Marginalia1555. February.And thus haue ye the full history of Laurence Saunders, whom I may well compare to S. Laurence, or any other of the old Martyrs of Christes church: MarginaliaA comparison betwen Laurence Saunders and Saint Laurence.both for the feruent zeale of the truth and Gospell of Christ, and the most constant pacience in hys suffering: as also for the cruel tormentes that he in hys pacient body dyd sustaine in þ^e flame of fire. For so his cruel enemies handled hym, that they burned him with greene woode, and other smoothering rather then burnyng fewell, which put him to much payne, but that the grace and most plentifull consolation of Christ, which neuer forsaketh hys seruauntes, & gaue strength to S. Laurence, gaue also patience to this Laurence, aboue all that hys tormentes could worke agaynst: which well appeared by hys quiet standing, and sweete sleeping in the fire, as is aboue declared.

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And to the intent to giue to the reader to vnderstand the better, what the grace of Christ worketh in his seruauntes: and agayne, MarginaliaStrength to stand in Christ, cōmeth not of our selues, but is the gift of God.1931how feeble and weake mā is of him selfe without this grace geuen from aboue, though he seeme otherwise neuer so stoute in him selfe: here therfore haue we added to the foresayd story of Laurence Saunders, the communication which in the begynnyng of his trouble, was betwene hym and D. Pendleton, by the example wherof, such as stand, may learne to vnderstand and take heede with due feare, and not to bragge: to leane to the grace of the Lorde, and not to presume in themselues.

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MarginaliaTalke betwene M. Saunders and Doct. Pēdleton.AT the chaunge of Religion in this Realme, and the begynnyng of Queene Maries reigne, D. Pendleton and M. Saunders men knowen to the world, not onely to be learned but also earnest preachers of Gods word in the tyme of blessed kyng Edwatd,MarginaliaD. Pendleton a stoute preacher of the Gospell in Kyng Edwardes tyme. mette together in the countrey, where by occasion they were at that tyme, & as the case required (by reason of the persecution that was thē at hand) fell to debate what was best for them to do, in so daungerous a season. Wherupon M. Saunders, whether thorough very frailty in deede of his weake flesh that was loth to tast of the bitter cuppe,  

though his spirite were ready thereunto: or whether it were vpon the mistrust of his own strēgth, that he might receiue the greater power from aboue: or whether it were not for any one of the sayd causes alone, but for both together, or such like: seemed so fearefull and feeble spirited, that he shewed hym selfe in appearaunce, lyker either to fall quite from God and hys word,MarginaliaMaister Sauders timerous in Christes cause at the first beginning. which he had taught, or at least to betake him to his heeles and to flye the land, rather then to sticke to his profession and abide by his tackle: so as Doct. Pendleton (who on the contrary side, appeared not so byg of body, but as bold in courage, nor so earnest before in Pulpit, but as ready now to seale the same with hys bloud) tooke vpon him to comfort M. Saunders all that he might, admonishing him (as he could do it very wel) not to forsake cowardly his flocke when he had most neede to defend the wolfe from them: neither hauyng put his hand to Gods plough, to start now aside and geue it ouer, nor yet (that is worst of all) hauyng once forsaken Antichrist, to fall either him self, or to suffer others by his example to returne to their vomite agayn. After which and such lyke persuasions biddyng hym be of good cōfort, and to take a good hart vnto him: what man (quoth he) there is a great deale more cause in me to bee afeard then in you, for as much as you see, I cary a greater masse of flesh vpon my backe then you do, and being so laden with a heauier lumpe of this vyle carkas ought therfore of nature to be more fraile then you: MarginaliaThe stout bragges of D. Pendleton at the first beginning.and yet, saith he, I wil see the vttermost droppe of this grease of mine molten away, and the last gobbet of this flesh consumed to ashes, before I will forsake God and his truth. Whereunto the other aun-

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sweryng but litle, & wishing that almighty God would geue him more strength then he presently felt in hym selfe,MarginaliaGod geueth strēgth where feblenes is confessed. acknowledgyng his owne weakenes, consented notwithstandyng though it were somewhat fayntly, to ioyne with him in the profession of the Gospell, and so to go vp to London and set forth the same: wherupon they gaue ech other their hādes. Now when they were come to London, Lorde what a great chaunge was there betwene these two persons. The poore feeble faint harted Saunders, by the goodnes of almightie God, takyng hart of grace to him, seekyng the same in humilitie, boldly and stoutly confirmed his flocke out of the Pulpite, where his charge lay, mightly beatyng down Antichrist, and lustely preached Christ his Maister, for the which he afterward suffred most willingly, as is afore declared. MarginaliaExample how feble man is of himselfe without the Lord support hym.Whereas on the other side, Pendleton þ^e proude (who, as it appeared by þ^e sequele, had bene more stout in wordes, then constant in dedes, and a greater bragger, thē a good warriour) folowed Peter so iustly in crackes, how soeuer he dyd in repentaunce (which God onely knoweth) that he came not so soone to Lodnon but he chaunged his typette,  

and played the Apostata,   preaching in stede of sound doctrine, nothing almost but errours and lyes, aduaūcing Antichrist, and ouerthrowyng poore Christ withall his maine: so that his former boldnes came to nothyng, vnles it were a contrary key, becommyng of a faythfull pastour a false runnagate, and of a true preacher a sworne enemy of Gods euerlastyng Testament, to the great offence of his brethren, the hurt of his flocke, and the vtter vndoyng, without Gods greater mercy, of his owne soule. Wherin are specially to be considered the deepe & meruailous iudgementes of God, who as he can and doth make strong whom it pleaseth him, when he seeth hys tyme, and most commōly such as appeare most feeblest: euen so contrary wise throweth he downe other some, seeme they neuer so stout, stand they neuer so much in their owne conceites. Wherfore Marginalia
He that standeth let hym take heede he fall not.
Rom. 13.let him that standeth take hede he fall not: and let vs pray continually to almighty God though we haue fayth, that he will helpe and encrease our fayth, that in hym it may be made stronge, which of it selfe is so weake that it is soone ouerthrowen.

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This blessed man of God enduryng lōg tyme in prison, did not passe all his tyme in vnfrutfull idlenes, but  

MarginaliaM. Saunders diligent in writing letters out of prison.still frō tyme to tyme did visite his frendes (as is sayd) & especially hys wife with many letters full of godly instruction & consolation.   All which letters it shall not be greatly nedefull here to inserte, partly because they are to be found in the booke of Letters,   MarginaliaRead the boke of Letters of the Martyrs. partly because we intende also (if God will) to prosecute the same hereafter more at large.   In the meane tyme it shall not be out of place here presently to comprehend certein of them, as in order foloweth.

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GRace mercy and peace in Iesus Christ our Lord. &c.

Good Fathers and deare brethren, be thankefull vnto our most gracious God, which hath preserued vs, and shall (I doubt not) from blaspheming hys blessed name: yea not onely that, but also ex ore infantium & lactentium perficiet laudē. &c. i. MarginaliaPsal. 8.Out of the mouthes of very babes and sucklinges shall he set forth hys prayse. They offer vs (for sooth) our liberty and pardon, so that we wyll rise wyth them vnto that fayth, which we with thē were fallen frō. Yea or no must be aunswered in hast. They wil not admit any nedefull circumstances, but all (as heretofore) most detestable and abominable. Ryse wyth them wee must vnto the vnitie. A pardon (say I) of me must not be so dearely purchased. A pardon I desyre, for to lyue with an vnclogged conscience. The Donatistes (say they) sought for such singularitie, but they were not meete to liue in a common wealth, no more be you, as you shall shortly vnderstand. Wherefore away with him: yea the tyme was named within this seuennight. MarginaliaIohn. 11.There be. xij.

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