1576 Edition | Book 11 | Page 1461 
MarginaliaThe forme and maner of disgrading B. Hooper.THe fourth day of February, the yeare aboue mentioned, in the Chappell in Newgate, the Bishop of London there sitting with his Notarie and certaine other witnesses, came MarginaliaAlexander Andrew Gailer of Newgate, a cruell enemy to Gods people.Alexander Andrewe the Gayler, bringing with hym maister Hooper and mayster Rogers, being condemned before by the Chauncelour: where the saide Bishop of London, at the request of the foresaid Winton. proceeded to the degradation of the parties aboue mentioned, Maister Hooper and mayster Rogers, after this forme and maner. First he put vppon them all the vestures and ornamentes belonging to a Priest, with all other thinges to the same order appertainyng, as though (being reuested) they should solemnely execute in their office. Thus they beyng apparelled and inuested, MarginaliaM. Hooper and M. Rogers disgraded together.the Bishop beginneth to plucke of, first the vttermost vesture, and so by degree and order commyng downe to the lowest vesture, which they had onely in taking Benet and Collet:
CloseA benet is a reader (the third of the four lesser orders of clergy) (OED), while a colletis an acolyte (OED).
CloseFoxe is transcribing an official document, now lost, recording Hooper's deprivation. Unusually, this task was allocated to Bishop Bonner of London and his officials, who, technically speaking, had no jurisdiction over Hooper at all.
The same Monday at night, beyng the fourth of February, his keeper gaue hym an ynkeling that he should be sent to Glocester to suffer death, whereat he reioysed very much, MarginaliaM. Hooper glad that he should suffer amongest his owne flocke.liftyng vp his eyes and handes into heauen, and praysing God, that he sawe it good to send him amongest the people ouer whom he was Pastor, there to confirme with his death the truth which he had before taught them: not doubting but the lord would geue him strength to performe the same to his glory: and immediatly he sent to his seruantes house for his bootes, spurres, and cloke, that he might be in a readynes to ride when he should be called.
[Back to Top]The next day folowing, about foure of the clocke in the mornyng before day, the Keeper with others came to him and searched him, and the bed wherin he lay, to see if he had written any thing: and then he was lead by the Sheriffes of London and other their officers, forth of Newgate, to a place appoynted, not farre from S. Dunstones Church in Fleetestreate, where sixe of the Queenes Garde were appoynted to receaue hym and to cary hym to Gloucester,MarginaliaM. Hooper caryed to Glocester to be burned. there to be deliuered vnto the Sheriffe, who with the Lorde Shandois, M. Wickes, and other Commissioners were appoynted to see execution done. The which Gard brought hym to the Angel, where he brake his fast with them, eating his meate at that tyme more liberally then he had vsed to doo a good while before. About the breake of the day he went to horse, and leapt chearfully on horsebacke without helpe, hauyng an hood vpon his head vnder his hatte, that he should not be knowen, and so tooke his iourney ioyfully towardes Gloucester: and alwayes by the way the Gard learned of hym where hee was accustomed to baite or lodge, and euer caryed him to an other Inne.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaA woman of Ciceter confirmed by the constancy of M. Hooper, which rayled at hym before.Vpon the Thursday folowing, he came to a Towne in his Dioces called Ciceter. xv. myles from Gloucester about eleuen of the clocke, & there dyned at a womans house which had alwayes hated the truth, and spoken all euyl shee could of M. Hooper. This woman perceiuyng the cause of his commyng, shewed hym all the frendship she could, and lamented his case with teares, confessing that shee before had often reported, that if he were put to the trial, he would not stand to his doctrine.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaM. Hooper commeth to Glocester.After dynner he rode forwardes, & came to Gloucester about fiue of the clocke, and a mile without the towne was much people assembled, which cryed & lamented hys estate: in so much that one of the Gard rode post into the towne, to require ayde of the Mayor and Sheriffes, fearing least he should haue bene taken from them.
[Back to Top]The Officers and their retinue repayred to the Gate with weapons, and commaunded the people to keepe their houses. &c. but there was no man that once gaue any signification of any such rescue or violence. So was he lodged at one Ingrams house in Gloucester, and that night (as he had done all the way) MarginaliaThe quiet mynde of M. Hooper in his troubles.he did eate his meate quietly, and slept hys first sleepe soundly, as it was reported by them of the Garde and others. After his first sleepe he continued all that night in prayer vntyll the morning, and
[Back to Top]then he desired that he might go into the next chamber (for the Gard were also in the chamber where he lay) that there being solitary, hee might pray and talke with God: So that al that day, sauing a litle at meate, and when hee talked at any tyme with such as the Gard licēced to speake with him, he bestowed in prayer.
[Back to Top]Amongest other that spake with him, Syr Anthonye Kingston knight was one. Who seeming in tymes paste his very frende, was then appoynted by the Queenes letters to be one of the Commissioners, to see execution done vppon hym. MarginaliaSyr Anthony Kingston commeth to M. Hooper.Maister Kingston being brought into the chamber, found hym at his prayer: and as soone as he sawe master Hooper, he burst forth in teares. Master Hooper at the first blush knew him not. Then said master Kingston: Why my Lord, do ye not knowe me an olde frend of yours Anthony Kingston?
[Back to Top]Yes Mayster Kyngston, I doo nowe knowe you well, and am glad to see you in health, and doo prayse God for the same.
MarginaliaSyr Antony Kingstons perswasions.But I am sorye to see you in this case: for as I vnderstande you be come hyther to dye. But (alas) consider that life is sweete, and death is bytter. Therefore seeyng lyfe may be had, desire to lyue: for lyfe hereafter maye doo good.
MarginaliaM. Hooper replyeth.In deede it is true Maister Kingston, I am come hyther to end this life, and to suffer death here, because I wyll not gainsaye the former truth that I haue heretofore taught amongest you in this Dioces, and els where: and I thanke you for your frendly counsaile, although it be not so frendly as I coulde haue wished it. True it is (maister Kingston) that death is bitter, and lyfe is sweete: but (alas) consider that the death to come is more bytter, and the life to come is more sweete.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaLyfe compared with lyfe, and death with death.Therefore for the desire and loue I haue to the one, and the terrour and feare of the other, I doo not so much regard this death, nor esteeme this life, but haue setled my self thorow the strength of Gods holy spirie, paciently to passe thorow þe tormentes and extremities of the fire, now prepared for me, rather then to denie the truth of his word: desiring you and others in the meane tyme, to commend me to gods mercye in your prayers.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaSyr Anthony Kingston.Well (my Lorde) then I perceyue there is no remedye, and therefore I wyll take my leaue of you: and I thanke God that euer I knewe you, for God did appoynt you to call me being a lost childe: MarginaliaSyr Anthony Kingston conuerted by Maister Hooper.and by your good instructions, where before I was both an adulterer and a fornicator, God hath brought me to the forsaking and detestyng of the same.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaM. Hooper.If you haue had the grace so to doo, I do highly prayse God for it: and if you haue not, I pray God ye may haue, and that you maye continually lyue in his feare. After these and many other woordes, the one tooke leaue of the other, Mayster Kingston with bytter teares, master Hooper wyth teares also tryckling down his cheekes. At which departure master Hooper told hym, that all the troubles he had susteyned in prison, had not caused hym to vtter so muche sorowe.
[Back to Top]The same day in the after noone, a blynd boy,
CloseThis was Thomas Drowry, later a martyr himself.
After that an other came to him, whom he knewe to be a very papist and a wicked man, which appeared to be sorie for master Hoopers trouble, saying: Syr, I am sory to see you thus. To see me? Why (said he) art thou sory? To see you (saith the other) in this case. For I heare say ye are come hither to dye, for the which I am sory. Be sory for thy selfe man (said M. Hooper) and lament thine own wickednes: for I am wel, I thanke God, and death to me for Christes sake is welcome.
CloseThis is the only anecdote of Hooper's final journey to Gloucester which is not in the Rerum; it first appears in 1563.
The same night hee was committed by the Gard (their commission being then expired) vnto the custodie of the Sheriffes of Gloucester. MarginaliaM. Hooper committed to the Shiriffes of Glocester.The name of the one was Ienkins, the other Bond: who with the Mayor and Aldermē repayred to master Hoopers lodging, and at the first meeting saluted him, and tooke hym by the hand. Vnto whom Hooper spake on this maner: Maister Mayor, I geue
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