A04917:26
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all…A godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all…
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all other within the realm off England, that love the co[m]minge of our Lord Jesus by John KnoxA godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all other within the realme off Englande, that loue the co[m]minge of oure Lorde Iesus by Ihon Knox
Rome: printed by J. Lambrecht? for H. Singleton, 1554
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Consider (dear brethren) if all things / as appertaining to iniquity be a like betwixt England and Judah / before the destruction ⟨image 13⟩thereof / yea / If England be worse then Judea was in those days / seeing God spared not them / shall we think that the Lords vengeance shall sleep / mans iniquity being so ripe? No dear brethren:1 He that hath understanding must know the contrary, And he to whom the Lords mouth hath spoken / must show the causes / why the land shall be waste.
Consider (deare brethern) if all thinges / as appertayninge to iniquitie be a lyke betwixte Englande and Iuda / before the destruccion ⟨image 13⟩therof / yea / Yf Englande be worse then Iudea was in those dayes / seing God spared not them / shal we thinke that the Lordes vengeaunce shal slepe / mans iniquitie beyng so rype? No deare brethren:1 He that hath vnderstandinge muste know the contrary, And he to whome the Lordes mouth hath spokē / must shew the causes / why the lande shalbe waste.
It may offend you / that I call England worse / then was unthankful Judea / but if good and evident reasons advised may take place / then I fear not judgement.1 From Jerusalem / many passed at admonition of the prophets / leaving all that they had / rather then they would abide the danger of Gods plagues that were threatened. God's prophets hath cried. but I hear not of many that prepareth to fly / God grant they repent not. In Jerusalem were princes / & noble men who defended Jeremiah, and also that did absolve him / when wrongfully he was accused by the priests. But how many now of the nobility within England boldly speaketh in in the defence of Gods messenger is easy too be told. Amongest them had Gods prophet liberty / to speak in maintenance of his doctrine. How such as seeketh a trial of their doctrine / hath been and are entreated amongest you / it is hard of in strange countries. In Jerusalem was Abdemelech / why when the prophet was cast in prison (as worthy of death) boldly past to the king / and defending the innocency of the innocent / obtaineth his liberty / but in England I hear of none (God stir some)