MarginaliaAnno. 1557. September.many mo wordes (said they moste maliciously and falsely alledged out of the Scriptures, he thus perswaded a greate multitude there presente (as muche as in hym lay) vnto disobedience. For the which cause the Constables did then apprehend hym.

Marginalia3.Item, thou Rafe Allerton canst not deny, but that the letter sent vnto me by my Lord Darcy, beginnyng with these wordes (pleaseth it your Lordship. &c.) was thine owne letter, and was subscribed by thine owne hand.

The contentes of the letter mentioned in this Article, and written by Allerton, vnto the Lorde Darcy, was a confession of his demeanour before his first apprehension: the effect and purporte whereof because it appeareth in the beginnyng of this his History, I doe here omit.

Marginalia4.Item, thou Rafe Allerton canst not deny, but that the other Letter, sent also to me from my saide Lorde Darcy, beginnyng thus (pleaseth it your Lordship. &c.) and endyng with these wordes (whensoeuer it bee) in thyne own very letter, and subscribed with thyne owne hand.

This was also an other letter written by hym vnto the Lord Darcy, the contentes wherof were, that wher the said Lord had commaunded hym to declare where he had bene euer sithens Whitsontyde last before hys first apprehension, this was to certifie his Lordshippe, that he was not able so to do, otherwise then as he had already shewed hym by his former letters. And moreouer, where as he charged hym to haue read vnto the people abroad in the woodes, he certified hym that hee did neuer read any thyng abroad, sauing once when he was in the cōpany of George Eagles and others, Richarde Roth tooke a writyng out of his bosome and desired the said Rafe to read it, whiche request he then accomplished: and demaundyng of hym whose doyng the same was, the sayd Roth told that it was Maister Crāmers, late Archbishop of Canterbury: and farther he could not shew hym. Neuertheles he was ready and willyng to suffer suche punishment as his Lordshippe should thinke mete, desiryng yet that the same might be with fauour and mercie, although hee feared neither punishment nor death, praiyng the Lord, that it might be in his feare, when soeuer it should be.

Marginalia8.Item, thou Rafe Allerton canst not deny,but that the Letters written with bloud, beginnyng with these wordes (Grace, mercy and peace. &c.) and endyng thus (Farewell in GOD) remayning now registred in the Actes of this Court, were written voluntarily with thine owne hand.

He wrote this Letter in the Prison with bloud for lacke of other inke, and did meane to send the same vnto Agnes Smith, aliâs Siluerside,  

Commentary     Close

On Agnes Smith (or Silverside), see 1563, pp. 1607-08.

MarginaliaA letter of Rafe Allerton.GRace, mercy, and peace from God the father, and from our Lord Iesus Christ, with the assistance of Gods holy spirite, and the aboūdant health both of soule and body, I wishe vnto you, as to myne owne soule, as God knoweth, who is the searcher of all secretes.

Forasmuch as it hath pleased almighty God of his infinite mercy, to call me to the state of grace, to suffer Martyrdome for Iesus Christes sake, although heretofore I haue moste negligently dalyed therwith, and therefore farre vnworthy I am of such an high benefite, to be crowned with the moste ioyfull crowne of Martyrdome: neuerthelesse it hath pleased God not so to leaue mee, but hath raised me vp again accordyng to his promise, which saith: MarginaliaPsal. xxxvij.Although he fall, yet shall he not be hurt: For the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand. Wherby we perceiue Gods election to be most sure: for vndoubtedly hee will preserue all those that are appointed to dye. And as hee hath begon this worke in me: euen so I do beleue that he wil finish the same, to his greate glory, and to my wealth, through Iesus Christ. So be it.

Dearely beloued sister (I am constrained so to call you because of your constant faith and loue vnfained) consider, that if we be the true seruauntes of Christ, then maie not we in any wise make agreement with his enemy Antichrist. For there is no concord nor agreement betweene

them saith the Scriptures: and a man can not serue twoo masters, saith Christe. And also it is prefigured vnto vs in the old law, wheras the people of God were moste straitly commaunded that they should not mingle them selues with the vngodly heathen, and were also forbidden to eate, drinke, or to marry with them. For as often as thei did either marry vnto their sonnes, or take their daughters vnto them, or to their sonnes, euen so oft came the greate and heauy wrath of God vppon his owne people, to ouerthrow both them and all their Cities, with the holy Sanctuary of God: and brought in straunge Princes to reigne ouer them, and wicked rulers to gouerne them, so that they were sure of hunger, sword, pestilence, and wilde beastes to deuour them. Which plagues neuer ceased, vntill the good people of God were cleane separated from the wicked idolatrous people.

Oh dearely beloued, this was written for our learnyng, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might haue hope. And is it not in like case happened nowe in this realme of Englande? For nowe are the people of God had in derision, and troden vnder foote, and the Cities, Townes, and houses where they dwelt, are inhabited with them that haue no right thereunto, and the true owners are spoiled of their labours: yea, and the holy sanctuary of Gods moste blessed worde, is layd desolate and wast, so that the very Foxes run ouer it. &c. yet is it the foode of our soules, the lanterne of our feete, and the light vnto our pathes: and where it is not preached, there the people perish. But as the Prophet saith: MarginaliaEsaye. lix.he that refraineth himselfe from euill, must be spoyled. Why should we then be abashed to be spoyled, seeyng that it is told vs before, that it must so happen vnto them that refraine from euil? And thus I bid you farewell in God.

R. A.

Item, thou Rafe Allerton canst not deny, but that the Letters written with bloud, beginnyng with these wordes in the ouer parte therof. (The angell of God. &c.) and ending thus (bee with you, Amen) and hauyng also this postscript (do ye suppose that our brethrē &c.) remainyng now registred in the actes of this court, are thyne owne hand writyng.

Marginalia9.For the better vnderstandyng of this article, I haue also here inserted the Copy of the Letter mencioned in the same: which letter he wrote (by his owne confession) vnto Richard Roth, then in daunger of the subtill snares of that bloudy Wolfe Boner.

MarginaliaA letter of Rafe Allerton.THe Angell of God pitch his tent about vs, and defend vs in all our wayes. Amen, Amen.

O deare brother, I praye for you, for I heare say that you haue bene diuers tymes before my Lord in examination. Wherefore take heede for Gods sake what the wise man teacheth you, and shrinke not away when you are entised to cōfesse an vntruth, for hope of life, but be ready alwaies to geue an answere of the hope that is in you. For whosoeuer confesseth Christe before men, hym will Christ also confesse before his father. But hee that is ashamed to cōfesse hym before men, shall haue his reward with them that doe denie hym. And therefore deare brother go forward: ye haue a ready way, so faire as euer had any of the Prophetes or Apostles, or the reste of our brethren, the holy Martyrs of GOD. Therefore couet to goe hence with the multitude while the way is ful. Also deare brother vnderstand that I haue seen your Letter, and although I cannot reade it perfectly, yet I partly perceiue your meanyng therein, and very gladly I would copy it out, with certayne comfortable additions thereunto annexed. The which as yet will not be brought to passe for lacke of paper, vntill my Lorde be gone from hence, and then your request shall bee accomplished, GOD willyng, without delaye. Thus fare ye well in God. Our deare brother and fellow in tribulation Robert Allen saluteth you, and the fellowship of the holy ghost be with you, Amen.

Rafe Allerton.

MarginaliaPost scriptū.Do ye suppose that our brethren and sisterne are not yet dispatched out of this world? I thinke that either they are dead, or shalbe within these two dayes.

And for the other obiection yet remainyng, and not specified, if it were not more somewhat to shewe the follie of those bloudye tyrauntes (whiche of so small trifles take occasions to quarell with the Sainctes of