f the doctrine which he had
received.

Tomkins thinking no otherwise, but there presently to die, began to
commend himself unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, into thy hands I commend
my spirit, &c. All the time that his hand was burning the same Tomkins
afterward reported to one James Hinse, that his spirit was so rapt, that
he felt no pain. In which burning he never shrank till the veins
shrank, and the sinews burst and the water spurted into Mr. Harpsfield's
face: insomuch that Mr. Harpsfield, moved with pity, desired the bishop
to stay, saying, that he had tried him enough.

After undergoing two examinations, and refusing to swerve from his duty
and belief, he was commanded to appear before the bishop.

Agreeably 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 swerve in the least from
the articles he had signed with his own hand. Having therefore declared
him an obstinate heretic, they delivered him up to the secular power,
and he was burned in Smithfield, March 16th, 1555, triumphant 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.

William Hunter 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 the true religion.

Hunter, then nineteen years of age, refusing to receive the communion at
mass, was threatened to be brought before the bishop; to whom this
valiant young martyr was conducted by a constable.

Bonner caused William to be brought into a chamber, where he began to
reason with him, promising him security and pardon if he would recant.
Nay, he would have been content if he would have gone only to receive
and to confession, but William would not do so for all the world.

Upon this the bishop commanded his men to put William in the stocks in
his gate-house, where he sat two days and nights, with a crust of brown
bread and a cup of water only, which he did not touch.

At the two days' end, the bishop came to him, and finding him steadfast
in the faith, sent him to the convict prison, and commanded the keeper
to lay irons upon him as many as he could bear. He continued in prison
three quarters of a year, during which time he had been before the
bishop five t