To this M. Feckenham gave me a long, tedious, yet eloquent reply, using many strong and logical persuasions to compel me to lean to their church; but my faith had armed my resolution to withstand any assault that words could then use against me. Of many other articles of religion we reasoned, but these formerly rehearsed were the chief, and most effectual.

JANE DUDLEY.

After this, Feckenham took his leave, saying, that he was sorry for her; for I am sure, quoth he, that we two shall never meet.

True it is, said the lady Jane, that we shall never meet, except God turn your heart; for I am assured, unless you repent, and turn to God, you are in an evil case; and I pray God, in the bowels of his mercy, to send you his Holy Spirit, for he hath given you his great gift of utterance, if it pleased him also to open the eyes of your heart.

LETTER I.

Jane Grey to Henry Bullinger.*

MOST LEARNED SIR,-I give you never ceasing thanks, and will continue to do so while I live. I never can say that I have done so enough; for it does not appear that I can ever return your great kindnesses-unless you may perhaps consider me to thank you, while I bear them in mind. And there is sufficient cause; for I receive letters from you most ably and excellently written, which indeed are most acceptable to me, because you, at so great a distance, and in your advanced age, laying aside more important affairs, have condescended to write to me who am unworthy to receive letters from one so learned; and also because your writings afford no common pleasure, but teach, warn, and instruct, in what is pious and holy. Especially they point out those things which are best suited to my age, sex, and the rank of our family. In these, as in all the writings which you have set forth for the especial benefit of the

Written at the age of fourteen. The autographs of this and the two following letters were preserved in the public library at Zurich. The two first were printed by Hottinger in his Hist. Eccles. p. ix. They are all included in the Ep. ab Ecc. Helv. Ref. Tiguri, 1742. The originals are in Latin.

christian public, not only your learning appears, but also it is evident that you are a prudent and pious adviser; who savour only of that which is good, who think of nothing but what pertains to God, who command nothing but what is useful, and produce nothing but what is right, kind, and worthy of a father so much to be respected.

Happy indeed am I to have such a friend and prudent adviser, (as Solomon has said, in the multitude of counsellors there is safety*) and that I am so intimate, and in such strict friendship with so pious a divine; one who is a valiant contender for the truth. Deeply indeed am I indebted to God, and especially that since he has bereaved me of the pious Bucer,† that learned man and holy father, who always, and by all means, was ready to impart whatever was needful to direct and form my conduct, who led me forward in all probity, piety, and sound learning, exciting me by the application of his best counsels-I am deeply indebted, I say, that He has given you to me in the place of Bucer. You will, I trust, continue to urge me forward as you have begun, for I am inclined to linger and delay. Nothing more to be desired could have befallen me, than that I should be considered worthy to receive the letters and salutary counsels of such honoured men, whose virtues cannot be too highly spoken of, and that the same advantage has befallen me as Blesilla, Paulla, and Eustachium, whom St. Jerome taught, as it is said, and led to the knowledge of divine truths by his discourses; such also as was enjoyed by that woman in ancient times, to whom St. John wrote his hortative and pious epistle; or such as the mother of Severus enjoyed, who availed herself of the counsels of Origen, and followed his admonitions; none of whom sought to acquire for themselves praise and advantages from personal beauty, noble connections, or wealth, but rather derived glory and happiness from the counsels of those wise men; so that persons conspicuous for singular erudition and exalted piety, did not disdain to lead them, as it were by the hand, to whatever is excellent, and to supply whatever might best promote their eternal salvation, and the happiness of their lives. Again and again would I entreat you to do the same for me, since you are not to be accounted the least among them, for learning, ability, or piety.

Prov. xi. 14. Lady Jane quotes the original Hebrew. + Bucer died at Cambridge in February, 1551.

I, who so boldly make this request, must appear to you too forward, but if you will consider the cause, namely, that I seek to derive from your kindness supplies which may avail to form my conduct, and tend to maintain my faith in Christ my Saviour, your kindness will neither permit, nor will your wisdom incline you to consider what I do as deserving of censure.

I often, as it were, gather sweet flowers in a pleasant garden, from that work so replete with real and sincere religion which you lately sent to my father and myself.* My father also, when his important affairs permit, employs himself in diligently perusing the contents. We ought indeed to give continual thanks to you, and to God for you, that we both derive fruit from thence. We can hardly think it right that we should receive with unthankful hearts so many and such great gifts from you, and many others like you, whom Germany has produced. For we mortals, in our dealings with fellow-mortals, are accustomed, as is equitable, to requite kindnesses by kindnesses, and to prove ourselves mindful of those who bestow benefits upon us. How much the more then ought we to manifest our sense of the divine goodness, since we cannot make any return, but can only receive with gratitude what God bestows, and express heartfelt thanks for the same.

I now come to notice the praises which your letters contain-as I cannot consider them my due, so neither ought I to acknowledge them. Whatever the divine goodness has bestowed upon me, I would attribute entirely to the real source, to the great and only Author of all that I possess which has any appearance of good. Pray to Him in my name continually, that he may so guide me in all my ways, that I may not be found acting unworthy of his great kindness.

My father intended to write, that he might thank you for your noble labours, and the kind manner in which you have inscribed a decade of your sermons to him, thus publishing them under his auspices, but he has been called to a remote part of the country by the king's affairs. He will, however, write to you as soon as his public occupations allow. In conclusion, you will still farther increase my obligations to you, if you will point out to me, as I am now beginning to learn Hebrew, the method whereby I may pursue that course of study to the greatest advantage. Farewell, thou ornament of the christian church, and * Bullinger's Decades, or Sermons.

may God long preserve thee a surviver to us and to his

church.

Your most devoted,

JANE GREY.

LETTER II.

Jane Grey to Henry Bullinger.*

I CANNOT allow myself, without great ingratitude, to seem unmindful of my duty, and unworthy of your favours, most learned sir; but must, on all occasions, return you my best thanks for your services, which have been very many. Yet assuredly I do it with humiliation, because the intimate friendship which you wish me to share with you, and so many benefits conferred by you on one wholly undeserving of them, seem to call for more than thanks; nor can I satisfactorily discharge my obligation by so inadequate a return as words.

It distresses me not a little when I now consider how unfit I am to indite a letter that is to be presented to so great a man. For certainly I neither should desire, nor venture to disturb your seriousness with my weak and childish trifles, nor to offend your eloquence by such barbarisms, did I not know that I could no otherwise gratify you, or had I any doubt of your accustomed and well experienced kindness towards me.

I

Now concerning the letter which I received last from you, accept the following. After that I had read it once and again, for once reading did not seem sufficient, I seemed to have derived as much profit from your excellent and truly pious precepts as I had with difficulty attained from the daily study of the best authors. You persuade me to embrace the true and pure faith in Christ my Saviour. will strive to satisfy you in this particular, as God shall enable me; but I acknowledge it to be the gift of God, and therefore ought to promise only as the Lord shall impart. Yet I will not cease to pray, with the apostles, that He would daily increase this to me by his grace. To this, God helping me, I will also add, as you enjoin, purity of life, as far as my, alas! too feeble strength can attain thereto. I entreat in the mean time that you, of your christian affection, would daily make mention of me in your prayers. *Written in her fifteenth year.

I will enter upon the study of the Hebrew language in that method which you so clearly direct.

Farewell; and may God protect you in the engagement which you have taken upon you, and eternally prosper you. 1552.

Yours, most ready to every pious duty,

JANE GREY.

LETTER III.

Jane Grey to Henry Bullinger.*

MOST LEARNED SIR,-The late recollection of a duty ought not to be blamed, if it has not been omitted through negligence. For I am far distant; opportunities for sending letters are few; and it is late before I hear of them. But now, since I have that messenger, by whose means my letters are usually delivered to you, and yours to me, I ought not to be wanting in my duty; but should endeavour with the utmost diligence, by writing to you, to return thanks in the best manner, in words and in deed. For so great is your reputation with all, such is your seriousness, as I hear, in preaching, and such your uprightness of life, as they who are acquainted with you report, that foreign and distant nations, as well as the country in which you dwell, are excited, not merely by your words, but also by your example, to lead good and happy lives. For you are not only, as James hath it, a diligent herald and preacher of the gospel, and of the sacred precepts of God, but also a true "doer" and performer thereof; holding forth in your life those things which you command and teach; by no means deceiving your own self." Nor are you "like unto those who behold their natural face in a glass," and having gone away, straightway forget" what was the appearance thereof: you both preach true and sound doctrine, and by your manner of life are an example and pattern to others, to follow that which you teach and perform.

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But why do I write these things to you, when such is my unskilfulness as to be unable either worthily to commend your piety, or to speak in adequate terms of your holiness of life, nor can I set forth your doctrines as they ought to

* Written about the time of her marriage.