of sorowfull christians released, which so long was wyshed for in the prayers of soo manye good men, speciallye of this faythfull and true seruant of the Lorde maister Latimer. The same God which at the reuqestes of his holy and faythfull sayntes hath poured vpon vs such benefites of his mercy, peace and tranquility, assist our most vertuous and Christian Prynce, and her Subiectes, that euerye one in his state and calling we may so serue his glory, and walke in theire holsom example that we lost not that which they haue obtayned, but may procede in all faythfullnes, to buyld and kepe vp the house and temple of the Lord, to the aduaunsing of his glory, and our euerlasting cōfort in hym. And thus much concerning the prayers of maister Latimer, to the which prayers only he gaue him selfe, as I sayd, in this his latter imprisonment: for els we read but litle that he dyd wryte at Oxford, saue onely a fewe lynes to one MarginaliaMaystres Wilkensō.maistres Wilkinson of London, a godlye Matron, and Exile also for the gospell sake, and by whom diuers of gods saintes, and learned byshops, as maister Hoper, the byshoppe of Harford, maister Couerdale, maister Latimer, maister Cranmer, with many mo were gratiously supported and releaued, the copy and effecte of which letter here foloweth.

¶ A letter sente to Maystres Wylkinson of Soper lane in London, wydowe, she being at the maner of Englysh in Oxforde shere from M. Hughe Latimer out of Bocardo in Oxford, where he was prisoner for the testimony of Christ. An. 1555.  

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ECL MS 260, fo. 276v.

YF the gifte of a pot of colde water shall not be in oblyuion with God, how can God forget your manifold and bountifull gifts, when he shall saye to you: I was in pryson, and you visited me. God graunt vs all to do and suffer while wee be here, as maye bee to hys wyll and pleasure.

Amen.

Yours in Bocardo,
Hugh Latimer.

And thus haste thou, gentle reader, the whole life, both of Mayster Rydley, and of master Latimer, two worthy doers in the church of Christ, seuerally and by them selues set fourth and described to thee, with all theyre doings, wrytinges, disputations, sufferings, theire paynfull trauayls, faithfull preachings, studyous seruyce in Christes churche, their paciente imprisonment, and constant fortitude in that which they had taught, wyth al other theyre proceadings from tyme to tyme, since theire first institution, to this presente yeare and and moneth of Quene Marye, beinge the moneth of October, Anno. 1555. In the which moneth they were bothe brought fourth together to theire final examination and execution. Wherfore as we haue heretofore declared bothe their lyues seuerallye, and distinctlye one from the other, so now ioyning them both to gether, as they both ioyned together in one cause and kinde of suffering, so will we by the grace of Christ prosecute the reste that remaineth, concerning their later examination, disgrading, and constante martirdome, wyth the order and maner also of the Commissioners, to wete, maister Whyte byshop of Lincolne, maister Brockes Byshop of Glocester with others, what were their wordes, their obiections, theire orations sette out as it was, and what againe were the answers of these men to the same, as in proces here foloweth to be seene.