Marginalia1555. February.and weapons. When he sawe the multitude of weapons, he spake to the Shiriffes on thys wyse: Maister Shiriffes (sayd he) I am no Traytor, neyther needed you to haue made such a busines to bryng me to the place where I must suffer: for if ye had wylled mee, I would haue gone alone to the stake, and haue troubled none of you all. And afterward looking vpon the multitude of people, which were assembled, beyng by estimation to the number of seuen thousand (for it was Market day, and many also came to see hys behauiour towardes death) he spake vnto those that were about hym, saying: Alas, why be these people assembled and come together? Peraduenture they thynke to heare somthing of me now, as they haue in times past: but alas, speech is prohibited mee. Notwithstanding the cause of my death is well knowen vnto them. MarginaliaMaister Hooper for preaching true doctrine put to death.When I was appoynted here to be their Pastor, I preached vnto thē true & sincere doctrine, & that out of the word of God. Because I will not now accompt þ^e same to be heresy & vntruth, this kind of death is prepared for me.

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So he went forward, led betwene the two Shriffes (as it were a Lambe to the place of slaughter) in a gowne of his hostes, his hatte vpō his head, and a staffe in his hand to stay him selfe withal. For the grief of the Sciatica, which hee had taken in prison, caused hym somethyng to halt. MarginaliaMaister Hooper forbidden to speake to the people.All the way beyng straitly charged not to speake, he could not be perceiued once to open his mouth, but beholdyng the people all the way, which mourned bitterly for hym, he would some tymes lift vp his eyes towardes heauen, and looke very cherefully vpon such as he knew: and he was neuer knowen, duryng the time of his beyng amōgest them, to looke with so cherefull & ruddish a countenaunce as he did at that present. MarginaliaMaister Hooper brought to the place of Martyrdome.When he came to the place appoynted where he should dye, smilyngly he beheld the stake and preparation made for him, which was neare vnto the great Elme tree ouer agaynst the Colledge of Priestes, where he was wont to preach. The place round about the houses & the bowes of the tree were replenished with people: and in the Chaumber ouer the Colledge gate stode the Priestes of the Colledge.  

Then kneeled he down (for as much as he could not be suffered to speake vnto the people) to prayer, and beckned vnto hym vj. or vij. tymes whom he knew well, to heare the sayd prayer, to make reporte therof in tyme to come (pouryng teares vpon his shoulders & in his bosome) who gaue attentiue eare vnto the same: the which prayer he made vpon the whole Crede, wherin he continued for the space of halfe an houre. Now after he was somewhat entred into his prayer, a boxe was brought & layd before him vpon a stoole with his pardon (or at the least wise it was fayned to be his pardon) from the Queene, if he would turne. And the sight therof he cried: MarginaliaMaister Hooper refuseth the Queenes pardon.if you loue my soule, away w^t it: If you loue my soule, away with it. The boxe beyng taken away, the L. Shandois said: seing there is no remedy, dispatch quickly. M. Hoper sayd: Good my Lord, I trust your Lordshyp will geue me leaue to make an end of my Prayers.

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Then sayd the Lord Shandois to Syr Edmond Bridges his sonne (which gaue eare before to M. Hopers prayer at his request): Edmond take heede that he do nothyng els but pray: If he do, tell me and I shall quickly dispatch hym. Whiles this talke was, there stepped one or two in vncalled, which heard hym speake these wordes folowyng.

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MarginaliaMaister Hoopers prayer.LOrd (sayd he) I am hel, but thou art heauen: I am swill and a sinck of sin, but thou art a gracious God and a mercifull redemer. Haue mercy therfore vpon me moste miserable and wretched offendour, after thy great mercy and accordyng to thyne inestimable goodnes. Thou that art ascended into heauē, receaue me hel to be partaker of thy ioyes, where thou sittest in equall glory with thy Father. For well knowest thou Lord wherfore I am come hyther to suffer, and why the wicked do persecute this thy poore seruaunt: not for my sinnes and transgressions committed agaynst thee, but because I wyl not allow their wicked doinges, to the contamina-

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tyng of thy bloud, and to the denyall of the knowledge of thy truth, wherwith it did please thee by thy holy spirite to enstruct me: the which with as much deligence as a poore wretch might (being therto called) I haue sette forrth to thy glory. And wel seest thou my Lord and God what terrible paynes and cruell tormentes be prepared for thy creature: such, lord, as without thy strength none is able to beare, or patiently to passe. But all thinges that are impossible with mā, are possible with thee. Therfore strengthen me of thy goodnes þ^t in the fyre I breake not the rules of patience, or els asswage the terrour of the paines as shall seeme most to thy glory.

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Assone as the Maior had espyed these men which made report of the former wordes, they were cōmaunded away, and could not be suffred to heare any more. Prayer beyng done, he prepared him selfe to the stake, MarginaliaM. Hooper vndresseth himselfe to the fire.and put of his hostes gowne, and deliuered it to the Shriffes, requiryng them to see it restored vnto the owner: and put of the rest of his geare vnto his doublet and his hose, wherin he would haue burned. But the Shriffes would not permit that (such was their gredynes:) vnto whose pleasures (good man) he very obediētly submitted him selfe: and his doublet, hose, and peticote were taken of. Then beyng in his shirt, he tooke a point from his hose him selfe, and trussed his shyrt betwene his legges, where he had a pound of gunne pouder in a bladder, and vnder ech arme the like quantity deliuered him by the Gard. So desiryng the people to say the Lordes prayer with him, and to pray for hym (who performed it with teares duryng the tyme of his paynes) he went vp to the stake. Now when he was at the stake, iij. yrōs made to binde hym to the stake, were brought: one for his necke, an other for his middle, and the thyrd for his legges. But he refusing them, sayd: ye haue no nede thus to trouble your selues. for I doubt not but God will geue strength sufficient to abyde the extremitie of the fire without bandes: notwithstāding, suspectyng the frailty and weaknes of the flesh, but hauyng assured confidence in Gods strength, I am content ye shall do as ye shall thinke good.

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MarginaliaM. Hooper bound to the stake.So the hoope of yron prepared for his middle, was brought, which beyng made somewhat to short (for his belly was swolne by imprisonmēt) he shranke, and put in his belly with his hand, vntill it was fastened: and when they offered to haue boūd his necke & his legges with the other two hoopes of yron, he vtterly refused them, and would haue none, saying: I am well assured I shall not trouble you.

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Thus beyng ready, he looked vpon all the people, of whom he might be well seene (for he was both tall, and stoode also on an high stoole) & beheld round about him: MarginaliaThe weepyng of the people at M. Hoopers burning.and in euery corner there was nothyng to be seene but weepyng and sorowfull people. Thē liftyng vp his eyes and handes into heauen, he prayed to hym selfe. By and by he that was appointed to make the fire, came to him and did aske him forgiuenes. MarginaliaHe forgeueth his executioner.Of whom hee asked, why he should forgeue him, saying: that he knew neuer any offence he had committed agaynst hym. Oh Syr (sayd the man) I am appointed to make the fyre. Therein (sayd M. Hoper) thou doest nothyng offend me: God forgeue thee thy sinnes and do thine office, I pray thee. Then the reedes were cast vp and he receaued two bundels of them in his owne handes, embraced them, kissed them, and put vnder either arme one of them, & shewed with his hand how the rest should be bestowed, & pointed to the place where any did lacke.

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Anone commaundement was geuen that fire should be set to, & so it was.MarginaliaFire put to M. Hooper. But because there were put to no fewer greene Fagots then two horses could cary vpon their backes, it kyndled not by and by, and was a prety while also before it tooke the reedes vpon the Fagottes. At length it burned about him: but the wynd hauyng full strength in that place (it was also a louryng and a cold mornyng) it blew the flame from hym: so that he was in maner no more but touched by the fire.

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