much vexation about his inuesting, because he would not weare the Priestly ve∣stures.
In his Bishops palace in euery corner there was fauour of honest conuer∣sation
and reading of the Scriptures, there was no Courtly roysting or idle∣nes,
no pompe at all, no dishonest word nor swearing; euery day he had to din∣ner
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 Lon∣don
by a Purseuant: The Bishop of Winchester receiued him very appro∣briously
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 Lon∣don,
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 an∣swere:
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 haue 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 Cham∣ber
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 haue 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 rid∣dance
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 impri∣soned
and stripped his man, to finde Letters, but could finde none, but a remem∣brance
of their names that gaue him Almes, and to vndoe them, he deliuered
the Bill vnto STEPHEN GARDINER, there hee continued almost eightéen••
monthes.
The twentith of Ianuary he was brought to Gardiners house, 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 there∣of,
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 onely 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