AN EXHORTATION WRITTEN BY LADY JANE DUDLEY, THE NIGHT BEFORE HER EXECUTION, AT THE END OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, IN GREEK, WHICH SHE SENT TO HER SISTER, THE LADY CATHARINE GREY.

"I have here sent you, my dear sister Catharine, a book which, although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, or the curious embroidery of the artfullest needles, yet inwardly it is more worth than all the precious mines which the vast world can boast of; it is the book, my only best, and best loved sister, of the Law of the Lord; it is the testament and last will, which he bequeathed unto us wretches and wretched sinners, which shall lead you to the path of eternal joy; and if you with a good mind read it, and with an earnest mind follow, no doubt it shall bring you to an immortal and everlasting life; it will teach you to live, and learn you to die; it shall win you more and endow you with greater felicity, than you should have gained of our woeful father's lands; for as if God had prospered him, you should have inherited his honours and manors, so if you apply diligently this book, seeking to direct your life according to the rule of the same, you shall be an inheritor of such riches, as neither the covetous shall withdraw from you, neither the thief shall steal, neither yet the moths corrupt. Desire with David, my best sister, to understand the law of the Lord your God: live still to die, that you by death may purchase eternal life, and trust not that the tender

ness of your age shall lengthen your life; for unto God when he calleth, all hours, times, and seasons, are alike, and blessed are they whose lamps are furnished when he cometh, for as soon will the Lord be glorified in the young as the old. My good sister, once more again let me intreat you to learn to die; deny the world, defy the devil, and despise the flesh, and delight yourself only in the Lord. Be penitent for your sins, and yet despair not; be strong in faith, yet presume not; and desire with St. Paul to be dissolved and to be with Christ, with whom, even in death, there is life. Be like the good servant, and even at midnight be waking, lest when death cometh and stealeth upon you, like a thief in the night, you be with the servants of darkness found sleeping; and lest for lack of oil you be found like the five foolish virgins, or like him that had not on the wedding garment, and then you be cast into darkness, or banished from the marriage: rejoice in Christ, as I trust you do, and seeing you have the name of a Christian, as near as you can, follow the steps, and be a true imitator of your Master, Christ Jesus, and take up your cross, lay your sins upon his back, and always embrace him. Now as touching my death, rejoice as I do, my dearest sister, that I shall be delivered of this corruption, and put on incorruption; for I am assured that I shall, for losing of a mortal life, win one that is immortal, joyful, and everlasting. The which I pray God grant you his most blessed hour, and send you his all-saving

in

grace to live in his fear, and to die in the true Christian faith; from which, in God's name, I exhort you that you never swerve, neither through hope of life, nor fear of death; for if you will deny his birth, to give length to a weary and corrupt breath, God himself will deny you; and by vengeance make short what you by your soul's loss would prolong; but if you will cleave to him, he will stretch forth your days to an uncircumscribed comfort, and to his own glory; to the which glory, God bring me now, and you hereafter, when it shall please him to call you. Farewell once again, my beloved sister, and put your only trust in God, who only must help you. Amen.

Your loving Sister,

JANE DUDLEY *.

JOHN ROGERS.

Died Feb. 4, 1555.

AN eminent divine, the protomartyr of all the blessed company that suffered in the reign of Queen Mary, and the assistant of Coverdale and Tyndal in translating the Bible into English. When Queen Mary made her triumphal entry into London, August 3, 1553, Rogers had the boldness to preach a sermon at St. Paul's Cross, on the following Sunday, in which he warned the people against popery, and

Baker's Chronicles. Strype. Remains of the Lady Jane Grey. Fox. Chalmers.

exhorted them to uphold the Reformation. He preferred giving his testimony to the truth of what he had believed and preached, at whatever risk. Wherefore he was condemned to be burnt on the 4th of February, on which day he was warned suddenly by the keeper's wife of Newgate, to prepare himself to the fire, who then being sound asleep, scarce with much shogging shaking could be awakened. At length being raised and waked, and bid to make haste, then said he, if it be so, I need not to tie my points, and so was had down first to Bonner, to be degraded; that done, he craved of Bonner but one petition. And Bonner asking what that should be, Nothing, (said he,) but that he might talk a few words with his wife, before his burning. But that could not be obtained of him. "Then (said he,) you declare your charity, what it is;" and so he was brought into Smithfield, by Master Chester and Master Woodrofe, then sheriffs of London, there to be burnt, where he shewed most constant patience, not using many words, for he could not be permitted, but only exhorting the people constantly to remain in that faith and true doctrine which he before had taught, and they had learned, and for the confirmation whereof he was not only content patiently to suffer and bear all such bitterness and cruelty as had been shewed him, but also most gladly to resign up his life, and to give his flesh to the consuming fire, for the testimony of the same.

Now when the time came that he, being delivered to the sheriffs, should be brought out of Newgate to Smithfield, the place of his execution, first came to him Mr. Woodrofe, one of the foresaid sheriffs, and calling Mr. Rogers unto him, asked him if he would revoke his abominable doctrine, and his evil opinion of the sacrament of the altar, Mr. Rogers answered and said, “That which I have preached I will seal with my blood." "Then (quoth Master Woodrofe,) thou art an heretic." "That shall be known (quoth Rogers,) at the day of judgment." Well, (quoth Master Woodrofe,) I will never pray for thee." "But I will pray for you," quoth Master Rogers, and so was brought the same day, which was Monday the 4th of February, by the sheriffs towards Smithfield, saying the psalm "Miserere" by the way, all the people wonderfully rejoicing at his constancy, with great praises and thanks to God for the same. And there, in the presence of Master Rochester, comptroller of the queen's household, Sir Richard Southwell, both the sheriffs, and a wonderful number of people, he was burned into ashes, washing his hands in the flame as he was in burning.

A little before his burning at the stake, his pardon was brought, if he would have recanted, but he refused it *.

Strype, Fox, and Southey.