Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/132

120 The following extracts from this tract are curious as coming from the pen of one who had been a reformer, and as giving a character of Queen Mary very different from those we generally meet with: "Thankes be to Jesus Christe that by hys onelye myght and power, when it was paste all man's helpe, hathe delivered us from the devyll and the bondage of Pharao, and brought us furthe of darkenes of scismes and heresies into the cleere lighte of truethe agayne by sendynge us owre blessed queene Marye (even another Helena to brynge agayne the holye crosse) whiche even from her infancie hathe sticked faste and cleved surelye unto the sounde pyller of trueth (the Catholyke churche) whyche wyll never faile, she hath ever defended it to the uttermoste of her power. Lorde graunte her joyfull deliveraunce of her most comfortable burthen. If among the heathen people the princes ever have ben greatly praised for vertue, how highly then is she worthy to be extolled above other for soo plentyfull and soo manifolde kindes of vertue and giftes of grace? whiche doth not only excel in godlynesse, in devotion, in praier, in fasting, in abstinece, in humilitie, in charitie, in mercie, in pitie, in compassion, in discrecion, in knowledge, in wysedome, in excellencie of witte, beinge of no small studie in godly literature, but being of exquisite learninge, of profounde knowledge, and of exact judgement; beside notable diligence and great painfulnesse, even frō her childholde (as it is evidently seen) in her most godly innated zeale that she beareth styll moste earnest towarde the unitie and fayeth of Chryste's true religion, and towarde the chiefe head thereof under Chryst whyche by ye space of these xx yeares ever tyll shee came, was banished thys realm, through scisme and heresye, through covetousnes and letcherie. Lord be mercyful unto us." Sign. B. 3.

The pious ejaculation at the end of this extract is not a little ridiculous to a modern reader, particularly when he hears that Standish turned reformer to marry a wife, and then became a papist to get rid of her again.

(3) The Triall of the Supremacy, wherein is set forth ye Vnitie of Christes Church, &c. London, by Thomas Marshe, 1556, 8vo. Dedicated to Cardinal Pole.