And if ye dwell in flesh and bloud,

There is infirmitie.

Receaue a warning willingly,

That to thy teeth is tolde:

Accompt the gift of greater price,

Then if he gaue thee gold.

A wiseman sayth Salomon,

A warning will embrace:

A foole will sooner (as sayth he)

Be smitten on the face.

And as your members must be dead,

From all thinges that are vayne:

Euen so by Baptisme ye are borne,

To liue with Christ agayne.

Thus fare well free and faythfull frend:

The Lorde that is aboue

Encrease in thee … perfect fayth,

And leade thee in his louelove.

And as I pray with perfite louelove,

And poure out bitter teares

For you and all that are at large,

Abroad among the bryers:

Euen so I pray thee to preferre,

My person and my bondes:

VntoUnto the euerlasting God,

That hath me in his handes,

That I may passe out of this ponde,

Wherein I am opprest:

Inclosed in a clod of clay,

That here can hauehave no rest.

That as he hath begon in me

His mercies many one,

I may attayne to ouertake

My brethren that be gone.

That when the death shall do his worst

Where he shall point a place,

I may be able like a man

To looke him in the face.

For though he catch away my cloke,

My body into dust:

Yet am I sure to saue a soule.

When death hath done hys worst.

And though I leaue a little dust

Dissolued out of bloud:

I shall receaue it safe agayne,

When God shall see it good.

For my redeemer I am sure

Doth liue for euermore,

And sitteth high vponupon the heauens,

For whome I hunger sore.

Euen as the Deare with deadly wounds,

Escaped from the spoyle

Doth hast by all the meanes he may,

To seeke vntounto the soyle.

Of whome I hope to hauehave a crowne,

That alwayes shall remayne:

And eke enioy a perfect peace,

For all my woe and payne.

The God that geueth all encrease,

And seeketh still to saue,

Abound in thee that perfect peace,

Which I do hope to hauehave.

And I beseech the liuing God,

To hold thee in hys handes:

And wish thee euen with all my hart,

The blessing of my bandes.

Which I esteeme of hier price,

Then pearle or precious stone:

And shall endure for euermore,

When earthly thinges are gone.

For though the fire doe consume,

Our treasure and our store:

Yet shall the goodnes of the Lord,

Endure for euermore.

And where thou art a friend to him,

That is to me full deare:

That God of might make the amendes,

When all men shall appeare.

That hath shewed mercy to the meeke,

And rid them out of payne.

And thus the Lorde possesse thy spirite,

Till we do meete agayne.

If thou wilt hauehave a recompence,

Abide still in obedience.

¶The exhortation of Robert Smith, vntounto his children, commonly set out in the name of maister Rogers.

GEue eare my children to my words,

Whome God hath dearely bought:

Lay vp my law within your harte,

And print it in your thought.Prob, 5.

For I your father hauehave foreseene

The frayle and filthy way,

Which flesh and bloud would follow fayne,

Euen to theyr owne decay.

For all and eueryevery liuing beast,

Their crib do know full well:

But Adams heyres aboue the rest,

Are ready to rebell:Esay. 1.Isa 1

And all the creatures on the earth,

Full well can keepe their way:

But man aboue all other beastes,Sapien. 2.

is apte to go astray.

For earth and ashes is his strength,

His glory and his rayne:

And vntounto ashes at the length,

Shall he returne agayne.Genes. 3.Gen 3

For flesh doth florish like a flower,

And grow vp like a grasse,

And is consumed in an houre,

As it is brought to passe.

In me the Image of your yeares,

Your treasure and your trust:

Whome ye do see before your face,

Dissolued into dust.

For as you see your fathers fleshe.

conuer…ed into clay:

Euen so shall ye my children deare.

Consume and weare away.

The sonne and moone and eke the starres

That serue the day and night:…. Peter, 3.

The earth and eueryevery earthly thing,

Shalbe consumed quite.

And all the worship that is wrought

That hauehave bene heard or seene:

Shall cleane consume and come to naught,Sapien. 13.

Ar it had neuer bene.

Therefore that ye may follow me:

Your Father and your frend,

And enter into that same lyfe,

Which neuer shall hauehave end,

I leaue you heare a little book,

For you to looke vponupon:Iohn. 7.John 7

That you may see your Fathers face,

When I am dead and gone.

Who for the hope of heauenly thinges,

While he dyd here remayne1. Corin. 2.1 Cor 2

Gaue ouer all his golden yeares,

In prison and in payne.

Where I among myne iron bandes,

Enclosed in the darcke

A few dayes before my death,

Did dedicate this worke.

To you myne heyres of earthly thinges

Which I hauehave left behynde:

That ye may read and vnderstand,

And keepe it your minde,

That as you hauehave bene heyres of that,

Which once shall weare away:

Euen so ye may possesse the parte,

Which neuer shall decay.

In following of your fathers foote,

In truth and eke in louelove:

That ye may also be his heyres,

For euermore aboue.1. Tobi. 11.

And in example to your youth,

To whome I wish all good,

I preache you here a perfite fayth

And seale it with my bloud.

HaueHave God alwayes before your eyes,Iohn. 9.John 9

In all your whole ententes:

Commit not sinne in any wise,

Keepe his commaundementes.

Abhorre that errant whoore of Rome,

And all her blasphemies:

And drincke not of her decretals,

Nor yet of her decrees.

Geue honour to your mother deare,Apoc. 14. Exodu…. 22▪ Math. 15.Rev 14Matt 15

Remember well her payne:

And recompence her in her age▪

p. 1698In lyke with louelove agayne.

Be alwayes ayding at her hand,

And let her not decay:

Remember well your fathers fall,

That should hauehave bene her stay.

Geue of your portion to the poore,

As riches doth arise:

Math. 25.Matt 25And from the needy naked soule,

Turne not away your eyes.

For he that will not heare the cry,

Of such as are in neede:

Shall cry himselfe, and not be heard,

2 Cor 9.2 Cor 9When he would hope to speede.

If God hauehave geuen you great encrease,

And blessed well your store▪

Remember ye are put in trust,

Luke. 12.Luke 12To minister the more.

Beware of foule and filthy lust,

Let whoredome hauehave no place:

Keepe cleane your vessels in the Lord,

Iohn. 1.John 1That he may you embrace.

Ye are the temples of the Lord,

2. Cor. 6.2 Cor 6For ye are dearely bought:

And they that do defile the same,

Shall surely come to nought.

Possesse not pride in any case,

Build not your neastes to hye:

But hauehave alwayes before your face,

That ye be borne to dye.

Defraud not him that hyred is,

Your labours to sustayne:

But geue him alwayes out of hand,

His penny for hys payne.

And as ye would that other men

Math. 7.Matt 7Agaynst you should proceede

Do ye the same agayne to them

When they do stand in neede.

And part your portion with the poore

In mony and in meate

And feede the faynted feeble soule,

Heb. 13. …. 13.Heb 13With that which ye should eate,

That when your mēbers lacketh meate

Math. 6.Matt 6And clothing to your backe:

Ye may the better thinke on them

That now do liue and lacke

Aske counsell at the wise,

Geue eare vntounto the end.

Refuse not you the sweete rebuke

Of hym that is your frend:

Be thankefull alwayes to the Lord,

Math. 6.Matt 6With prayer and with prayse.

Desire you him in all your deedes,

For to direct your wayes:

And sinne not like that swinish sorte

Whose bellies beyng fed,

Consume theyr yeares vponupon the earth

From belly vntounto bed.

Seeke first I say the liuing God

Prou. 4.Prov 4Set him alwayes before:

And then be sure that he will blesse

Your basket and your store.

And thus if you direct your dayes,

Si…. 30.According to this booke,

Then shall they say that see your wayes,

How lyke me you do looke

And when you hauehave so perfectly,

Tobi. 3.VponUpon your fingers endes:

Possessed all within your booke,

Then geue it to your frendes.

And I beseeche the liuing God,

Replenish you with grace,

That I maye hauehave you in the heauens,

And see you face to face.

And though the sword hauehave cut me off,

Contrary to my kinde,

That I could not enioy your louelove,

According to my minde,

Yet do I hope when that the heauens,

2. Pet. 3.2 Pet 3Shall vanish like a scrole:

I shall receaue your perfect shape,

In body and in soule.

And that I may enioy your louelove,

And ye enioy the land:

I do beseeche the liuing God,

To holde you in hys hand,

Fare well my children from the world

Where ye must yet remayne:

The Lorde of hostes be your defence,

Till we do meete againe,

Fare well my louelove and louing wife,

My Children and my frendes:

I hope to God to hauehave you all,

When all thinges hauehave their endes.

And if you doe abide in God,

As ye hauehave now begonne:

Your course I warrant will be short,

Ye hauehave not farre to runne,

God graunt you so to end your yeares

As he shall thinke it best:

That ye may enter into heauen,

Where I do hope to rest.

Written at the request of a Lady in her booke.

IF you will walke the way,

That Christ hath you assignde:

Then learne this little verse,

Which I hauehave left behinde.

Be feruent in the truth,

Although it beare the blame:

And eke apply your youth,

To sticke vntounto the same:

That when the age is come,

And death beginneth to call?

The truth may be your staffe,

To stay you vp withall.

And though it bryng rebuke,

And cause you kisse the crosse:

Yet is it a reward,

To all that suffer losse.

For here we doe lay out,

The thinges that be but vayne:

But we are sure to reape,

The thinges that doe remayne.

For all that ye do lose,

Is but a sinnefull slime:

And lyke vntounto a Rose,

That taryeth but a tyme.

But if ye carry Christ,

And walke the perfect way,

Ye shall possesse the gold,

That neuer shall decay.

And all your fathers goodes,

Shalbe your recompense:

If ye confesse the worde,

With double diligence.

Not onelyonly for to heare

His pure and perfite word:

But also to embrace,

The fire and eke the sword.

And if ye keepe this path,

And do not runne a croke,

Then shall ye meete the man,

That write this in your booke

In that eternall Ioye,

That alwayes shall remayne:

Thus fare well faythfull frend,

Till we do meete agayne.

Legem pone.

TEache me O Lorde to walke thy waies,

My liuing to amend:

And I shall keepe it all my dayes,

Euen to my liues end.

Geue me a minde to vnderstand,

So shall I neuer starte:

But I shall keepe all thy preceptes,

Euen wholly with mine hart.

Make me to go a perfect pace,

In that I hauehave begonne:

For all my louelove and my delight,

Is in thy wayes to runne.

Encline my hart vntounto thy wayes,

Set thou thereon my thought:

And let me not consume my dayes,

To couet that is naught.

O quicken me in all thy wayes,

The world for to despise:

And from all fond and foolish toyes,

Turne thou away mine eyes.

O plant in me thy perfect word,

Which is to me so deare:

Lay vp thy lawes within my hart,

To keepe me still in feare.

And robbe me of that great rebuke▪

Which I do feare full sore.

For all thy iudgementes and thy law

Endure for euermore.

Behold O Lord in thy preceptes

Is all my whole delight.

O quicken me in all my wayes

That I may walke aright.

To hys brother.

AS nature doth me binde,

Because thou art my bloud

According to my kinde

To geue thee of my good,

That thou mayest hauehave in minde

How I hauehave runne my race

Although thou bide behynde

But for a little space,

I yeaue thee here a pearle

The price of all my good

For whiche I leaue my life,

To buy it with my bloud

More worth then all the world

Or ought that I can note,

Although it be yclad,

In such a simple cote.

For when I had obtayned

This pearle of such a price

Then was I sure I gayned

The way for to be wise.

It taught me for to fight

My flesh for to despise

To sticke vntounto the light

And for to leaue the lyes

In sending out my seede

With bondes and bitter teares

That I might reape with Ioye

In euerlasting yeares,

And hauehave for all my losse

My trauayle and my payne

A thousand tymes and more

Of better goodes agayne.

And for because the good

That hath bene gotte and gayned

And that the Lordes elect

Hath euermore obtayned

Is closed in this booke

Which I do geue to thee

Wherein I hauehave my parte

As thou thy selfe mayest see.

In which I hope thou hast

A stocke also in store:

And wilt not cease to sayle

Till God hauehave made it more,

I will thee to beware▪

Be sure thou keepe it well

For if thou do it lose

Thy part shalbe in hell.

And here I testifie

Before the liuing God,

That I detest to doe

The thinges that are forbod.

And as in iudgemente is

My body to be brent,

My hart is surely sette

Therewith to be content.

And sith it is his will,

To put in me his power

VponUpon his holy hill

To fight agaynst this whore,

Full well I am content,

If he allowe it so

To stand with all my might

The whore to ouerthrow.

Euen with a willing minde

The death I will outface

And as I am assured

The battayle to embrace,

That they which heare the truth

How I hauehave past the pike

May set aside theyr youth

And learne to do the like.

p. 1699And though it be my lotte, to let her suck my bloud

Yet am I well assured, it shall do her no good.

For she is set to kill The thinges she thinkes accurst,

And shall not hauehave her fill, of bloud vntill she burst.

And when that thou shalt see, or heare of my disease:

Pray to the liuing God, that I may passe in peace.

And when I am at rest, and rid out of my paine:

Then will I do the like, for thee to God agayne.

And to my woefull wyfe, and widow desolate:

Whome I doe leaue behynd, In such a simple state.

And compassed with teares, and morninges many one

Be thou her staying staffe, when I am dead and gone.

My mouth may not expresse, the dolours of my minde:

Nor yet my heauines, to leaue her here behinde.

But as thou art my bone, my brother and my bloud:

So let her hauehave thy hart, if it may do her good.

I tooke her from the world, and made her like the crosse:

But if she hold her owne, she shall not suffer losse.

For where she had before, a man vntounto her make

That by the force of fire, was stranged at a stake,

Now shall she hauehave a king, to be her helpyng hand:

To whom pertayne all thinge, that are within the land.

And eke my daughter deare, whome I bequeath to thee:

To be brought vp in feare, and learne the A.B.C.

That she may grow in grace, and ruled by the rod:

To learne and lead her lyfe, within the feare of God:

And alwayes hauehave in minde, thy brother beyng dead

That thou art lefte behynde a father in my stead.

And thou my brother deare, and eke my mothers sonne

Come forth out of all feare, and do as I hauehave done,

And God shall be thy guide, and geue thee such encrease

That in the flames of fire, thou shalt hauehave perfect peace.

Into eternall ioy, and passe out of all payne:

Where we shall meete with mirth, and neuer part agayne.

If thou wilt do my daughter good,

Be mindfull of thy brothers bloud.

*To All whiche louelove God vnfaynedly, and entend to lead a godly life according to his Gospell, and to perseuer in his trueth vntounto the ende: grace, and peace from God the father, and from our Lorde Iesus Christ, Amen.

This letter is thought of some to be M. Hoopers, partly for that in one copy amongest diuers, it is entitled vntounto him: and also by the phrase and maner of writing, it may be well coniectured so to be.BE not afrayd, most dearely beloued in our Sauior Iesus Christ, at these most perillous dayes, wherein by the sufferaunce of God, the Prince of darkenes is broken lose, and rageth in hys members agaynst the electe of God wyth all crueltie, to set vp agayne the kingdome of Antichrist: agaynst whome, see that ye be strong in fayth to resist his most deuilishe doctrine with the pure Gospell of God, armyng your selues with pacience, to abide what soeuer shalbe layd to your charge for the truthes sake knowyng that thereunto ye be called, not onelyonly to beleeue in hym, but also to suffer for hym. Oh howe happy are ye that in the sight of God are counted worthy to suffer for the testimony of Christ? Quiet therefore your selues (Oh my louing brethren) and reioyce in hym for whome ye suffer: for vntounto you do remain the vnspeakable ioyes, which neither the eye hath seene, nor the eare hath heard,Apo. 17. neither the hart of man is able to comprehende in anye wyse. Be not afrayd of the bodily death, for youre names are written in the booke of lyfe, And the Prophetes doth recorde,Psal…. 115. that in the sight of the Lorde, precious is the death of hys Saynctes. Watch therefore and praye, that yee be not preuented in the daye of temptation. Now commeth the day of your tryall, wherein the waters rage, and the stormy windes blowe. Now shall it appeare whether ye hauehave builded vppon the fleeing sande,Math. 7. Ephe. 2.Matt 7Eph 2 or vppon the vnmoueable rocke Christe, whiche is the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes: whereon eueryevery house that is builded, groweth into an holy temple of the Lord, by the mighty workyng of the holy Ghost.2. Tim. 2. Ephe. 6. Phil. 2. Heb. 12. Col. 1.2 Tim 2Eph 6Phil 2Heb 12Col 1 Now approcheth the daye of your batttayle, wherein it is required that ye shewe your selues the valiaunte souldiours of Iesus Christ, wyth the armour of God, that yee may be able to stand fast agaynst all the craftye assaultes of the Deuill. Christ is your Captayne, and yee be his souldiours, whose cognisaunce is the Crosse, to the whiche hee wyllingly humbled hymselfe euen vntounto the death, and therby spoyled hys enemies,Pet. 5. and now triumpheth hee ouer them in the glorye of hys father, makyng intercession for them that here doe remayne to suffer the afflictions that are to be fulfilled in his misticall bodye. It behoueth therefore eueryevery one that will be counted his scholler, to take vp his owne crosse and follow hym, as ye hauehave hym for ensample: and I assure you that hee being on your side, nothing shalbe able to preuayle agaynst you. And that he will be with you euen to the worldes ende, yee hauehave hys promise in the 28. of Mathew. He will goe foorth wyth hys host as a conquerour to make a conquest.Apoc. 6. 1. Cor. 1.Rev 61 Cor 1 He is the man that sitteth on the white horse, crowned with immortalitie, and yee, brethren, are his fellowship, whereof he is the head. He hath your hart in hys hand as a bow bent after hys godly will: he shall dyrect the same accordyng to the riches of hys glory, into all spirituall and heauenly cogitations He is faythfull,1. Cor. 101 Cor 10 and will not suffer you to be further assaulted, then he will geue you strength to ouercome, and in the most daunger he will make a waye, that ye may be able to beare it.

Shrynke not therefore deare heartes, when ye shalbe called to aunswere for the hope that is in you:1. Pet 3.1 Pet 3 for we hauehave the comforter, euen the spirite of trueth whiche was sent from the heauens to teache vsus. He shall speake in vsus, hee shall strengthen vsus: what is he then that shalbe able to confound vsus? Naye, what Tiranne is he that now boasteth hymselfe of hys strength to doe mischiefe, whome the Lord shall not with the same spirite,Luke. 13. Act. 2. Psalme. 51.Luke 13Acts 2Ps 51 by the mouth of his seruauntes, strike downe to hell fire? Yea, sodaynly will the Lord bryng downe the glory of the proud Philistians, by the handes of hys seruaunt Dauid. Theyr strength is in speare & shield, but our helpe is in the name of the Lord, which made both heauen and earth, He is our buckler and our wall,1. Reg, 17. Psal. 6. 2. Cor. 6. Heb 8. Psalm. 32.Ps 62 Cor 6Heb 8Ps 32 a strong Tower of defence. He is our God, and we are his people. Hee shall bryng the counsels of the vngodly to nought. He shall take them in theyr owne nette. He shall destroy them in theyr own inuentions. The right hand of the Lorde shall worke this wonder. His power is knowne among the children of men.Psalm. 117. Psalm 52. Psalm. 65.Ps 117Ps 52Ps 65 Theyr fathers hauehave felt it, and are confounded. In lyke maner shall they knowe that there is no counsell agaynst the Lorde, when their secrets are opened to the whole worlde, and are found to be agaynst the lyuing God. Worke they neuer so craftily, builde they neuer so strongly: yet downe shall theyr rabble fall, and the builders them selues shall then be scattered vponupon the face of the earth,Gene. 12.Gen 12 as accursed of God. The iust shall see this and be glad, & prayse the name of the Lord, that so meruellously hath delte with hys seruauntes,Psalm. 33.Ps 33 as to bryng theyr enemies vnderunder theyr feet. Thē shall the fearfull seed of Cayne trēble and quake. Thē shall the mockyng Ismaelites be cast out of the doore. Then shall the proud Nembroth see hys labour lost. Then shal the beast of Babilon, be troden vnderunder foot. Then shall the scribes and Pharisees for madnes fret and rage.Gene. 4. Gene. 21. Gene. 11. Phil. 3. Psalm. …. 1. Corin. 3. Psalm. 74. Iob. 5. Apoc. 12.Gen 4Gen 21Gen 11Phil 31 Cor 3Ps 74Job 5Rev 12 Then sha theyr paynted wisedome be knowne, for extreme folly. Then shall bloudy Dragon be voyd of hys pray. Then shall the whore of Babilon, receaue double vengeaunce. Then shall they scratch theyr crownes for the fall of their Maistres harlot, whom they now serue for filthy lucre, whē no man will buy their wares any more. Then shall the Popishe Priesthoode crye weale away with care, euen when the Lord shall helpe his seruauntes: which day is not farre of, the daye wherein the kingdome of Antichrist shall hauehave an ende, and neuer aryse anye more.Apo. 8. Psal. 145.Ps 145 In the meane tyme, abide in certayne and sure hope, cleauing vntounto the promises of God, whiche in theyr owne tyme shalbe fulfilled. Acquite youre selues lyke men agaynst the enemies of GOD in all humblenes of minde,1. Corin. 6. 1. Cor. 8. Heb. 9.1 Cor 61 Cor 8Heb 9 strong in spirite to acknowledge one God, one holy Sauioure Iesus Christ, one onelyonly euerlastyng and sufficient sacrifice for the remission of sinnes euen the precious bodye of the Lorde Iesus once offered for all and for euer. Whiche now sitteth on the right hand of God, and from thence shall hee come,Actes. 3.Acts 3 to iudge both the quicke and the dead at the last day: & vntil that tyme, occupyeth that blessed body, none other place to dwell in, to be kepte in, to be closed in,Heb. 1. 1. Pet. 3. Ephes. 1.Heb 11 Pet 3Eph 1 but onelye in the heauens, euen in the glorious maiestye of God, personally abidyng there in the fleshe, not commyng downe from thence till the last houre. And as hee neuer ceaseth to be man, so doth he neuer lose the similitude of man:Ephes. 2.Eph 2 hys body there hath hys liniamentes, hee leaueth them not: so hath that body there hys highnesse, and shrinketh not, and hys manly shape, he altereth not at any tyme. He is in that he tooke of the virgin Mary, a naturall man in all conditions except sinne. And what he tooke of hys blessed Mother,Rom. 8.Rom 8 by the workyng of the holye Ghost, he tooke it for euer, and will not exchaunge the same for anye other. He tooke the shape of a man with the substaunce of hys manhoode, in one sacred wombe. There were they coupled together by the holy ghost,Ephes 2.Eph 2 neuer to be deuyded a sunder. He retayneth the one with the other, in seperablye. As he will not altar the substaunce of hys fleshe, into the substaunce of bread no more will hee altar the shape of hys bodye, into the forme of bread There cannot be a greater absurditie agaynst the truth, then to thinke that he would leaue the shape that he tooke in the virgins womb, being an accident vntounto hys manhoode, and ioyne vntounto the same a wafer cake baken in an ouen, or betwene a payre of yrons. As he is in heauen very man, one onelyonly mediatour betwene God and man, euen the man Chryst Iesus,1. Iohn. 2.1 John 2 hee it is that is the propitiation for our sinnes. Be bolde therefore, to confesse thys most pure and Apostolicall doctrine:Col. 1.Col 1 and also that all fauoure, mercy, and forgeuenesse commeth onelyonly by him p. 1700He onelyonly of God the father was made for vsus, all wisedome, righteousnes, sanctification and redemption. All these are the giftes of God the father, freely geuen vntounto vsus by Christ Iesus God and man, through fayth in his bloud, and not by the merites of men. Giftes they are (I say) freely geuen vntounto vsus of fauoure,1 Cor. 2. Ephe. 2. …. 2. Gala. 3. Act. 10.1 Cor 2Eph 2Gal 3Acts 10 wythout our deserte by beleeuing, and not by deseruing. To this doe the lawe and the Prophetes beare witnesse.

This doctrine hauehave all the blessed Martyrs of Christes church wytnessed wyth theyr bloude to bee true. To thys trueth, hauehave all the consciences of all true beleuers subscribed euer since the Ascension of Christ. This witnesse is not of man, but of God. What better quarrell can ye thē hauehave to geue your liues for,Luke. 9.Luke 9 then the trueth it selfe? That man that geueth his lyfe for the truth, taketh the rediest way to lyfe. He that hath the Popes curse for the truth, is sure of Christes blessing. Well then my brethren what shall now lette, but that ye goe forward as ye hauehave begon? Nay rather runne wyth the runners that ye maye obtayne the appoynted glorye. Holde on the right waye, looke not back, hauehave the eye of youre heart fixed vppon GOD, and so runne, that ye may get holde of it. Cast awaye all your worldly pelfe,Iohn. 14. Psal. 15. Ephe 4. Col. 5. Math. 10. Marke. 8.John 14Ps 15Eph 4Matt 10Mark 8 and worldly respects, as the fauour of friendes, the feare of men, sensuall affection, respect of persons, honour, prayse, shame, rebuke, wealth, pouertie, riches, landes, possessions, carnall fathers and mothers, wife and children, with the louelove of your own selues, and in respect of that heauenly treasure ye loooke for, let al these be denyed, & vtterly refused of you, so that in no cōditiō they do abate your seale, or quenche youre louelove towardes God. In this case make no acōpt of thē, but rather repute thē as vile, in comparison of euerlasting life.Phil. 3. Luke. 8.14.Phil 3Luke 8:14 Away with them as thornes that choke the heauenly seede of the Gospel, where they be suffered to grow. They are burdens of the fleshe, which encomber the soule exchaunge them therefore for aduauntage. Doth not he gayne that findeth heauenly and immortall treasure, for earthly & corruptible riches?Romans. 7.Rom 7 Loseth that man any thing, whiche of his carnall father and mother is forsaken, when therefore he is receaued of God the father to be his childe and eyre in Christ?Ephe. 1. Gala. 4. Phi. 3.Eph 1Gal 4 Heauenly for earthly: for mortall, immortall: for transitory thinges, permanēt: is great gaynes to a Christian conscience.

Therefore as I beganne, I exhort you in the Lorde, not to be afrayd. Shrinke not my brethren, mistrust not God, bee of good comforte, reioyce in the Lord, hold fast your fayth, and continue to the end Deny the world and take vp your crosse and follow him whiche is your loadesman,Heb. 6. 1. Cor. 2.Heb 61 Cor 2 and is gone before. If you suffer with him, yea you shall raygne with him. What way can you glorifie the name of your heauenly father better, then by sufferyng death for his sonnes sake? What a spectacle shal it be to the world to beholde so godly a fellowship as you seruauntes of God, in so iust a quarrell as the Gospell of Christ is, with so pure a conscience, so strong a fayth, and so liuely a hope, to offer your selues to suffer most cruell tormentes at the handes of Gods enemyes, and so to end your dayes in peace,Heb. 11.Heb 11 to receaue in the resurrection of the righteous, life euerlasting?

Be strong therfore in your battayle. The Lord God is on your side, and his truth is your cause: and against you be none, but the enemies of the crosse of Christe,Phi. 3. Math. 3. Iohn. 8.3 John 1:8 as the serpent and his seede, the Dragon with hys tayle, the marked men of the Beast, the ofspring of the Pharisees, the congregation malignant, the generation of Vipers, murtherers, as theyr father the deuill hath bene from the beginning. To conclude, such are they as the Lorde God hath alwayes abhorred, and in all ages resisted and ouerthrowne. God, from whome nothing is hid,Psalm. 34. Heb. 4.Ps 34Heb 4 knoweth what they are. Hee that searcheth the heartes of men, he hath found them out to be crafty, subtill, full of poyson, proud, disdainefull, stiffenecked, deuourers, raueners, and barkers against the truth, filthy & shamelesse- and therefore doth the spirite of God, by the mouthes of hys holy Prophetes and Apostles,Iude. 1.Jude 1 call them by the names of Foxes, serpentes. Cockatrices, Lyons, Leopardes, Bulles, Beares, Wolues, Dogs, Swine, Beasts, teachyng vsus therby to vnderstād, that their natural inclinatiō is, to deceaue, poison, and destroy (as much as in them lyeth) the faythfull and elect of God.Psalm. 76.Ps 76 But the Lord with his right arme shal defend his little flocke agaynst the whole rabblement of these worldlings,Math. 20. Luke. 21. Math. 10. 1. Pet 2.Matt 20Luke 21Matt 101 Pet 2 which hauehave conspired against him: he hath numbred all the heares of his childrens heades, so that not one of thē shal pearish without hys fatherly wil. He kepeth the sparrowes, much more will he preserue them whom he hath purchased with the bloud of the immaculate Lambe. Hee will keepe them vntounto the houre appointed, wherein the name of God shalbe glorified in his saynctes. In the meane tyme let them woorke theyr willes,Math. 10. Sapi. 3.Matt 10 let them enuy, let them maligne, let thē blaspheeme let them curse, banne, betray, whippe, scourge, hang and burne: for by these meanes God will try his elect as gold in the furnace and by these fruites, shall they also bring themselues to be knowen what they be, for all their sheepes skinnes. For as he that in suffering paciently for the Gospell of God, is thereby knowne to be of Christ:Psalm. 7.Ps 7 euen so in likewise is the persecutor of him knowne to be a member of Antichrist. Besides this, their extreme cruelty shall be a meane, the sooner to prouoke God to take pittie vponupon his seruauntes, and to destroy them that so tyrannously entteate his people: as we may learne by the historyes, as well in the bondage of Israell vnderunder Pharao in Egypt,Exod. 13. Esd. 3 13. 2. Mach. 7. Iacob. 4. 1. Peter. 5. Apo. 9. Heb. 12. Iacob. 2.Exod 132 Macc 71 Pet 5Heb 12 as also in the miserable captiuitie of Iuda in Babilon: Where as, when the people of God were in most extreeme thraldome, thē did the Lord stretch forth his mighty power to deliuer his seruauntes. Though God for a tyme, suffer them to be exalted in theyr owne pryde, yet shal they not scape his vengeaunce. They are hys roddes, and when hee hath worne them to the stumpes, then will he cast them into the fire: this shalbe theyr final reward. Our duetye is in the meane while, paciently to abide the wil of God, which worketh al thinges for the best.

Thus dealeth he with vsus, partly for our tryall, and partly also for our sinnes,2. Cor. 12. Esdras. 36.2 Cor 12 which we most greeuously hauehave committed to the great slaunder of hys gospell, whereby the name of God was euil spoken of among hys enemies: for the whiche he now punisheth vsus with his fatherly corrections in this worlde,Romans. 2.Rom 2 that wee shoulde not be dampned with the world. By thys meanes seeketh hee his sheep that were lost, to bring thē home to the fold agayn. By this w…y seeketh he to reform vsus,1. Cor. 1. Luke. 15.1 Cor 1Luke 15 that we may be lyke vntounto him after the image of his son Iesus christ, in al holines & righteousnes before him. Finally, this way vseth his godly wisedome, to make vsus therby to know him, & our selues in him,Ephes. 4.Eph 4 that afore time had in a manner forgotten him, praysed be hys name therefore. And as for these Balaamites, whiche nowe do molest vsus, commit, them to the handes of GOD, geue him the vengeaunce, and hee will reward them. Fall ye to prayer,Os…. 13. and let these belly GODS prate. For he is in heauen and sleepeth not, that keepeth Israell. He is in heauen that made the seas calme,Rom. 12. Phil. 2. Luke. 8. Marke. 4. Psalme 8. Psalm. 4. Ieremy. 12. Ieremy. 18.Rom 12Phil 2Luke 8Mark 4Ps 8Ps 4Jer 12Jer 18 and when the Disciples were afrayd. Let vsus nowe faythfully call vppon him and hee wyll heare vsus. Let vsus cry vntounto the Lorde for he is gracious and mercifull. When we are in trouble he is with vsus, he will deliuer vsus, and he will glorifie vsus. If we come vntounto him, we shall find him turned vntounto vsus. If we repent vsus of our wickednes done agaynst hym, thē shall he take away the plague that he hath deuised agaynst vsus.

Let vsus therefore earnestly repent, and bring forth the worthy fruites of repentaunce. Let vsus study to be hys, then shall we not neede to feare what these hipocrites do agaynst vsus,Math. 12.Matt 12 whiche wyth theyr pretensed holines deceiue the harts of the simple, and abuse the authoritie of God in his Princes, causing them (by theyr procurement) to testify their ambicious prelacye, and to erect vpp theyr Idoll agayne with the Romish Masse.Iob. 12. Pro. 15.21.Job 12Prov 15:21 God in whose hands are the hartes of kinges, open the hart of the Queenes highnesse to espy them out what they be, and so to wede thē out, that they no longer be suffered to trouble the congregation of God,Psal. 24.30.78.Ps 24:30Ps 24:78 and to poyson the realme with Pope holy doctrine. God almightye for hys sonne Iesus Christes sake deliuer the Queenes highnes and this her church & realme, frō these proud prelates, which are as profitable in the Churche of Christ as a polecatte in the middest of a Warran of connies.

To conclude my brethren, I commit you to God and to the power of his worde, whiche is able to establishe you in all truth. His spirite be with you and worke alway that ye may be mindfull of your dueties towards hym whose ye are both body and soule. Whome see that ye louelove, serue, dread and obey, aboue al worldly powers, and for nothing vnderunder the heauēs,Marke. 6. Math. 10. Apo. 5.Mark 6Matt 10 defile your consciēce before God. Dissemble not with his word: God will not be mocked: nay they that dissemble with hym, deceiue themselues. Such shal the Lord deny & cast out at the last day: such (I say) as beare two faces in one hoode: such as play on both hands: suche as deny the knowne trueth: such as obstinately rebell against him. All such with their partakers shall the Lord destroy.Iohn. 16.John 16 God defend you from all such. and make you perfite vntounto the end. Your sorrowe shall be turned into ioy.

¶An other letter sent to hys wife.

THe God and father eternal, which brought again from death our Lord Iesus christ, keep thee deare wife now and euer, amen, and al thy parentes and friendes, I praise God for his mercy, I am in the same state that ye lefte me in, rather better then woorse, looking dayly for the liuing God, before whome I hunger full sore to appeare, and receaue the glory, of whiche I trust thou art willing to be a partaker. I geue God most harty thankes therefore, desiring thee of all loues, to stand in that faith which thou hast receiued, and let no man take away the seed that almighty God hath sowne in thee, but lay hands of euerlasting lyfe, which shall euer abide, when both the earth, and all earthly frends shall perish, desiring them also to receaue thankfully our trouble whiche is momentane and light, and as S. Paule sayth not worthy of the thinges whiche shall be shewed on vsus, that we patiētly carying our crosse may attayne to the place where our sauiour Christ is gone before to the which I beseeche God of his mercye bryng vsus speedely. I hauehave bene much troubled about your deliuerance fearing muche the perswasions of worldlinges, and hauehave founde a friend, whiche will (I trust) finde a meane for you if you bee not alreadye prouyded desirynge you in anye case to abide suche order, as those my p. 1701friendes shall appoint in God. And beare well in mind y^e wordes which I spake at our departing, that as god hath found vsus, and also elected vsus worthy to suffer with hym. We may endeuour our selues to follow vprightly in thys our vocation, desiring you to present my hartye commendations to all our friendes, and in especiall to youre Parentes, keeping your matter close in any wise. Geue most harty thankes to my frend, whiche onelyonly for oure cause is come to Windsor. Continue in prayer. Do well. Be faultles in all thinges. Beware abhominations. Keepe you cleane from sinne. Praye for me, as I doe for you. I hauehave sent you a peece of golde for a token, and moste entierlye desire you to send me word if ye lacke any thing. The lord Iesu preserue you and yours. Amen. From Newgate the 15. of Aprill.

By your husband here and in heauen Robert Smith.

This foresayde Robert Smith the valiaunt and constant martyr of christ, thus replenished (as ye hauehave heard) with the fortitude of Gods spirite, was condemned at Lō don by Boner there Bishop,The Martyrdome and comfortable death of Rob. Smith of Vxbridge. An. 1555. August. 8. the xii. day of Iulye, and suffered at Uxbridge the 8. day of August: who as he had bene a comfortable instrument of God before to all them that were in prison with him, so nowe also being at the stake, hee did no lesse comforte the people, there standyng aboute hym, willing them to thinke well of his cause, and not to doubte but that his bodye dying in that quarrell, shoulde rise agayne to life. And sayde hee, I doubte not, but that God wil shew you some token thereof. At length he being well nigh halfe burnt,A token of comfort and resurrection geuen by R. Smith at his Martirdome. and all blacke with fire, clustered together as in a lumpe like a blacke cole, all men thinking him for dead, sodaynely rose vp right before the people, lifting vp the stumpes of his armes, and clapping the same together, declaring a reioysing heart vntounto them, and so bending downe agayne, and hanging ouer the fire, slept in the Lord, and ended this mortall life.

¶Letters. A sententious letter of Robert Smith to Anne Smith hys wyfe

A letter of Robert Smith to his wyfe, full of ghostly instruction.SEeke first to louelove God deare wife, with your whol hart and then shall it be easy to louelove your neighbour.

Be frendly to al creatures, and especially to your own soule.

Be alwayes an enemy to the deuil and the world, but especially to your owne flesh.

In hearyng of good thinges ioyne the eares of youre head and ha…t together.

Seeke vnitie and quietnes with all men, but especially with your conscience: for he wil not easely be entreated.

LoueLove all men, but especially your enemies.

Be good to thine enemy.Hate the sinnes that are paste, but especiallye those to come.

Be as ready to further your enemy, as he is to hinder you, that ye may be the childe of God.

Defile not that which Christ hath clēsed, least his bloud be layd to your charge.

Remember that God hath hedged in your tongue, w^t the teeth and lips,A double hedge to the tongue. that it might speake vnderunder correction.

Be ready at all tymes to looke in youre brothers eye, but especially in your owne eye. For hee that warneth other of that he himselfe is faultie, doth geue hys neighbour the cleare wyne, and keepeth the dregges for hymselfe

Cast out the mo…e in thine owne eye first. Coue… not to be rich.Beware of riches and worldly honor: for without vnderstansting prayer, and fasting, it is a snare and also pouertie, all whiche are like to consuming fire, of whiche if a man take a little, it will warme hym, but if hee take too much, it will consume him. For it is hard for a man to cary fire in his bosome, and not be brent.

Shew mercy vntounto the sayntes for Christes sake, and Christ shall reward you for the sayntes sake. Among all other prisoners visite your owne soule:Blessed be the mercifull. for it is enclosed in a perilous prison.

If ye will louelove God, hate euill, and ye shall obteyn the reward of well doyng.

Thus fare you well, good Anne. HaueHave me hartily commended to all that louelove the Lorde vnfaynedly. I beseeche you hauehave me in your prayer while I am liuing, and I am assured the Lord will accept it. Bring vp my children and yours in the feare of God, and then shall I not fayle but receaue you together in the euerlasting kingdome of God, which I goe vntounto.

Your husband, Robert Smith.

If ye will meete with me agayne,

Fosake not Christ for any payne.

¶An other letter sent to his wife Anne Smyth.

THe grace of almighty God be alwayes with you and comfort, strength, and stablishe you in all thinges,An other letter of R. Smith to his wyfe. that what his blessed will is, ye may followe faythfully, to hys honour, my comfort, and your owne saluation, and the good ensample to our posteritie.

I hauehave receiued your letter, and I prayse God, without any danger:Commendation of Peter the keeper. neuerthelesse if Gods meruailous goodnes had not brought it to my handes by Peter the keeper there might hauehave risen a great trouble vponupon the same. For will ye know that George is a wicked man, vtterly without all feare of God: and if he had gotten it, the Counsaile sure had seene it. But Peeter like an honest man neuer opened it. Wherefore I desire you from henceforth let your letters be deliuered at Chauncery lanes ende, to my sister Tankerfield, and she may deliuer them safe into my hand. We are very straitely kepte, I prayse God of hys mercye Neuerthelesse, almighty God is alwayes with vsus. I hauehave sent you that ye wrote for. The two Nutmegges y^t shulde hauehave gone by Nicholas to our frendes, I send nowe, and desire them to accept them as a poore prisoners gift vntill God geue more largely. Thomas Iuison sendeth you a peny, I pray you geue him thankes for the same, and Diricke also. I hauehave sent you of that little that I hauehave two peeces of spanishe mony. The Lorde Iesus hauehave you in his custody, & send you good speed. In any case keepe your selfe close, I doubt much of your walkings. HaueHave my harty commendations to your parentes, and desire thē with you to hauehave me in theyr prayers. Be feruēt in prayer, pray pray, pray, that God would of his mercy put vp his sword and looke on his people. Tell my brother, with commendations, that the next commer shall bryng vp the Epistle & exhortation. I hauehave written all this fourtnight for my Lady, yea, and almost done nothing els. I woulde hauehave sēt him the articles of William Flower, and my talk with him, if I could hauehave deliuered it from the prison. The holy Ghost keepe you. I would ye could make a meanes for your money, to send a cheese to Peter: for I finde muche kindenesse at his handes. Ye shall alwayes heare of me at Tankerfieldes house. All the Congregation salute you. Fare you most hartily well.

I hauehave not yet (tell my brother) spoken with the person. There hathe come so straite a commaundement, that no man might come to vsus, because Tooly cursed the pope at the gallowes. They thought it to be our counsell.

Yours, and euer yours, Robert Smith.

¶An other letter sent to hys wife.

GRace, mercy, and peace from God the father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ be with you, deare wyfe, now & euer Amen: and preuent your wayes through hys holye spirite, that ye may in all your wordes and workes please God, and eschew euil, to hys honor and your saluation,An other letter of R. Smith to his wyfe. y^t they which see your conuersation, may in all things learne to doe like, euen to the vtter shame and confusion of the wicked and vngodly. Amen.

I sent you by M. Alexander, a purse with money. I hauehave certayne tokens for you, sent by my prison fellowes to you, y^t is,Beholde here the Cōmunion of Saintes. from M. Haukes .xii. d. frō M. Simson .xii. d. from his wife .iiij. d. from M. Wattes fiue new grotes, frō M. Ardeley .xij. d. from M. Bradford xij. d. which men be all gone to death, except M. Bradford, he abideth stil. Ther is also gone to death Nicholas Chamberlayne, Tho. Osmund, William Bamford. There …s also condemned thys monday Diricke Caruer, Thomas Iuison, Iohn Launder, and William Uassy is repriued. Pray to God to hauehave mercy vponupon hys people, and bid my brother, if he can conueniently, come downe on monday next: if he can not wel do it, let hym abide at home. HaueHave me hartily commended to your parents. I hauehave sent each of them a token, a bowed grote, and desire them for Gods sake to helpe vsus with theyr prayers. HaueHave litle Katherine in minde. Commend me vntounto all good friendes. Continue in prayer. Beware of vanitie. Let not God be dishonored in your conuersation, but like a good Matron, keepe your vessel in holines. The peace of God rest with you for euer. Amen.

My brother Iuison sendeth to you a tokē, to your mother a token, and to Katherine a token, iij. pence. Iohn Launder sendeth you a peece of Spanish mony, father Heralt a peece of vi. d. William Androwes sendeth you a rase of Ginger, and I sēd your mother one, and a Nutmeg. I send Katherine Comfites for a token to eate. I hauehave sent you a keyclog for a token.

Your husband, Robert Smith.

p. 1702A letter sent to his frende.

Anno 1555. August.THe eternall God keepe you in his feare. I hauehave hearty commendations vntounto you and your husbande, beseeching almighty God to preserue you in well doing,An other letter of Robert Smith to a … of …. and in perfecte knowledge of his Christe, that yee may be founde faultles in the day of the Lorde. I hauehave heard saye, that my frende is geuen ouer to vanitie: it breaketh my hearte, not onelyonly to heare that he so doeth, but also teacheth other, that it is vnhurtful to goe to all abhominations, whych nowe stand in the Idols temples: neuerthelesse deare frende, be ye not mooued to follow sinners: for they hauehave no inheritance with God and Christe. But looke that by going into the Idoll temple, ye defile not the temple of God: for light hath no felowship w^t darkenesse. But looke what the Lord hath commaunded, that doe. For if not going to Churche were without persecution, they would not learne you that lesson. But all thing that is sweete to the flesh, is allowed of the fleshly. The Lord shal reward eueryevery man according to his woorkes, and he that leadeth into captiuitie, shall go into captiuitie, and hee that by the fleshly man is led in the flesh, shall of the flesh reape corruption. The Lorde Iesu geue thee his holy spirite. Amen.

I hauehave sent thee an Epistle in metre, whiche is not to be laid vp in thy cofer, but in thy heart.

Seeke peace and ensue it. Feare God, louelove God with all thy heart, with all thy soule, and with all thy strength.

Thy frend and al mens in Christ Iesus, Rob. Smith.

Scribled in much hast from N. the 12. of May.

Robert Smith to all faithfull seruants of Christ, exhorting them to be strong vnderunder persecution.

Content thy selfe with pacience,

With Christ to beare the crosse of paine:

Which can and will thee recompence,

A thousande folde with ioyes againe.

Let nothing cause thy heart to quaile,

Lanch out thy boate, hale vp thy saile.

Put from the shore:

And be thou sure thou shalt attaine,

VntoUnto the port that shall remaine.

For euermore.