I beseech you, I say, to pray God for me that it may please Him to be with me. For in Him alone I have hope, and in the prayers you offer to Him, that He will cause me to be faithful in His grace even unto death. If at this time it shall please Him to take me to Himself, His holy will be done; or if He shall deign to restore me alive to you, His will likewise be done. I am now assuredly in need of your best help; yet I know that God will send no calamity or trial upon me but what will turn out for your good and mine, so that, in being exercised thereby and abiding steadfast, we may win a great reward.
Let me inform you that my enemies have given an utterly false translation in Latin of those letters which I had left for you on starting on my journey.[1] They are writing so many articles against me that my time in prison is fully occupied in replying to them. I have no counsellor by me but the merciful Lord Jesus, Who said to His faithful friends: I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist.[2] Oh, dear friends, remember that I laboured with you in all zeal, and ever long for your salvation, even now when I am in prison and in the midst of great trial. Sent off at Constance on Saturday, the vigil of St. Fabian.
XLI. To John of Chlum
(Blackfriars, without date: January 1415)
Gracious lord, please get me a Bible, and send it by that trusty man of yours. If your secretary Peter[3] hath any ink, I should like to have it, with some pens and a small inkhorn.
