Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
and for the friendship, good will, and the good counsel I have received at thy hands, to
recompense thee I am not able, otherwise than to make thee my wife." And soon after they
were married, which was in the first year of Queen Mary.
After this he remained in the congregations of the faithful, until, the last year of Queen
Mary, he, with the six others aforesaid, were taken.
And after Roger Holland there was none suffered in Smithfield for the testimony of the
Gospel, God be thanked.
Flagellations by Bonner
When this Catholic hyena found that neither persuasions, threats, nor imprisonment,
could produce any alteration in the mind of a youth named Thomas Hinshaw, he sent him to
Fulham, and during the first night set him in the stocks, with no other allowance than bread
and water. The following morning he came to see if this punishment had worked any change
in his mind, and finding none, he sent Dr. Harpsfield, his archdeacon, to converse with him.
The doctor was soon out f humor at his replies, called him peevish boy, and asked him if he
thought he went about to damn his soul? "I am persuaded," said Thomas, "that you labour to
promote the dark kingdom of the devil, not for the love of the truth." These words the doctor
conveyed to the bishop, who, in a passion that almost prevented articulation, came to Thomas,
and said, "Dost thou answer my archdeacon thus, thou naughty boy? But I'll soon handle thee
well enough for it, be assured!" Two willow twigs were then brought him, and causing the
unresisting youth to kneel against a long bench, in an arbor in his garden, he scourged him
until he was compelled to cease for want of breath and fatigue. One of the rods was worn
quite away.
Many other conflicts did Hinsaw undergo from the bishop; who, at length, to remove him
effectually, procured false witnesses to lay articles against him, all of which the young man
denied, and, in short, refused to answer any interrogatories administered to him. A fortnight
after this, the young man was attacked by a burning ague, and at the request of his master.
Mr. Pugson, of St. Paul's church-yard, he was removed, the bishop not doubting that he had
given him his death in the natural way; he however remained ill above a year, and in the mean
time Queen Mary died, by which act of providence he escaped Bonner's rage.
John Willes was another faithful person, on whom the scourging hand of Bonner fell. He
was the brother of Richard Willes, before mentioned, burnt at Brentford. Hinshaw and Willes
were confined in Bonner's coal house together, and afterward removed to Fulham, where he
and Hinshaw remained during eight or ten days, in the stocks. Bonner's persecuting spirit
betrayed itself in his treatment of Willes during his examinations, often striking him on the
head with a stick, seizing him by the ears, and filliping him under the chin, saying he held
down his head like a thief. This producing no signs of recantation, he took him into his
orchard, and in a small arbor there he flogged him first with a willow rod, and then with birch,
until he was exhausted. This cruel ferocity arose from the answer of the poor sufferer, who,
upon being asked how long it was since he had crept to the cross, replied, 'Not since he had
come to years of discretion, nor would he, though he should be torn to pieces by wild horses.'
Bonner then bade him make the sign of the cross on his forehead, which he refused to do, and
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