N20568:5206
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
TO the third he said, he did believe it was a false doctrine, to believe and think as is contained in this article.
TO the fourth, he did also believe the same.
AFTER this answer, he did also subscribe his name to the said articles. Whereupon, the bishop drawing out of his bosom another confession subscribed with Tomkins's own hand, and also that article that was the first day objected against him, caused the same to be openly read, and then willed him to revoke and deny his said opinions, which he utterly refused to do; and therefore he was commanded to appear before the bishop again in the same place at two in the afternoon.
AGREEABLE to this mandate, being brought before the bloody tribunal of bishops, and pressed to recant his errors and return to the mother-church; he maintained his fidelity, nor would he swerve in the least from the articles he had signed with his own hand. Having therefore declared him an obstinate and damnable heretic, they delivered him up to the secular power, and he was burned in Smithfield, March 6th, 1555, triumphing in the midst of the flames, and adding to the noble company of martyrs, who had preceded him, through the path of the fiery trial to the realms of immortal glory.
THIS adherent to the cause of Christ had been trained to the doctrines of the reformation from his earliest youth, being descended from religious parents, who carefully instructed him in the principles of true religion.
WHEN queen Mary succeeded to the crown, orders were issued to the priests of every parish, to summons all their parishioners to receive the communion at mass, the Easter after her accession; and Hunter who was then nineteen years of age, refusing to obey the summons, was threatened to be brought before the bishop.
HIS master fearful of incurring ecclesiastical censure, desired him to leave him for a tim•; upon which he quitted his service, went do•n to Brentwood, and resided with his father ab••t six weeks.
ONE day finding the chapel open, he entered and began to read in the English Bible, which lay upon the desk; but was severely reprimanded by an officer of the bishop's court, who said to him, William, why meddlest thou with the Bible? Understandest thou what thou readest? Canst thou expound scripture? He replied, I presume not to expound scripture; but finding the Bible here, I read for my comfort and edification.
THE officer then informed a neighbouring priest of the liberty the young man had taken in reading the Bible; the priest therefore severely chid him, saying, Sirrah, who gave thee leave to read the Bible and expound it?
HE answered as he had done to the officer, and on the priest's telling him, that it became him not to meddle with the scriptures, he frankly declared his resolution to read them as long as he lived, as well as reproved the vicar for discouraging persons from that practice, which the scriptures so strongly enjoined.
THE priest then upbraided him as an heretic; he denied the charge, and being asked his opinion concerning the corporal presence in the sacrament of the altar; he replied, that he esteemed the bread and wine but as figures, and looked upon the sacrament as an institution in remembrance of the death and sufferings of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
WILLIAM HUNTER was then openly declared an heretic, for not believing the sacrament of the altar, and the vicar threatened to complain of him to the bishop.
A neighbouring justice, named Brown, having heard that he maintained heretical principles, sent for his father and inquired of him concerning his son; the old man assured him that he had left him, that he knew not whither he was gone: and on the justice's threatening to imprison him, unless he caused him to be apprehended and brought before him; he said with tears in his eyes, Would you have me seek out my son to be burned?
A neighbouring justice, named Brown, having heard that he maintaind heretical principles, sent for his father and inquired of him concerning his son; the old man assured him that he had left him, that he knew not whither he was gone: and on the justice's threatening to imprison him, unless he caused him to be apprehended and brought before him; he said with tears in his eyes, Would you have me seek out my son to be burned?
THE old man however was obliged to go, in pretence at least, in quest of him, and by accident meeting him, was asked by him, if he was seeking for him; he replied with tears, he was, and told him that it was by command of the justice who threatened to imprison him.
THE son, to prevent his father from incurring any danger, said that he was ready to accompany him home, on which they returned together.
