9. William Hunter
Explanatory Notes
89 my father's house: heaven (see John 14: 2).
91 fame: reputation.
92 waster: a club.
93 Sir John Shelton . . . speak Latin: this official orders Taylor to recite the Vulgate Latin version of Psalm 51, rather than utter the prohibited
English translation. Those condemned to death conventionally uttered this sorrowful prayer for deliverance as their final words.
94 [Illustration 9]: compositors typically set speeches in type within banderoles. We do not know why one sinuous streamer remains empty.
8. THOMAS TOMKINS
95 web: weaving, woven cloth.
96 'Saint Paul saith . . . not worthy to eat': 2 Thessalonians 3: 10.
98 the old image of King Porsenna . . . at London in Smithfield: Bishop Bonner is likened to Lars Porsenna, an Etruscan king who besieged ancient
Rome. This invader released Gaius Mucius Scaevola, a legendary figure who demonstrated heroism when he thrust his hand into a fire after attempting to assassinate Porsenna (see Livy, History of Rome From its
Foundation, 2.12.1 – 13.5). The narrative draws a sharp contrast between the king's leniency and Bonner's insistence on following through with burning Tomkins alive.
100 Having also likewise confessed . . . not to be allowed: Tomkins rejects the reimposition of the Latin rite for the sacrament of baptism in place of the English service implemented by the second Edwardian Book of Common
Prayer (see Introduction).
9. WILLIAM HUNTER
102 in the sequel of this history: in the following story.
was commanded . . . at a Mass: laypersons were expected to receive the Eucharist at Easter.
103 since the Bible came abroad in English: since a change in law permitted public reading and interpretation of the Bible during the reign of Edward
VI.
104 'Except that ye eat . . . in you': John 6: 53.
105 Capernaites: residents in a Galilean town whom Jesus curses (Matthew 11: 23 – 4) and who disbelieve that they will feed spiritually or figuratively on his body and blood (John 6: 35 – 65). William Hunter uses this term to attack believers in transubstantiation.
'The words . . . spirit and life': John 6: 63.
Weald: presumably the same parish as South Weald.
107 the bread is his body: Luke 22: 19.