Chapter XI: The Blood of the Martyrs, yᵉ Seed of yᵉ Church

I may as well tell thee now, _Hew_, by way of Relief to heavier Matters, the ludicrous Form that _Miles's_ Protestantism took. He was never one of the most serious; and when Master _Hewet_, at the preceding Easter, had, on Compulsion as Alderman of the Ward, given formal Notice to every Householder, with their Families, to prepare to confess and receive the Sacrament, _Miles_ sayth with a knavish Look at me, "I must do Somewhat first, to confess about."

Presently after that I heard him coaxing Mistress _Fraunces's_ white Cat with, "Pussy, Pussy, Pussy! come to Preferment, Pussy!" But Puss, as if she smelt Mischief in the Wind, flew up the Chimney. Then quod he, "Thou'rt too good for the Purpose, after all. I must go pay my Duty to the Sub-prioress that lives all alone with her Cats." Quod I, "What Mischief are you about now?" Saith he, "If you ask no unpleasant Questions, you'll hear no unpleasant Answers. What if I want to get up a little Masque of Puss in Boots?"

Next Day, at dawning, there was seen in _Chepe_, on the Gallows that had been set up for the _Kentish_ Rioters, a Cat suspended, apparelled like a Priest ready to say Mass, with a shaven Crown, and her two forefeet tied over her Head, with a round Paper like a Wafer-cake put between them, as though in the Act of raising the Host. Fits of boisterous Laughter rang through _Chepe_: howbeit, the Queen and Bishops were in great Dudgeon; and a Proclamation was made, that same Afternoon, that whosoever should bring forth the guilty Party should have twenty Nobles, which was afterwards increased to twenty Marks: but I need not say that nobody ever claimed it. I think I might have put the Money in my Pocket if I would.

Howbeit, neither _Miles_ nor I felt ourselves called upon to confess to the Priest; in special as Master _Hewet_ never enforced it on any, after the first formal Notice: and I wot, he went not himself. Indeed, it was marvellous, he said in after Years, that considering how open he laid himself to Animadversion on these Matters, no Enemy took Advantage of him; howbeit, I doubt if he had one; there were many to make common Cause with him, and he was much loved throughout the Ward.

But I have not done with _Miles_ yet. The next Offence his Protestantism took was at an Idol of _Thomas à Becket_, which the _Lord Chancellor_ caused to be set up over the Mercers' Chapel Door, in _Chepe_: which, within two Days, had its Head lopped off in the Night. Upon this rose great Disturbance, and one Mr. _Barnes_, a Mercer, who lived over-against the Chapel, was vehemently accused by my Lord _Wriothesley_ of being Principal or Accessary to the Deed. He defended himself with every Semblance of Innocence; nevertheless, he and three 'Prentices were imprisoned for a Day or two; and, though Nothing was proven against him, he was, on his Delivery, bound in a great Sum of Money to repair the Image so often as it should be broken down, and also to watch and defend the same. I should never have suspected _Miles_ of having had Aught to do with this Matter, save for his gloomy and guilty Looks while _Barnes_ lay in Ward, and for his great Access of Gaiety when he was let forth. Howbeit, there are some People whose absolute Genius and Destiny seems to be Mischief; and, a Day or two after the Image's Restoration, I heard _Miles_, after pacing up and down the Chamber awhile like a chafed Lion in a Cage, exclaim in a Sort of Desperation, "I must do it again!" And next Day, the _second_ Head was missing. This Time, a hundred Crowns of Gold were offered for Discovery of the Culprit. But they never were claimed. Then quod _Miles_, embracing me with an unwonted Ardour of Affection, "Ned! thou'rt a capital Fellow!"

Howbeit, _Miles_ presently became absorbed in his Love-affair, which brought his protestant Zeal to a very ignoble Termination. He now lodged at some Distance from us, and kept his private Concerns very much to himself. Having one Day Occasion to speak to him at his Lodging, I there found not only his Mother, but an exceeding pretty young Woman. "_Ned!_" quod he, "this is my Wife; I forgot to tell you before, that I was married!" "I've a great Mind to forget it too!" sayth she, pouting, as I went up to salute her, "the Saints be my Witness!" at which, I looked attentively at her and then at him.

He followed me to the Door when mine Errand was sped. "_Ned_," whispered he, and coloured all over, "there'll be no more hanging of Cats!... She's a staunch _Roman_, is _Nell_! and I'm obliged to conform, I can tell thee! Rely on't, there's much to be said upon both Sides!" And this was he, had said he was as firm as _London Stone_.

I shook my Head at him, but was not, just then, going to attempt his Conversion. By way of confirming myself in the Faith, I passed on to _Newgate_, where I saw _Tomkins_, young _Hunter_, and their Fellow-prisoner in the LORD, Master _Rogers_, who was to suffer the next Morning. To hear him talk, one would have thought he saw Heaven opened, and the bright Vision that St. _Stephen_ had, revealed to his inward Eye; and he mightily strengthened his Brethren. His Wife being denied Access to him, he prayed me give her a Kerchief, the only poor Token he had to send; and to bid her, if she had Strength for 't, to be by the Wayside with the Children, next Morn, on the Way to _Smithfield_. I took her there myself; the poor Soul was wondrously supported; and when the good Man came by, I held one of his little Children towards him, prompting him to say, "The LORD will strengthen thee, Father!" Which, indeed, he did.

Well, after the Euthanasy of this blessed Proto-martyr, who, as though to confirm the Courage of those that came after, did literally wash his Hands in the Flame as if he felt no Smart, _Tomkins'_ Courage, strange to say, greatly departed from him, and he doubted much if he should hold firm unto the End. Thereon, great Prayer was made for him by his Brethren in Bonds, and, I am bold to say, at one or two solitary Bed-sides: and it came to pass, at all Events, that he was strengthened to go through his next Examination, with young _Hunter_ and the Rest, in _Paul's_ Consistory, five Days after _Rogers_ was burned. The Lad _Hunter_, who stood by his Brother to the Last, heard all five Prisoners condemned to die by _Bonner_.

Thereon Mistress _Fraunces_ and I went, under Shadow of Evening, to _Tomkins'_ Wife. She was in strong Fits, with sundry poor Women about her; and, leaving Mistress _Fraunces_ to add to their tender Ministrations, I went on to _Newgate_, if haply Master _Hewet's_ Name might still serve me to have Access to my poor Friend. Directly I saw him I knew, by the mild steady Light in his Eye, that his Courage was safe! "_Ned_," quod he, "I was given over a little While unto Darkness, just to let me feel that the Strength within me was none of mine; but now, my Friend hath come back to me, and I rejoice in his Light! Soon we shall be eternally together; and oh! how much we shall have to tell and to hear. Little will it matter, then, whether my Ashes were scattered to the four Winds, or collected in a stone Jug like a _Roman's_. Direct poor _Dinah_ to the seventy-seventh Psalm; I know it will comfort her. Dear Master _Hewet_ will keep her from Want; and she will presently retire to her Friends in the Country. So, thou seest, I have no Fear for Temporalities! Look! she hath made me this long white Shirt to wear to-morrow; my Wedding-garment, I call it. Tell her every Stitch she set in it evidenced her Faith, as every Blow wherewith _Abraham_ clave the Fagots whereon to offer his Son, proved his. And a lighter Sacrifice is exacted of her, for she hath not to slay me, only to resign me. And now, good speed, good _Ned_.... Don't be at _Smithfield_ to-morrow, only stand by the Way as I go along ... thou hast risked too much for me already."

In Sooth I ne'er thought twice of the Risk; but I doubted whether what he could bear to _feel_, I could bear to _see_. I stood over-against the Door as he came forth; our Eyes met; and in a Tone that had Somewhat of Musicalness in it that searched and sank into the very Heart, he sayth, "The Night is far spent, Lad! the Day is at Hand!"

Those Token-words drew me irresistibly after him. I felt no Fear, no Horror just then; only that our two Souls clave together, and that mine must keep near his till 'twas caught up. So I kept a little in advance, and eyed him now and then, that he might just see I stood by him; and I think it gave him Pleasure, for I once heard him say, "The Presence of a Friend, that cleaveth to us unto Death, how good is it!"

But Martyrs were forbidden to make long Speeches on Pain of having their Tongues cut out; and indeed, their Constancy preached enow. Wherefore this was the last Word I heard from his Lips, for he seemed entirely addressing himself to another Friend whom we could neither hear nor see. And, when he got to the Place, I saw him put his Arms affectionately about the Stake and kiss it, (they all did that,) and then lay aside his poor Weaver's Garments, prison-worn and tattered, and put on what seemed indeed the white Robe of Immortality, and then stand firm while they put the Chain about his Waist. Just then a Man pushed rudely past me with a Fagot; and there was a Rush and a Press of New-comers that jostled me from my Place and wanted to feed their greedy Appetites with a good Man's Pain as if 'twere a mere Show. I pushed at them again, and struggled forward, amid Blows and reviling, and gat Sight of a Puff of Smoke, and a bright Flame leaping up. Just then, the Sun, breaking forth from a stormy Cloud, shone full upon his Face, which, looking upward with a joyous Smile, seemed transfigured by it. I could see no more ... mine Eyes were blinded, my Throat choked. I pushed my Way through the Crowd and went Home to pray for—myself, not for him!