Marginalia1556. July.he wrote to M. Philpot beyng then in the Colehouse. Vppon the occasion hereof M. Philpot sent an Epistle consolatory vnto him, specified before among M. Philpots letters, pag. 2005. Vnto the which Epistle Iohn Careles maketh aunswere agayne as foloweth.

¶ Letters of Iohn Careles.  

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The Letters of John Careless

Careless's letters to John Philpot, to his co-religionists in Newgate and his prayer were first printed in the 1563 edition. The letters to Margaret Careless, Bradford, to Green, Whittle and the other prisoners in Newgate, to Tyms, to 'M.C.', to Thomas Upcher (both letters), to Henry Adlington, to 'a faithfull friend' and the letter in Agnes Glascock's book were all first printed in Letters of the Martyrs (yet another indication of the scope and thoroughness of Henry Bull's research). The letter to 'E.K.' was first printed in 1566 along with Nicholas Ridley's Pituous Lamentation. All of the other letters were first printed in the 1570 edition.

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¶ A letter of Iohn Careles aunsweryng to the louyng Epistle or Letter sent to hym before by Master Iohn Philpot.  

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This letter was first printed in the 1563 edition and then reprinted in Letters of the Martyrs, pp. 229-34, and then reprinted in subsequent editions of the Acts and Monuments. There are two partial copies of this letter among Foxe's papers: ECL 260, fo. 52r-v and ECL 262, fo. 58r. The letter was written shortly after 20 November 1555.

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A faithfull frend is a strong defense, who so findeth such a one, findeth a treasure.

A faithfull frend hath no peere, the weight of gold and siluer is not to be compared to the goodnes of his fayth.

A faythfull frend is a medicine of lyfe, and they that feare the Lord shall finde hym.

Ecclesiast. 6.

MarginaliaA letter of Iohn Careles to Master Philpot.THe father of mercy and God of all consolation, comfort you with his eternall spirite (my most deare and faithfull louyng frēd, good M. Philpot) as you haue comforted me by the mighty operation of the same: the euerlastyng God be praised therfore for euer, Amen.

Ah my deare hart and most louing brother, if I should do nothyng els day and night, so long as the dayes of heauen do endure, but kneele on my knees & read Psalmes, I can neuer be able to render vnto God condigne thankes for his great mercy, fatherly kindnes, and most louing compassion extended vnto me most vile, sinneful, wicked, and vnworthy wretch. Oh that the Lord would open my mouth and geue me a thankefull hart, that frō the bottome of the same might flow his continual praise. Oh that my sinnefull flesh (which is the cause of my sorrow) were cleane separated from me, that I might sing Psalmes of thankes geuing vnto the Lordes name for euer: that with good Samuels mother I might cōtinually record this noble verse folowyng, the which by good experience I haue found most true, praised be my good God therfore:

Marginalia1. Reg. 2.The Lord (sayth that good woman) killeth and maketh aliue: hee bryngeth downe to hell and fetcheth vp agayne. MarginaliaIohn Carles raysed vp the þ^e Lord, out of great heauines.Praised bee that Lord for euer, yea, and praysed be his name, for that he hath geuen me true experiēce and lyuely feelyng of þ^e same. Blessed be þ^e Lord God, whose mercy endureth for euer, which hath not dealt with me accordyng to my deepe desertes, nor destroyed me in his displeasure whē I had iustly deserued it. Oh what reward shal I geue agayne vnto the Lord for all the great benefites that he hath done for my soule? I will gladly receiue the cup of saluation at his hand, and will worshyp his name with prayer and with praise.

Ah my deare hart, yea most deare vnto me in the Lord, thinke not this sodeine chaunge in me, to be some fickle phantasie of my foolishe head (as in deede some other would surely suspect it to be). For doubtles it is þ^e marueilous doyng of the Lord, most mercyfull vnto me his vnworthy creature. God for his great mercies sake geue me grace to be more thankefull vnto him then I heretofore haue bene, and keepe me that I neuer fall forth of his fauour againe. And now my deare brother, and most blessed messenger of the Lord, whose beautiful feete haue brought much glad tidinges vnto my soule, what shal I do or say vnto you, MarginaliaThis comfort receaued of M. Philpot, read in M. Philpots letters, pag. 2005.in the lest part to recompense the fatherly affection and godly care that you cōtinually keepe for me? Oh that God would geue me the spirite of feruēt prayer, that I might yet that way supply some litle part of my duety toward you. Ah my true louing frend, how soone did you lay aside all other busines, to make a swete plaster for my wounded conscience, yea and that out of a painefull paire of stockes, which place must nedes be vneasie to write in. But God hath brought you into a strait place, that you might set my soule at liberty. Out of your pinchyng and painfull seate you haue plentifully poured vpon me your precious narde, the sweete sauour wherof hath greatly refreshed my tired soule. The Lord likewise refresh you both body and soule, by pouryng the oyle of his gracious spirite into your sweete hart.

Ah good Ieremy, hath MarginaliaIer. 20.Phasure put thee in the stockes?  

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This reference helps to date this letter; Bishop Bonner placed Philpot in the stocks on 20 November 1555.

nagoge, all the wordes that thou hast spokē in his name. The Lord hath MarginaliaIere. 1.made thee this day a strong defended Tower, an yron piller, and a brasen wall against the whole rable of Antichrist, and through they fight agaynst thee neuer so fiercely, yet shall they not ouercome thee, for the Lorde him selfe is MarginaliaIere. 5.with thee to helpe and deliuer thee: and he will rid thee out of the handes of the wicked, and will deliuer thee out of the handes of the Tyrantes. And in that you are not busie in MarginaliaMath. 7.castyng pearles before swyne, nor in geuing the holy things vnto dogs, you are much to be commended, in my simple iudgemēt. And sure I am that your MarginaliaThe circumspect behauiour of Master Philpot.circumspect and modest behauiour heretherto hath bene as much to Gods glory and to the shame and confusion of your enemies, as any mans doynges that are gone before you.

MarginaliaIoh. Careles aduise to M. Philpot.Wherfore mine aduise and most earnest desire is, with all other of your louing frendes, that you still keepe that order with those bloudthursty bytesheepes, Byshops I should say, that you haue begon. For though in conclusion they will surely haue your bloud, yet shal they come by it with shame inough, and to their perpetuall infamy whiles the world doth endure. They would in dede condemne you in hugger mugger, to darken Gods glory if it might be. But Sathans thoughts are not vnknowen to you, & the depth of his subtiltie is by you wel forseene. Therfore let them do what soeuer God shall suffer them to doe: for I know all thinges shall turne to your best. Though you lye in the darke, slorryed with the Bishops blacke coale dust: yet shall you bee shortly restored vnto the heauenly light, & made as MarginaliaPsal 68.white as snow in Salmon, and as the winges of a Doue that is couered with siluer winges, and her fethers like gold. You know the vessell, before it be made bright, is soiled with oyle and other thinges that it may scoure the better.

Oh happy be you that you be now in the scouryng house: for shortly you shalbe set vpon the celestiall shelfe as bright as Aungels. Therfore my deare hart, I will now accordyng to your louing request, MarginaliaIohn Careles care turned into ioy.cast away all care, and reioyce with you, and praise God for you, and pray for you day and night: yea, I will now with Gods grace sing Psalmes of prayse and thankes geuyng with you. For now my soule is turned to her old rest againe, and hath taken a swete nappe in CHRISTES lap. I haue cast my care vpon the Lord, which careth for me, and wil be Careles accordyng to my name, in that respect which you would haue me. I will leaue out my vnseemely addition as long as I liue: for it can take no place where true faith and hope is resident. MarginaliaGods gracious worke through M. Philpots letter.So soone as I had red your most godly and comfortable letter, my sorowes vanished away as smoke in the winde, my spirite reuiued, and comfort came agayne, whereby I am sure the spirite of God was author of it.

Oh good M. Philpot, which art a principal pot in dede, filled with most precious licour, as it appeareth by the plenteous pouryng forth of the same: Oh pot most happy, of the high Potter ordained to honour, which doest containe such heauenly treasure in thy earthen vessel: Oh pot thrise happy, in whom CHRIST hath wrought a great miracle, altering thy nature and turning water into wine, and that of the best, whereout the Master of the feast hath filled my cup so full, MarginaliaIoh. Careles druncken with ioy of the spirite.that I am become drunken in ioy of the spirit through the same: When Martyrdome shall breake thee (O vessell of honour) I know the fragrant sauour of thy precious Narde will much reioyce the heauy hartes of CHRISTES true members, although the Iudasses will grudge and murmure at the same, yea and burst out into wordes of sclaunder, saying: it is but lost and wast.

Bee not offended deare hart, at my metaphoricall speach. For I am disposed to be mery, and Marginalia2. Reg. 6.with Dauid to daunce before the Arke of the Lord: and though you play vpon a paire of Organes not very comely or easy to the flesh, yet the sweete sound that came from the same, causeth me thus to do. O that I were with you in body, as presently I am in spirit, that I might sing all care away in CHRIST: for now the time of comfort is come. I hope to be with you shortly, if all thinges happen aright: MarginaliaCareles accused to the Counsell by certain backe frendes in Couentry.For my old frendes of Couentry haue put the Counsell in remembrance of me, not sixe dayes agoe, saying that I am more worthy to be burned, thē any that was burned yet. Gods blessing on their hartes for their good report. God make me worthy of that dignitie, and hasten the time, that I might set forth his glory.

Pray for me deare hart I besech you, and will all your company to do the same, and I will pray God for you all so long as I liue. And now farewell in CHRIST thou