The Constancy of this poor Weaver, Hew, shewn under Examination, was very notable. There were six Prisoners in all; but Tomkins, perhaps on Account of his being the elder of them, was brought most forward. To intimidate these poor Men the more, Bishop Bonner had got together a goodly Muster of his Clergy and Friends, Dr. Chedsey, Master Harpsfield, and others. Beginning the Attack, according to his Wont, with the Real Presence, he put it to Tomkins whether or no he believed in Transubstantiation. On Tomkins' meekly but firmly confessing he did not, and giving his Reasons for that Confession, Bonner struck him on the Face with his Fist, and violently tore out a Handful of his Beard. Tomkins bare this in Silence, remembering Him who stood before Caiaphas. Then Bonner, lashing himself up, began anew to question him; and being still unable to catch him in his Talk, he seized him by the Wrist; and holding his Hand over a lighted Candle of three or four Wicks that stood on the Table, savagely kept it there till the Veins shrank and the Sinews burst.
"But, Ned," quoth this meek Martyr, telling me of it in Newgate, "though one of the Bishop's own Friends that stood by turned so sick that he cried, 'Hold! enough!' I affirm unto you that I was so rapt, and in such immediate Communion with my God and Saviour, that, at that Time, I felt or was sensible of no Pain! I say not I felt none afterwards: I feel it now. But ne'er-theless, I tell thee, Ned, I am ready not only to suffer this, but also to die for the Name of the Lord Jesus, if it be his Will."
And many other such godly and comfortable Words he spake, both then and during the next six Months; for I was continually with him. And, during all that Time, his Courage never waxed faint, but he bare that long Probation and Suspense patiently and cheerfully; never rising into Rapture, but full of Love and Hope; and grateful exceedingly unto Master Hewet, for keeping his Wife and Child in Bread all that Time.
Then saw I, how diverse, yea, how inferior is that Sort of instinctive animal Courage which made me leap from London Bridge, from that moral Courage which enableth a Man kept low, and contumeliously treated, to support, by the Space of half an Year, the Prospect of a cruel and lingering Death.
—Ah, Boy, thou mayest say what thou listest:—thou art a young Soldier.—Besides, thou hast both Sorts; one, maybe, from me; and one from her.
And now, to crown all, came over Cardinal Pole, whom our Spanish King came down to the Water-side to meet, so soon as he had learned he had shot the Bridge. But in Faith, Hew, he was not so evil as the others. He was no longer the Man for whom Queens might die in Love; still less the Youth that had bandied Jests with More and Erasmus:—he had known Sorrow, I wot!—his Mother, his Brother, his Cousin, had been brought with Sorrow to their Graves; and albeit his Friends did say of him he should be called non Polus Anglus, sed Polus angelus, he carried his Sadness in his Face.
And now, the Church and Realm of England were proclaimed reconciled to the Pope of Rome, the slavish Parliament put its Neck under the Queen's Foot, there was great singing of Te Deum, and great kindling of Bone-fires;—Alas! there were to be other Bone-fires soon.
The New Year opened ominously. About thirty Citizens, Men and Women, privately receiving the Communion of Mr. Rose, their Minister, in a House in Bow Churchyard, were haled to Prison. For thou seest, Hew, Romanism had now, through the Slavishness of our Parliament, been re-established as the Law of the Land, which all Friends of good Order were bounden to uphold; wherefore those were constrained to break it and be classed as bad Citizens who chose rather to abide by the Law of God—a Dilemma that ought never to have happened. They that are set in foremost Places are bounden to stand in the Breach, that Evil ensew not unto them whose Place is behind them.
Now, see in what a Strait was Master Hewet. He and every other Alderman had to attend Paul's Church on Paul's Day, where the King and Cardinal came in great State, to give Thanks for the Re-conversion of the Realm to the Roman Catholic Church. This was on the 25th; and on the 28th, the Bishops had Commission from the Cardinal to try all such Preachers and Heretics as lay in Prison. By Virtue whereof, Gardiner and the other Bishops had up before them that very Day, Bishop Hooper, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Cardmaker, and others, in the Church of St. Mary Overy. I stood, with others, at the Church Door, to see the Prisoners come out. They were remanded to the Compter in Southwark about four o' the Clock, just as 'twas growing dark, till nine the next Morning; and as they came forth, I saw good Bishop Hooper look back and wait a little for Master Rogers, whom, when he came up, he cheerfully addressed with, "Come, Brother Rogers, must we two take this Matter first in Hand, and begin to fry these Fagots?" "By God's Grace, Sir," quod Rogers, "we will." "Doubt not," returns the good Bishop, "but God will give us that." And so passed on, Hand in Hand, much cheered and pressed on by the People.
Next Day, they were re-examined and condemned and degraded. The Sheriffs had much ado to guard them to the Clink in Southwark, where they kept them in Ward till Dark, hoping the Throng would disperse or ere they brought them across the Bridge to Newgate. Howbeit, about eight o' the Clock, I being alone and busied, heard a great Rumour, followed by sharp, shrill Cries along the Bridge, and Master Hewet, stepping in, all in a Heat, sayth, "Lights! Lights!" I mutely gave him mine, and fetched another, and we stood at the Door, protecting the Candles from the Wind with our Hands. Others were hastily bringing Candles to their Doors; and still we could hear Men and 'Prentices running forward and crying "Lights!"