So far you may see, good father, how I have in words, only made as it were, a flourish before the fight, which I shortly look for, and how I have begun to prepare certain kinds of weapons to fight against the adversaries of Christ, and to muse with myself how the darts of the old enemy may be borne off, and after what sort I may smite him again with the sword of the Spirit. I learn, also, hereby, to be in use with armour, and to essay how I can go armed.

In Tyndale, where I was born, not far from the Scottish borders, I have known my countrymen watch night and day in their harness, such as they had, that is, in their jacks* and their spears in their hands, (you call them northern gads,) especially when they had any privy warning of the coming of the Scots. And, so doing, although at every such bickering some of them spent their lives, yet by such means, like pretty men, they defended their country. And those that so died, I think that they died in a good quarrel, and all the country loved their offspring and progeny the better for their fathers' sakes.

And in the quarrel of Christ our Saviour, in the defence of his own divine ordinances, by which he gives unto us life and immortality, yea, in the quarrel of faith and the Christian religion, wherein resteth our everlasting salvation, shall we not watch? Shall we not go always armed, ever looking when our adversary, which like a roaring lion, seeketh whom he may devour, shall come upon us by reason of our slothfulness? Yea, and woe be unto us, if he can oppress us unawares, which, undoubtedly, he will do, if he find us sleeping.

Let us awake, therefore, I say, and let us not suffer our house to be broken up. Resist the devil, saith St. James, and he will flee from you. Let us, therefore, resist him manfully, and, taking the cross upon our shoulders, let us follow our captain Christ, who by his own blood hath dedicated and hallowed that way, which leadeth unto the Father, that is, to the light which no man can attain, the fountain of everlasting joys.

Let us follow, I say, whither he calleth and allureth us, and after all these afflictions, which last but for a moment, whereby he trieth our faith, as gold by the fire, we may everlastingly reign and triumph with Him in the glory of his Father, and that through the same our Lord Jesus * Coats of mail, armour.

† Brave.

Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory now and for ever. Amen. Amen.

Good father, forasmuch as I have determined with myself to pour forth these my cogitations into your bosom, here, methinks, I see you suddenly lifting up your head towards heaven, after your manner, and then looking upon me with your prophetical countenance, and speaking unto me with these or like words: "Trust not, my son, (I beseech you, vouchsafe me the honour of this name, for in so doing I shall think myself both honoured and loved of you,) trust not, I say, my son, to these word-weapons, for the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power. And remember always the words of the Lord, 'Do not imagine beforehand, what and how you will speak, for it shall be given you even in that same hour, what ye shall speak; for it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father, which speaketh in you.'"*

I pray you, therefore, father, pray for me, that I may cast my whole care upon him, and trust upon him in all perils. For I know, and am surely persuaded, that whatsoever I can imagine or think aforehand, it is nothing, except he assist me with his Spirit, when the time is. I beseech you, therefore, father, pray for me, that such a complete harness of the Spirit, such boldness of mind, may be given unto me, that I may, out of a true faith, say with David, "I will not trust in my bow, and it is not my sword that shall save me. For he hath no pleasure in the strength of a horse, &c. But the Lord's delight is in them that fear him, and put their trust in his mercy." I beseech you, pray, pray that I may enter this fight, only in the name of God, and that when all is past, I, being not overcome, through his gracious aid, may remain and stand fast in him, till that day of the Lord in which, to them that obtain the victory, shall be given the lively manna to eat, and the triumphant crown for evermore.

Now, father, I pray you, help me to buckle on this armour a little better; for you, being an old soldier, know the deepness of Satan, and you have collared with him ere now, blessed be God that hath ever aided you so well. I

* Such was the case; when these two constant martyrs were brought before their adversaries, bishop Ridley refuted the arguments of the papists with much ability, reasoning with them on their own grounds, but father Latimer adhered simply to Scripture, and silenced his opponents still more effectually than his companion.

suppose he may well hold you at bay, but, truly, he will not be so willing, I think, to join with you, as with us younglings. Sir, I beseech you, let your servant read this my babbling unto you, and now and then, as it shall seem unto you best, let your pen run on my book; spare not to blot my paper, I give you good leave.

As touching this Antonius, whom I have here made mine adversary, lest peradventure any imagination might carry you amiss, and make you think otherwise than I meant, know that I have alluded to one Antonius, a most cruel bishop of the Arians, and a very violent persecutor of them that were catholic, and of a right judgment. To whom Hunericus, a tyrant of the Vandals, knowing Antonius's fierceness, committed his whole authority, that he should either turn the Christians which believed well, unto his false religion, or else punish and torment them at his pleasure.

The

Which Antonius took in hand to do, and executed the same against two most godly bishops, and most constant in the doctrine which was according to godliness. name of the one was Eugenius, an aged man, the other was named Habet-Deum. This latter, as it appears by the history of the persecutions of the Vandals,* the tyrant and the false counterfeit bishop desired much to have turned unto their most pestilent heresy. This HabetDeum was bishop of the city Tamallane, where Antonius had been bishop before. And when Antonius had vexed him, as the story saith, with divers and sundry persecutions, and had found the soldier of Christ always constant in his confession, it is said, that at length, in a great rage, he swore and said to his friends on this wise: "If I make him not of my religion, then am I not Antonius." It is incredible what harms and troubles he put him to, what cruelty he practised against him, and it were too long now to describe the same unto you. But the man of God stood always unmoveable, and in the confession of Christ's faith remained ever unto the end the constant and unfoiled soldier of Christ. I pray to God

* Victor, lib. iii. de Persecut. Africa. The similarity of his own case and that of Latimer to the particulars recorded, respecting these primitive bishops, evidently made a deep impression upon the mind of Ridley, and afforded him support in his trials. Does not this show the advantage of students in divinity becoming acquainted with the history of the Church of Christ?

our heavenly Father, to give me grace, that I may faithfully follow this good bishop Habet-Deum, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Latimer. Sir I have caused my man not only to read your armour unto me, but also to write it out; for it is not only not bare* armour, but also well buckled armour, I see not how it could be better. I thank you even from the bottom of my heart for it, and my prayer you shall not lack, trusting that you do the like for me. For, indeed, THERE IS THE HELP. Many things make confusion in And if I were as well learned as was St. Paul, I would not bestow much amongst them, further than to gall them and spur-gall them too, when and where occasion were given, and matter come to mind, for the law shall be their sheet anchor, stay, and refuge.

memory.

Fare you well in Christ.†

* Armour unfitted for use.

+ This conference in writing passed between these venerable fathers, as I apprehend, in January, 1554, when they were in separate apartments, after the mass was publicly restored, which was December 21, and before Wyat's rebellion had so crowded the tower with state prisoners, that the three prelates (and Bradford) were confined together in one apartment, and that rebellion broke out the 26th of January. Thus did this good bishop employ himself in his prison ; examining himself, and trying his own spirit carefully, lest ignorance or prejudice should in any degree mislead him; seeking the advice of the elder and more experienced, proposing his reasons, and submitting them to the censure of others, that he might either be better informed and set right, or confirmed in his opinion by their approbation; and yet, not confiding in the mere exercise of reason, but requesting the prayers of good men for God's grace to enlighten his mind in the search of truth, and to strengthen his constancy in the open acknowledgment of it. And while he sought, he gave, assistance; for in laying his reasons before Latimer, and confirming them by the Fathers, he furnished that aged father with arguments and proofs, which the loss of his books, and the failure of his memory, had made him forget, though he held the conclusions firmly. For which Latimer heartily thanks him.-Gloucester Ridley's Life of Ridley, p. 485.

Latimer, however, adhered to his resolution," not to bestow much amongst them," excepting scripture; and from the account of their examinations in Fox, it is evident that their adversaries were the soonest tired of this method of proceeding, although Ridley answered them with much ability, and if they had conducted the disputation fairly, would soon have silenced them.

A

LAMENTATION

FOR

THE CHANGE OF RELIGION IN ENGLAND;

INCLUDING

A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE DOCTRINE OF THE GOSPEL AND THE ROMISH RELIGION:

WITH

WHOLESOME INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL CHRISTIANS HOW TO BEHAVE THEMSELVES IN TIME OF TROUBLE.

ALAS! what misery is thy church brought unto, O Lord, at this day! Of late the word of the Lord was truly preached, was read and heard in every town, in every church, in every village; yea, and in almost every honest man's house-alas! now it is exiled, and banished out of the whole realm! Of late, who was not taken for a lover of God's word, for a reader, for a ready hearer, and for a learner of the same? And now, alas! who dare openly countenance it, but such as are content, in Christ's cause, and for his word sake, to stand to the danger and loss of all that they have?

Of late there was to be found, of every age, of every degree and kind of people, some that gave their diligence, to learn, as they could, out of God's word the articles of Christian faith, the commandments of God, and the Lord's prayer. The babes, and the young children were taught these things by their parents, their masters, and weekly by their curates in every church: and the aged folk, who had been brought up in blindness, and in ignorance of those things, which every Christian is bound to know, they learned the same, when otherwise they could not, by often hearing their children and servants repeat the same. But now, alas, and alas again! the false prophets of antichrist,