The Boy Martyr of Brentwood

In the morning of 26th March, 1555, the whole of Brentwood town was in a state of excitement. Many people had gathered in the street. Why those priests, friars, monks, and other dignitaries. Why those soldiers with bows and spears and other weapons? The had assembled to see a young citizen of Brentwood, William Hunter by name, suffer death by burning. What awful crime had he done to deserve such dire punishment?

Some months before he had dared to read the Word of God. In the chapel he was seen reading the Bible by a servant of the Bishop named Atwell. "Why meddlest thou with the Bible?" he angrily enquired. The youth made the modest and courteous reply that he 'read it to his comfort'. Atwell retorted, "If you do not turn, you and many other heretics will broil for your opinions."
William Hunter - fearing to implicate his parents and home in the doom which seemed to await him - fled from the town.
Returning after a brief time he was at once seized and thrown into prison. Bonner, Bishop of London, endeavoured to persuade him to recant by the offer of a sum of money and a position in his household.
The reply given by the young martyr may well serve as an example to us in these days of compromise and indifference. "My lord", said he, "if you cannot persuade my conscience by the Scripture, I cannot turn from God for the love of the world, for I count all things but loss in comparison with the love of Christ."

After his trial by the Bishop of London he was taken back to Brentwood and, as there was no prison in the town, was guarded by constables in the Swan Inn. There his mother saw him and to her, William said, "For a little pain I shall receive a crown of life and may you not be glad for that?" His mother answered saying that she thanked God her son was such a champion for Christ. On the morning of his death his father broke through the crowd saying, "God be with thee, son William," to which he replied, "Be of good comfort, father, we shall meet again where we shall rejoice together."
While he was chained to the stake, a pardon was offered if he would recant. The he refused and amidst jeers, threats and taunts the flames leaped around him. He exclaimed amid the fires, "I am not afraid Lord! Lord! receive my spirit." He then prayed, "Son of God shine upon me," and immediately the sun broke through the dark clouds and the light shone full upon his face. It was as through God gave him an outward and visible sign that prayer was heard in heaven, His dwelling place. Soon his head bowed in the smoke and William Hunter, but nineteen years of age, yielded his life for the Truth and sealed it with his blood, but the trumpet sounded for him on the other side.