WHen your mother shewed mée your Letters of the xvii . of March● last past : I did call to minde that which I had tolde her , more then thrée months before you departed from her . Which was , that I sawe in you such signes of Arrogancie , that I thought you to bee a méete stocke to graffe a Papist vpon . In reading of those your Letters , I perceiued that I was not deceiued in that my coniecture . This spirite of Arrogancie beginneth to shewe it selfe , euen in the beginning of those your Letters : for you disdaine to vse those duetifull spéeches , that naturall children ought to vse , when they wryte to their naturall Parents . You séeme to be perswaded , that you abase your selfe enough ( yea & ouermuch ) to write thus to such Parents as they be .

Welbeloued Father and mother , after my harty commendations which I haue vnto you , these are to certify you , that I haue receiued your Letter , dated the xviii . of August .

If you had written to the meanest amongst them that haue béen your playfellowes , you must either haue passed the bounds of ciuill honestie , or els haue vsed as reuerent spéeches as these be . But did your Arrogant spirit suffer you to stay héere ? no. For your Parents are so vile in your sight , and in comparison of your selfe , that you must needes write thus .

Were your Prayers any thing worth , I woulde thanke you : for that you pray vnto God to blesse me , and to endue me with the grace of his holy spirit , as also to lighten my hart , to the ende that I may vnderstand the troth . Were ( as I saide before ) your prayers any thing worth , I would thanke you hartily for these your wishinges : but alas , they being such as they seeme to bee , scarsly can I keepe my selfe from teares .

If Lucifer himselfe ( who is noted to be the father of pryde ) shold haue written to his damme , could he haue vsed words of greater Arrogancie ? You haue forgotten ( I thinke ) that commandement of God , which you did once knowe , & did acknowledge before a great congregation of Christians in my Church at Crepiegate . Honour thy father & thy mother &c. You remember not the saying of Syrache , in his 3. Chap. Qu● timet dominum , honorat parentes : et quasi dominis seruiet hijs qui se genuerunt . He that feareth the Lord , dooth honour his Parents , and doth seruice to them that begat him , euen as though they were his Lordes . And againe , Quam malae famae est , qui derelinquet Patrem : & est maledictus a Deo , qui exasperat matr● . How euill a report hath he , that forsaketh his Father ? And he that vexeth his mother , is accursed of God . Yea and in the same Chapter he saith , euen immediatlie after those wordes that I haue cited before , In opere , et sermone , et omni patientia honora patrem tuum &c. Honour thy father in déede and in spéeche , and in all patience , that blessing from God may come vpon thée &c. The Fathers blessing doth establish the houses of the Children , but the mothers cursse doth roote out the foundations thereof . Yea , and Salomon saith in the 15. of his Prouerbs Stultus irridet disciplin●m patr●s sui . &c. The folish man doth deride the discipline of his father &c. And againe : Stultus homo despicit matrem suam . The foolishe man despiseth his mother . These sayings written in the Scriptures , were farre out of your minde , both when you harkened to these Counsellers that first aduised you , to leaue your father and mother in such sorte as you haue doone , and euer since ( as may be gathered by that which you haue written in your Letters directed to them ) but I coniecture , that you wyll staie your selfe vpon the words of our Sauiour Christ , written by the Euangelist Math. 19. Qui re●querit domum , vel fratres , aut sorores , aut Patrem , aut matrem ▪ aut vxorem , aut f●lios . aut agros propter nomen m●um : centuplum accip 〈…〉 , & v●●am aeternam possidebit . Who so shall forsake house , or brethren or sisters , or father , or mother , or wife , or childe , or fréends for my name sake , shall receiue an hundreth folde and possesse life euerlasting . But will you knowe what Chrysostome writeth vpon this place ? Qui perdit animam suam propter me , inueniet eam : non vt nosmetipsos interimamus , neque vt animam nostram violenter a corpore disiungamus : sed vt religionis pietatem , caeteris omnibus anteferamus . It a de vxore quoque , ac fratribus intelligendum est . Who so looseth his owne life for me , shall finde it : not that we should kill our selues , neither that we should violentlie seperate our owne soule from our bodie , but that we should preferre the godlines of Religion before all the rest . Euen so must we vnderstande that which is spoken of the wife and brethren . Now , if those words of our Sauiour , written by S. Mathew doo not enforce you to kyll your selfe , why shoulde they cause you to leaue your father and your mother , in such sort as you haue doone , the staffe of whose age you should haue béene , if you had béene carefull to doo as once you confessed in my Church , that by Gods law you are bound to doo . That is , to loue , honour , and succour your father and mother , to obey them and serue them , to feare and reuerence them , not onely in word and déede , but in your hart and minde also . To followe their precepts and examples of life , & patientlie to take correction at their handes , and to make continuall and hartie praiers to God for them . To relieue and nourish them , in case they should fal into pouerty or decay . And in all points by shewing your selfe an obedient and good child , to mooue them to be louing and good to you . All this you confessed in my Church before many witnesses , which shall in the day of iudgment be a testimonie against you , to condemne you of wilfull Apostacie , and a witnes to discharge your father and mother , ( and all others that haue had the education of you ) of all maner negligence , in enstructing you in the knowledge of your duety , both towards God , and towards man . So that if you perish , your blood shal be vpon your owne head alone . You procéede in your answere , and thus you say .

You write furthermore vnto me , that you haue made great enquirie after me . I know it well . I was in feare great enough by reason of that enquirie , as long as I was in Englande , although ( that God be thanked ) I haue , though hardly , escaped your handes .

In these wordes you make knowne to as many as shall reade this your answer , both the dutiful care that your good parents had to preserue you ( their wicked sonne ) from destruction bothe of body and soule : and also your owne wilfull determination , to caste your selfe headlong into that Gulfe of perdition , that you are nowe fallen into . Yea , and that you are of that number that Esay the Prophet bewayleth , when he writeth thus in the 5. chap , V aequidicitis malum bonum , & bonum malum : ponentes tenebras lucem , & lucem tenebras , ponentes amarum in dulce , & dulce in amarum . Alas for them that call euill good , and good euill . Affirming darknes to be light , and light to be darknesse , turning sower into swéete , and swéete into sower . The bright shining light of the knowledge of the truth , which dooth nowe shine in England , you call the darknes of ignorance and errour : and the hellike darknes of Poperie , wherein you doo nowe wander , groping after the way of Saluation , you call light , shewing your selfe to be one of them that are noted by our English Prouerbe . They that be in hell , doo perswade themselues , that there is none other heauen . Moreouer you say thus .

You heard that I was at Rhemes : it is verie certaine , I was there , the reason also wherefore I writt not vnto you , was partly the scarsitie of messengers , and partlie other thinges , which here I can not well rehearse . Againe , I could not write vnto you conueniently , because I doubted whether you were aliue or dead .

The report of your béeing at Rhemes , you say was true , which argueth that it was rather the lacke of good wyl in you , to comfort your sorrowfull parents by your duetifull Letters , then the lacke of messengers that stayed your penne . What the other lets were , which héere you can not well rehearse : I hope you will tell vs at some other time more conuenient , and when it shall not bee so daungerous for you , as nowe it is . And béeing by these Letters ( that you confesse you haue receiued ) certifyed that your Parents are lyuing , that doubt that you spake of can no longer bee any let at all . Procéeding in your answere , you say thus .

You write againe vnto mee , that all my freendes are in good health , to tell you the troth , I knowe not any one freende amongst you .

Bona verba queso . Good sir , be good to Watkin . What not any one fréende amongst vs all ? There are many yet liuing , that haue béene your fréends I am sure of it . As your father , your mother , my selfe , my wife ( your Godmother ) Master Moncaster , sometime your Schoolemaster , Master Fielde , Master Doctor Fulke , master Paule Swallow , and many moe that were your Mecaenates in Cambridge : and howe happeneth it , that all these be nowe blotted out of your Cataloge of fréends ? By all likelihoode , all the benefites that haue béene bestowed vpon you , haue béene written in duste and not in Marble . Your Grandmother , that being your mothers mydwyfe , lapped you in the first swadling clow●s that euer you bepyssed , and did vnto you all the offyce of a mydwyfe : was she not your fréende ? your mother that yet liueth , and during the time of your infancie , gaue you sucke of her owne breste , and fedde you with foode meete for you , when sometimes she spared it out of her owne bodie , was she not then your fréende ? when she continued your Nursse , and did vnto you all that is to be doone by a Nursse , and when by your wraling and crying you had gotten a Rupture in the nether part of your belly , she sought and procured meanes to ease and remedy the same ▪ by trusses and otherwise , was she not then your fréende ? I coulde put you in minde of much more fréendship shewed vnto you , by vs a boue named , and by many moe , but all is buried in obliuion so déepe that it is not possible that the same canbe digged vp againe , in such sort that you can be moued to acknowledge the same . Your newe Fréendes are so setled in your conceyte , that all the olde are blotted out of memorie for euer . You regarde not the Counsell of Syrach who wryteth thus , Cap. 9. Ne derelinquas amicum antiquum , nouus ●nim non erit similis illi . Forsake not an olde fréend , for the newe wyll not be like him &c. Well , you procéede in your answere , and thus you say .

As for my brother Aaron , I beseeche our Lord & sauior Iesus Christ by the merits of his bitter death and passion , to haue mercy vpon his soule , as also vpon yours , and to saue you all at the day of iudgement .

I doo like well of this your charitable wishe : and doo wishe the like saluation to you , and to all the rest of your newe fréends . But now you doo vse a spéech by the figure Apostrophe . And thus you write in the margine of your Letters .

This gostlie counsel that you giue to your brother Aaron , and doo wish that he should giue the same to your father and mother , will not ( I hope ) be followed in haste . That Religion that you call naughtie , and will your Brother Aaron to leaue : shall ( I hope ) be prooued in this my discourse , the right Religion of Christe , and your Romaine Religion , méere Antichristian . Now to put your mother out of doubt , that you are her sonne Sammuell in déede , you wryte thus .

And forasmuch as you haue written to me , that you will not giue credite to word of mouth , or to written Letters , except that I write your name ( being my mother ) and the place of my birth , let these suffice to set your hart at rest . I was borne ( as you haue tolde me ) in Essex , brought vp and nourished ( in heresye ) in London , or in the suburbs . Your name is Catharine Maipeston ▪ by reason of mariage , you are called Catherine Debnam . I had a brother named Nathanaell ( as you told me ) and he is dead being an infant . Moses and Tobias are also dead , with both my sisters Abigael , & Christian , ( vpon whose soules Christ Iesus haue mercy . ) Aaron was a liue when I departed from you , vnto whom , as also vnto you my mother & to my father John Debnam , I beseeche Christ giue life euerlasting . Thus much for the answere of that Letter which you sent me , written ( as I thinke ) by Master Kings man the Scriuener .

The carefull hart of your mother , desired certaine knowledge of the case of her fugitiue son : supposing it had not béene possible for a nie natural son , being a liue , in anie part of the known world , to hide himselfe so long from so louing a mother as she hath béene to you : and therefore she wished to be certified in such sorte , as nowe she is by these your Letters . But sir , the consideration of duety towards your mother , should haue mooued you to haue vsed more duetifull spéeches then you haue doone in this parte of your aunswere . Set your hart at rest , sauoureth of contempt of that personne that you write vnto ( whom God commandeth you to honour ) and of an obstinate purpose and determination , neuer to haue anie such regard vnto her , as christian children ought to haue vnto their Parents , so long as they shall be in this transitorie life . It séemeth to me that you haue forgotten all that you learned in the Schoole of Christ , and haue learned a newe lesson in the Pharisaicall Schoole at Rhemes : that is ( as it maie be thought ) to shake of all curtesye , both in spéeche and behauiour towards Parents , and currishly to answere Corban . Mark . 7. You were borne in Essex : but will you know by what occasion ? Your father and mother dwelt then in the suburbs of London : but the house that they then had , was not furnished with things néedefull for a woman in the trauell of childe , and therefore your Grandmother being a Mydwife , tooke your mother home to her house at Waltam in Essex . And that as I suppose by Gods prouidence , that the babe that then was borne , might rightly be termed an Essex Calfe , and that our English Prouerbiall spéeche might rightlie be applied vnto him ( As wyse as Waltams Calfe that ranne nine miles to sucke a Bull ▪ ) You heard tell of the Popes Bull that Felton fyxed to the Bishop of Londons gates , and like a Waltams Calfe you ranne to Rhemes , and ( by your owne confession ) would haue runne to Rome , if you had not béene letted , by I knowe not what meane , but by Gods prouidence I am assured , that your follie might the more easilie bee made knowne vnto vs out of Fraunce , and that you may in shorter space , and with lesse daunger returne to England againe when God shall open your eyes , and let you sée , howe vnwiselie and like a Waltams Calfe you haue dealt . You were brought vp and nourished you say , in Heresie , in London , or in the Suburbs thereof . As touching this heresie , that you say you were brought vp and nourished in : I say with S. Paule Acts. 24. Confiteor autem hoc tibi , quod secundum sectam quam dicunt haeresim , sic deseruio patrio Deo meo : credens omnibus quae in l●ge & Prophetis scripta su●t ▪ spem habens in Deum , quam et by ipsi expectant , resur● rectionem futuram , iustorum & iniquorum . In hoc & ipse studeo , sine offendiculo , conscientiam habere ad Deum , & ad homines semper . I confesse this vnto you , that according to that s●ct which men call heresie , I do humbly serue the God of my fathers : beléeuing all that is written in the Law and the Prophets : hauing hope in God , which hope euen they themselues doo looke for , that a resurrection shal be , bothe of the iust and of the wicked . And héerein I my selfe doo endeuoure , to haue alwaies a conscience , both towards God , and towards men . This is that heresie that you were brought vp and nourished in , in London , and in the Suburbs therof . But I pray you ( good master Fryer Iohn ) was S. Paule an Hereticke ? Are your father and mother Heretickes ? Was Robert Smith , that first taught you to knowe Letters ( and is nowe gone to God ) an Heretike ? Am I an Heretike that first taught you to knowe the Rules of Grammer , and taught you and fedde you at mine owne charges , more then seauen yéeres first and last ? Are all our Rulers , and wee of the English nation Heretikes , and our whole kingdome hereticall , because we refuse to fall downe with you , and worship the purple whore of Rome , that rideth vpon the Rose coloured beaste ? When God shall make your gréene witt ryper , and your fléeting iudgment déeper , I hope you iuyll recant that rash saying of yours . I was brought vp and nourished in heresie . Your mothers Surrename before mariage , you mistake , for she was not daughter to Maipeston but to Myllis , and is now by marriage called Catherine Debnam . Your brethren and sisters , were as you haue written : and are all departed thys lyfe , sauing onely Aaron . And as many as know you , haue iust cause to wysh , that as you were the first borne , so you had béene the first buried . But God hath otherwise appointed it ? we doo therefore refer all to his will , béeing well assured that the ende shall be to his glory , although ( we feare ) to your euerlasting confusion . But what meane you to craue mercy for the soules of your brethren and sisters departed ? doo you thinke that God tooke them out of this miserable life so spéedilie , that he might cast them into your holy father the Popes scalding house , which you call Purgatorie ? Did you neuer reade the wordes written in the 3. Chap. of Wisedome , I ustorum animae in man● Dei su●t : et non tanget illos tormentùm mortis . The soules of the righteous are in the hand of God , and the torment of death shall not touch them . Againe in the fourth Chap. I ustus autem si morte praeoccupatus fuerit : in refrigerio erit . If the iust person shall be preuented by death , he shal be in a place of refreshing . And againe in the same Chap ▪ Raptus est , ne malicia mutaret intellectūm eius : aut ne fictio deciperet animamillius . He was taken away violently , leaste mallice should change his vnderstanding , or least counterfeited holines shold deceiue his soule . If you will consider well , those sayings of that wyse man , you shall haue cause to thinke , that your brethren and sisters departed , are not in such case now , that they should stand in néede of greater mercy , then Christ Jesus hath already shewed vnto them . But more of this : when I shall come to speake of these wordes of yours . You say that we are fooles to pray for the deade . Your Brother Aaron ( you say ) was liuing at that time when you did so vnduetifullie depart from your mother ( but he is nowe dead ) to whom as to your Father and mother , you béeséeche Christ to giue life euerlasting . A good and charitable petition . I wysh the same to you , and to all others whatsoeuer : knowing that none can haue euerlasting life , otherwise then by Gods frée gyft , thorowe Jesus Christ our Lord . But your selfe and men of your sorte , may not acknowledge anie such free gyft , for that you doo ( by your often and long prayers , your holines and austerity of life , and your continuall fastinges , and often scourging of your selues with your holie whyppes ) deserue this life euerlasting , both for your selues and for others . So that you are become sauiours of your selues , & of as many as doo ( or will ) beléeue as you doo , & teache others to beléeue . And thus you conclude your answer to the Letter which your mother sent you , written ( as you think ) by Master Kings man , the Scriuner . As touching the writer of that Letter , your coniecture is right . You procéede and say .

I am now to certify you , of my state , welfare , & abyding , & how I am likely to liue . First of al therfore , I beseech Iesus Christ giue you the grace of his holie spirit , vnto the intent , that this which I write , may be to his honor , to your conuersion , & your souls health .

Wee shall nowe bee certified of your estate , welfare &c. You beséeche Jesus Christe to giue the grace of his holye spirit to your mother &c. I hope she hath already receiued so large a measure of that holy spirite , that whatsoeuer you haue , or shall write , shall not be able to remooue her from that foundation whereon shée is builded : which is the Rocke Christ , & that notwithstanding anie assaults that you can make , she shall remaine still setled vppon that Rocke , to her soules health . And that your writings and mine together , shal be to the honor of Christ Jesus , either in your returning againe from your Apostacie , or els in your vtter confusion .

Nowe you enter into your discourse concerning your departing , your trauell and dangers , that you endured and escaped , before you were brought to this blessed rest wherein you nowe remaine : the manner and holines of the life that you leade there , and haue vowed and so purpose to leade , so long as GOD shall giue you life vppon earth . Last of all , you vse an earnest , and ( as you think ) a pithie Oration , to mooue your mother to be at destance with that Religion that she nowe holdeth , and with all the teachers thereof : As Crowley , and the rest : to burne her Bookes of Sermons , to vse the English Bible no more , to goe no more to the Sermons of Protestants , but to praie to our blessed Ladie , and to hang her faith vpon her son Samuels sléeue . And thus your discourse beginneth .

My departure from you , was vpon the Monday ( as I remember ) after Lowe Sundaie , in the after noone . That night I was lodged , not farre from London . Two or three nights after that , I went by night a mile from London . The Saterday before that I departed from you , I went to shrift , ( as wee call it in Englande ) or in other words , I was at confession , in a place , where I confessed my sins to a Priest , who gaue me absolution & penaunce . The Mondaie after that , I departed from you , vnder pretence of the Hebrewe Lesson , which the mischieuous Hereticke Barber taught me : The Fridaie after that , I went by night a mile from London , where I remained in great feare , the space of two or three weekes . There I heard the first masse that euer I hearde .