THE LIFE , DEATH and actions of the most chast , learned and Religious Lady , the Lady Iane Gray , Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk : containing foure principall discourses written with her own hands ; the first an admonition to such as are weake in Faith , the second a Catechisme , the third an exhortation to her Sister , and the last her words at her death .

SOme worthy parcels or excellent Essayes of the 〈◊〉 ●…ough to be imitated vertues , of that most admirable , wise , learned , and religious Lady , the Ladie Iane Gray , Daughter to the Duke of Suffolke , and vnfortunate wife of the Lord Guilford Dudley sonne to the duke of Northumberland , comming , in an old auncient Printed Copie , vnto my hands as it were halfe forgotten in the world , or like a curious monument whose well-carned figures , and rare architecture the dust and Cobwebs had iniuriously defaced : I could not , out of Charitie and Christian loue to a mirrour of such excellence , but with my best Art and industry pollish and clense a perfection so Noble , Holy , and worthy all good mens imitations , and as it were to awaken the sleepie world from her fantasticke Lethargie , to behold in that , which we call the weaker sexe a strength matchlesse and inuincible : A Saba that had so oft heard the wisedome of Salomon , that ten thousand of our Salomons may come now to be instructed at this Saba : Briefely a Lady in all goodnes so perfect , that whosoeuer could gaine but some part of her shadow , might haue inough in these latter dayes to boast and ranke themselues with the best that are called vertuous , so flatteringly are attributes cast vpon the liuing , and so maliciously slander vpon the dead .

To returne then to my discourse , you may by that which hath been formerly spoke of her birth and marriage , Iudge the greatnesse of her bloud and place , both which were farre ouer shined by her vertues as shall bee declared hereafter : she was born in England , and there brought vp in learning , and religion , with that prosperous and deuout painfulnesse , that as seede cast vpon the best and most fruitfulst ground she brought forth her increase in such aboundance of infinits , that the least of her excellencies were impossible to bee circumscribed : for proofe whereof , that euery iudgement may stand stedfast in the opinion of her perfection ▪ I will here deliuer vnto you an Epistle of her owne penning , sent to a noble friend of hers in the Court of England , being in those daies of persecution fallen from the truth of Gods holy word for feare of the world , in which you shall find so much learning chariti● and diuine readings that by this one Talent onely this princely Eagle may be truely discouered how potent and vnmatchable the great substance of so rich a vertue is .

An Epistle of the Lady Iane Grayes to a Noble friend of hers newly falne from the Truth .

SO oft as I call to minde ( deare friend and chosen Brother ) the dreadfull and fearefull sayings of God , that he which layeth hold vpon the plow and looketh back againe , is not meet for the kingdome of heauen . And on the other side to remember the comfortable words of our Sauiour Christ , to all those that forsaking themselues do follow him : I cannot but maruell at thée , and lament thy case ; that thou which somtimes wert the liuely member of Christ , but now the deformed impe of the diuell ; sometimes the beautifull temple of God , but now the stinking and filthy kenell of Sathan ; sometimes the vnspotted spouse of thy Sauiour , but now the vnshamefast paramour of Antichrist , somtimes my faithfull brother , but now a stranger & Apostata , yea sometimes a stout christian soldior , but now a cowardly runaway . So oft as I consider the threatnings and promises of the diuine Iustice to all those which faithfully loue him : I cannot but speake to thée , yea rather cry out and exclaime against thée , thou séed of Sathan , and not of Iuda , whom the Diuell hath deceiued , the world hath beguiled , and desire of life hath subuerted , and made of a Christian an Infidell .

Wherefore hast thou taken vpon thée the Testament of the Lord in thy mouth ? wherefore hast thou hitherto yéelded thy body to the ●ir● , and to the bloudy hands of cruel tyrants ? wherfore hast thou instructed others to be strong in Christ , when thou thy selfe dost now so horribly abuse the testament and Law of the Lord , when thou thy selfe preachedst ( as it were not to steale ) yet most abhominably stealest , not from men , but from God , and as a most hainous sacrilegious robber , robbest Christ thy redéemer of his right in his members thy body and thy soule ; when thou thy selfe dost rather chuse to liue miserably ( with shame ) in this world , then to die gloriously and raigne in honor with Christ , to the end of all eternitie , in whom euen in death there is life beyond wish , beyond all expression : And when I say thou thy selfe art most weake , thou oughtest to show thy selfe most s●rong , for the strength of a fort is not knowne before the a●●…ult , but thou yeeldest ( like a faint Captaine ) thy hold before any battry be brought against thée .

Oh wretched and vnhappy man what art thou but dust and ashes , and wilt thou resist thy maker , that formed and fashioned thée : wilt thou now forsake him that called thee from custome-gathering among the Romish Antichristians , to be an Embassador and messenger of his eternall word ; he that first framed thée , and since thy creation and birth preserued thée , nourished thée , and kept thée , yea and inspired thee with the spirit of knowledge ( I cannot , I would I could say of grace ) shall he not possesse thee , darest thou deliuer vp thy selfe to another , being not thine owne but his ? How canst thou , hauing knowledge , or how darest thou neglect the law of the Lord , and follow the vaine traditions of men ? And whereas thou hast been a publique professor of his Name , become now a defacer of his glorie .

I will not refuse the true God , and worship the inuention of man , the golden Calfe , the whore of Babylon the Romish religion , the abhominable Idol , the most wicked Masse : wilt thou torment againe , rent and teare the most precious bodie of our Sauior Christ with thy bodily and fleshly téeth , without the breaking whereof vpon the crosse , our sins and transgressions , could els no way be redéemed ? wilt thou take vpon thee to offer vp any sacrifice vnto God for our sinnes , considering that Christ offorod vp himselfe ( as S. Paul saith ) vpon the Crosse , a liuely sacrifice once for all .

Can neither the punishment of the Israelites ( which for their Idolatry so oft they receiued ) moue thee ; neither the terrible threatnings of the ancient Prophets stirre thée , nor the crosses of Gods own mouth feare thée to honor any other God then him ? wilt thou so regard him that spared not his deare and onely sonne for thée , so diminishing , yea vtterly extinguishing his glory , that thou wilt attribute the praise and honor to Idols , which haue mouths and speake not , eyes and sée not , eares and yet heare not , which shall perish with them that made them : What saith the Prophet Baruck , where he reciteth the Epistle of Ieremie , written to the captiue Iewes , did he not forewarne them that in Babylon they should see Gods of Gold , Siluer , Wood and Stone , borne vpon mens sholders to cause a feare vpon the Heathen ? But be not you afraid of them ( saith Ieremy ) nor do as other doe : But when you see others worship them , say you in your hearts , It is thou ( O Lord ) that oughtest only to be worshipped : for as touching the timber of those Gods the Carpenter framed them , and pollished them , yea guilded they be and laid ouer with siluer and vaine things and cannot speake : he sheweth moreouer , the abuse of their deckings , how the priests tooke off their ornaments , & apparelled their women therewithall : How one holdeth a Scepter , another a sword in his hand , and yet can they iudge in no matter , nor defend themselues , much lesse any other , from either hatred or murther , nor yet from gnawing wormes , dust , filth , or any other euill thing : these and such like words speaketh Ieremy vnto them , wherby he proueth them but vaine things , & no Gods , and at last hee concludeth thus ; confounded bee those that worship them .

They were warned by Ieremie , and thou as Ieremie hast warned others , and art warned thy selfe by many Scriptures in many places .

God saith he is a iealous God , which will haue all honor , glory , & worship giuen to him onoly . And Christ saith in the fourth of Luke to Sathan which tempted him : euen to the same Sathan , the same Belzebub , the same Diuell which hath preuailed against thée : It is written ( saith he ) thou shalt honour the Lord thy God , and him onely shalt thou serue .

These and such like do prohibit thée , and all Christians to worship any other God then he which was before al worlds , and laid the foundations both of heauen and earth , and wilt thou honor a detestable Idol inuented by the popes of Rome , and the vncharitable colledge of politick Cardinals ?

Christ offered vp himselfe once for all , and wilt thou offer him vp againe dayly at thy pleasure ? But thou wilt say thou doest it for a good intent ? Oh sinke of sinne ! Oh child of perdition ! canst thou dreame of any good entent therein , when thy conscience beareth thée witnes of the wrath of God promised against thée ?

How did Saul , who for that hee disobayed the word of God for a good entent : was throwne from his worldly and temporal kingdome : shalt thou then which doest so deface Gods honeur , and rob him of his right , inherit the eternall heauenly Kingdome ? wilt thou for a good entent pluck Christ out of heauen , and make his death voide , and deface the triumph of his crosse offering him vp dayly ? wilt thou either for feare of death , or hope of life , deny and refuse thy God , who inriched thy pouerty , healed thine infirmitie , and yéelded to this victory if thou wouldst haue kept it ? doest thou not consider that the thryd of life hangeth vpon him that made thée , who can ( as his will is ) either tw●…e it hard to last the longer , or vntwine it againe to breake the sooner ? Doest thou not remember the saying of Dauid , a notable King , which teacheth thée , a miserable wretch , in his 104. Psalme , where he saith , When thou takest away thy Spirit ( O Lord ) from men , they dye , and are turned againe to their dust , but when thou lettest thy breath go forth , they shall be made and thou shalt renew the face of the earth .

Remember the saying of Christ in his Gospel , whosoeuer seeketh to saue his life shall loose it , but whosoeuer will loose it for my sake shall finde it : And in an other place : Who so euer loueth Father or Mother aboue me , is not meet for me , for he that will be my Disciple , must forsake Father and Mother , and himself , and take vp his crosse and follow me : what crosse , the crosse of infamy and shame , of misery and pouerty , of affliction and persecution for his Names sake .

Let the oft falling of those heauenly showers pierce thy stony heart , let the two edged sword of Gods holy word hew a sunder the knit-together sinewes of worldly respects , euen to the very marrow and life blood of thy carnall heart , that thou maist once againe forsake thy selfe , to imbrace Christ , and like as good subiects will not refuse to hazard all in the defence of their earthly and temporall Gouernors , so fly not like a white lyuerd milke-sop from thy standard , whereby thy chiefe Captaine Christ hath placed thée in a noble aray of this life : Viriliter ago confortetur cor tuum & sustine dominum , fight manfully , come life , come death , the quarrell is Gods , and vndoubtedly the victory is ours .

But thou wilt say I will not breake vnitie : What ? No● the vnity of Sathan and his members , not the vnity of darknes , the agréement of Antichrist , and his adherents ; nay then thou deceiuest thy selfe with fond imaginations of such an vnitie as is amongst the enemies of Christ : were not the false Prophets in an vnity : were not Iosephs brethren ▪ Iacobs sons , in an vnity : were not the Heathen as the Amelechites ▪ the Pheresits and Iebusits in an vnitie ? I kéepe no order but looke rather to my matter : were not the Scribes and Pharisies in an vnitie : doth not King Dauid testifie , conueniunt in vnum aduersus Dominum , yea theeues and murtherers , conspirators and Traytors haue their vnitie .

Marke my deare friend ( yea friend if thou béest not Gods enemy , ) there is no vnitie but when Christ knitteth the knot amongst such as be his , yea bee you well assured that where his truth is resident , there it is verified , that he saith : Non veni mittere pacem in terram sed gladium , that is , Christ came to set one against another ▪ the Sonne against the Father , the Daughter against the Mother : Deceiue not thy selfe therfore with the glistring & glorious name of vnity ▪ for Antichrist hath his vnity , yet not in déed , but in name , for the agréement of euill men is not an vnitie , but a conspiracie .

Thou hast heard some threatnings , some curses , and some admonishments of the Scriptures to those which loue themselues aboue Christ .

Thou hast heard also the sharp and biting words to those which deny him for loue of life , saith hee not , that hee which denieth mee before men , I will deny him before my Father which is in heauen : And to the same effect writeth S. Paul in the 6. to the Hebrewes , saying , It is impossible , that they which haue been once lightned , and haue tasted of the heauenly gift of grace , and beene made partakers of the Holy Ghost , & haue rellished of the pure word of God , if they fall and slide away , it is impossible that they should bee renewed againe by repentance , crucifying againe to themselues the Son of God , and making him as it were a mocking-stock , or gaud of their fancies . And againe ( saith he ) If we shall willingly sin after we haue receiued the knowledge of the truth , there is no oblation left for sin , but the terrible expectation of Iudgement and fire which shall deuour the aduersaries . Thus S. Paul writeth , and thus thou readest , and dost thou not quake and tremble ? well , if these terrible and thundering alarums cannot stir thée to arise and cleaue vnto Christ , and forsake the world , yet let the swéet consolations and promises of the Scriptures : let the examples of Christ and his Apostles , both Martyrs and Confessors encourage thee to take faster hold by Christ . Hearken what he saith againe in his holy Gospell ; Blessed are you when men reuile you , and persecute you for my sake , reioyce and bee glad , for great is your reward in heauen , for so persecuted they the Prophets before you .

Heare what Esay saith ; Feare not the curse of men , be not affraid of their blasphemies and reuilings , for Wormes and Mothes shall eat them vp like cloath and wooll , but my righteousnesse shall endure for euer , and my sauing health from Generation to Generation : What art thou then ( saith hée ) that fearest a mortall man , the Child of a man , which fadeth away as doth the flower , and forgettest the Lord that made thee , that spread out the heauens like a curtaine , and laid the foundations of the earth so sure , that they can not be remooued : I am the Lord thy God , which maketh the Sea to rage , and to be still , who is the Lord of Hoasts ; I shall put my word in thy mouth , and defend thee with the turning of a hand . And our Sauiour Christ saith to his Disciples : They shall accuse you , and bring you before the Princes and Rulers for my name sake , and some of you they shal persecute and kill : But feare you not ( saith he ) neither care you not what you shall say , for it is my Spirit that speaketh in you , the hand of the highest shall defend you , for the haires of your heads are numbred , and none of them shall perish . I haue laid vp treasure for you ( saith he ) where no theefe can steale , nor Moth corrupt , and happy are you if you endure to the end . Feare not them ( saith Christ ) which haue power ouer the body onely , but feare him that hath power both ouer the body and the Soule ; The world loueth her owne , and if you were of the world the world would loue you , but you are mine , and therefore the world doth hate you .

Let these and such like consolations out of the scriptures , strengthen you to God-ward : let not the examples of holie men and women go out of your mind , as that of Daniel , and the rest of the Prophets ; of the thrée Children of Eleazarus , that constant Father ; the Machabees Children , that of Peter , Paul , Stephen , and other Apostles and holy Martyrs , in the beginning and infancy of the Church ; as of good Simeon Arch-bishop of Seloma and Zetrophon● , with infinite others , vnder Sapores the King of the Persians and Indians , who contemned all torments deuised by the Tyrants for their Sauiours sake .

Returne , returne againe for honour and mercies sake into the way of Christ Iesus , and as becommeth a faithfull Souldiour , put on that Armor which S. Paul teacheth to be most necessary for a Christian man , and aboue all thinges , take to you the shield of Faith .

And be you most deuoutly prouoked by Christs owne example , to withstand the deuill , to forsake the world , and to become a true and faithfull member of his mysticall body , who spared not his owne flesh for our sinnes . Throw down thy selfe with the feare of his threatned vengeance for this so great and haynous offence of Apostacy , and comfort your selfe on the other part with the mercy , blood , and promises of him that is ready to turne to you whensoeuer you turne to him : disdaine not to come againe with the lost son , seeing you haue so wandred with him : be not ashamed to turn againe with him from the swill of strangers , to the delicates of the most benigne & louing father , acknowledging that you haue sinned against heauen & earth , against heauen by stayning his glorious name , and causing his most sincere and pure word to bee euill spoken of through you , against earth by offending your so many weake Bretheren to whom you haue been a stumbling block through your suddaine sliding .

Bee not ashamed to come againe with Mary , and to wéep bitterly with Peter , not only with shedding of teares out of your bodily eyes but also pouring out the streames of your heart , to wash away , out of the sight of God , the filth and mire of your offensiue fall , bee not ashamed to say with the Publican , Lord be mercifull vnto mee a sinner : Remember the horrible history of Iulian of old , and the lamentable case of Francis Spira of late , whose remembrance me thinketh should be yet so gréene to your memory , that being a thing of our time , you should feare the like inconuenience , seeing that you are falne into the like offence . Last of all , let the liuely remembrance of the last day be alwaies before your eyes , remembring the terror that such shall bee in at that time , with the Runnagates and Fugitiues from Christ , which setting more by the world then by heauen , more by their life then by him that gaue them their life , more by the vanity of a painful ●●●th , then the p●●s●● assurance of eternal saluation , did shrinke ; yea , did cleane fall away from him that neuer forsooke them . And contrariwise , the inestimable ioyes prepared for them , which feared no perill nor dreading death , haue manfullie fought , and victoriouslie tryumphed ouer all power of darknesse ; ouer Hell , Death , and Damnation , through their most redoubted Captaine IESVS CHRIST our Sauiour , who euen now stretcheth out his Armes to receiue you ▪ ready to fall vppon your necke , and kisse you : and last of all , to feast you with the dainties and delicates of his owne most pretious blood , which vndoubtedly , if it might stand with his determinate purpose , hee would not let to shed againe , rather then you should bee lost : To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost , bee all honor , praise and glory euerlastingly .

Amen . Yours if you be Christs . Iane Gray . I. G. Postscript .

Be constant , be constant , feare not for paine , Christ hath deliuer'd thee , and heauen is thy gaine .

I. G. THus hauing read her owne words , penned by her owne hand , and wayed well the depth and greatnesse of her most charitable deuotion , her pregnant and rare knowledge in the Booke of God , her swéete ell●cution in the scholler-like connexture and marriage of the best words and phrases together : who can haue that possible dulnesse of spirit in him , as not to conclude and beléeue that her birth , her education , and all the naturall inclinations of her own Spirits were sutable & agréeing with that best goodnes , which ( how sildome extant ) yet is euer expected in all noble personages , for indéed Gentry it selfe is but vertue ▪ and all dignity added to Gentry doth but as it were baptize it with a more renowned Title of the most excellent vertue ; in which stile this Ladie might take a large boast , and instead of Caesars veni , vidi , vici ; Of her may be said , she was Noble , Chast , and Religious : But some ( ouer-curious to examine goodnesse ) may reply vnto me , that her honour was her Ancestors , and not the worke of her fundamentall institution , & therefore not altogether so glorious : that her sober and chast life was either a singular guift from aboue , or a tormenting feare of the shame of this world , continually stird vp in her blood , through the discourse of readings or examples , and that her religion being traduc'd from the instructions of her first Parents , and seconded by the learned Admonitions of them of the same opinion : her minde , as it were , beeing vtterly vnacquainted with any other contrary Argument , but euer foothed vp and fort●fied in one path onely , that it was no great worke either of maruaile or maistery , that she continued either so good , constant , or violent in the heate of her zealousnesse , whereas if shee had heard the continuall temptations of the aduersarie , and beene enforced to haue held a long battell with men , esteemed profound in a quite opposite opinion , or had beene burthened with the heauy and tyrannous yoake of authority , which by intollerable afflictions would haue not onely threatned the bending , but the breaking of her heart and bowels , if shee had not yeelded to the wil of their opinions , then for her brauely to haue held out such a weary siedge , and with a setled constancy to haue vndergon and triumphed in such a Christian warfare , had not only beene memorable , but rare , matchlesse , and renowned .

To let passe the two first suggestions , being sleight , and not worthy the labour of any serious Pen , because no doubt ought to be made where there is a probable assurance : and to come to this last inference touching her temptations , being so great and heauy , that they came neare to the point of Martyrdome : you shall vnderstand , that after her most vnfortunate marriage , and the vtter defaiture almost of her name and honors ; others ambitions hauing embarqued her into those rough waues , which of necessity must swallow her ( as you may at large read in the whole story of our Chronicles ) diuers learned Romish Catholikes , and euen those which were of the best fame and reputation , were sent vnto her to disswade her from that true profession of the Gospell , which from her cradle she had euer held , each striuing , by art , by flattery , by threatnings , by promise of life , or what else might mooue most in the bosome of a weake Woman , who should become master of so great and worthy a prize , but all their labours were bootlesse : for she had art to confound their art , wisedome to withstand their flatteries , resolution aboue their menaces , and such a true knowledge of life , that death was to her no other then a most familiar acquaintance : In the end a deepe-read Diuine called M. Feckenham , then Chaplaine to Queene Mary , was sent vnto her about some foure dayes before her death , who had with her a long and tedious disputation , but as the rest found himselfe in all holy gifts so short of her excellence , that he acknowledged himselfe fitter to bee her Disciple , then Teacher : And thervpon humbly besought her to deliuer vnto him some briefe summe of her Faith , which hee might hereafter keepe , and as a faithfull witnesse publish to the world ; to which shee willingly condiscended , and bad him boldly question her in what points of religion so euer it pleased him , and she would giue her faithfull and beleeuing answere , such as shee would euer bee ready to seale with her dearest blood : The summe of which conference you shall heare read as it was written with her own hand , and her name subscribed therevnto , as followeth .

A conference Dialogue-wise held betweene the Lady Iane Dudley and M. Feckenham , foure dayes before her Death , touching her Faith and Religion . Feck .

WHat thing is required in a Christian ?

Iane.

To beleeue in God the Father , in God the Sonne , in God the Holy Ghost , three persons and one God .

Feck .

Is there nothing else required in a Christian , but to beleeue in God ?

Iane

Yes : We must beleeue in him , wee must loue him , with all our heart , with all our soule , and all our minde , and our Neighbour as our selfe .

Feck .

Why then Faith iustifieth not , nor saueth not ?

Iane.

Yes verily , Faith ( as S. Paul saith ) onely iustifieth .

Feck .

Why S. Paul saith , if I haue all the Faith of the world , without loue , it is nothing .

Iane.

True it is , for how can I loue him I trust not , or how can I trust in him whom I loue not , Faith & Loue euer agree together , and yet Loue is comprehended in Faith .

Feck .

How shall we loue our Neighbour ?

Iane

To loue our Neighbour , is to feed the hungry , cloth the naked , and to giue drinke to the thirsty , and to do to him as we would doe to our selues .

Feck .

Why then it is necessarie to saluation to doe good workes , and it is not sufficent to beleeue ?

Iane

I deny that I affirme that faith onely saueth : But it is méet for all Christians , in token that they follow their Master Christ , to doe good works : yet may we not say , nor in any wise beléeue , that they profit to saluation : for although we haue done all that we can , yet wee are vnprofitable seruants , and the faith we haue onely in Christs blood , and his merits saueth .

Feck .

How many Sacraments are there ?

Iane

Two : the one the Sacrament of Baptisme , and the other the Sacrament of the Lords Supper .

Feck .

●o , there be seuen Sacraments .

Iane

By what Scripture finde you that .

Feck .

Well wee will talke of that hereafter : But what what is signified by your two Sacraments .

Iane

By the Sacrament of Baptisme I am washed with Water , and regenerated in the Spirit , and that washing is a token to mee that I am the Child of God : The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is offered vnto me as a sure Seale and Testimonie , that I am , by the blood of Christ which hee shed for me on the Crosse , made partaker of the euerlasting Kingdome .

Feck .

Why what d●e you receiue in that bread , d ee you not receiue the very body and bloud of Christ ?

Iane

No surely , I doe not beleeue so I think● at that Supper I receiue neither flesh nor bloud , but onely Bread and Wine , the which bread when it is broken , and the wine when it is drunke , putteth mee in minde how that for my sinnes the body of Christ was broken , and his bloud shed on the crosse , and with that bread and wine I receiue the benefits which came by breaking of his body , and by the shedding of his bloud on the Crosse for my sinnes .

Feck .

Why but ( Madame ) doth not Christ speake these words ; Take , eate , this is my body : can you require any plainer words : doth he not say , that it is his body ?

Iane

I grant he saith so ; and so he saith likewise in other places , I am the Vine , I am the Doore , it being onely but a figuratiue borrowed speech : Doth not S. Paul say that he calleth those things which are not as though they were : God forbid , that I should say that I eate the very naturall body and bloud of Christ : For then either I should plucke away my Redemption , or confesse their were two bodies , or two Christs : two bodies , the one body was tormented on the Crosse , and then if they did eate another body , ●ow absurd : againe if his body was eaten really , then it was not broken vpon the Crosse , or if it were broken vpon the Crosse ( as it is doubtlesse ) then it was not eaten of his Disciples .

Feck .

Why is it not as possible that Christ by his power could make his body both to be eaten and broken , as to bee borne of a woman without the seed of man , and as to walk on the Sea hauing a body , and other such like myracles which he wrought by his power onely .

Ian.

Yes verily , if God would haue done at his last supper a myracle , he might haue done so : but I say he minded nor intended no worke or myracle , but onely to breake his bodie , and shed his bloud on the Crosse for our sinnes : But I beseech you answere me to this one question ; where was Christ when he said : Take , eate , this is my body : was not he at the Table , when he said so hee was at that time aliue , and suffered not till the next day ? Well , what tooke hee but bread ? And what broke hee but bread ? And what gaue hee but bread ? Looke what hee tooke hee brake , and looke what hee brake hee gaue , and looke what hee gaue that did they eate , and yet all this while hee himselfe was at Supper before his Disciples , or else they were deceiued .

Feck .

You ground your Faith vpon such Authors as say and vnsay , both with a breath , and not vpon the Church , to whom you ought to giue credit .

Iane

No , I ground my Faith vpon Gods word , and not vpon the Church : for if the Church bee a good Church , the faith of the Church must bee tryed by Gods word , and not Gods word by the church , neither yet my faith : Shall I beléeue the church because of antiquitie ? or shall I giue credit to that church which taketh away from mee a full halfe part of the Lords Supper , and will let no lay-man receiue it in bath kinds , but the Priests only themselues , which thing if they deny to vs , they deny vs part of our saluation : And I say that it is an euil and no good Church , and not the spouse of Christ , but the spouse of the Diuell , which altereth the Lords Supper , and both taketh from it , and addeth to it : To that Church I say God wil adde plagues , and from that Church will he take their part out of the Book of Life : you may learne of S. Paul , how hee did administer it to the Corinthians in both kindes , which since your Church refuseth , shall I beleeue it , God forbid ?

Fec .

That was done by the wisedome of the Church , & to a most good intent to auoid an heresie , which then sprung in it .

Iane.

O but the Church must not alter Gods wil and ordinances for the colour or glosse of a good intent , it was the error of King Saul , and he not onely reaped a curse , but perished thereby , as it is euident in the Holy Scriptures .

To this M. Feckenham gaue me a long , tedious , yet eloquent reply , vsing many strong and Logicall perswasions , to compell me to haue leaned to their Church , but my Faith had armed my Resolution to withstand any assault that words could then vse against mee : Of many other Articles of Religion we reasoned , but these formerly rehearsed were the chiefest and most effectuall .

Subscribed Iane Dudley .

THis catechising argument betwéen the Lady Iane and M. Feckenham was held in the tower publiquely , before diuers worthy and noble personages , in all which shée bore her selfe with such a modest humility , yet so honourably stout in all thinges , which either concerned her God & her religion , that shée rauisht and stole vnto her , all the hearts of her auditory , while M. Feckenam lost much of that good opinion of his learning , which formerly for a long time be had inioyed : insomuch , that finding his own weaknes & his much disability to refell her truths with his scholastical fallacies hée grew into a little choller , and vsed vnto her some immodest spéeches most vnsutable for his grauity , to which only her smiles and patience gaue answere , and amongst the rest comming to take his leaue of her ▪ hée said , Madam I am sorry for you and your obstinacy , and now I am assured you and I shall neuer meete againe , it is most true sir that wée shall neuer meet againe except God turne your heart , for I stand vndoubtedly assured that vnlesse you repent and turne to God , you are in a sad and desperate case , and I pray to God in the bowells of his mercy to s●nd you● is holy spirit , for hée hath giuen you his great guift of vt●●…ance , if it please him to open the eyes of your heart to his truth , but at these wordes he rudely departed without further answer , while the Saintlike Lady withdrew herselfe into her priuate bedchamber , where shee bestowed her selfe in most deuout prayer , till the night before her death , at what time shée took a faire new Testament in Gréek , on which after shée had read a while , offering to close vp the book shee found in the end thereof some few leaues of cleane paper vnwritten , which as it were awakening and incyting her zeale to some good and charitable office , shée took penne and inke and in those wast leaues wrote a most Godly and learned exhortation ▪ which as soone as shee had finished it , shée closed vp the booke and deliuered it to her seruant to beare vnto her Sister the Lady Katherine , as the last token of her loue and remembrance , which was with great diligence performed . The tenor of the exhortation was this which followeth .

A exhortation written by the Lady Iane Dudley , the night before her death in the end of the new Testament , in Greeke , which shee sent to her Sister , the Lady Katherine Gray .

I Haue heere sent you ( my deare Sister Katherine ) a booke , which although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold , or the curious imbroderie of the artful'st needles , yet inwardly it is more worth then all the precious mynes which the vast world can boast of : It is the booke ( my only best and best loued Sister ) of the Law of the Lord : It is the Testament and last Will , which hee bequeathed vnto vs wretches and wretched sinners , which shall leade you to the path of eternall ioy : And if you with a good minde reade it , and with an earnest desire follow it , no doubt it shall bring you to an immortall and euerlasting life : It will teach you to liue , and learne you to dye : It shall win you more , and endow you with greater felicitite , then you should haue gained by the possession of our wofull fathers lands : for as if God had prospered him , you should haue inherited his hon●rs and Manors , so if you apply diligently this booke , seeking to direct your life according to the rule of the same , you shall be an inheritor of such riches , as neither the couetous shall withdraw from you , neither the theefe shall steale , neither yet the moathes corrupt : desire with Dauid ( my best Sister ) to vnderstand the Law of the Lord your God , liue still to dye , that you by death may purchase eternall life , and trust not that the tendernesse of your age shall lengthen your life : for vnto God , when hee calleth , all howers , times and seasons are alike , and blessed are they whose lampes are furnished when he commeth , for as soone will the Lord be glorified in the yong as in the old .

My good Sister once againe more let mee intreat thee to learne to dye ; deny the World , defie the Diuell , and despise the Flesh , and delight your selfe onely in the Lord : be penitent for your sinnes , and yet dispayre not : be strong in faith , yet presume not , and desire with S. Paul , to bee dissolued , & to be with Christ , with whom , euen in death there is life .

Be like the good seruant , and euen at midnight be waking , least when death commeth and stealeth vpon you , like a théefe in the night , you be with the seruants of darknes found sléeping ▪ and least for lack of Oyle you be found like the fiue foolish Virgins , or like him that had not on the wedding Garment , and then you be cast into darknes , or banisht from the marriage : Reioyce in Christ , as I trust you doe , and seeing you haue the name of a Christian , as neare as you can follo●… the steps , and be a true imitator of your Master Christ Iesus , and take vp your Crosse , lay your sinnes on his back , and alwaies imbrace him .

Now as touching my Death , reioyce as I doe ( my dearest Sister ) that I shall be deliuered of this corruption , and put on incorruption : For I am assured that I shall , for loosing of a mortall life , winne one that is immortall , ioyfull and euerlasting : the which I pray GOD grant you in his most blessed hower , and send you his all-sauing grace to liue in his feare , and to dye in the true Christian Faith : From which in Gods Name I exhort you that you neuer swarue , neither so hope of life , nor feare of death : for if you will deny his truth , to giue length to a weary and corrupt breath , God himselfe will deny you , and by vengeance make short what you by your soules losse would prolong : But if you will cleaue to him , hee will stretch forth your dayes to an vncircumscribed comfort , and to his owne glorie : To the which glorie God bring mee now , and you hereafter , when it shall please him to call you : Farewell once againe ( my beloued Sister ) and put your onely trust in God who onely must help you .

Amen . Your louing Sister . Iane Dudley .