e so laxly
guarded, that it was easy to escape. A Mr. Mitchell, like a true friend,
came to him, afforded him his own clothes as a disguise, and was willing
to abide the consequence of being found in his place. This was a rare
friendship: but he refused the offer; saying, "I know no cause why I
should be in prison. To do thus, were to make myself guilty. I will
expect God's good will, yet do I think myself much obliged to you:" and
so Mr. Mitchell departed.

With doctor Sands was imprisoned Mr. Bradford; they were kept close in
prison twenty-nine weeks. John Fowler, their keeper, was a perverse
papist, yet, by often persuading him, at length he began to favour the
gospel, and was so persuaded in the true religion, that on a Sunday,
when they had mass in the chapel, Dr. Sands administered the communion
to Bradford and to Fowler. Thus Fowler was their son begotten in bonds.
To make room for Wyat and his accomplices, Dr. Sands and nine other
preachers were sent to the Marshalsea.

The keeper of the Marshalsea appointed to every preacher a man to lead
him in the street; he caused them to go on before, and he and Dr. Sands
followed conversing together. By this time popery began to be unsavoury.
After they had passed the bridge, the keeper said to Dr. Sands, "I
perceive the vain people would set you forward to the fire. You are as
vain as they, if you, being a young man, will stand in your own conceit,
and prefer your own judgment before that of so many worthy prelates,
ancient, learned, and grave men as be in this realm. If you do so, you
shall find me a severe keeper, and one that utterly dislikes your
religion." Dr. Sands answered, "I know my years to be young, and my
learning but small; it is enough to know Christ crucified, and he hath
learned nothing who seeth not the great blasphemy that is in popery. I
will yield unto God, and not unto man; I have read in the Scriptures of
many godly and courteous keepers: may God make you one! if not, I trust
he will give me strength and patience to bear your hard usage." Then
said the keeper, "Are you resolved to stand to your religion?" "Yes,"
quoth the doctor, "by God's grace!" "Truly," said the keeper, "I love
you the better for it; I did but tempt you: what favour I can show you,
you shall be assured of; and I shall think myself happy if I might die
at the stake with you." He was as good as his word, for he trusted the
doctor to walk in the fields alone, where he met with Mr. B