"But what have we to expect?" quod he. "Here's the Mass and all its Mummery revived on every Hand, Mass Priests set in the Place of godly Preachers, and good Men deprived and cast into Prison. _Philip_ of _Spain_ and Cardinal _Pole_ will presently sweep all before them, and make a clear House on 't! Do you remember—but, peradventure 'twas before thy Time—Master _Chester_ coming to Master _Hewet_, and putting it to him what he should do with a 'Prentice Lad of his, one _Lawrence Saunders_, whom he had overheard hard wrestling in Prayer, and found wholly given to spiritual Contemplation and the reading of godly Books? Master _Hewet_ advised his cancelling his Indentures and sending him to _Cambridge_, which he did; and the good Youth did no small Credit to his kind and enlightened Master. But, last _October_, _Ned_, he preached a Sermon in _All-hallows'_ Church, the pure Doctrine whereof brought him into Trouble; for _Bonner_ and the Chancellor called him a frenzy Fool and committed him to Prison, where he hath lain, in great hardness, ever since; nor will come forth, I fear me, except to be burned. Then there's good Bishop _Hooper_—" "Ah," said I, "when he was committed to the _Fleet_ last _September_, he had nothing for his Bed but a little Pad of Straw and a rotten Covering, with a Tick and a few Feathers therein, in a foul and unwholesome Chamber. And this we had from his Man _John Downton_, Brother to our Maid _Damaris_; whereon Master _Hewet_ sent him Money and a good Bed." "Then there's young _Hunter_ the 'Prentice," continued _Tomkins_, "was brought up for refusing to receive the Mass Communion this Easter. His Master contrived to send him down to his Father's at _Brentwood_, where he presently fell again into Trouble for reading of the Bible that lay on the Clerk's Desk, and was set in the Stocks twenty-four Hours. And then they sent him up to _Bonner_, who set him in the Stocks at his own Gate for two Days and two Nights, with only a Crust of Bread and a Cup of Water; the Lad's young Brother all the while sitting by him. Then he was cast into the Convict Prison, as heavily ironed as one of his tender Years could bear, and hath lain there ever since, with a Halfpenny a Day for his Keep. Could you or I shew such Constancy, think you?" "You might, but I could not," said I. "_You_ might, but _I_ might not," sighed he—"not the Thing that will follow." And, suddenly thrusting his Hand into the very midst of the Fire, which was burning fiercely, he as suddenly plucked it out; turning on me a Look I shall never forget! It expressed the Anguish of a Man weighed in the Balance and found wanting. We sate for a few Seconds in perfect and most painful Silence; his Hand, in great Blisters, resting on his Knee. Suddenly I started up and laid my Hand on his Shoulder. "_Tomkins_," cried I, "what are you thinking of?" "I was thinking," returned he with filling Eyes, "how unworthy I was of the SAVIOUR that died for me."