Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 4
The martyrdome of IOHN HOOPER Bishop of Worcester.
ABout the beginning of the six Articles in the time of King Henry the eighth, being in danger for religion, he went beyond Sea, where he was louingly entertained at Basill and at Zurick of Master Bullinger his singular friend, where he married his wife, which was a Burgundian; and in the raign of King Edward he repaired home, amongst many other English exiles: who being come to London, vsed to preach twise, or at least once eueryevery Sonday: and at his Sermons the Church would be so full that none could enter further into the doores thereof: hee was in tongue eloquent, in Scriptures perfect, in paines indefatigable: after hee was called to preach before the King, and soone after made Bishop of Gloster: in that office he continued two yeares, and behaued himselfe so well, that his very enemies, except it were for good doings, and sharpe correcting of sinne, could find no fault with him: and after that he was made Bishop of Worcester, hee sustained much vexation about his inuesting, because he would not weare the Priestly vestures.
In his Bishops palace in eueryevery corner there was fauour of honest conuersation and reading of the Scriptures, there was no Courtly roysting or idlenes, no pompe at all, no dishonest word nor swearing; eueryevery day he had to dinner a certaine number of poore folke of the Citie by course, and before dinner they were examined by him or his Deputies of the Lords Prayer, the Articles of their Faith, and ten Commandements.
In Queene Maries time hee was one of the first that was sent for to London by a Purseuant: The Bishop of Winchester receiued him very approbriously rayling and rating him, accused him of religion, and committed him to the fleete.
The next yeare hee was sent for before the Bishop of Winchester, of London, of Durham, of Landaffe, and of Chichester; where after hee had suffered many checkes, taunts and mockes, that he could not be suffered to make any answere: because hee said hee would not goe from his Wife, and that hee beleeued not the corporall presence in the Sacrament, he was depriued of his Bishopricks.
By his committance he was to hauehave the liberty of the Fleete, and when hee had payed fiue pound for his liberty▪ the Warden complained to Gardiner and made him to bee committed close prisoner a quarter of a yeare, then hee had libertie to come to dinner and supper, and presently to returne to his Chamber without speaking to his friends: the Warden, and his Wife, would euer bee picking quarrels with him, and after one quarter of the yeare fell out with him about the Masse: Then the Warden obtained of Gardiner that he should bee put into the Wardes, where hee continued a long time, hauing nothing to lye on but a rotten Couering with few Fethers in it: On the oneside was the stinke and filth of the house, on the other side, the stinking Towne ditch, so that the stinke infected him with diuers diseases, and beeing very sicke hee cried for help: but the warden, when he hath knowne me ready to dye, and poore men hauehave called to help him, he hath commaunded the doore to bee kept fast, and charged none of his men to come at him, saying; let him alone, it were a good riddance of him.
Untill he was depriued, he paid him twenty shillings a wéeke for his table, and since as the best Gentleman, and yet vsed worse then the veriest Slaue: he imprisoned and stripped his man, to finde Letters, but could finde none, but a remembrance of their names that gaue him Almes, and to vndoe them, he deliuered the Bill vntounto STEPHEN GARDINER, there hee continued almost eightéen… monthes.
The twentith of Ianuary he was brought to Gardiners house,1555. at Saint Mary-Oueries, where the Bishop of Winchester with other Bishops, moued M Hooper earnestly, to forsake his euill and corrupt doctrine, preached in King Edwards daies, and to returne to the vnity of the Catholike Church, and to acknowledge the Popes Holines the supreame head thereof, according to the determination of the whole Parliament, promising that as he himselfe and other his Brethren, had receiued the Popes blessing, and Queene Maries mercy, euen so mercy was ready to be shewed to him, and others, if hee would arise with them, and condiscend to the Popes Ho…nes.
Maister Hooper answered, for so much as the Pope taught doctrine contrary to Christs doctrine, he is no member of Christs Church, much lesse the head thereof, therefore he could not condiscend to any such vsurped Iurisdiction, neither doth he esteeme that Church to bee the Catholike Church of Christ, for the true Church heareth onelyonly the voyce of Christ her Spouse, and flyeth the voyce of Strangers. I desire the Queenes mercy, if mercy may bee had with safety of conscience, and without displeasure of GOD: answere was made, that the Queene would shew no mercy to the Popes Enemies, then hee was sent to the Fleet againe for sixe dayes: then he was brought againe before the Bishop of Winchester and other Commissioners in Saint-mary-Oueries Church, and the next day condemned, together with Master Rogers, and then they were carried to New-gate, where he remained sixe dayes. Bonner and others resorted thither to him diuers times, to perswade him to be a member of Antichrist, and when they could not, Bonner disgraded him: then he was carried to Gloster to suffer death, whereof he did greatly reioyce that he should there confirme his doctrine that hee had instructed so many in, with his bloud.
Sir Anthony Kingston, which was one of the Commissioners to see him executed, came to him and lamented his case, and desired him to consider that life is sweet, and death is bitter, therefore seeing life may be had, desire to liue; hereafter you may doe good: who answered, though death be bitter and life sweet, yet death to come is more bitter, and life to come more sweete; therefore for the desire and louelove I hauehave to the one, and the terror of the other, I doe not so much regard this death or esteeme this life, but hauehave setled my selfe by the strength of Gods spirit rather to suffer any torments then to denie the truth of Gods word, desiring you and others to pray for me.
He answered, Well my Lord I perceiue there is no remedie: I thanke God that euer I kn…w you; for whereas I was an adulterer, and a fornic…tor, God by your good instructions, hath brought me to the forsaking and detesting of the same.
The same day a blinde boy got leaue to speake with Master Hooper: the boy a little before had beene imprisoned at Gloster for confessing the truth. After Master Hooper had examined him of his faith, he said vntounto him, Ah poore boy▪ GOD hath taken from thee thy outward sight, but hee hath giuen thee another sight much more precious: for he hath endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith. When he was burned he was not suffered to speake to the people. Hee wrote many godly letters to diuers whilest he was in prison, which thou mayest see in the booke at large.