No. 10.*

TO M. TRAVES,

Begging his Prayers, and lamenting his own sinful Condition.

GRACE and mercy from God the Father through our Lord Christ, govern our minds, ne dominetur in nobis peccatum. Amen.

Yesterday a little before supper, I was desired by a neighbour, my mother's friend, ayenst this day to dinner: unto whom, for that a refusal would have been imputed disdainful stateliness, I unwillingly, (God to witness) but not unadvisedly yet foolishly, granted to the same which I advertise you, as mine excuse of not coming this day. And for mine absence yesterday, my vain liking for you to have come with your nearest neighbour, (the rather for that I hear him commit to you the survey of his will), hath with some repentance deceived me, though to my hurt and loss, yet to your profit, which else, by my coming and troubling you, should have been contrary. If you come not to morrow hither, send me word by this bringer and if there be no sermon, I will come to you, to have your counsel; in such things as by letters I will not now write.

In the mean season, in your communication with God, 1 pray you have me, of all sinners, a most negligent, unthankful, and wretched, (Oh! that from the bottom of my heart I confessed the same unfeignedly,) in remembrance: that at length I might truly convert, and return from these greasy flesh-pots of Egypt, to feed with his manna, patiently and assuredly expecting his mercy, joyfully sighing for, and bearing the badge of his disciples and servants, the cross: I mean to crucify this luciferous and gluttonous heart, more than most, worthy of the rich Epulo, his unquenchable thirst, and gnawing worms of Herod. This paper, pen, and ink, yea, the marble stone, weepeth, to see my slothful security, and unthankful hardness,

to so merciful and long-suffering a Lord. I confess it, I confess it, though not tremblingly, humbly or penitently, yet I confess it, Oh! hypocritically I confess it.

Therefore pray, pray for me, ut resipiscam, et ut Deum convertar, non contemnens iram ejus, et mortem filii sui Jesu Christi, sed ut spiritu incedam, et spiritu vivam: evermore to bewail my carnal security, and this philautiam: that I may be made a new creature through grace, made meet to receive the new wine of the gospel into a new vessel, purified by faith, wrought by the spirit of consolation. Which may vouchsafe to lead us in all truth and godly living; ut in ipso cognoscamus Deum patrem, solum verum Deum, et quem misit Jesum Christum. To which most blessed Trinity be all honour and glory for ever. Amen. From Manchester in haste, this Thursday in the morning.

Yours as his own,

JOHN BRADFORD.

To my very loving friend John Traves,

in Blakely.

No. 11.*

To some Person of Quality unknown; excusing his not coming; being desired; and debasing himself.†

GRACE and virtue from God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, govern our minds, that sin have not the upper hand of virtue in our souls. Amen.

Whereas your mastership hath desired me to have been with you this present day, which was never in your company, I being also a refuse, an abject, a hireling of this naughty and wretched world;

* Idem p. 284.

+ There is little doubt but that this was addressed to the Lord Russel, to whom we shall

afterwards find two other letters.

yea, a worse than so, one of the most wretched sinners living: these things considered on the one side, and your humane gentleness on the other, seeing, I say, that I have disobeyed your most gentle request and desire, I am worthy, if ye should entreat with me according to my deserving, not only to go without, or want all such ghostly edifying and profit, which I might have had of your mastership, but also to have you from now forth ever to be heavy master to me. But all this notwithstanding, I will comfort myself with your gentleness, trusting ye will not take me at the worst. And thus comforting myself with your gentle humanity, I humbly beseech your mastership that ye will be content this next week, or the Easter week, or any other time at your pleasure. And surely, if ye will appoint no time, I will come afore I be called. I thank you for your book.

After the death of King Edward VI. Bradford still continued diligent in preaching, until he was unjustly deprived both of his office and liberty by Queen Mary and her Council; and that for an act in itself highly praiseworthy, and which especially merited gratitude and kindness at the hands of those who thenceforward became his inveterate and unrelenting persecutors.

The circumstances were as follow. On Sunday, the 13th of April, 1553, Gilbert Bourn, who had been appointed by Bonner, then Bishop of London, a Canon of St. Paul's,* delivered an inflammatory discourse at Paul's Cross in praise of Bonner, against

*He was afterwards made Bishop of Bath and Wells, in the room of Wm. Barlow, who had fled on the accession of Mary.

the late monarch, and in favour of popery, which so excited the populace that they were ready to drag him out of the pulpit.

Neither respect for the place, the presence of Bonner, nor regard for the civil authority of the Lord Mayor, who remonstrated with them, could restrain their rage; at length a dagger having been thrown at Bourn by one of the mob, his brother entreated Bradford, who stood in the pulpit behind him, to come forward and address the people. Our martyr cheerfully complied with this request, and exhorted them to submission and obedience to so good effect, that the multitude, after hailing him. with affectionate expression, dispersed quietly.

As soon as Bourn thought he might safely venture out of the pulpit, and, notwithstanding the civil authorities were at hand to protect him, he besought Bradford not to quit him till he was in a situation of safety; and whilst the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs preceded Bourn to the Grammar School House, Bradford and Rogers (another martyr) kept close to him behind, concealing him with their gowns, and thus conducted him safe through the mob.

In the afternoon of the same day,

Upon that occasion some of the people warned him of his own impending danger, by exclaiming, "Ah, Master Bradford, you are saving him who will one day help to burn you."

Bradford, who had not yet been silenced, preached at Bow Church, and shortly reproved the people for their tumultuous and seditious behaviour in the morning.

Within three days afterwards, however, he was sent for to the Tower of London to appear before the Queen and her Council; where he was charged with his conduct on the preceding Sunday, as seditious; his accusers choosing to assume, that as he could so easily disperse the mob, he must have had some hand in exciting it.* They also objected against him for preaching; and finally committed him to the Tower; during his confinement in which, it would seem that he wrote the following letters:

No. 12.t

To his Mother, a godly Matron, dwelling in Manchester, and to his Brethren and Sisters, and other of his Friends there.

OUR dear and sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, whose prisoner at this present (praised be his name therefore I am,) preserve and keep you

* See Bradford's own account of this transaction in his examination January 31, 1555, from which it appears, that he endangered his own life, in order to save that of Bourn.

+ Fox, iii. 308. Cov. 290. The general title to the letters of Bradford, in this collection is as follows: letters of Maister John Bradforde, a faythful minister and a synguler pyller of Christes churche: by whom great travailes and diligence in preaching and planting 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 kingdom of God was not a little advanced; who also at last most valiantly and cheerfully gave his blood for the same. The 4 Day of July, in the year of our Lord, 1553.