Tudor Martyrs: The Execution of William Hunter

I’ve recently covered the reign of Mary I (1553-1558) with students. We focused on key aspects of her reign, including how she came to power (through the Devise for the Succession of 1553 which attempted to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne), her political changes, as well as her foreign policy entanglements (which led to the loss of Calais in 1558 – an event which I focus on in my book The Tudor Empire). But the most intriguing element of Mary’s reign is undoubtedly her religious policies, particularly the decision to burn Protestant heretics.

In 1554, Mary reinstalled the ancient heresy laws, thereby making it more accessible to imprison and execute those accused of heresy. Her big push was to restore Catholicism in the country as it stood in the 1520s, prior to the vast changes of her father during the ‘Break with Rome’, and so it was seen as necessary to attack those who had opposed the Catholic Church. Big stars of the English Church, particularly those attached to the significant Protestant Edwardian reforms, were arrested and put to death; including bishops Latimer and Ridley, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer. But these bishops were not simply executed in the manner of having their heads removed; their punishment was to be far greater in being burned.

Why burn them? Many believe it was because this harsh penalty would deter others from straying away from the state religion. But also perhaps to cleanse the soul completely, thereby making the possibly of resurrection impossible.

All of which gave me the idea of attempting a new series on Tudor martyrs. After all, the Tudor state oversaw the execution of many notable people throughout the 16th century, including the likes of Thomas More and many other religious figures. A couple of years ago I posted an article I had written about a Catholic martyr who was killed during the Elizabethan era: Cuthbert Mayne.

Rather than turn attention to Archbishop Cranmer, I thought it would be of interest to focus on a lesser known name who was killed during the 1550s: William Hunter. As with others who were killed during this period, we know of Hunter’s story due to the publication of John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs in the 1560s. Foxe put together this work, deemed by many to have been a massive influence on Elizabeth’s Church, in order to promote the sacrifices of Protestants.

Described as a ‘valiant young martyr’, Hunter was only 19 years of age when he was executed. Having been raised, states Foxe, in the ‘doctrines of the Reformation from his earliest youth’, he refused to attend the reinstalled Catholic services during Mary’s reign. Despite threats of arrest, Hunter could not be swayed. Bishop Bonner – known to history as “Bloody Bonner” for his role during this period – attempted to ‘reason with’ Hunter, ‘promising him security and pardon if he would recant’. However, Hunter refsued to do so, with Foxe writing how ‘William would not do so for all the world’.

Bonner ordered the young man to be put in stocks:

‘where he sat two days and nights, with a crust of brown bread and a cup of water only, which he did not touch.’

Bonner found Hunter remaining ‘steadfast in the faith’, and so had him sent to prison where he remained in ‘irons’ for the best part of the year. The bishop never gave up on the idea that Hunter would surrender and recant, but despite revisiting him he eventually realised that the young man would never waver. It was ordered that Hunter would be sent to Brentwood ‘to be burned’.

Foxe writes of William Hunter’s final moments:

‘On coming to the stake, he knelt down and read the Fifty-first Psalm, until he came to these words, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” Steadfast in refusing the queen’s pardon, if he would become an apostate, at length one Richard Ponde, a bailiff, came, and made the chain fast about him.’

And then:

‘William now cast his psalter into his brother’s hand, who said, “William, think on the holy passion of Christ, and be not afraid of death.” “Behold,” answered William, “I am not afraid.” Then he lifted up his hands to heaven, and said, “Lord, Lord, Lord, receive my spirit;” and casting down he head again into the smothering smoke, he yielded up his life for the truth, sealing it with his blood to the praise of God.’

William Hunter was one of 280 who died by burning during Mary’s reign. The site of his execution is now Brentwood School, with the Martyr’s Elm grown from the very same spot. There is a plaque at the site with the inscribed words:

WILLIAM HUNTER. MARTYR. Committed to the Flames March 26th MDLV. Christian Reader, learn from his example to value the privilege of an open Bible. And be careful to maintain it.