N20568:5216
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.
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.
THE following day, he was taken by the constable, kept in the stocks four and twenty hours, and then brought before the justice; who called for a Bible, turned to the 6th chapter of St. John, and desired him to give his opinion of the meaning of it, as it related to the sacrament of the altar.
HAVING given the same explanation as he had done to the priest, and persisting in his denial of the corporal presence in the eucharist, the justice upbraided him with damnable heresy, and wrote to the bishop of London acquainting him with the same, to whom this valiant young martyr was conducted by a constable.
AFTER Bonner had read the letter, and the constable returned home again, the bishop caused William to be brought into a chamber, where he began to reason with him in this manner:—I understand, William Hunter, by Mr. Brown's letter, how that you have had certain communications with the vicar of Weld, about the blessed sacrament of th• altar, and how that you could not agree: whereupon Mr. Brown sent for thee to bring thee to the catholic faith, from which, he saith, that thou art gone. Howbeit if thou wilt he ruled by me, thou shalt have no harm for any thing that thou hast said or done in this matter.
AFTER Bonner had read the letter, and the constable returned home again, the bishop caused William to be brought into a chamber, where he began to reason with him in this manner:—I understand, William Hunter, by Mr. Brown's letter, how that you have had certain communications with the vicar of Welde, about the blessed sacrament of th• altar, and how that you could not agree: whereupon Mr. Brown sent for thee to bring thee to the catholic faith, from which, he saith, that thou art gone. Howbeit if thou wilt he ruled by me, thou shalt have no harm for any thing that thou hast said or done in this matter.
WILLIAM answered, saying, I am not fallen from the catholic faith of Christ, I am sure, but do believe it, and confess it with all my heart.
WHY, said the bishop, how sayest thou to the blessed sacrament of the altar? Wilt thou not recant thy saying, which thou confessedst before Mr. Brown, that Christ's body is not in the sacrament of the altar, the same that was born of the virgin Mary?
TO which William answered, saying, My lord, I understand that Mr. Brown hath certified you of the talk which he and I had together, and thereby you know what I said to him, which I will not recant by God's help. Then said the bishop, I think thou art ashamed to bear a faggot, and recant openly; but if thou wilt recant thy sayings, I will promise thee that thou shalt not be put to open shame: but speak the word now here between me and thee, and I will promise thee it shall go no further, and thou shalt go home again without any hurt.
WILLIAM answered and said, My lord, if you let me alone, and leave me to my conscience, I will go to my father and dwell with him, or else with my master again, and so if nobody will disquiet nor trouble my conscience, I will keep my conscience to myself.
THEN said the bishop, I am content, so that thou wilt go to the church, and receive, and go to confession, and so continue a good catholic christian. No, said William, I will not do so for all the good in the world.
THEN, said the bishop, if you will not do so, I will make you sure enough, I warrant you. William answered, You can do no more than God will permit you. Well, said the bishop, wilt thou not recant indeed by any means? No, returned William, never while I live, God willing.
UPON this the bishop commanded his men to put William in the stocks in his gate-house, where he sat two days and nights, only with a crust of brown bread and a cup of water.
