the Lord." [Foxe, Acts and
Monuments, Pratt's Townshend's edition, six, 428.]

But Austin himself was at Gloucester, where Bishop Hooper suffered his
passion. "A passion indeed," said he, "for I think never man was burned
that had more pains of death. Afore he went into the fire, the gentle
Bishop lift up his hands, and said, `Lord, I am Hell, but Thou art
Heaven!' And `Strengthen me, of Thy goodness, that in the fire I break
not the rules of patience; or else assuage the terror of the pains, as
shall seem most to Thy glory.' And God did strengthen him, for he was
patience herself, though the wood laid to him was all green, and the
wind blew the fire away from him, so that he was long dying, and had an
hard death. It was a lowering, cold morning, and the fire first kindled
went out, having only touched his lower half. You have seen him, and
know how high of stature he was. But he said only, in a mild voice, `O
Jesus, Son of David! have mercy upon me, and receive my soul.' Then
they fetched fresh faggots, but that fire was spent also. He did but
say softly, `For God's love, good people, let me have more fire.' This
was the worst his agony could wring from him. The third fire kindled
was more extreme, and reached at last the barrels of gunpowder. Then,
when he saw the flame shoot up toward them, he cried, `Lord Jesus, have
mercy upon me! Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!' And so, bowing forward
his head, he died at last as quietly as a child in his bed." [Note 1.]

"O Austin, how frightful!" cried Isoult: and though she said no more,
she wondered secretly if that would ever be the case with her.

"On his way to the stake," resumed Austin, "they essayed to make him
turn. Saith Sir Anthony Kingston unto him, `Life is sweet, and death
bitter.' `Truth, friend,' quoth the Bishop; `yet is the death to come
more bitter, and the life to come more sweet.'"

"He hath found it so ere now," said John, softly.

"But have you," pursued Austin, "heard of Dr Taylor's burning?"

"Not of the inwards thereof," answered Mr Underhill, "only of the act."

"Well," said Austin, "when Bishop Bonner came to degrade him, quoth the
Bishop, `I wish you would remember yourself, and turn to your mother,
holy Church.' Then said Dr Taylor, `I wish you and your fellows would
turn to Christ. As for me, I will not turn to Antichrist.' And at the
first, when he come afore my Lord Keeper [Bishop Gardiner], quoth
he--`Art thou come, tho