No. 106.* TO HIS GOOD BROTHER, AUGUSTINE BERNHER.† MINE Own good Augustine, the Lord of mercy bless you, my dear brother, for ever. I have good hope that if you come late at night, I shall speak with you, but come as secretly as you can. Howbeit, in the mean season, if you can, and as you can, learn what M. G.‡ hath spoken to Dr. Story and others. The cause of all this trouble, both to my keeper and me, is thought to come by him. It is said that I shall be burned in Smithfield, and that shortly. Domini voluntas fiat. Ecce ego, Domine, mitte me. Ah, mine own sweet friend, I am now alone, lest I should make you and others worse. If I should live, I would more warily use the company of God's children, than ever I have done. Iram Domini portabo, quoniam peccavi ei. Commend me to my most dear sister, for whom my heart bleeds, the Lord comfort her and strengthen her unto the end. I think I have taken my leave of her for ever in this life, but in eternal life we shall most surely meet, and praise the Lord continually. than ever I have now taken a more certain answer of death, I did; and yet not so certain as I think I should do. I am now as a sheep appointed to the slaughter. Ah, my God, the hour is come, glorify thy most unworthy child. I have glorified thee, saith this my sweet Father, and I will glorify thee, Amen. Ah, mine own bowels, praise God for me, and pray for me; for I am his, I hope; I hope he will never forsake me, though I have, above all others, most deserved it. I am the most singular example of his mercy; praised be his name therefore for ever. Fox iii. 348. Cov. 468. + See Appendix, Note (NN.) 1 Grimbold or Grimoald.-See Appendix, p. xlix. Cause Mrs. Pierpoint to learn of the Sheriff, M. Chester, what they purpose to do with me, and know if you can, whether there be any writ forth for me. Factus sum sicut Nycticorax in domicilio, et passer solitarius in lecto. Ah, my Augustine, how long shall God's enemies thus triumph? I have sent you this, of the baptism of children, to write out; when this is done, you shall have other things. Pray, pray, mine own dear heart, on whom I am bold. The keeper telleth me, that it is death for any to speak with me, but yet I trust that I shall speak with you. JOHN BRADFORD. No. 107.* TO HIS OWN GOOD AUGUSTINE. DEAR brother Augustine, I cannot but be bold of you in my need, and therefore I write as I do. Come hither betimes, I pray you, in the morning, and use so to do; for then, I think, you shall speak with me. Also use to come late in the evening, and let me know, whether in the day time I may send for you. Pray Walsh to steal you in, as I hope he will do. If he do bring you in, then shall this which followeth, not need; but doubting the worst, this do I write. First, will my man William, to make all things ready for me, for I am persuaded I shall into Lancashire, there to be burned; howbeit, first they say, I must to the Fleet. Then, will him to hearken early in the morning, whether I be not conveyed away, before men be aware. Also, I pray you, will Robert Harrington, who I hope will go with me, to look for that journey. Visit often my dear sister, and although I cannot now write unto her, as I would, for all things are more strange here, and cases more and more perilous, yet tell her that I am careful for her; desire her to have good comfort; God shall give us to meet in his kingdom. In • Cov. 470. the mean season, I will pray for her, as my dearest sister. Of truth, I never did love her half so well as I now do, and yet I love her not half so well as I would do; she is the very daughter of Abraham. I pray thee heartily, be merry, my good brother, and desire all my friends so to be; for, I thank God, I feel a greater benefit than all the bishops in England can take from me. Praise God, and pray for me, mine own dear heart in the Lord, whom I hope I shall never forget. Your poor brother in the Lord, JOHN BRADFORD. No. 108.* TO HIS GOOD BROTHER, M. COKER, At Maldon, in Essex. ALTHOUGH I have at present, both little time, and less opportunity otherwise, to write as I would; yet as I may, I thought better to write something than utterly to be silent. For if I should not so do, having so convenient a messenger; as I might, towards you incur the suspicion of ingratitude, and forgetfulness; so might I not satisfy the desire of this my poor brother and friend, John Searchfield, who cometh unto you for help and comfort, in this troublesome time. This dare I say, that the man feareth God; and for God's sake, and conscience towards him, sustaineth both loss and labour. For our common Father's sake therefore, in Christ, help him to some hole, to hide himself in, for a little time, if conveniently you may; and remember that he that receiveth one of Christ's little ones, receiveth Christ, as he himself, in the last day, will acknowledge. Which last day, let us often look on and set before us, as the thing which most maketh to our comfort. • Cov. 388. Now we sorrow and sigh, to see the sea swell and rage on this sort, as it doth. And to confess the truth, we have double cause; as well because we have deserved this sour sauce, by reason of our unthankfulness and many sins, which the Lord pardon, as because God's glory is trodden under foot. But this comfort we have, that as God, our good Father, will not the death of a sinner, so will he order this gear, most to his glory, and our joy and comfort, if we repent now, and heartily lament our evils, use earnest, humble, and often, yea, continual prayer; and cast ourselves wholly on him, and his goodness; still labouring to lothe this life, and longing for the life to come. For the which, we should account this, as it is, a very vale of misery, much to be mourned in, because the time of our habitation herein, and exile, is prolonged. May God grant us his Holy Spirit, to strengthen us in his truth professed, that we may' persevere to the end, in the joyful and courageous confessing of his Christ, Amen. I pray you continue, as, I trust, you do, to keep both soul and body pure in God's service. Strive to enter in at the narrow gate, though you leave your lands and goods behind you. It is not lost, which for Christ's sake we leave, but lent to a great usury. Remember that this time is come but to try us. God make us faithful to the end; God keep us always as his children, Amen. I pray you commend me to M. Osburne, and to all our good brethren in the Lord. The peace of Christ be with us all, Amen, Amen. Yours in Christ, JOHN BRADFORD. No. 109.* TO HIS OWN GOOD BROTHER, M. JOHN PHILPOT,+ Prisoner in the King's Bench. My dear brother, God our Father be praised for the good he doth work in you and by you. Even now I have received your loving letters, wherein I see cause to bless God for the wisdom, love, and efficacy, he hath and doth work, in you, and by you. Go on for God's sake to seek unity in Christ. If any will go to work dissemblingly, refuse it not; either it shall increase his damnation, or occasion him the sooner to conversion. The dissembling of Judas turned to the hurt of himself only. If once we come into an unity and love, then shall we not suspect one another, neither take things in the worse part. Nothing hindereth them‡ more, than for that now they hear all that ever we speak, cum prejudicio, where, if an unity be had, this prejudicium will be taken away, and so then shall they see the truth, the sooner. Therefore, mine own dearest brother, go on and bring it to a good end. God, our Father, be with thee for ever, Amen. Pray, my good brother, and desire mine own fellow and beloved brother, J. Careless,§ to do the like. I shall pray for you, both in my prayers with others, and with myself alonely, as for my most dear brother upon earth. I will not forget, by God's grace, to write in the behalf of our brethren in necessity. Jesus Christ, our sweet Saviour, be with us all, Emanuel for ever, Amen. Cov. 408. Your own in the Lord, JOHN BRADFORD. + Another of the Martyrs.-Fox iii. 538-610. He was son of Sir Peter Philpot, educated at Winchester School, and afterwards Archdeacon of Winchester; and boldly maintained the Reformation, in the Convocation held in Queen Mary's Reign. -Strype Eccl. Mem. iii. 1. 436.-438. He meaneth here certain free-will men.-Cov. See Nos. 98, 99. |