MarginaliaAn. 1555. Iuly.speake to her in his behalf. But it is to be thought, that þ^e Queene had almost supped at that present: for it was past sixe of the clocke.

Brad. Before the Keeper, Bradford told Weston agayne, that styll he was one man: and euen as he was at the first, and tyll he should see matter to teach his conscience the contrary, he said he must nedes so continue.

Keeper. The Keeper desired Bradford to harken to maister Doctors counsel, and prayed maister Doctor to be good vnto him: and so after they had droonke to gether, Maister Doctor with most gentle wordes tooke hys leaue for three dayes.

Now, when he was gone, the keeper told Bradford, that Maister Doctour spake openly, how that hee saw no cause why they should burne him. Which sentence for the ambiguitie of the meanyng, made him somewhat sory lest hee had behaued him selfe in any thyng, wherein hee had gathered any conformablenes to them in their doctrine, which God knoweth, sayth Bradford, I neuer as yet did. God our father blesse vs, as his children, and keepe vs from all euill for euer, Amen.

MarginaliaAn other talke or conference betwene M. Bradford, and Doctour Weston.VPon the fifth day of April came Maister D. Weston to þ^e Counter about two of the clocke in the afternone, who excused him selfe for being so long absent: partly by sickenes, partly for that D. Pendleton tolde him that he would come vnto him, and partly for that (quoth hee) MarginaliaD. Weston withstandeth the Monkes comming into West minster.I withstoode certayne Monckes, which would haue come agayne into Westminster: telling him moreouer how that the Pope was dead, and also declared vnto him how he had spoken to the Queene in his behalfe, and howe that death was not neare vnto hym.

West. Last of all, he excused him selfe for not aunsweryng hys argumentes against transubstantiation: because my comming to day (quoth hee) was more by fortune then of purpose.

Brad. I would gladly M. Doctor, if it please you, see your aunsweres to my argumentes.

MarginaliaBradfordes arguments not answered.West. Why, you haue remembred some thing what I spake to you when I was last with you.

Brad. No Sir I neuer called thē in maner to mynd, sythen that tyme, as well because I hoped you would haue written them: as also for that they seemed not to be so materiall.

West. In good fayth I can not see any other or better way for you, then for to submit your selfe to the iudgement of the Church.

Brad. Mary so I will Sir, if so be by the church you vnderstand Christes church.

MarginaliaThe Papistes will not haue theyr church iudged.West. Lo, you take vppon you to iudge the church.

Brad. No Sir that do I not: in takyng vpon mee to discerne, I do not iudge the church.

West. Yes that you do, and make it inuisible.

Brad. I do neither.

West. Why, who can see your church?

MarginaliaThe church is visible but only to sprituall eyes.Brad. Those Sir, that haue spirituall eyes, wherwith they might haue discerned Christes visible conuersation here vpon earth.

West. Nay, Christes church hath three tokens, that all men may looke well vpon: namely, MarginaliaVnitie. Antiquitie. Consent.vnitie, antiquity, and consent.

Brad. These three, may be as well in euil as in good, as well in sin as in vertue, MarginaliaVnitie, Antiquitie, Consent, as well common to the deuils church, as to Christes church.as well in the deuils church as in Gods church: As for ensample, Idolatry amongst the Israelites had all those three. Chrysostome telleth playnly, as you well know, that the Church is well knowen, Tantummodo per scripturas, alonely by the scriptures.

West. In good fayth, you make your church inuisible when you wyll haue it knowen alonely by the scriptures.

Brad. No Sir the scriptures do playnly set foorth to vs the church, that all men may well ynough thereby know her, if they list to looke.

West. The church is lyke a Tower or towne vpon a hyll, that all men may se.

Brad. True Sir, all men that bee not blynd. MarginaliaWhy the church is not sene.Visible ynough is the church, but mens blyndnes is great. Impute not therefore to the church, that which is to be imputed to mens blyndnes.

MarginaliaWeston commeth in agayne with hys Antiquity.West. Where was your church forty yeares agoe? or where is it nowe? except in a corner of Germany.

Brad. Forsooth Sir the church of Christ is dispersed, MarginaliaThe church tyed to no place but to the word.& not tyed to this or that place, but to the word of God: so that where it is, there is Gods church, if it be truely taught.

West. Loe is not this to make the church inuisible? Point me out a realme a hundreth yeares past, which mayntaned your doctrine.

Brad. Syr if you wyl, or would well marke the state of the church before Christes commyng, with it now, (as S. Paule and Peter wylleth vs) MarginaliaThe church is not alwayes to be poynted out by realmes and countreyes.I thinke you would not looke for such shewes of the church to bee made, as to poynt it by realmes. You know that in Helias time both in Israell, and els where, Gods Church was not poyntable: MarginaliaThe church in Helias time was not poyntable.and therefore cryed he out that he was left alone.

West. No mary, dyd not God say, that there was 7000. which had not bowed their knees to Baal. Loe then. 7000. shew me seuen thousand a hūdreth yeares ago of your religion.

Brad. Syr these 7000. were not knowen to men, for then Helias would not haue sayd, that he had bene before left alone.MarginaliaGod saw the church in Helias, although Helias him selfe did not see it: and so is it now. And this is playne ynough by that which the text hath, namely, þ^t God saith Reliqui mihi, I haue reserued to me 7000. Marke that it sayth, God had reserued to hym selfe, to his owne knowledge, as I doubt not but a hundreth yeares agoe God had hys 7000. in hys proper places, though men knew not therof.

West. Well M. Bradford I wyll not make your case worse, then for transubstantiation, although I know that we agree not in other matters. And I pray you make you it your selfe not worse. If I can do you good I will: hurt you, I will not. I am no Prince, and therfore I cā not promise life, except you will submit your selfe to the diffinition of the church.

Brad. Syr, so that you will define me your Church, that vnder it you bring not in a false Church: you shall not see but that we shall soone be at a poynt.

West. In good fayth M. Bradford, I see no good will be done, and therfore I will wish you as much good as I can, and hereafter I will perchaunce come or send to you agayne, and so he sent for M. Weale and departed.

Now after his departyng, came þ^e keeper M. Claydō, and Steuen Bech, and they were very hoate with M. Bradford & spake vnto hym in such sort that he should not looke but to haue them vtter enemyes vnto hym, notwithstandyng the frendshyp they both had hetherto pretended. God be with vs, and what matter is it who be agaynst vs.

Among diuers which came to Maister Bradford in prison, some to dispute and confer, some to geue counsell, some to take comfort, and some to visit hym, there was a certaine Gentlewomans seruant, which MarginaliaThis Gentlewoman is yet aliue, to whom M. Bradford wrote a letter which hereafter followeth.Gentlewoman had bene cruelly afflicted and miserably hādled by her father and mother and all her kindred, in her fathers house, for not comming to the Masse, and lyke at length to haue bene pursued to death, had not the Lord deliuered her out of her fathers house, being put from all that euer she had. This Gentlewomans Seruant therefore being sent to Maister Bradford wyth recommendations, had this talke with him, which I thought here not to ouerslyp.