Marginalia1555. October.wordes, and for the same hee was set in Bocardo.  

Vpon these thinges (as is reported) there is risen a rumour in the towne and countrey about, that we should haue broken the prison with such violence, as if Master Bailiffes had not played the prety men,   we shoulde haue made a scape.   We had out of our prison a wall that wee myght haue walked vpon, and our seruantes had liberty to go abroad in the towne or fieldes: MarginaliaMaster Ridley and his felow prisoners in Bocardo, restrayned of theyr liberty.but now both they and we are restrayned of both.

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My Lorde of Worcester passed by through Oxford, but he did not visit vs.  

The same day began our restraint to be more, and the booke of the Communion was taken from vs by the Bailiffes, at the Maiors commaundemēt, as þ^e Bailiffes did report to vs. No mā is licēced to come vnto vs: afore they might that would, see vs vpon the walle: but that is so grudged, and so euil reported, that we are now restrained. &c. Sir, blessed be God, with all our euyll reportes, grudges, and restraintes, we are mery in God, and all our cure and care is and shal be (by Gods grace) to please and serue him, of whom we looke and hope after this temporall and momentany miseries, to haue eternall ioy and perpetuall felicitie wyth Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, Peter and Paule, and all the heauenly company of the Aungels in heauen, through IESVS CHRIST our Lorde. MarginaliaThe ingratitude of the scholars in not visiting the Bishops in Bocardo.As yet there was neuer learned man or any scholer or other that visited vs since we came into Bocardo, which now in Oxford may bee called a Colledge of *Marginalia* Bocardo a Colledge of Quondams. Quondams.   For as ye know, we be no fewer then three: and I dare say euery one wel contented with his portion, which I do reckē to be our heauenly fathers fatherly good & gracious gyft. Thus fare you well. We shall by Gods grace one day meete together and bee mery. The day assuredly approcheth apace: the Lord graunt that it may shortly come. For before that day come, I feare me the world wil waxe worse and worse. But thē al our enemies shalbe ouerthrowen and troden vnder foote: righteousnes and truth then shall haue the victory, and beare the bell away, whereof the Lord graunt vs to bee partners, and all that loueth truly the truth.

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We all pray you, as ye can, to cause all our commendations to be made, to all such as ye know did visit vs & you, whē we were in the Tower, with their friendly remembraunces and benefites. MarginaliaThe goodnes of Mistres Wilkinson, & Anne Warcup, helpe the Bishops in Bocardo.Mistres Wilkenson and Mistres Warcup haue not forgotten vs, but euer since we came into Bocardo, with their charitable and friendly beneuolēce haue comforted vs: not that els we did lacke (for God bee blessed, hee euer hytherto hath prouided sufficiently for vs) but that is a great comfort, and an occasion for vs to blesse God, when we see that hee maketh them so friendly to tender vs, whom some of vs were neuer familiarly acquainted wythall.

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Yours in Christ Nic. Ridley.

MarginaliaAn other letter of B. Ridley to his Cosin.GOds holy spirite be with you, now and euer, Amen.

When I call to remembraunce (beloued Cosin) the state of those that for feare of trouble, either for losse of goodes, will doe in the sight of the world those thynges that they know and are assured is contrary to the will of God, MarginaliaMaster Ridley lamenteth the state of thē, which for feare of trouble do bend with the world and go contrary to theyr conscience.I can doe no lesse but lament their case, beyng assured the end therof will be so pitifull (without spedy repentaunce) that I tremble and feare to haue it in remembraunce. I would to God it lay vpō some earthly burden, so that fredome of conscience might be geuen vnto them. I wrote (as God knoweth) not of presumption, but onely lamentyng the state of those, whom I I thought now in this daūgerous tyme should haue geuen both you and me comfortable instructiōs. But (alas) in stede therof we haue persuasions to folow (I lament me to rehearse it) supersticious idolatry. Yea and that worst of all is, they will seeke to proue it by the Scripture. The Lord for his mercy turne their hartes, Amen. Commend me. &c.

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Yours Nicholas Ridley.

MarginaliaAn other worthy letter of B. Ridley, to Master Bradford.BRother Bradford, I wish you and your company in CHRIST, yea and all the holy brotherhode that now with you in diuers prisons suffreth and beareth paciently Christes crosse for the mayntenance of his Gospel, grace, mercy, and peace from God the father and from our Lord IESVS CHRIST. Syr, considering the state

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of this chiualry and warfare, wherein I doubt not but we bee set to fight vnder CHRISTES banner and his crosse agaynst our ghostly enemy the deuill and the olde serpent Satan, me thinke I perceaue two thinges to be his most perilous and most daungerous engines which he hath to impugne CHRISTES verity, hys Gospell, & his fayth: MarginaliaTwo mayne pillers holding vp the Sinagoge of Sathan.and the same two also to be the most massy postes, and most mighty pillers, whereby he mayntaineth and vpholdeth his Satanicall sinagoge.  

These two syr, are they, in my iudgemēt: Marginalia1. False Doctrine of the Sacrament.the one, his false doctryne & Idolatrycall vse of the Lordes Supper, and Marginalia2. The Popes primacie.the other, the wicked and abominable vsurpation of the primacy of the sea of Rome. By these two Sathan seemeth to me principally to mayntayne and vphold his kingdome: by these two MarginaliaApoc. 8.he dryueth downe myghtily (alas) I feare me, the third part of the starres in heauen. MarginaliaSatans poyson paynted ouer with fayre pretences of religion.These two poysonfull rotten postes he hath so paynted ouer with such a pretence and coulour of religion, of vnity in CHRISTES church, of the catholicke fayth, and such like, that the wyly serpent is able to deceaue (if it were possible) euen the elect of God. Wherfore Iohn said not without great cause MarginaliaApoc. 2.if any know not Sathans subtilties and the profundities therof, I will wishe hym no other burden to be laden withall.

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Sir, because these be his principall and mayne postes whereupon standeth all his falshode, craft, and trechery, therfore according to the poore power that God hath geuen me, I haue bended  

myne artillery to shoote at the same. I know it to be but little (God knoweth) that I can do, and of my shotte I know they passe not. Yet wil I not (God willing) cease to do the best that I can, to shake those cankered and rotten postes. The Lord graūt me good successe, to the glory of hys name and the furtheraunce of CHRISTES Gospell. I haue now already (I thanke God) for this present tyme spent a good part of my pouder in these scriblinges, whereof this bearer shal geue you knowledge. Good brother Bradford, let the wicked surmise and say what they list, knowe you for a certayntie, by Gods grace, without all doubt, MarginaliaB. Ridleys purpose to liue and die vpon the enemies of Christ and of the Gospell.that in CHRISTES Gospelles cause, agaynst and vpon the foresayd Gods enemyes, I am fully determined to liue and dye. Farewell deare brother, and I besech you and all the rest of our brethren, to haue good remembraunce of the condemned heretickes (as they call them) of Oxford, in your praiers. The bearer shall certify you of our state. Farewell in the Lord. From Bocardo.

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Yours in CHRIST Nicolas Ridley.

MarginaliaAn other letter of B. Ridley answering to M. Bradford.DEarely beloued, I wish you grace, mercy and peace. According to your mind I haue runne ouer all your *Marginalia* This was a treatise of the Lordes Supper, with other thinges which Master Bradford sent to him to peruse, and to iudge therof. papers,  

& what I haue done (which is but small) therin may appeare. In two places I haue put in two loose leaues.   I had much ado to read that was writtē in your great leaues, and I weene somewhere I haue altered some wordes, because I could not read perfectly that which was written. Syr, what shall best be done with these thinges, now ye must consider: for if they come in sight at this time, vndoubtedly they must to the fire with their father: and as for any safegard that your custody cā be vnto them, I am sure you looke not for it. For as you haue bene partner of the worke, so I am sure ye looke for none other, but to haue and receiue like wages, and to drinke of the same cup. Blessed be God that hath geuen you libertie in the meane season, that you may vse your pen to his glory, and to the cōfort (as I heare say) of many. I blesse God dayly in you, and all your whole cōpany, to whom I besech you cōmend me hartely. Now I loue my countreyman   in deede and in truth, I meane MarginaliaCommendation of Doctour Taylour.D. Taylour, not for my earthly countreyes sake, but for our heauenly fathers sake, & for CHRISTES sake, whō I heard say, he did so stoutly in tyme of perill cōfesse,   and yet also for our countreyes sake and for all our mothers sake: but I meane of þ^e kingdome of heauē, & of heauenly Hierusalem, & because of the spirite, which bringeth in him, in you, & in your cōpany such blessed frutes of boldnes in þ^e Lordes cause, of patience & cōstancie. The Lord, which hath begun this worke in you all, performe & perfite this his own deede, vntill his own day come, Amen.

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As yet I perceiue ye haue not bene bayted,  

and the cause thereof God knoweth, which will let them do no more to his, then is hys pleased will & pleasure to suffer them to do for his owne glory, and to the profit of them