Martyrologia alphabetikē, or, An alphabetical martyrology containing the trials and dying expressions of many…Martyrologia alphabetikē, or, An alphabetical martyrology containing the tryals and dying expressions of many…

Thomas Hawks, an Essex Gentleman, being threatened by Bishop Bonner if he would not recant, said always, Ye shall do no more than God will give you leave; and at last at his condemnation being urged to recant, he said, No, had I an hundred bodies I would suffer them all to be torn in pieces, rather than recant. As he went to Execution, June 10. 1555. being desired by his Friends that he would show them some sign in the flames, if he could, whereby they might know more certainly, whether the pain ⟨p. 88⟩of the burning was so great that a man might not therein keep his mind quiet; which he promised to do, and that if the pain was tolerable he would lift up his hands towards Heaven before he gave up the Ghost: And being at Stake, he mildly and patiently addressed himself to the fire, and after he had been in the fire, his fingers burnt and gone, and skin so drawn together, that all men thought he had been dead, he suddenly reached up his hands burning of a light fire over his head, to the living God, and with great rejoicing as seemed struck or clapped them three times together, and then sinking down into the fire he gave up his spirit. He wrote to his Wife and Children to fear and serve God, and to continue fervent in Prayer, for then God would provide for them better than he was able to do ever; yea, saith he, God will cause all men that fear him to pity you, to help you, to succour you in all your necessities; so that if any would do you wrong, he will be avenged on him. Vol. 3. p. 265.

Thomas Hawks, an Essex Gentleman, being threatned by Bishop Bonner if he would not recant, said always, Ye shall do no more than God will give you leave; and at last at his condemnation being urged to recant, he said, No, had I an hundred bodies I would suffer them all to be torn in pieces, rather than recant. As he went to Execution, Iune 10. 1555. being desired by his Friends that he would shew them some sign in the flames, if he could, whereby they might know more certainly, whether the pain ⟨p. 88⟩of the burning was so great that a man might not therein keep his mind quiet; which he promised to do, and that if the pain was tolerable he would lift up his hands towards Heaven before he gave up the Ghost: And being at Stake, he mildly and patiently addressed himself to the fire, and after he had been in the fire, his fingers burnt and gone, and skin so drawn together, that all men thought he had been dead, he suddenly reached up his hands burning of a light fire over his head, to the living God, and with great rejoicing as seemed struck or clapped them three times together, and then sinking down into the fire he gave up his spirit. He wrote to his Wife and Children to fear and serve God, and to continue fervent in Prayer, for then God would provide for them better than he was able to do ever; yea, saith he, God will cause all men that fear him to pity you, to help you, to succour you in all your necessities; so that if any would do you wrong, he will be avenged on him. Vol. 3. p. 265.