MarginaliaAn. 1555. February.Byshops Pallace, you would suppose to haue entred into some Church or Temple. In euery corner therof, there was some smel of vertue, good example, honest cōuersation, and reading of holy Scriptures. There was not to be seene in hys house any courtly roysting or idlenes: no pompe at all, no dishonest word, no swearyng could there be heard.  

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As for the reuenewes of both his Byshoprickes, although they did not greatly excede, as the matter was handled: yet if any thyng surmounted therof, he pursed nothyng, but bestowed it in hospitalitie. MarginaliaThe hospitalitie of Maister Hooper.Twise I was (as I remember) in his house in Worcester, where in hys common hall, I saw a table spread with good store of meate, and beset ful of beggers and poore folke: and I asking his seruauntes what this mente:  

they told me that euery day their Lord and Maisters maner was, to haue customably to dynner, a certaine number of poore folke of the sayd Citie by course, who were serued by foure at a messe, with hotte and wholesome meates: and when they were serued (beyng afore examined by hym or his deputies of the Lordes Prayer, the Articles of theyr fayth, and tenne Commaundementes) then he him self satte down to dynner, and not before.

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After this sorte and maner, M. Hoper executed the office of a most carefull and vigilāt Pastor, by the space of two yeares and more, so long as the state of Religiō in kyng Edwardes time dyd safely florish & take place: & would God that all other Bishops would vse the like diligence, care, and obseruaunce in their functiō.  

After this kyng Edward beyng dead, and Mary beyng crowned Queene of Englād, Religion beyng subuerted and chaunged, MarginaliaM. Hooper called vp to London at Queene Maryes comming in.this good Byshop was one of the first that was sent for by a Pursiuaunte to be at London, and that for two causes.

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Marginaliaij. causes why M. Hooper was called vp.First, to aunswere to Doct. Heath, then appoynted Byshop of that Dioces, who was before in kyng Edwardes dayes depriued therof for Papistry.

Secondarely to render accompt to Doct. Boner Byshop of Lōdon, for that he in kyng Edwardes tyme was one of hys accusers, in that he shewed hym selfe not conformable to such ordinaunces as were prescribed to hym by the kyng and hys Counsell openly at Paules Crosse. And although the sayd M. Hoper was not ignoraūt of the euils that should happen towardes hym (for he was admonished by certaine of his frendes to get hym away, and shift for hym selfe) yet he would not preuent them, but taryed still, saying: once I dyd flye and tooke me to my feete: MarginaliaM. Hooper refused to flie away.but now, because I am called to this place and vocation, I am throughly persuaded to tary, and to lyue and dye with my shepe.

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And when at the day of his appearaunce (which was the first of September)  

MarginaliaM. Hooper commeth vp to London.he was come to London, before hee coulde come to the foresayd Doct. Heath and Boner, he was intercepted and commaunded violently agaynst his will to appeare before the Queene and her Counsell, MarginaliaM. Hooper charged to aunswere the Queene for bonds of debt.to aunswere to certayne bondes and obligations wherein they said he was bound vnto her. And whē he came before them, Wynchester by and by receiued hym very opprobriously, and raylyng and ratyng of hym, accused hym of Religion. He againe freely and boldly told hys tale, and purged hym selfe. But in fine it came to this cōclusion: MarginaliaM. Hooper commaunded to Warde.that he was by them cōmaūded to ward (it beyng declared vnto hym at his departure, that þ^e cause of his imprisonment was only for certayne summes of Money, for the which hee was indebted to the Queene, and not for Religiō.) This how false & vntrue it was, shall hereafter in hys place more playnly appeare. The next yeare beyng. 1554. þ^e 19. of March, he was called agayne to appeare before Wynchester and other the Queenes Cōmissioners: where, what for the Byshop, and what for the vnruly multitude, whē he could not be permitted to pleade his cause, MarginaliaM. Hooper depriued of his Bishoprickes.he was depriued of his Byshoprikes. Which how and in what order it was done, here now foloweth to be seene by the testimony and reporte of one, which beyng

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present at the doyng, committed the same to writyng.

MarginaliaA letter reporting the order of Maister Hoopers depriuatiō.FOr so much as a rumor is spread abroad of the talke had at my Lord Chauncelors, betwene him with other commissioners there appointed, and M. Hooper, cleane contrary to the verity and truth thereof in deede, and therefore to be iudged rather to be risen of malice for the discrediting of the truth by false suggestions and euill reportes, then otherwise: I thought it my duety, beyng present thereat my selfe, in wryting to set forth the whole effecte of the same: partly that the verity thereof may be knowen to the doubtfull people, and partly also to aduertise them how vncharitably M. Hooper was handled at their handes: which with all humility vsed him selfe towardes them, desiring that with patience hee myght haue bene permitted to speake: assuring all men, that where I stode in a mamering and doubt, which of these two religions to haue credited, either that set forth by the kinges maiesty that dead is, or els that now maintained by the Queenes maiesty, their vnreuerēt behauiour towardes M. Hooper, doth moue me þ^e rather to credite his doctrine, then that which they with rayling and cruell wordes defended, considering that Christ was so handled before. And that this which I haue written here was the effect of their talke, as I acknowledge it to be true my selfe: so I appeale to all the hearers consciences, that there were present (so they put affection away) for the witnes to the same.

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MarginaliaMaister Hooper examined before the Commissioners.LOrd Chaunc. At M. Hopers commyng in, the Lord Chauncellour asked whether he was maryed?

Hoper. Yea, my Lord, and will not be vnmaryed till death vnmary me.

Duresme. That is matter enough to depriue you.

Hoper. That it is not my Lord, except ye do agaynst the law.

The matter concernyng mariage was no more talked of then, for a great space: but aswell the Commissioners, as such as stode by, began to make such outcries, and laughed, and vsed such gesture as was vncomely for þ^e place, & for such a matter. The B. of Chichester D. Day called M. Hoper MarginaliaBlessed be you when they shall speake all reuiling wordes against you for my names sake.hypocrite, with vehement wordes, and scornefull countenaunce. Bekonsall called hym beast: so did Smith one of the Clerkes of the Counsell, and diuers other that stoode by. At length the B. of Winchester sayd that all mē might liue chast that would, and brought in this text: Castrauerūt se propter regnum cœlorum. i. There be that haue gelded them selues for the kingdome of heauen. Math. 19.

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M. Hoper sayd, that text proued not that all men could lyue chast, but such onely to whom it was geuen: and read that which goeth before in the text. But there was a clamour and cry, mockyng and scornyng, with callyng hym beast, that the text could not be examined. Thē M. Hoper sayd, that it dyd appeare by the old Canons, MarginaliaPriestes mariage not forbid by the olde Canons.that Mariage was not forbidden vnto Priestes, and named the Decrees. But þ^e Byshop of Winchester sent for an other part, namely the Clementines, or the Extrauagantes. But M. Hoper sayd, that booke was not it which hee named.

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Then cryed out the Byshop of Winchester, & sayd: you shall not haue any other, vntil ye be iudged by this. And then began such a noyse, tumult, and speakyng together of a great many that fauoured not þ^e cause, that nothyng was done ne spoken orderly, nor charitably. Afterwardes iudge MorganMarginaliaThys Morgan shortly after fell into a phrensy, and madnes, and dyed of the same.began to rayle at M. Hoper a long tyme, with many opprobrious and foule wordes of his doyng at Gloucester in punishyng of men, and sayd there was neuer such a tyranne as hee was. After that, Doct. Day Bishop of Chichester sayd, that the Councell of Ancyra, which was before the Coūcell of Nice, was agaynst the Mariage of Priestes.

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Then cried out my Lord Chaūcellour, & many with hym, that M. Hoper had neuer read the Councels.