Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Ver. 11. Put up thy sword] Our Saviour checks him for his inordinate zeal; wherein to be overly carried, is easy and ordinary. The memorable story of William Gardiner, martyr in Portugal, who in the very presence of the king and his nobles could not forbear, but fell upon the cardinal, as he was acting a mass. See Acts and Monuments, fol. 1242. So William Flower, upon an Easter day at Westminster, seeing a priest ministering the sacrament of the altar to the people, struck and wounded him upon the head, and also upon his arm and hand, with a wood knife. In the which so doing, as indeed he did not well, nor evangelically; so being afterwards examined by Bishop Bonner, he did no less confess his not well doing in the same, submitting therefore himself willingly to punishment, when it should come. Howbeit, touching his belief in the sacrament and Popish ministration, he neither did nor would submit himself. But when he was tempted to turn, and also threatened, he answered, Do what ye will, I am at a point; for the heavens shall as soon fall, as I will forsake mine opinion, &c. At his execution, first his hand being held up against the stake, was stricken off. At the which, some that were present affirmed that he shrunk not, but once a little stirred his shoulders. (Acts and Mon.)