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Title: Certain most godly, fruitful, and comfortable letters of such true saintes and holy martyrs of God, as in the late bloodye persecution here within this realme, gaue their lyues for the defence of Christes holy gospel written in the tyme of their affliction and cruell imprysonment.
Print source: Certain most godly, fruitful, and comfortable letters of such true saintes and holy martyrs of God, as in the late bloodye persecution here within this realme, gaue their lyues for the defence of Christes holy gospel written in the tyme of their affliction and cruell imprysonment.
Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568,, Bradford, John, 1510?-1555,, Cranmer, Thomas, 1489-1556., Hooper, John, d. 1555., Hooper, John, d. 1555., Ridley, Nicholas, 1500?-1555.
Imprinted at London: By Iohn Day, dwelling ouer Aldersgate, beneath Saint Martines, 1564.
Alternate titles: Certain most godly, fruitful, and comfortable letters of such true saintes and holy martyrs of God, as in the late bloodye persecution here within this realme, gave their lyves for the defence of Christes holy gospel Certain most godly, fruitful, and comfortable letters of such true saintes and holy martyrs of God, as in the late bloodye persecution here within this realme, gave their lyves for the defence of Christes holy gospel.
Notes:
Compiled by Miles Coverdale, whose name appears on leaf A2.
At foot of title: Cum gratia & priuilegio Regiæ Maiestatis.
Leaves D8 and K6 are cancelled; text is continuous.
With two final contents leaves.
Includes letters by John Bradford (a partial reprint of "An exhortacion to the carienge of Chrystes crosse", STC 3480.5); John Careless; Thomas Cranmer (a partial reprint of "The copy of certain lettres sent to the Quene, and also to doctour Martin and doctour Storye" (STC 5999); John Hooper (a reprint of "A soveraigne cordial for a Christian conscience", STC 5157, possibly not by Hooper, and "Whether Christian faith maye be kepte secret in the heart, without confession therof openly to the worlde as occasion shal serve", STC 5160.3); John Philpot; and Nicholas Ridley (a reprint of "A frendly farewel", STC 21051).
Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.
Subject terms:
Christian martyrs -- England -- Early works to 1800.
Great Britain -- Church history -- 16th century -- Sources.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A19465.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

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Myles Couerdale vnto the Christian Reader, moste hartelye wysheth the continuall encrease of heauenlye taste and spirituall swetnesse, in the same assured saluation which commeth onely through Iesus Christ.
Faultes escaped in the pryntyng.
Certayne godly and fruitfull letters of D. Cranmer late Archbi∣shop of Canterbury, who first being im∣prisoned in the Tower of London, and afterward in Oxford, was there cruelly burnt for the true testimony of Christes gospel, in the yeare of our Lorde, 1556. the 16. daye of Februarye.
Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Caun∣terbury to Quene Mary.
¶ An other letter to Quene Mary.
¶This was written in an other letter to the Quene.
To the Lordes of the Counsaile.
¶A letter wherin he reproueth and condemneth the false and sclaunderous reportes of the papistes which said that he had set, vp masse again at Canterburye.
An epistle to a certayn lawyer for hys aduise and counsel touchyng hys appeale.
letter
To maistres Wilkinson a godlye matrone, exhorting her to flye in the time of persecution and to seke her dwellyng where she might serue God accordinge to hys word.
❧Letters of Doctor Ryd∣ley late Byshop of London, who af¦terlonge imprisonment, was spiteful∣ly and cruellye martyred in Oxford for the constante confession of godes true re∣ligion, In the yeare of oure Lorde God .1555. the xvi. day of October.
☜Ad fratres in captiuitate carnis & per varios carceres dispersos, sed in vnitate spiritus atque sacrosanctae religionis in visceribus Iesu Christi conglutinatos.
☞To the Brethren remaynyng in Capti∣uitie of the flesh, and dispersed abroade in sundry prisons, but knit together in vnity of spirite and holy religion in the bowels of the Lord Iesus.
Ad fratres qui Christum cum cruce amplectuntur.
To the brethren which constantly cleaue vnto Christ in suffring affliction wyth hym and for hys sake.
To the Quenes maiesty.
¶ An aunswer to a letter written vnto him by West sometyme hys Chaplayne.
Chariss. fratri & venerabili in Christo com∣presbytero Ioanni Hopero gratiam & pacem.
¶ To my most deare brother, and reuerend fellow Elder in Christe, Iohn Hoper, grace and peace.
☞ A letter of M. Edmunde Grindal, then being in exile for the testimony of the truth, and now bishop of London, to D. Ridley prisoner in Oxforde, whiche we thoughte good here to place, for that the letter followyng is an aunswer therof.
¶The aunswer of D. Rydley to the former letter.
To M. Cranmer and M. Latymer beyng separated from hym and prisoners in seuerall places.
To maister Bradford prisoner in the kinges Bench.
To maister Bradford.
To maister Bradford.
To maister Bradford
¶To maister Bradford.
¶To maister Bradford.
¶To maister Bradford.
¶To maister Bradford.
¶To Augustine Berneher, then seruaunt to M. Latymer, and nowe a faithfull minister in Christes churche, to whom because he might not come to the prison to speake with hym, he wrote as followeth.
To Augustine Bernher.
To Augustine Berneher.
¶ To Maistres Glouer, a woman zelous and harty in the cause and furtherance of Gods gospell.
To a frend that came to visite hym in prison but could not speake wyth hym.
¶ The manner of D. Ridleyes handlinge in the Scholes at Oxford, and of the impudent, spite full, & cruel dealing of the papistes: which he set before his disputation by way of a preface, and is not vnfitte here to be placed among the letters, translated out of his lattin copy into englysh.
¶ To Doctor Weston, requiring performaunce of certaine promises made vnto him, but neuer fulfilled, according to thaccustomed wily & vnfaythful dealyng of the papistes.
To a Cosin of hys.
A letter which he wrote as his last farewell, to al his true and faythefull frendes in God a lit∣tle before he suffred: with a sharpe admoniton by by the way, to the papists the enemies of the truth.
An other farewell to the prisoners in Christes gospels cause, and to all them which for the same cause are exiled and banished out form theyr own country cho∣sing rather to leaue al worldly commodity, then theyr mayster Christ.
¶ This that followeth, which he further wrote con∣cerning his cruell handlyng in the scholes at Ox∣ford, & also of the condēnation of him, O. Cran¦mer, & M. Latymer &c: we would not here omitte, though in order in should before haue bene pla¦ced, next after the preface to his dispu∣tation, Folio 78.
❧Letters of mayster Iohn Hoper late Byshoppe of Glocester: wher, after his long and cruel imprison∣mente in the flete, he was burnte wyth most terrible kindes of tormentes (as you may reade in the boke of martyrs fol. 1062.) for the defēce of the syncere truth of the gospell, the 9. day, of Ianuary, in the yeare of our Lord. 1555.
¶A letter which he wrote to certayn godly per∣sons, professours and louers of the truth, instructing them howe they shoulde behaue them selues at the beginnynge of the chaunge of religion.
To all my deare brethren, my relieuers and helpers in the City of London.
An aunswere of a letter wherby he was aduertised of a godly company, to the number of thirty, taken at prayer in a house in Bowchurchyarde and caried to prison.
¶To the godly and faithfull company of prisoners in both the Counters, which were taken toge∣ther at prayer in a house in Bowchurchyard.
¶To certaine of hys beloued frendes in god, exhortyng them to sticke constantlye to the professed truth of the gospell in those days of tryall, and not to shrynke for any trouble.
An other letter to certaine godly parsons wrytten to the same effecte.
To a merchaunte of London, by whose meanes he had receyued much comfort in his greate necessity in the Fleete: where how cruelly he was handled, you shall see in the letter nexte followyng.
A report of hys miserable imprisonment and most cruell handlyng by Babington, that enemye of god and of hys truthe, then Warden of the Fleete.
¶A letter concerning the vayne and false reportes whiche were spreade abrode of him, that he had recanted and abiured that doctrine whiche he before had preached.
To maistres Wilkinson, a woman harty in gods cause, & comfortable to his aflicted members.
To my dearely beloued Syster in the Lord maistres. A. W.
To mayster Ferrar byshop of S. Dauids. D. Taylor, maister Bradford and mayster Philpot, prisoners in the kinges Bench in South warke.
To my deare frendes in God mayster Iohn Hall and hys wyfe.
To one that was fallen from the knowen truth of the gospell, to Antichriste and his damna∣ble religion,
To the faithfull and liuely members of our sauiour Iesus Christ, inhabityng the city of London, grace and peace from the heauenly father through our lord Iesus Christ.
To a certayne godly woman, instructing her how she should behaue her selfe in the time of her widowhode.
An aunswer to a frende of his for a woman that was troubled with her husband in matters of reli∣gion, how she should behaue her selfe to∣wardes him.
To my beloued in the Lord. W. P.
To my dearely beloued frende in Christe mayster Iohn Hal.
☞ An exhortation to patience, sent to his godlye wife Anne Hoper: wherby all the true members of Christe may take comforte and courage, to suffer trouble and affliction for the profes∣sion of his holy Gospell.
☞A letter sente to the Christian congregation, wherin he proueth that true faith cannot be kepte secrete in the heart without confession therof o∣penly to the world when occasion serueth.
¶An epistle of the famous learned man M. Henry Bul∣linger, written to M. Hoper in the tyme of hys trouble: which for the worthines of the matter, we thought not impartinent here to place emonges hys letters. Reuerendissimo VVigorniae & Glocestriae E∣piscopo D. Ioanni Hopero nunc vincto Ie∣su Christi, Compatri & Domino meo colendiss. fratrique chariss, in Anglia.
The same in English.
☞To the most reuerende father M. Iohn Ho∣per bishop of Worceter and Gloucester, and now prisoner for the Gospell of Iesus Christe, my fellowe Elder and most deare brother, in England.
❧ Certayne letters of Doc∣tor Taylor parson of Hadley in Suffolke: who by his death & mar∣tyrdom, there witnessed and confyrmed that doctrine, which he had before most pain¦fully and faithfullye taughte. The 9. of February, in the yere of our Lord. 1555.
¶To my deare fathers and brethren. D. Cranmer, D. Rydley, and D. Latymer prisoners in Ox∣forde for the faythfull testimonye of gods holye Gospell.
¶To a frende of his whiche was desyrous to know the talke that was betwixt him and the Quenes commissioners at the tyme of hys examination.
The copy of a writing that D. Taylour sent to a frende of hys concerning the causes vvherfore he vvas condemned.
A letter which he sent to his wife and children and other of his frends in Hadley as his farewel and last testament.
❧ Letters of Maister Lau∣rence Saunders parson of Alhol∣lowes in Bredstrete in London: who, after faythfull testimonye of hys doc∣trine by long imprisonment, was condem∣ned to the fyre, and at Couentrie (by gods prouidence, no doubt, to confirme that he had in that countrey also fruitfully taught) suf∣fred with most valiant and chereful cou∣rage, as ye may read in the boke of mar∣ters, Fol. 1048. The .8. day of Febr. In the yere of our Lord. 1555.
To my most deare and reuerend fathers in Christ. D. Cranmer. D. Rydley and D. Latimer prisoners in Oxforde.
¶To the professours of the Gospell and true doctrine of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, in the towne of Litchefelde
To maystres Lucye Harryngton a godly gen∣tlewoman, and frendly in hys trouble to hym and his.
An other letter to Maistres Lucie Harrington.
To hys godly and faythfull wyfe and to hys deare frendes Maister Robert Harrington and Maister Hurland.
An other letter to hys wyfe and to Maister Harrington and Maister Hurland.
An aunsweare to a frende of hys who sent to knowe what Doctor VVeston dyd at the Marshalse.
To his wife and other of his deare frendes and louers in the Lorde.
¶To hys VVyfe.
¶To hys VVyfe.
A letter wrytten to Steuen Gardiner Byshop of VVynchester and then Lord Chauncellour, as an aunswer to some thyngs wherwith he had before charged hym.
¶To hys wyfe and other of hys frendes after hys condemnation to rhe fyre and a litle before hys death.
To hys VVyfe and other of hys frendes.
¶To mayster Robert Glouer and Iohn Glouer two worthy brethren, as in the fleshe, so in the Lorde, the one afterward a Martyr, the other a faythfull confessour.
An other letter to. M. Glouers, written the same morning that he was burnte.
A letter written to a certayne backeslyder from the truth of Gods woorde, whiche he had both professed and taught: the whiche, bicause it is thought of some, albeit not certaynly knowen, to be written by. M. Saunders, we haue here annexed vnto hys letters.
A letter sente to Maister Farrer B. of S. Dauids. Doctor Taylour. M. Bradford, and. M. Philpot: which, albeit it was written before his condem∣nation, we thought good here to place as it came vnto our handes.
An other letter written also before hys condemna∣tion to Maistres Harrington: whiche, as it is here last in order, comming last vnto our hands, so it semeth to be the fyrst he wrote vnto her.
¶Certayne godly verses not here to be omitted, which he wrote to hys prison fellowes of the Marshalsee.
❧ Letters of that hartie and zelous man of God Maister Iohn Philpot Archdeacō of Winchester: who, besides the great tyrannye and tormentes whiche he suffered in Boners blynde colehouse, and other hys payn∣full imprisonments, was also most cruelly martyred for the testimony of the Lord Iesus. The .18. daye of December in the yeare of our Lorde .1557.
¶A letter which he sent to the Christian congrega∣tion, exhortyng them to refrayne themselues from the Idolatrous seruice of the papistes, and to serue god wyth a pure and vndefiled conscience after hys worde.
To hys deare frende in the Lorde Iohn Careles prisoner in the kings Bench.
An other letter written to Iohn Careles out of the Colehouse of darkenes, whereby he ge∣ueth lighte and heauenlye comforte to hys heauy and troubled mynde.
A letter of Iohn Careles writen to Maister Philpot, which we thought best here to place a part from hys other letters hereafter followyng, bi∣cause it is an answere to the former letter.
¶To certayne godly women forsakyng theyr owne countrey and goyng beyond the seas in the tyme of persecution, for the testi∣mony of the Gospell.
¶ An exhortation to a Syster of hys, constantlye and cherefully to stick to the truth, and to abide the triall of that doctrine which she had fruite∣fullye professed.
To my deare frende and brother in the Lord. M. Robert Harrington.
To Maister Robert Glouer prisoner in Couentrye for the mayntenaunce of Gods Gospel.
To my dearely beloued Sister in the Lord Maistres Heath.
To my brother Iohn Careles prisoner in the Kinges Benche.
To Maistres Anne Hartipole, who was fal∣len from the syncerity of the gospel which she had before long knowē and professed, to the Pope and his Idolatrous religion.
¶To a faythful woman and late wyfe to one of the bishops which gaue theyr liues in the Lordes quarell.
❧ Letters of Maister Iohn Bradforde, a faythfull Minister and a synguler pyller of Christes churche: by whose greate trauailes and diligence in preaching and plāting the syncerity of the gospel, by whose most godly and innocent lyfe, and by whose long and payneful imprisonments for the maintenance of the truth, the kyngdom of god was not a litle aduaūced: who al∣so at last most valiātly & cherefully gaue his blood for the same. The .4. day of Iuly. In the yere of our Lord. 1553.
¶To all that professe the gospell and true doctryne of our Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christe in the City of London, Iohn Bradford a most vnworthy ser∣uaunt of the Lorde, now not only in prison but also excom∣municated and condemned to be burned for the same true doctrine, wysheth mercy, grace and peace, wyth en∣crease of all godly knowledge, from God the fa∣ther of mercy, through the merites of oure a∣lone and omnisufficient redemer Iesus Christ, by the operation of his holy spirite for euer. Amen.
To al that loue the lord Iesus, and his true doctrine being in rhe vniuersity and towne of Cambridge, Iohn Bradforde, a most vnworthy seruaunt of the lord, novve not onely prisoned but also condemned for the same true doctrine, vvysheth grace, peace, and mercye vvith encrease of all godlines, from god the father of al mercy, through the bloody passion of our alonely Sauiour Iesus Christ, by the liuely workyng of the holy spirite, for euer, Amen.
¶To all those that professe the name and true reli∣gion of our Sauioure Iesus Christe, in Lanke∣shyre and Chesshire, and specially abyding in Man∣chester and theraboutes, Iohn Bradford a moste vn∣worthy seruant of the Lord, now not only in bondes but also cōdemned for the same true religion, wisheth mer∣cye and grace, peace and encrease of all godlines, frō god the father of all pietie, throughe the desertes of our Lorde Iesus Christ, by the workyng of the most mighty and liuely spirite the comforter for euer. Amen.
¶To the faythfull and such as professe the true doc∣trine of our Sauiour Iesus Christe, dwellyng at VValden and thereaboutes, Iohn Bradford a most vn¦worthy seruant of the Lorde, nowe in bandes and condemned for the same true doctryne, wisheth grace, mercye and peace, wyth the encrease of all godlines, in knowledge and lyuyng, from God the father of all comforte, through the desertes of our a∣lone and full redemer Iesus Christe, by the mightye workyng of the most holy spirite, the comforter for euer. Amen.
To the honourable lord Russell, nowe Earle of Bedford, being then in trouble for the veritye of gods Gospell.
An other letter to the Lord Russell
¶To. M. VVarcuppe and his wife, Maistres VVilkinson, and other of his godly frendes with their families.
¶To Syr Iames Hales knyght, then prisoner in the Counter in Bredestrete.
To hys Mother, a godly matrone dwelling in Man∣chester, & to hys brethren and sisters and other of his frendes there.
To my very frende in the Lorde Doctor Hyll Phisition.
To Maystres M. H. a godly gentlewoman, comfor∣tyng her in that common heauines and godly sorrow, which the feeling and sense of sinne wor∣keth in gods children.
An other letter full of Godly comforte writ∣ten to the same person.
To my beloued in the Lord. VV. P.
To Maistres I. H. a faythfull woman and fearyng God, whom he exhorteth to bee paci∣ent vnder the crosse & not to feare death.
To my good frend in God Maister Humphrey Hales.
¶An other letter to Maister Humfrey Hales and his VVyfe.
¶To certayne of hys faythfull frendes in God, ex∣hortyng them to bee ioyfull vnder the crosse as a token of gods synguler fauour towardes them.
To myne owne deare brother Maister Laurence Saunders prisoner in the Marshalsee.
An other letter to Maister Laurence Saunders.
A letter which he wrote to a faythfull woman in her heauines and trouble: most comfor∣table for all those that are afflicted and bro∣ken harted for their sinnes.
¶To my louyng brethren .B. and .C. wyth their wyues and whole families.
To my good Lady Vane.
An other letter to the Lady Vane.
To the Lady Vane.
To my deare frendes and brethren. R. and E. with their wiues and families.
To Maystres VVylkinson.
To Maystres VVylkinson.
¶ To my deare Brother in the Lorde Mayster Ry∣chard Hopkyns and hys wyfe dwellyng in Couentrye, and other my faythfull bretherne and Systers, professours of gods holye Gos∣pel there and theraboutes.
An other letter to Maister Richarde Hopkins then Shriefe of Couentrye and prysoner in the Fleete for the faythfull and constant con∣fessing of gods holy Gospell.
To my deare fathers D. Cranmer D. Ridley D. Latymer, prysoners in Oxforde for the testimonye of the Lord Iesus and hys holy Gospell.
¶ To Maister Shalcrosse and hys wyfe dwel∣lyng in Lankeshyre.
To hys godly frendes. G. and N. encouragyng thē to prepare themselues to the crosse, and patiēt∣ly to endure afflictions for god cause and hys ho∣hys Gospell.
An other letter wrytten to certayne godly persons to the same effecte.
An other letter to the same persons.
To my good brother Iohn Careles pryso∣ner in the King Bench.
To Maister Iohn Hall and hys wife pryso∣ners in Newgate for the testimonye of the Gospell.
To Mystres Hall prysoner in Newgate and ready to make aunswer before her aduersaries.
¶ An admonition to certayne professours and louers of the gospell, to beware they fall not from it in consentyng to the Romyshe religion by the ex∣ample of the shrinkyng, haltyng, and double faced Gospellers.
To my good frendes in the Lord Maister R. and hys wyfe.
To the worshipfull Syr VVilliam Fitzwilliams then being Knyghte Marshall of the Kinges Benche.
To my good brother Maister Coker at Maldon in Essex.
To a frend of hys, instructyng hym howe he shoulde aunsweare hys aduersaryes.
¶ A letter writen to a deare frende of hys, wherein he entreateth, as briefely, so moste perfectlye, godly, soundly and pithely, of gods holy election, free grace and mercy in Iesus Christ.
To a woman that desyred to know hys mynde whe∣ther she, refrayning from the Masse, myght be present at the popyshe Mattyns or no.
To the worshipful, and in God my most deare frend, the Ladye Vane.
To myne owne good brother Mayster Iohn Phyl∣pot, prysoner in the Kynges Benche.
To my frendes and brethren in the Lorde R. Cole, and N. Sheterden.
To my good brother R. Cole.
¶To my good Syster Mystres Eliza∣beth Browne.
To Mystres Browne.
¶To a faythfull frende of hys, whome for hys godly symplicity and synglenes of hart in the wayes of the Lorde, he called Nathanaell, as he doth also here in thys letter.
To certayne Godly men, whom he exhorteth to bee patient vnder the crosse & constant in the true doctrine which they had professed.
To my dearely beloued in the lord Mystres VV. and Mystres VV.
To my good Syster M. H.
¶ An exhortation to the patient sufferyng of trou∣ble and afflictions for Christes cause, wrytten to all the vnfayned professours of the gospell tho∣roughout the realme of England, at the beginning of hys imprisonmente, and here placed as it came to our handes.
¶To my deare frende and brother in the Lorde Maister George Eaton.
An other letter to Maister George Eaton.
A letter writen to hys Mother, as a farewell, when he thoughte he shoulde haue suffered shortlye after.
Another letter to hys Mother, as hys laste farewell vnto her in thys worlde a litle before he was burned.
To one by whom he had receiued much comfort and reliefe in hys trouble and imprisonment.
To my dearely beloued Syster Mystres A. VV.
¶An other letter to Mystres A.VV.
¶To certayne godlye men relieuers and hel∣pers of hym and others in theyr im∣prisonmente.
To my deare fathers. D. Cranmer. D. Ridley and. D. Latimer.
To the Ladye Vane.
To my good brother Augustine Berneber.
To myne owne good Augustine.
To certaine men, not ryghtly persuaded in the most true, comfortable, and necessarye doctrine of Gods holy election and predestination.
To Trewe, and Abyngton, wyth other of their company, teachers and maynteiners of the errour of mans freewyll.
¶At thys letter, these men were so sore offended, because he sayde he had hyndered hymselfe to further them, as though be had therby vpbrayded them: that in dyspleasure they sent it to hym agayne. Whereupon he wrote vnto them as followeth.
¶A letter whyche he set as a preface before a sup∣plication sente to Quene Marye, her counsel, and the whole Parliamente: whiche supplication commeth not yet to our handes.
To a faythefull and deare frende of hys, entreatyng of this place of S. Paule to the Romaynes: The feruente desyre of the creature wayteth, when the children of God shalbe delyuered.
❧ Certayne letters of may∣ster Thomas Whyttel, a godlye and a faythefull Minyster and preacher of gods worde, who after he had relented by the tyrannye and cruel dealyng of Bonner, returned agayne wyth greate constancye, and stoode to the defence of the truthe vn∣to the fyre. The .12. of Ianuary. In the yeare of our Lorde. 1556.
To my beloued frende and faythfull Bro∣ther in Christe, Iohn Careles prysoner in the Kynges Benche.
¶To my deare frende and brother Thomas VVente and other hys prison fellowes in Lol∣lardes Tower.
¶To all the true professours and louers of Gods holy Gospell wythin the Citye of London.
To my louyng and faythfull brother Iohn Careles, prisoner in the Kynges Benche.
To my deare brethren .M. Filles and Cutbert.
❧ Letters of Maister Ro∣bert Samuell, a godly and learned Mi∣nister and preacher of Gods worde, burnte at Ipsewiche for the faythfull te∣stimony of the same, the 18. of Auguste. 1555. of whose straunge tormentes, and vnmerci∣full handlyng &c, reade in the booke of Martyrs. Fol. 1270.
An exhortation to the patient suffe∣ryng of afflictions for Christes cause, and the verity of hys Gospell.
An other letter written to the Christian cōgregati∣on, called the fayth of Robert Samuell.
❧ Letters of Maister Iohn Hullyer, a true pastour and a faythfull minister in Gods Church: who, for the con∣fyrmation of that doctrine which he had most faythfully professed and taught, gaue hys bodye to bee burnte at Cambrige the .16. daye of Aprill. Anno. 1556.
A letter written to the Christian congregation, exhorting them constantly and faythfully to abyde in the doctryne of the Lorde.
¶Iohn Hullyer beyng of longe tyme prysoner, and now openly iudged to dye for the testimony of the lord Iesus, wysheth hartely to the whole congre∣gation of God, the strength of hys holy spirite, to theyr euerlasting health, both of body and soule.
❧ Letters of Maister Ro∣bert Glouer, a gentleman of muche godlye learnynge, innocencye and vpryghtnes of lyfe, and hartye zeale to the worde of God, burnte at Couentrie for the faythfull testimo∣nye of the same, the .14. daye of Septem∣ber, In the yere of our Lord .1555.
To my moste intyrelye beloued wyfe Marye Glouer.
To the Maior of Couentrye and hys Brethren.
¶To hys wyfe, chyldren, and whole family, as hys last farewell to them for euer in thys worlde.
❧ Letters of Robert Smyth, one of the Chappell at Wyndsor, who as a true and constant witnes of Gods woorde, which he most faythfullye had professed, was cruellye Martyred at Vrbridge, the .14. daye of Auguste, In the yeare of oure Lorde. 1555.
To all them whiche loue God vnfaynedlye, and en∣tend to lead a Godly lyfe accordyng to hys gos∣pell, and to perseuer in his truth vnto the end: grace and peace from God the father, and from our Lorde Iesus Christ, Amen.
A letter sent to a frende of hys.
To hys VVyfe.
❧ Letters of Maister Bar∣telet Grene, a gentleman and professour of the Lawe: who, for gods cause and the mayntenaunce of hys holy Gospel, suffred martyrdome, the .13. of Ianuarye. In the yere of our Lord. 1556.
To hys dearely beloued in the lord Mystres Elizabeth C.
To my very louyng frendes and maysters, M. Goring, M. Farneham, M. Fletewode, M. Roses wel, M. Bell, M. Hussey, M. Calthorpe▪ M. Boyer, and other my Maisters of the Temple, Bartelet Grene wis∣sheth health of body and soule.
❧ Letters of that faythfull man of God John Careles, who by cruell imprisonmente and vnmercifull dealing of the papistes, dyed in the Marshalsee and was buryed in the fieldes on a dunge∣hill: and therefore is not vnworthye here to be placed amonges the Martyrs.
To my moste deare and faythfull bre∣thren in Newgate, condemned to die for the testimonye of Gods euerlasting truth.
To M. Greene, M. VVhittell and certaine other prysoners in Newgate, condemned and ready to be burnt for the testimony of the Lord Iesus.
To my deare and faythfull brother VV. Tymmes prysoner in Newgate.
¶To my derely beloued in the lord Mystres A. K.
To my deare Sister. M. C.
To my good Sister. M. C.
To my moste deare and faythfull brother in the lord. T. V.
To my deare brother. T. V.
Vnto all the faythful flocke of Iesus Christ within ye city of Londō, which feare god vnfainedlye & seke to serue hym in suche holynes & righteousnes as is ac∣ceptable in hys syght: Iohn Careles wysheth the e∣ternall peace of God in Iesus Chryst, the continuall ayde, strengthe and comforte of hys moste holye spirit, wych the encrease of faythe and liue∣ly feling of his mercy, now & euermore, Amē.
To hys VVyfe.
To my deare Syster, M. C.
To my dere & faithful brother, Augustine Bernher.
To my deare brother Harry Adlington pry∣soner in the Lolardes Tower.
¶To my faythfull and louyng brother VVilliam Aylsebury.
To my most faythefull and deare bro∣ther. T. V.
To my most deare and faythefull bro∣ther. T. V.
To my deare frend and faythfull Syster, Mystres Marye Glouer.
To my good brother M. Iohn Bradford.
To a faythfull frende of hys, by whome he had receyued much comforte in hys trouble and affliction.
An other letter written to the same person.
Because he maketh mention in the for∣mer letter and other heretofore, of the most godlye and christian conflictes which he had susteyned, we thought good to adioyne hereto this swete and heauenly exer∣cise followyng, whereby it may appeare what fruite these conflictes wroughte in hys most godly and christian conscience.
¶ A briefe admonition wrytten to Mystres Iane Glascocke, in a booke of hers when she came to the pryson to visite hym.
To the afflicted Christian.
A letter of Doctor Taylour of Hadley, written to his wife,whiche we haue here placed as it came to our handes, with certayne other letters following.
A leter of M. Philpot written to certain of his faith∣full frends, as his last farewell a litle before he suffred.
A letter of M. Bradforde, to certayne men whiche mainteined the heresy of the Pelagians and papistes concernyng mans freewil: whiche vpon occasions, were then prisoners wyth hym in the Kinges Benche.
A letter of M. Thomas Whyttel wri∣ten to a frende of his, declaryng the shamefull tyranny of bloody Bonner: who lyke a right angell of Sa∣than, to peruerte hys fayth and driue hym from God, buffeted him with hys butcherly fystes, and moste cruelly beate hym.
Another letter of M. Thomas VVhittell written to a cerrayne godly woman.
Maister Bartlet Grene to certayne of hys frends a litle before his death.
A letter of Iohn Careles to one Mystres Cotton.
A letter of M. John Rough wrytten a little before hys death, to the Christian con∣gregation in London, whereof he was a minister and Preacher.
A letter of Cutberte Symson, a Deacon of the Christian congregation in London, & burnt in Smythfielde for the veretye of Christes Gos¦pell, written to his wyfe out of the Colehouse.
A letter of VVilliam Coker, then pryso∣ner in Caunterburye and afterwarde burnt, for the testimonye of the truth, wrytten to a frend of hys.
A letter of Nicholas Shetterden a faith full Martyr of Iesus Christ, written to hys Mother a little before hys death.
A letter wrytttn by the Ladye Iane Gray to her Syster the Lady Katheryne, immediatly before she suffered.
Letters of M. George Marshe, a godly, faythfull, and learned pastour in Christes churche, put to deathe at VVestchester, wyth moste cruell kyndes of tormentes (as you may see in the booke of Martyrs, fol. 1122) for the constant and faythfull confession of Christes Gospell.
To the professours of gods worde and true religion in the towne of Langhton.
To certayne of his dearly beloued frendes, dwelling at Manchester in Lankeshyre.
The copy of a letter wrytten by Steuen Cotton to his brother Iohn cotton, declaryng how he was beaten of Bonner.
A letter of Richard Rothe burnte at Islington, to certayne condemned at Colchester, & ready to die for the lordes cause, writen with his own blood.
The copy of a letter written and cast out of the Ca∣stle of Caunterbury by the prisoners there in bandes for gods wo••, declaring how the papistes went about to famish the death, of the which company fyue were famished amongest them already.
A letter of that true pastour and worthy Martyr D. Ridley: wherin you may see the singular zeale he had to the glory of God, and the furtherance of hys Gospell: wrytten to Maister Cheke in Kyng Edwardes dayes, & here placed as it came to our hands.
A letter of Cutbert Symson, to certayne of hys frendes concernyng hys Rackyng and other cruell tormentes which he suffred in the Tower.
A briefe admonition wrytten by M. Bradford in a newe testament of a frend of hys.
A letter of Maister Thomas Leauer beyng then in exile for the testimonye of gods gospell, to M. Bradford prisoner in the tower of London.
❧A Table of the letters conteyned in thys booke, declaryng by whome and to whome they were written,
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