uaile, as shall more playnly appeare in the discourse of these seuerall matters hereafter followynge, wherein also shall some time appeare that the churche of God (as in all times heretofore: so nowe) was not voyde of dissemblyng and false brethren, by whose meanes (as most fit instrumentes) Satan brought his purpose the better to passe. All whiche notwithstāding the children of God, hauing the lawful oportunitie of seruing of God, takē by this crueltie from them, yet in sundrie times and places secretly assembled them selues, to the comforte of their cōsciences, & instructiō of their soules. And therfore, as at other tymes, so vpon newe yeares daye, An. 1555. at euening, 

there were many godly persones gathered together in a house within Bowe churchyarde in London, where they were, with their minister maister Thomas Rose, deuoutly & zelously occupied in prayer, and hearing of Goddes worde. But whyle they were in the middest of this their godly exercise, they were soddenly betraied (as it is thought by some false dissembling hipocrite) and about xxx. of them apprehended and caried to the Counters, but maister Rose was had before the Lorde Chauncelour, and from thence to the Fleete. To the whiche company that godly man and dere martyr of God, maister Hoper, beinge certified by a letter, of the whole discourse hereof, did wryte this comfortable and strengthening exhortation, the copy whereof with the other letters, hereafter ensueth.

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MY duty humbly remembred, you heare (I know) of a godly company imprysoned whiche were taken vppon newe yeares nyght: yet notwithstanding, for asmuch (perhaps) as you know not perfectly howe nor wherfore, you shall vnderstande that  

MarginaliaCerten takē in Bowe churchyard in tyme of prayer.beynge vpon their knees in endyng of prayer (wherin they gaue God thankes, prayed for the magistrates and estates of the Realme, and requyred thynges necessary at his bounteful hands) two of my Lorde Chauncelours men, (as I am informed) came first into the chāber, where they were in Bow churcheyarde, and immediatly afterwards folowed maister Shyrife with others, who commaunded them all to staye in the Kynge and Queenes maiesties names, whereunto they humbly obeyed: for they came not thether weaponed, to conspire or make any tumult, but onely like Christians, Christianly to pray, and to be instructed in the vulgar tonge, by the reading and hearing of Gods word, as their conscience did enforce thē, without the displeasure of God, to doo. For (as you well knowe) there is nothing so greuouse to the pacient in this worlde, as the gnawyng and by-

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tyng worme of a troubled conscience, being accused by Gods lawe, for the wylfull transgressing of the same: as by experience we know by Iudge Hales: who contrary to the knowledge of Gods worde, consented to the wicked traditions of the Papists. Which although in name they would be of the holye churche, and preachers of the Gospell of Christ: yet in facte and deede do dissent from the same, and most detest that Godly societie: as by the cruell handlyng of the christians by the Prelates at this present it doth euidētly appeare. Therfore (I say) that they myght without the offence of God, quietlye praye together, as they be taughte by his woorde, there assembled a godly company together, to the number of xxx. diuided and sent to both the Counters, where at commaundement they yet remaine. And with maister Chābers, maister Monger, and the rest in the Coūter at Breadstreat, I was yesterday: who (God be thanked) be strong and doe reioyce, that for well doyng they are imprisoned: Not doubting but that, as God hath vouchesaued to accepte them worthy to sustaine imprysonment for his sake, so he wyll strengthen them, rather to suffer death, then to deny his truthe. As the Lord knoweth, who assist you with his holye spirite that vnto the ende you maye perseuer in his truth: vnto whose tuition in my poore prayer I humbly commend you. 3. of Ianuary. 1555. Maister Chamber, maister Monger, maister Sh. and the rest in the Coūter do pray for you, and in Christ salute you most hartely.

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THe grace of God be with you, Amen. I perceaue by your letter, howe that vpon newe yeares day at night, there were taken a Godly company of Cristians, whilest they were praying. I do reioyce in that men can be so well occupied in this perilous time, and flie vnto God for remedy by prayer: as well for theyr owne lackes and necessities, as also charitablye to praye for them that persecute them. So dothe the worde of God commaunde all men, to pray charitably for them that hate vs, and not to reuyle any Magistrate with wordes, or to mean him euill by force or violence. They also may reioyce that in well doing, they were taken to the pryson. Wherfore I haue thought it good to sende them this litle wryting of consolatiō: praying God to send them pacience, charitie, & constancie in the truthe of his most holy word.

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Thus fare you well, and pray to God to send his true worde into this Realme agayne amongest vs, which the vngodly byshops haue now banished. 4. Ianuary. An. 1555.