Publications 24

Title: The ready way to good works, or, A treatise of charitie wherein, besides many other things, is shewed how wee may bee alwayes readie, and prepared both in affection and action to give cheerefully to the poor and to pious uses never heretofore published. By Richard Bernard, rector of the Parish of Batcombe in Sommersetshire.

Date: 1635

Imprint: London: Printed by Felyx Kyngston, and are to be sold by Edward Blackmore, at the signe of the Angell in Pauls Church-yard, 1635.
Pages: [22], 486, [6] p
Copy from: Emmanuel College Library (University of Cambridge)

Notes: There is a 4 page dedicatory epistle beginning "to the worthily honoured Sir John Wray and to his vertuous lady, all true happiness here and in heaven". Another seven page one is "To the right worshipful George Stroud, Esquire, and William his brother". This is George Strode (1583-1663) who later came to prominence a a royalist in the civil wars. There were several William Strodes. This William Strode (1562-1637) was an MP, one of the five members impeached by Charles I and quite different to his younger brother in his views. ODNB calls him "‘godly’ and anti-episcopal" in his "religious views" and notes "his assertion of parliamentary authority over prerogative and his political friendship for the Scots".

A further six pages describe the book's contents, which are in 24 short chapters.

Shorter Catechism - Sanctification

Of Sanctification

Q. How may it appear,that you have this faith and also these benefits?
A. By my sanctification
Q. Who doth sanctify you?
A. The Holy Ghost Rom 15:16
Q. What is sanctification?
A. It is a making new of the whole man whereby he daily dieth to sin and increaseth in holiness and righteousness Eph 4.23, 24 Gal 5:24 1 Thess 4:1
Q. What grace proceeds from this sanctification?
A. True repentance leaving that which is ill with hatred and performing new obedience with gladness of heart continually Jer 31:19, Acts 26:20, Pss 119:10, 115, 136, etc
Q. What estate now stand you in being sanctified and penitent?
A. I am in the blessed estate of grace wherein if I continue I shall inherit eternal life Tit 3:4, 5:6, 7, Rom 11:22, Matt 10:22, 2 Tim 4:8
Q. Why hath God made, redeemed, sanctified and hitherto preserved you?
A. To serve him truly all the days of my life Eph 2:10, Tit 2:11, 12, Lk 1:74, 75
Q. How must God be served?
A. Only after his will revealed in his written word, Deut 30:8, 10 and 4:2, 2 Cor 4:6

Publications 23

Title: Christian see to thy conscience or a treatise of the nature, the kinds and manifold differences of conscience, all very briefly, and yet more fully laid open then hitherto by Richard Bernard, parson of Batcombe in Somersetshire. Anno 1630.

Imprint: London: Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Edward Blackmore, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the Angell, 1631.
Date: 1631
Pages: [38], 408 [ie 416], [4] p
Notes: Pages misnumbered at end. T5 and T6 probably blanks. Folger Shakespeare Library catalogue. Reproduction of the original in the British Library.

Copy from: British Library

There is a 9 page dedication in Latin addressed to the reverend father in Christ the then Bishop of Bath and Wells, Walter Curle. Curle, a friend of Laud, lived 1575-1647 and was Bishop of Bath and Wells 1629-1632, following a year as Bishop of Rochester. He was Bishop of Winchester 1632-1647. This is followed by an 8 page dedication in English "To the right worshipful and worthily honoured Sir Robert Gorge, Knight. And to his truly religious lady, the peace of a good conscience here, with the perfection of blessednesss hereafter." This is Robert Gorges (1588-1648). One of four brothers, his mother Helena had been a Swedish noble woman and a lady-in-waiting at the court of Elizabeth I. His seat was Redlynch, Somerset. A further eight pages describe the book's contents, which are in 54 short chapters.

Publications 22

Title: The Bible-battells. Or The sacred art military For the rightly wageing of warre according to Holy Writ. Compiled for the vse of all such valiant worthies, and vertuously valerous souldiers, as vpon all iust occasions be ready to affront the enemies of God, our king, and country. By Ric. Bernard rector of Batcombe Somersetshire.
Imprint: [London]: Printed [by W. Jones] for Edward Blackmore, and are to be sold by Iames Boler at the signe of the Flowre de Luce in Paules Church-yard, 1629.
Date: 1629
Pages: [24], 273, [1]

Library: Central Library, Bristol

Notes: Imperfect; tightly bound affecting text; pages 269-70 cropped affecting text (pages from Bodleian library copy filmed at end). This highly topical work is prefaced by a six page dedication to the King and another 11 pages addressing the reader.

Publications 21

Title: Ruths recompence: or a commentarie vpon the booke of Ruth wherein is shewed her happy calling out of her owne country and people, into the fellowship and society of the Lords inheritance: her vertuous life and holy carriage amongst them: and then, her reward in Gods mercy, being by an honourable marriage made a mother in Israel: deliuered in seuerall sermons, the briefe summe whereof is now published for the benefit of the Church of God. By Richard Bernard
Imprint: London: Printed by Felix Kyngston, and are to be sold by Simon Waterson, 1628.
Date: 1628
Pages: [8], 479, [1]
Copy from: Henry E Huntington Library and Art Gallery

There is a dedication of just over four pages "To the right honourable and very vertuous Lady, the Lady Frances, Countess of Warwick, Dowager". This is again Frances Wray (d 1634) sister of Isabel who was married first to Sir George St Paul of Snarford (c 1562-1613) but then became the second wife of Robert Rich, the first Earl of Warwick (1559-1618) two years before his death.

Publications 20

Title: A guide to grand-iury men diuided into two bookes: in the first, is the authors best aduice to them what to doe, before they bring in a billa vera in cases of witchcraft, with a Christian direction to such as are too much giuen vpon euery crosse to thinke themselues bewitched. In the second, is a treatise touching witches good and bad, how they may be knowne, euicted, condemned, with many particulars tending thereunto. By Rich. Bernard.

Prov 17:15, Deut 13:14

Imprint: London: Printed by Felix Kingston for Ed. Blackmore, and are to be sold at his shop at the great south dore of Pauls, 1627.
Date: 1627
Pages: [20], 267, [1]
Copy from: British Library

The book was reprinted in 1629 adn 1630.

The work is preceded by a 4 page dedication to 'The right honourable Sir John Walter, Knight, Lord chief Baron of his majesties court of exchequer and Sir John Denham, Knight, a worthy Baron of the same honourable court. The reverend and religious judges in this western circuit.' and another, slightly longer, 'To the right worshipful Gerard Wood, Doctor of Divinity, and Archdeacon of Wells and Arthur Duck, Doctor of the Civil Law and Chancellor to the Right Reverend Father the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells' . There is also a six page sumary of the work after this.

John Walter lived 1565-1630, a judge and politician. An anecdote from Fuller says that when a colleague on the western circuit remarked ‘My Lord, you are not merry’, Walter supposedly replied ‘Merry enough, for a judge’. John Denham, father of the poet, lived 1559-1639. Wood became archdeacon in 1611, Duck lived 1580-1648.

Publications 19

Title: Rhemes against Rome: or, The remoouing of the gagg of the new Gospell, and rightly placing it in the mouthes of the Romists, by the Rhemists in their English translation of the Scriptures. Which counter-gagg is heere fitted by the industrious hand of Richard Bernard ...,

Imprint: London: printed by Felix Kingston, for Ed. Blackmore, and are to be sold at his shop at the great south doore of Pauls.

Date: 1626

No. pages: [16], 326 p.

Copy from: Cambridge University Library

The work is preceded by a four page dedication 'to the right worshipful and worthily honoured Sir Ralph Hopton, Knight of the Bath' and a four page advetisement for the Christian reader. Hopton lived 1598-1652. He was a west country MP and later played a prominent role in the civil wars.