Twenty-seven Sermons

But when the time approached, […] which god had appointed for the punishment of the carnal gospellers & hipocrited which most wickedly abused the same, how faithfully he did […] both privately, and openly all kinds of men, they that were then about him can bear record. But one thing amongest others is principally to be noted, that god not only gave unto him his spirit most plenteously and comfortably, to preach his word unto his […]: but also by the same spirit he did most […] prophecy of all those kinds of plagues, which in very deed afterwards en sued, so plainly I say, as though he had seen them before his eyes so that, if England ever had a Prophet, he was one. […] amongst other things he ever affirmed that the preaching of the gospel would cost him his life, to yt which thing he did most cheerfully arm & prepare him self, being certainly persuaded, that Winchest. was kept in the tower for the same purpose. Therefore not long after Queen Mary was proclaimed, a pursuivant was sent down into the country for to call him up. Of whose coming when he was made ware about six hours before, by a faithful man of god Joha Careless (a man worthy of everlasting memory) he pre pared himself towards his journey before the said pursuivant came to his house. At yt which thing, when the pursuivant marvelled seeing him so prepa red towards his journey he said unto him, my friend: you be a welcome mes senger to me, and be it known unto you & to the whole world, that I go as willingly to London at this present, being called by my prince to render a reckoning of my doctrine, as ever I was to any place in the world, and I do not doubt, but that god, as he hath made me worthy to preach his word before two excellent princes, so he will able me to witness the same unto the third, either to her comfort, or discomfort eternally &c. At the which tune the pursuivant, when he had delivered his letters departed, ⟨image 6⟩[…] that he had commandment not to tarry for him, by whose sudden departure it was manifest, that they would not have had him to appear, but rather to have fled out of the realm. They knew that his constantnes should confound them in their popery, and confirm the godly in the truth.

But when the time approched, 〈…〉 which god had appoynted for the punishmēt of the carnal gospcllers & hipocrited which most wickedly abused the same, how faythfully he did 〈…〉 both prinatly, and open ly al kinds of men, they that wer then about him can beare record. But one thing amongest others is principally to be noted, that god not onelye gaue vnto him his sprit most plentiously and comfortably, to preach hys word vnto his : but also by the same spirite he did most prophecy of al those kindes of plages, which in very dede afterwards en sued, so playnly I say, as thoughe he had seene them before hys eyes so that, if England euer had a Prophet, he was one. amongst other things he euer affirmed that the preaching of the gospel would cost hym his life, to yt which thing he did most cherefully arme & prepare him self, being certenly perswaded, that Winchest. was kept in the tower for the same purpose. Therefore not long after Quene Mary was proclamed, a pursiuant was sent down into the country for to call hym vp. Of whose cōming when he was made ware about six howers before, by a faythful man of god Ioha Carelesse (a mā worthy of euerlasting memory) he pre pared himself towards hys iorney before the sayd pursiuant came to his house. At yt which thing, whē the pursiuāt marueled seing him so prepa red towards his iorney he sayd vnto him, my frend: you be a welcō mes senger to me, and be it known vnto you & to the whole world, that I go as willingly to Lōdon at this presēt, being called by my prince to render a reckning of my doctrin, as euer I was to any place in the world, and I do not dout, but that god, as he hath made me worthy to preach hys word before two excellēt princes, so he wil able me to witnesse the same vnto the third, eyther to her comfort, or discomforte eternally &c. At the which tune the pursiuant, when he had deliuered hys letters departed,