Marginalia1555. February.dently by this: that euen as he was hated of none but of them which were euyl, so yet the worst of them al could not reproue his life in any one iote.

I haue now declared his vsage and behaueour abroade in the publike affayres of the Church: MarginaliaThe order and gouernaunce of M. Hopers house.and certaynly there appeared in hym at home no lesse example of a worthy Prelates life. For although he bestowed and cōuerted the most part of his care vpon the publke flocke and congregation of Christ, for the which also he spent his bloud: yet neuerthelesse there lacked no prouision in hym, to bring vp his own children in learnyng, and good maners:MarginaliaThe care of M. Hooper in instructing his family. euen so muche, that ye could not discerne whether he deserued more prayse for his fatherly vsage at home, or for his Bishoply doinges abroade. For euery where he kept one Religion in one vniforme doctrine and integritie. So that if you entred into the Bishops pallace, you would suppose to haue entred into some Church or Temple. In euery corner thereof there was some smel of vertue, good example, honest conuersation, and reading of holy Scriptures. There was not to be seene in his house any Courtly roysting or idlenesse: no pompe at all, no dishonest woorde, no swearyng could there be heard.  

[Back to Top]

As for the reuenewes of both his Bishoprikes, although they dyd not greatly exceede, as the matter was handled: MarginaliaThe hospitalitie of M. Hoper.yet if any thing surmounted therof, he pursed nothing, but bestowed it in hospitalitie. Twise I was (as I remember) in his house in Worcester, where in his common hall, I sawe a table spread with good store of meate, and beset ful of beggers and poore folke: and I asking his seruants what this meant,  

they told me that euery day their Lord & masters manner was, to haue customably to dinner, a certaine number of poore folke of the said citie by course, who were serued by foure at a messe, with hot and wholesome meates: and when they were serued (being afore examined by hym or his deputies of the Lordes prayer, the articles of their fayth, and ten Commaundementes) then he hym selfe sate downe to dinner, and not before.

[Back to Top]

After this sort and maner, M. Hooper executed the office of a most carefull and vigilant Pastor, by the space of two yeares and more, so long as the state of Religion in kyng Edwardes tyme dyd safely florishe and take place: and woulde God that all other Bishops would vse the like diligence, care, and obseruance in their function. MarginaliaM. Hooper called vp to Londō at Queene Maryes cōming in.After this king Edward beyng dead, & Mary beyng crowned queene of England, Religion being subuerted & changed, this good Bishop was one of the first that was sent for by a Pursiuant to be at London, and that for two causes.

[Back to Top]

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

Secondaryly to render account to Doctor Boner Bishop of London, for that he in king Edwardes tyme was one of his accusers, in that he shewed hym selfe not conformable to such ordinances as were prescribed to hym by the kyng and his Counsayle, openly at Paules Crosse. And although the said M. Hooper was not ignoraunt of the e-euyls that should happen towardes hym (for he was admonished by certayne of his frendes to get hym away, and shift for hym selfe) yet he would not preuent them, but tarryed styll, saying: once I dyd flee and tooke me to my feete: but now, because I am called to this place and vocation, I am throughly perswaded to tary, and to liue and dye with my sheepe.

[Back to Top]

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

he was come to London, before he could come to the foresaid Doctor Heath and Boner, he was intercepted & commaunded violently against his wyll to appeare before the Queene and her Counsayle, MarginaliaM. Hooper refused to flye away.to answeare to certayne bondes and obligations, wherein they saide he was bounde vnto her. And when he came before them,MarginaliaM. Hooper commeth vp to London. Winchester by & by receyued hym very opprobriously, and rayling and rating of hym, accused hym of Religion. He againe freely and boldly tolde his tale, and purged hym selfe. MarginaliaM. Hooper charged to aunswere the Queene for bonds of det.But in fine it came to this conclusion: that he was by them commaunded to ward (it beyng declared vnto him at his departure, that the cause of his imprisonment was onely for certayne summes of money, for the which he was indebted to the Queene, and not for Religiō.)MarginaliaM. Hooper commaunded to warde. This howe false and vntrue it was, shall hereafter in his place more plainly appeare.

[Back to Top]

The next yeare, beyng. 1554. the 19. of Marche, he was called againe to appeare before Winchester & other þ^e Queenes Commissioners: where, what for the Bishop, and what for the vnruly multitude, when he coulde not be permitted to pleade his cause, MarginaliaM. Hooper depriued of his Bishopricks.he was depriued of his Bishoprikes. Which how, and in what order it was done, here now foloweth to be seene by the testimonie and report of one, which being present at the doing, committed the same

[Back to Top]

to writyng.

MarginaliaA letter reporting the order of M. Hoopers depriuation.FOr so much as a rumor is spread abroade of the talke had at my Lord Chancelors, betwene hym with other Commissioners there appoynted, and master Hooper, cleane contrary to the veritie and truth therof in deed, and therfore to be iudged rather to be rysen of malice, for the discredityng of the truth by false suggestions and euyll reportes, then otherwise: I thought it my duetie, beyng present thereat my selfe, in writyng to set forth the whole effecte of the same: partly that the veritie therof may be knowen to the doubtfull people, and partly also to aduertise them, how vncharitably master Hooper was handled at their handes: which with all humilitie vsed hym selfe towardes them, desiryng that with pacience he might haue ben permitted to speake: assuryng all men, that where I stoode in a mammering and doubt, whiche of these two Religions to haue credited, either that set forth by the kinges maiestie that dead is, or els that nowe maynteyned by the Queenes maiestie, their vnreuerend behaueour towardes M. Hooper, doth moue me the rather to credite his doctrine, thē that which they with raylyng & 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.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaMaister Hooper examined before the Commissioners.

AT M. Hoopers commyng in, the Lord Chauncelor asked whether he was maryed.

Hooper. Yea, my Lord, & wyl not be vnmaryed, tyl death vnmary me.

Duresme. That is matter enough to depriue you.

Hooper. That it is not my Lord, except ye do agaynst the lawe.

The matter concernyng maryage was no more talked of then, for a great space: but as well the Commissioners, as such as stood by, began to make such outcryes, & laughed, and vsed such gesture as was vnseemely for þ^e place, and for such a matter. MarginaliaBlessed be you when they shall speake all reuiling wordes against you for my names sake.The Bishop of Chichester, Doctor Day called M. Hooper hypocrite, with vehement words, and scornful countenance. Bekonsall called hym beast: so did Smyth one of the Clerkes of the Counsayle, and diuers other that stood by. At length the Bishop of Winchester saide, that all men might liue chaste that woulde, and brought in this text: Castrauerunt se propter regnum cœlorum. i. There be that haue gelded thē selues for the kingdome of heauen. Math. 19.

[Back to Top]

M. Hooper said, that text proued not that al men could lyue chaste, but such onely to whom it was geuen: MarginaliaPriestes mariage not forbid by the olde Canōs.and read that which goeth before in the text. But there was a clamor and cry, mockyng & scornyng, with callyng hym beast, that the text coulde not be examined. Then M. Hooper said, that it dyd appeare by the olde Canons, that marriage was not forbydden vnto priestes, and named the Decrees. But the bishop of Winchester sent for an other part, namely the Clementines, or the Extrauagantes. But M. Hooper sayd, that booke was not it which he named.

[Back to Top]

Then cryed out the Bishop of Winchester, and sayde: You shall not haue any other, vntyll ye be iudged by this. And then began suche a noyse, tumult, and speakyng together of a great many that fauoured not the cause, that nothyng was done ne spoken orderly, nor charitably. Afterwardes Iudge MorganMarginaliaThis Morgan shortly after fel into a phrensy, and madnes and dyed of the same.beganne to rayle at M. Hooper a long tyme, with many opprobrious and fowle words of his doyng at Glocester in punishing of men, and said, ther was neuer such a tyrant as he was. After that, D. Day bishop of Chichester said, that the Coūcel of Ancyra, which was before the Councel of Nice, was against the marriage of Priestes.

[Back to Top]

Then cryed out my Lord Chauncelor, and many with hym, that M. Hooper had neuer read the Councels.

Yes my Lord (quoth master Hooper) and my Lord of Chichester Doctor Day knoweth that the great Councel of MarginaliaThe councel of Nice permitteth priests mariage.Nice, by meanes of one Paphnutius, decreed that no Minister shoulde be separated from his wyfe. But such clamours and cryes were vsed, that the Councell of Nice was not seene.

[Back to Top]