Frankfurt Congregation to John Knox
DATE: 1554 September 24
LOCATION OF ORIGIN: Frankfurt
DESTINATION: Geneva
SOURCE: Denbighshire Record Office, Plas Power MSS, DD/PP/839 pp. 32-33
To our loving brother in Christ Mr Knox att Geneva1
Address not in Troubles.
We havinge2Troubles has 'have'. receyvid l(ett)res frome o(u)r bretherne of Strausburge, but not in soche sorte & ample wise as we looked fore, whereupon we assembled together in [p. 33] the holye Ghoste, as we doubt not, have with one voice3Troubles has Holy Ghost 'we hope, and have with one voice'. & consent chosen you particularly4Troubles has 'so particulerly'. to be one of the ministers of our congregation here, to preache unto us the most lyvelye word of God according to the gyfte that God hath given you. For as much as we have here throgh the mercifull goodnes of God a church & be congregated5Troubles has 'to be congregated'. together in the name of Christe, & be all of one folde & members of one bodye, and thirste for that most precious Juell wherof God hath made you a dispensator, & also being of one nation, tonge, & countrey,6Troubles only has 'and all of one bodye and also being of one nation, tonge and countrie'. and at this present havinge nede of such as you be, do desier7Troubles has 'nede off suche a one as yow, we do desier'. you & also require you in Gods name,8Troubles has 'in the name of God'. not to deny nor yet refuse9Troubles has 'deny us, nor to refuse'. theise oure requestes, but that you will ayde helpe & assiste us with yo(u)r presence in this our good & godlye enterprise which we have taken in hand to the glorie of God, the profett of this Congregation10Troubles has 'his congregation'. and the poore shepe of Christ dispersed abroode, who with youre, & the like presences11Troubles has 'and like presences'. wold come hither & be of one folde, whereas now they wander abrode as loste shepe w(i)thout guides.12Troubles has 'withowte anie gide'. We mistrust not but you will yoifully accept of this callinge.13Troubles has 'accepte this callinge'. Thus fare you well in oure Lorde God frome Franckford the 24o Septemb. 1554.14Troubles has 'Fare ye will from Franckford this 24 off September'.
Your bretherne in Christe
| John Bale | John Wood | Will(iam) Walton | |
| John Mackbrey | Tho(mas) Cole | Edmund Sutton | |
| John Staunton | Will(iam) Whittingham | Jasper Swyfte | |
| John Weller | Will(iam) Williams | Thomas Steward | |
| Thomas Surbye | Tho(mas) Woode | John Jeffraye | |
| John Sanford | George Ridley | John Gray | |
| Mychell Gill | Will(iam) Hamonde | Hugh Alford | |
| Anthony Carier15Troubles has the list of signatures in a different order which does not contain John Weller. |
1 Address not in Troubles.
2 Troubles has 'have'.
3 Troubles has Holy Ghost 'we hope, and have with one voice'.
4 Troubles has 'so particulerly'.
5 Troubles has 'to be congregated'.
6 Troubles only has 'and all of one bodye and also being of one nation, tonge and countrie'.
7 Troubles has 'nede off suche a one as yow, we do desier'.
8 Troubles has 'in the name of God'.
9 Troubles has 'deny us, nor to refuse'.
10 Troubles has 'his congregation'.
11 Troubles has 'and like presences'.
12 Troubles has 'withowte anie gide'.
13 Troubles has 'accepte this callinge'.
14 Troubles has 'Fare ye will from Franckford this 24 off September'.
15 Troubles has the list of signatures in a different order which does not contain John Weller.