A16571:4
All the examinations of the constant martyr of God M. John Bradford before the…All the examinacions of the constante martir of God M. Iohn Bradforde before the…
All the examinations of the constant martyr of God M. John Bradford before the Lord Chancellor, B. of Winchester the B. of London, [and] other co[m]missioners: whereunto are annexed, his private talk [and] conflicts in prison after his condemnation, with the Archbishop of york, the B. of Chichester, Alfonsus, and King Philips confessor, two Spanish friars, and sundry others. With his modest learned and godly answers. Anno. Domini 1561All the examinacions of the constante martir of God M. Iohn Bradforde before the Lorde Chauncellour, B. of Winchester the B. of London, [and] other co[m]missioners: whervnto ar annexed, his priuate talk [and] conflictes in prison after his condemnacion, with the Archbishop of york, the B. of Chichester, Alfonsus, and King Philips confessour, two Spanishe freers, and sundry others. With his modest learned and godly answeres. Anno. Domini 1561
Imprinted at London : In Fleetstrete, at the sign of the faucon by William Griffith, and are to be sold at the little shop in saint Dunstones churchyard, Anno 1561. The .xiii. day of MayImprinted at London : In Fleetstrete, at the signe of the faucon by William Griffith, and are to be sold at the litle shop in saincte Dunstones churchyard, Anno 1561. The .xiii. daie of Maye
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.
¶The Original of his Life.
¶The Originall of his Lyfe.
John Bradford borne in Lancastershire, in Manchester, a notable town of that country, was of his gentle parents brought up in virtue & good learning even from his very childhood, & among other praises of his good education, he obtained as a chief gift, the conning & readiness of writing, which knowledge was not only an ornament unto him, but also an help to the necessary sustentation of his living. About the time, was one sir John Haringtō paymaster to king Henry the .8. which at Boulogne by order of knighthood being much renowned, but yet by his own virtue a great deal more noble, was there ⟨image 3⟩surveyor and paymaster of the soldiers. Who then had the service of master Bradford, & so kept him both in his family & in his favour: that it can scarce be told whether lived to other, ether more beloved or more profitable. For Bradford both learned many things of him, & also experience and practise of things more increased & abounded. On the other side, he which tried his service so faithful, esteemed him as a great treasure & so loved him: that in all his affairs he would always be coupled with him. In which trade of life when Bradford long time had been conversant, the way to riches seemed not so far of unto him, if he would have set his mind to gathering of worldly riches, but the immutable providence of god drew him another ⟨image 3⟩way. For after he was weary of this kind of life, & had made a diligent and true account of his masters affairs: he desired licence to depart, and so went from him to the intent that he being rid of all other troubles, he might serve Jesus Christ, the secrete working of God's calling so moving him, which never suffered his mind to be at rest: until it had fully & wholly possessed him: In so much that after he had forsaken his master, & gotten him to the study of the law, his mind could not long abide in that trade of lawyers, but that forsaking also that kind of study, in which he was not altogether ignorant: he departed from the temple where he studied the common and temporal laws, to Can bridge the temple of gods laws