The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, John Hooper
The Life of John Hooper, who died Anno Christi 1555.
JOhn Hooper was a Student and Graduate in the University of Oxford, His Educationwhere having abundantly profited in the study of other Sciences, he was stirred up with a fervent desire to the love, and knowledge of the Scriptures, in which study he joyned earnest prayers to his diligence,His conversion. for the better understanding of the same; neither was the grace of the Holy-Ghost wanting to satisfie his desire, and to open to him the light of true Divinity. Thus Mr. Hooper growing more and more in ripeness of spiritual understanding, and shewing withall some sparks of his fervent spirit, being about the time when the six Articles came out, he was so hated by some,He leaves the University. especially by Doctor Smith, that he was compelled to leave the University, and went to live with Sir Thomas Arundel, and was his Steward til Sir Thomas A…undel (having intelligence of his opinions, which he by no means liked, yet exceedingly loving the conditions of the man) found meanes to send him on a message to the Bishop of Winchester, writing privately to the Bishop by his learned conference to to doe some good upon him, yet requiring him in any case to send him his servant home again. Winchester had much conference with him four or five dayes together;His conference with Gardiner. but when he could doe no good of him, he sent him back to Sir Thomas Arundel according to his request, much commending his wit and learning, but ever after bearing a secret grudg in his stomack against him; so that shortly after M. Hooper was warned by some private friends to provide for his own safetie; for that there were underhand workings to apprehend him:Flight in persecution. whereupon he left the Kingdome, and went to Paris: yet after a while he returned again, and liv'd with one Mr. Sentlow: but understanding that snares were again layd for him, with much difficulty and danger he escaped the second time into France, He flies into Germany.and from thence traveled into Germany, where he gained acquaintance with many learned men, and of them was friendly and lovingly entertained both at Basill and Zurich, especiall by M. Bullinger, who became his especial friend. There he studied Hebrew, and married a Wife being a Burgonian: His marriage.And at least hearing that King Edward the sixt was come to the Crown, he amongst many other English Exiles,He returns to England. Bullingers speech to him. was desirous to return into England, and when he took his leave of those his worthy friends, Mr. Bullinger said to him; Mr. Hooper, though we are sorry to part with your company for our own sake, yet we have much more cause to rejoyce both for yours, and the cause of Christs sake, that you shall now return out of long banishment into your native Country again, where you may not only enjoy your own liberty, but may, and we doubt not will be very useful for the promoting the good of Christs Church: We also rejoice not onelyonly because you shall remove out of exile into liberty; but you shall here leave a barren and unpleasant Country, rude, and savage, to goe into a land flowing with milk and honey, replenished with all pleasures and fertility; yet with this our joy, our fear, and care is, left when you are so far distant, and long absent in the midst of your friends, wealth, and felicity (for peradventure you will be a Bishop) you should forget us your friends and wel-willers; yet though you should do it, we assure you that we will not forget our old friend and fellow Mr. Hooper; and if you will please not to forget us, then pray you let us hear from you.His answer. To this Master Hooper answered; first giving most hearty thanks to Master Bullinger, and all the rest for their singular good will, and undeserved affection, which they had at all times shewed toward him: then declaring that it was not the barrennes of that Country which occasioned his remove; for that he could be content to live all his life there, as soon as in any part of the world, or in his own Country, were it not that he took himselfe bound in conscience to endeavour the advancement of Religion in his native soil: and therefore (said he) Though I cannot deny that God hath blessed our Country of England with many great commodities: yet neither they, nor new friends, nor any thing else shall cause me to forget such friends, and benefactors as you have been, unto whom I am so much bound: And therefore you shall be sure from time to time to heare from me, and I will send you word how it goeth with me: But, saith, he, The last newes of all I shall not be able to write, A Prophesie.for where I shall take most paines, there shall you hear of me to be burned to ashes: Thus taking his leave of them,His painful preaching. he returned to London, where he preached twice, but at least once everie daie. The people so flock't to him, that the Churches could not contein them. In his Doctrine and Ministry he was earnest, and zealous: In language Eloquent: In the Scriptures perfect, and ready: And in paines indefatigable.His constancie. In this pains-taking he continued to his lives-end, neither did his labor break him, nor promotion change him, nor dainty fare corrupt him:His character. He was of a strong bodie, sound health, pregnant wit, and of invincible patience:Note. spare of diet, sparer of words, and sparest of time: A liberall hous-keeper, and very grave in his carriage.
Being at length called to preach before King Edward, He is made a Bishop.h… made him first Bishop of Glocester, where he was Bishop two years; then of Worcester, where he carried himselfe …o uprightly, and inoffensively, that his enemies had nothing to say against him: He used to goe about from towne to towne,A painful Bishop. and from village to village to preach unto the people: He governed his house so, that in every corner of …t there was some smel of virtue, good example, honest conversation, and reading of the Scriptures:His Family Government. In his Hall there was daily a table spread with good store of victuals, and be set with poor folk of the City of Worcester by turnes, who were served by four at a Messe, with whole and wholsom… meat: And when they were served (being before examine… by himselfe or his deputies,His Charity. of the Lord's Praier, Creed, an ten Commandements) then he himselfe sate down to dinner, and not before.
In the beginning of Queene Marie's daies, he was sent for by a Pursivant to London: He is sent for to London.and though hee had opportunity, and was perswaded by his friends to flie,A good Shepheard. yet hee refused, saying, Once I did flie, but now being called to this place, and vocation, I am resolved to stay, and to live, and die with my sheep.
By Winchester when he came to London he was railed upon,Stephen Gard…ner. and committed to prison:Popish malice. Afterwards also at his examination,His patience. they called him Beast, Hypocrite, &c. which he bore without answering again: In the Fleet where he was prisoner, he had nothing but a pad of straw for a bed, and a …otten covering, till good people sent him a bed to lie on: Of one side his Chamber was the sinke and filth of the House, on the other the Town-ditch, enough to have choaked him: After he had laien thus a while,Popish cruelty. falling sick, the doors, bars, hasps, and chaines being all made last, he both mourned, called, and cryed for help: Yet the Warden hearing, would suffer none to goe to him, saying, Let him alone, if he die, it were a good riddance of him, &c. Concerning his base usage, himself thus writes: I paid alwaies (saith he) to the Warden of the Fleet as a Baron paid, as well in Fees, as for my board: viz. 20 s. per week, till I was wrongfully deprived of my Bishoprick, and after that time I paide as the best Gentleman in the house, yet he alwaies used me worse, and more vilely then a very slave: Thus I suffered inprisonment almost eighteen monthes, my goods, living, friends, and comforts taken from me: …he Queen owing me above 80 pound, yet hath she cast me into pr…so… & al…owes me nothing, neither are any suffered to come at me, whereby I may be relieved. I am under a wicked man, and woman, and see no remedy but in Gods help: But I commit my just cause to him whose willbe done whether it be by life or death When he was brought to examination before Winchester, and the other Commissioners, there was such a tumult whensoever he began to speak, that he was forced to keep silence: Yet did they proceed to Degrade,Popish rage. and condemne him, and so delivered him over to the secular Power. As they were leading him from the Counter in Southwark to Newgate, one of the Sheriffe said to him. I wonder that you was so hasty, and quick with my Lord Chancellor, and used no more patience to him? To which he answered: Mr. Sheriffe, I was nothing at all impatient, though I was earnest in my Masters cause, and it stands me in hand so to be: for it goeth upon life, and death, not in this World onelyonly, but in the World to come. Sixe daies he lay close prisoner in Newgate, none being suffered to come to him, during which time, Bonner, Harpsfield, and diverse others came to him, leaving no meanes untried to reduce him to their Antichristian Church, sometimes making many great profers,Tentations resisted. and promises to him of worldly riches, and promotion, other sometimes using grievous threatnings to affright him: But they found him alwaies the same man, steadfast, and unmoveable. February the 4th. at night, his Keeper gave him some inkling that he should be sent to Gloucester to be burned, which he rejoiced very much at, lifting up his eyes, and hands to Heaven, and praising God for sending him amongst his people over whom he had been Pastor,Gods providence. there to confirme with his blood the truth that before he had taught unto them, not doubting but the Lord would give him strength to perform it to his glory: And immediately he sent for his boots, spurrs, and cloke, that he might be ready to ride when they should call for him. The day following he was delivered to some of the Queens Guard, who conveied him to Glocester, and when he came neer the City,He is sent to Glocester. much people met him, who cryed, and bewailed his condition exceedingly.The benefit of inward peace. The night before his heath, he did eat… his meat quietly, and slept soundly: After his first sleepe, …ee spent the rest of the night in praier.Benefit of a good conscience. The next day Sr Anthonie Kingston coming to him, told him that life was sw…ete, and death bitter; to which he answered, The death to come is more bitter, Constancie.and the life to come more sweet: I am come hi…her to end this life, and suffer death, because I will not gainesay the former Truth that I have here taught unto you. Also a blinde boie coming to him, after he had examined him in the Grounds of Religion,Note. he said, Ah poor boy, God h…th taken from thee thy outward sight, but hath given thee anot…er sight much more pretious, having endued thy soul with the eie of knowledge, and faith: God give thee grace continually to pray u… to him that thou lose not that sight, for then shouldest thou …e blind both in body and soul. Being delivered to the Sheriffe, he said to him,His request to the Sheriffe. My request to you Master Sheriffe, is onelyonly that there may be a quick fire, shortly to make an end of me,His meeknesse and constancy. and in the mean time I will be as obedient to you as you can desire: if you think I doe amisse in any thing, hold up your finger, and I have done: I might have had my life, with much worldly gaine, but I am willing to offer up my life for the Truth, and trust to die a faithfull servant to God, and a true subject to the Queen. When he saw the Sheriff's men with so many weapons, he said, This is more then needs; if you had willed me, I would have gone alone to the stake, and have troubled none of you all: As hee went to the stake he was forbid to speak to the people. Hee looked chearfully,He goes cheerfully to the stake. and with a more ruddy countenance then ordinary. Being come to the place of Execution, hee prayed about halfe an hour, whereof this was a part. Lord (said he) I am Hell, His praier at the stake.but thou art Heaven: I am swill and a sinke of sinne, but thou art a gracious, and mercifull Redeemer: Have mercy therfore upon me most miserable, & wretched offender after thy great mercy, and according to thine inestimable goodnesse: Thou art ascended into Heaven, receive me Hell to be partaker of thy joyes, where thou sittest in equall glory with thy Father. For will knowest thou Lord wherefore I am come hither to suffer, and why the wicked doe persecute thy poor servant: Not for my sins, and transgressions committed against thee, but because I will not allow their wicked doings to the contaminating of thy blood, and to the deniall of the knowledge of thy truth, wherewith it did please thee by thy holy spirit to instruct me: with as much diligence as a poor wretch might (being thereto called) I have set forth thy glory. Thou well seest, O Lord my God, what terrible torments, and cruell paines are prepared for thy poor creature: Even such Lord as without thy strength none is able to beare, or patiently to passe: But that which is impossible with man is possible with thee: therefore strengthen me of thy goodnes that in the fire I break not the rules of patience: Or else asswage the terror of the paines as shall seeme fittest to thy glory. Having a box with a pardon set before him,He is tempted. he cried, If you love my soul away with it, if you love my soul away with it. Three Irons being prepared to fasten him to the stake, he onelyonly put on an Iron-hoop about his middle, bidding them take away the rest, saying,His confidence in God. I doubt not but God will give me strength to abide the extremity of the fire without binding. When reedes were cast to him, he embraced and kissed them, putting them under his arme, where he had bags of gun-powder also: When fire was first put to him, the fagots being green, and the winde blowing away the flame,His cruel burning. he was but scorched: more faggots being laied to him, the fire was so supprest, that his nether-parts were burn'd, his upper being scarce touched: He praied mildly as one that felt no paine, O Jesus the Sonne of David have merciemercy upon me, and receive my soul: His praier in the fire.and wipeing his eies with his hands, he said, For God's love let me have more fire: A third fire being kindled, it burn'd more violently, yet was he alive a great while in it, the last words which he uttered being, Lord Jesus have mercy on me, His death.Lord Jesus receive my spirit. And so he slept in the Lord.
In one of his letters he wrote, Imprisonment is painfull, but libertie upon evill conditions is worse:His heavenly speeches The Prison stink's, yet not so much as sweet houses where the fear of God is wanting: I must be alone, and solitarie, it's better so to be, and have God with me, then to be in company with the wicked: Losse of goods is great but losse of grace and God's favor is greater: I cannot tell how to answer before great and learned men: Yet it is better to do that, then stand naked before God's Tribunal: I shall die by the hands of cru…ll men, he is blessed that loseth his life, and fi…de's life ete…nal: There is neither fel… city, nor adversity of this World that is great, if it be weighed with the joyes, and p…ines of the world to come. And in the conclusion of the Letter he writes thus. I am a precious Jewell now, and daintily kept, never so daintily before: For neither mine owne man, nor any of the servants of the house may come to me, but my Keeper onelyonly, who is a simple, rude fellow: But I am not troubled thereat.
In the time of King Edward when he was made Bishop, much controversie was betweene him, Contention about ceremonies.and Doctor Cranmer, and Doctor Ridley about the Cappe, Rochet, &c. But when in Queene Maries daies, they were all in Prison for the cause of Religion; Doctor Ridley wrote thus to him: My dear brother, forasmuch as I understand by your works, which I have but superficially seene, that we throughly agree in those things which are the grounds,They agree in prison. and substantial points of our Religion, against which the World so furiously rageth in these daies, however formerly in certain by matters, and circumstances of Religion, your wisdome and my simplicity hath a little jarred, each of us following the abundance of his owne sence, and judgement: Now I say be you assured that even with my whole heart (God is my witness) in the bowels of Christ I love you in the truth, and for the truths sake which abideth in us, and shall by the grace of God abide for ever.
He was above three-quarters of an hour in the fire before he dyed, yet even as a Lambe he patiently abode the extremity thereof, neither moving forwards, backwards, or to any side;His admirable patience. But having his nether parts burned, and his bowels faln out, he dyed as quietly as a Child in his bed, an. Christi, 1555.