And at the Duke's next return to Bruges, I sent him a supplication, desiring that, if any information were made against me, I might answer it in England, or otherwise at his pleasure. [In the Public Record Office, _State Papers, Foreign, MARY_, is the following letter in French. [Sidenote: 1558 March 14.] _EMANUEL PHILIBERT, Duke of SAVOY to Queen MARY._ [Sidenote: St. Omer.] She will have been advertised that, soon after the French had entered Calais, JOHN HIGHFIELD, late Master of the Artillery there, came to Bruges. From strong suspicion that there had been an understanding between him and the French, had caused him to be arrested and detained at Bruges, where he has been until now. Lately, while repassing through that town, was importuned by the prisoner's wife to set him free. Sends her under the charge of a French gentleman, FRANCIS DU BOURCH, the bearer.] Whereupon he took order to send me hither [_i.e., to England_] without paying any part of my charges, which I have promised to answer. Most humbly praying your Highness to consider my poor estate, and willing heart, which I bear, and am most bounden to your Grace's service: beseeching God to conserve your Majesty in all felicity. +JOHN FOX+, the Martyrologist. _Mistress +THORPE's+ Escape at Calais._ [_Actes and Monumentes, p. 1702_, _Ed._ 1563.] The worthy works of the LORD's mercy toward His people be manifold, and cannot be comprehended: so that who is he living in the earth almost, who hath not experienced the helping hand of the LORD, at some time or other upon him? Amongst many other, what a piece of GOD's tender providence was shewed, of late, upon our English brethren and countrymen, what time Calais was taken by the tyrant GUISE (a cruel enemy to GOD's truth, and to our English nation); and yet by the gracious provision of the LORD, few, or none at all, of so many that favoured CHRIST and His Gospel, miscarried in that terrible Spoil. In the number of whom, I know a godly couple, one JOHN THORPE and his wife, which fear the LORD and loveth His truth; who being sick the same time, were cast out into the wild fields, harbourless, desolate, and despairing of all hope of life; having their young infant moreover taken from them in the said fields, and carried away by the soldiers. Yet the LORD so wrought, that the poor woman, being almost past recovery of life, was fetched and carried, the space of well nigh a mile, by aliens whom they never knew, into a village, where she was recovered for that night. Also the next day, coming towards England, she chanced into the same inn at the next town, where she found her young child sitting by the fireside. [Illustration] Lord +GREY+ of Wilton, Governor of Guisnes. _Letter to Queen MARY, 4th_ _January, 1558. 7 a.m._