The hall of the Bishop's Palace was crowded that morning. The six prisoners were led out in order, according to their social rank:--first, William Hunter, the apprentice-boy of Brentford, only sixteen years of age; then Thomas Tomkins, the weaver; Stephen Knight, the barber of Maldon; William Pygot, the butcher of Braintree; John Laurence, the Black Friar; lastly, Thomas Hawkes, the only one in the group who wrote himself "gentleman." They were such common, contemptible people, that Gardiner thought them beneath his august notice, and scornfully referred them to Bonner's jurisdiction. They were marched at once to the Consistory sitting in Saint Paul's Chapter-House, whither the crowd followed. The Consistory demanded of the accused persons-- "Do ye believe that the body of Christ is in the Sacrament, without any substance of bread and wine remaining?" The prisoners replied that this doctrine was not agreeable to Scripture. "Do ye believe that your parents, your sponsors, the King, Queen, nobility, clergy, and laity of the realm, believing this doctrine, were true and faithful Christians, or no?" "If they so believed," was the answer, "they were therein deceived." "Did ye, yourselves, in time past, truly believe the same, or no?" They said, "Ay, heretofore; but not now." "Do ye believe that the Spirit of Christ has been, is, and will be, with the Church, not suffering her to be deceived?" "We do so believe," replied the prisoners. "Have you," pursued Bonner, "being infamed to me as heretics, not been a good space in my house, and been there fed, and instructed by those desirous of your soul's welfare--and yet you refuse this belief?" The accused admitted all this. "Will ye now conform?" "In no whit, until it be proved by Holy Scripture," came the decisive answer. "If not," demanded the Bishop, "what grounds have you to maintain your opinion? Who is of the same opinion? What conference have ye had therein with any? What comfort and relief had you from any, and their names and dwelling-places?" [Note 1.] This was a deliberate request that they would accuse their friends and teachers. But the prisoners did not respond. "We have no ground but the truth," they said, "which we were taught by Doctor Taylor, of Hadleigh, and such other." Since Taylor of Hadleigh was already burnt to ashes, this admission could do him no harm. The accused persons were then remanded until nine o'clock the next morning, and advised in the meantime to "bethink them what they would do." It was Cicely Marvell who told all this in a low voice to Agnes Stone, as they stood together under a tree in the meadow behind Cow Lane. "Keep a good heart, dear maid!" said Cicely encouragingly. "May be it shall be better than we might fear. `The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.'"