Marginalia1555. August.Boner. Well, Master Controller, now ye can not say, but I haue offered you fayre, to haue instruction. And nowe I pray thee, call me bloudy Bishop, and saye, I seeke thy bloud.

Smith. Wel, my Lord, although neither I, nor any of this congregation do report the truth of your fact, yet shal these stones cry it out, rather then it shal be hidden.

Boner. Away with hym, away with hym.

Woodrofe. Away with hym, take hym away.

Smith. Well, good freendes, ye haue seene and hearde the greate wrong that we haue receyued this daye, MarginaliaRobert Smith wrongfully condemned by the Byshop.and ye are all recordes, that we haue desired the probation of our cause by Gods booke, and it hath not bene graunted: but we are condemned, and our cause not hearde. Neuerthelesse, my Lorde Mayor, MarginaliaThe wordes of Robert Smith agayne to the Lord Mayor.for as muche as here ye haue exercised Gods swoorde causelesse, and wyll not heare the right of the poore, I commyt my cause to almightye God, that shall iudge all men according vnto right, before whom we shall both stande without authoritie: and there wyll I stande in the right, and haue true iudgement, to your great confusion, except ye repent, whiche the Lord graunt you to doo, if it be his wyll. And then was I with the rest of my brethren caryed away to Newgate.

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Thus, gentle Reader,  

as neare as I can, I haue set out the truth of myne examination, and the veritie of myne vniust condemnation for the truth, requiring God that it maye not be layde to the charge of thee, O Englande, requiring your harty prayers vnto God for hys grace and spirite of boldnesse: which hope euen shortly to set to my seale, at Vxbridge, the eight of August, by Gods grace: pray that it may be to his honour, my saluation, and your consolation, I pray you.

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Da gloriam Deo.
Robert Smith.

Thus hast thou (good Reader) not onely to note, but also to folowe in this man, a singular example of Christian fortitude, whiche so manfully and valiauntly dyd stande in the defence of his maisters cause. And as thou seest hym here boldly stande in examination before the Bishop and Doctours: so was he no lesse comfortable also in the prison among his felowes. MarginaliaThe godly behauiour of Robert Smith and his fellowes in pryson.Whiche also is to be obserued no lesse in his other prison felowes, who being there together, cast in an outward house within Newgate, had godly conference with them selues, with dayly praying, and publike readyng, whiche they to their greate comfort vsed in that house together: amongest whom this foresaide Smyth was a chiefe doer. Whose industrie was alwaies solicitous, not only for them of his owne company, but also his diligēce was carefull for other prisoners, whom hee ceased not to dehorte and disswade from their olde accustomed iniquitie: and many he conuerted vnto his Religion. Diuers letters he wrote there in the prison to sundry his frendes in metre, which because we would not ouercharge this volume with matter more then is necessarily requisite, we haue referred to the booke of our first edition to be read. pag. 1261. Only such as he wrote in prose, we haue here expressed, as here vnder foloweth.

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MarginaliaThe Martyrdome and comfortable death of Rob Smith at Vxbridge. Anno. 1555. August. 8.This foresaide Robert Smith  

the valiaunt and constaunt Martyr of Christe, thus replenished (as ye haue heard) with the fortitude of Gods spirite, was condemned at London by Boner there Bishop, the twelfth day of Iuly, and suffered at Vxbridge the eight day of August: who as he had bene a comfortable instrument of God before to all them that were in prison with hym, so also nowe beyng at the stake, he dyd no lesse comfort the people there standyng about hym, willyng them to thinke well of his cause, and not to doubt but that his bodye dying in that quarrell, shoulde ryse againe to life. And, saide he, I doubt not, but that God wyll shewe you some token thereof. MarginaliaA token of comfort and resurrection geuen by R. Smith at his Martyrdome.At length he being welnigh halfe burnt, and al black with fire, clustered together as in a lumpe like a blacke cole, al mē thinking hym for dead, sodenly rose vp right before the people, lyfting vp the stumpes of his armes, and clapping the same together, declaring a reioysing hart vnto them, and so bendyng downe againe, and hanging ouer the fire, slept in the Lord, & ended this mortal lyfe.  

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MarginaliaRobert Smith to his wyfe, ful of ghostly instruction.SEeke first to loue God deare wife, with your whole hart, and then shal it be easie to loue your neighbour.

Be frendly to all creatures, and especially to your owne soule.

Be alwayes an enemie to the deuyl and the world, but

especially to your owne flesh.

In hearing of good things ioyne the eares of your head and hart together.

Seeke vnitie and quietnes with all men, but especially with your conscience: for he wyl not easily be entreated.

Loue al men, but especially your enemies.

Hate the sins that are past, but especially those to come.

MarginaliaBe good to thine enemy.Be as ready to further your enimie, as he is to hinder you, that ye may be the child of God.

Defile not that which Christ hath clensed, lest his bloud be laid to your charge.

MarginaliaA double hedge to the toung.Remember that God hath hedged in your tongue, with the teeth and lyps, that it might speake vnder correction.

Be ready at al tymes to looke in your brothers eye, but especially in your owne eye. For he that warneth other of that he hym self is faultie, doth geue his neighbour the clere wine, and keepeth the dregs for him selfe.MarginaliaCast out the mote in thine owne eye first.

Beware of riches and worldly honor: for without vnderstanding prayer, and fasting, it is a snare and also pouertie, all whiche are like to consumyng fire, of whiche if a man take a litle, it wil warne him, but if he take too much, it wil consume hym.MarginaliaCouet not to be rich. For it is hard for a man to cary fire in his bosome, and not be brent.

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Shew mercy vnto the saintes for Christes sake, and Christ shall reward you for the saintes sake.MarginaliaBlessed be the mercifull. Among all other prisoners visite your owne soule: for it is inclosed in a perilous prison.

If ye wyl loue God, hate euyll, and ye shall obteyne the reward of wel doing.

Thus fare you wel, good Anne. Haue me hartily commended to all that loue the Lord vnfainedly. I besech you haue me in your prayer while I am liuyng, and I am assured the Lord wyll accept it. Bring vp my children & yours in the feare of God, and then shal I not faile but receiue you together in the euerlasting kyngdome of God, whiche I goe vnto.

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Your husband Robert Smyth.

If ye wyll meete wyth me againe,
Forsake not Christ for any paine.

MarginaliaAn other letter of Robert Smith to his wyfe.THe grace of almighty God be alwayes with you and comfort, strength, and stablish you in al things, that what his blessed wyll is, ye may folow faythfully to his honour, my comfort, and your own saluation, and the good ensample to our posteritie.

I haue receiued your letter, and I prayse God, without any daunger: neuerthelesse if Gods marueilous goodnes had not brought it to my handes by MarginaliaCommendation of Peter the keper.Peter the keeper, there might haue risen a great trouble vpon the same. For wel ye knowe that George is a wicked man, vtterly without all feare of God: and if he had gotten it, the Counsayle had surely seene it. But Peter like an honest man neuer opened it. Wherefore I desire you from henceforth let your letters be deliuered at Chauncery Lanes ende, to my sister Tankerfield  

, and shee may deliuer them safe into my hand. We are very straitly   kept, I prayse God of his mercy. Neuerthelesse almightye God is alwayes with vs. I haue sente you that ye wrote for. The two Nutmegs that should haue gone by Nicholas to our frendes, I send nowe, and desire them to accept them as a poore prisoners gyft, vntyll God geue more largely. Thomas Iuison sendeth you a peny, I pray you geue hym thankes for the same, and Diricke also. I haue sent you of that litle that I haue two peeces of Spanishe money. The Lorde Iesu haue you in his custody, & send you good speede. In any case keepe your selfe close, I doubt muche your walkynges. Haue my harty commendations to your parents, and desire thē with you to haue me in their praiers. Be feruent in prayer, pray, pray, pray, that God would of his mercy put vp his sword, and looke on his people. Tell my brother,   with commendations, that the next commer shall bring vp the Epistle & exhortation. I haue written all this fourtnight for my Lady, yea, and almost done nothing els.   I woulde haue sent him the articles of William Flower, and my talke with hym, if I could haue deliuered it from the prison.   The holy Ghost keepe you. I would ye could make a meanes for your money, to sende a cheese to Peter: for I finde much kindnesse at his handes. Ye shall alwayes heare of me at Tankerfieldes house. All the Congregation salute you. Fare you most hartily well.

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I haue not yet (tell my brother) spoken with the person. There hath come so strait a cōmaūdemēt, that no man might come to vs, because Tooly cursed the Pope at the gallowes.  

They thought it to be our counsel.

Yours, and euer yours, Robert Smith.