An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church

The same year the xvj. of March William Hunter of the age of nineteen years was martyred for the testimony of the truth, he being a prentice in London, in the first year of Queen Mary, was commanded at the Easter next following to receive the Communion at a Mass by the Priest of the parish where he dwelt in Colman street in London: which because he refused, he was threatened to be brought before the B. of London. Wherefore his master one Th. Taylor a silk man, fearing least he should come in danger for his sake, required W. Hunter to depart from him: which he did, and came to Burntwood, where his Father dwelt, with whom he remained about the space of half a quarter of a year, till being suspected, for reading the vj. of John in the chapel of Burntwood. One Father Otwell a sumner, and one Thomas Wood vicar of Southweild, with whom also he disagreed in reasoning of points of the sacrament, he was complained of by the vicar to justice Browne: but Hunter being afraid of the vicars threats, fled. Browne sent for Hunters father with the Constable, & threatened him punishment, except he would bring unto him his son. The father to satisfy the expectation of Browne, road ij. or iij. days journeys, & in the high way William met with his Father: who after he had with many tears declared what charge Browne had given him, the son said he would go home with him, to save him harmless whatsoever came of it.¹ So he was brought to justice Browne, who after he had reasoned with him out of the ⟨p. 136⟩sixth of John, and could not pervert him, made a letter immediately, and sent William Hunter with a Constable to the bishop of London: who not able to alter Hunters mind, neither by threats nor flatteries, commanded his men to put him in the stocks in his gatehouse, where he sat two days and nights, only with a crust of brown bread, and a cup of water. After two days the B. assayed him again, and finding him constant, sent him to the convict prison, and commandeth the keeper to lay irons enough on him. So he continued in prison three quarters of a year: in the which time he had been before the Bishop five times, besides the time when he was condemned the ix. day of February in the consistory of Pauls with five other mo. After sentence of condemnation of them all, the Bishop called for William Hunter, and persuaded with him, saying:

The same yéere the xvj. of March William Hunter of the age of ninetéene yéeres was martyred for the testimonie of the truth, he being a prentise in London, in the first yéere of Quéene Marie, was commaunded at the Easter next followyng to receiue the Communion at a Masse by the Priest of the parish where he dwelt in Colman stréete in London: which because he refused, he was threatned to be brought before the B. of London. Wherfore his master one Th. Taylor a silke mā, fearing least he should come in danger for his sake, required W. Hunter to depart from him: which he did, and came to Burntwood, where his Father dwelt, with whom he remained about the space of half a quarter of a yéere, till being suspected, for reading the vj. of Iohn in the chappell of Burntwood. One Father Otwell a sumner, and one Thomas Wood vicar of Southweild, with whom also he disagréed in reasoning of points of the sacrament, he was cōplained of by the vicar to iustice Browne: but Hunter being afraid of the vicars threats, fled. Browne sent for Hūters father with the Constable, & threatned him punishment, except he would bring vnto him his son. The father to satisfie the expectation of Browne, road ij. or iij. daies iourneis, & in the high way William met with his Father: who after he had with many teares declared what charge Browne had giuen him, the sonne said he would go home with him, to saue him harmeles whatsoeuer came of it.