of people in the streets, which rejoiced at their constancy, that they had much ado to pass.

By the way the Sheriff said to Master Hooper, "I wonder that ye were so hasty and quick with my Lord Chancellor, and did use no more patience." He answered, "Master Sheriff, I was nothing at all impatient, although I was earnest in my Master's cause, and it standeth me so in hand, for it goeth upon life and death, not the life and death of this world only, but also of the world to come." Then were they committed to the keeper of the compter, and appointed to several chambers, with commandment that they should not be suffered to speak one with another, neither yet any other permitted to come at them that night.

Upon the next day following, the 29th of January, at the hour appointed, they were brought again by the Sheriffs before the said Bishop and commissioners in the church, where they were the day before. And after long and earnest talk, when they perceived that Master Hooper would by no means condescend unto them, they condemned him to be degraded, and read unto him his condemnation. That done, Master Rogers was brought before them, and in like manner entreated, and so they delivered both of them to the secular power, the two Sheriffs of London, who were willed to carry them to the Clink, a prison not far from the Bishop of Winchester's house, and there to remain till night.

When it was dark, Master Hooper was led by one of the Sheriffs, with many bills and weapons, first through the Bishop of Winchester's house, and so over London bridge, through the city to Newgate. And by the way some of the sergeants were willed to go before, and put out the costermongers' candles, who used to sit with lights in the streets; either fearing of likelihood that the people would have

made some attempt to have taken him away from them by force, if they had seen him go to that prison; or else, being burdened with an evil conscience, they thought darkness to be a most fit season for such a business.

But notwithstanding this device, the people having some foreknowledge of his coming, many of them came forth of their doors with lights, and saluted him, praising God for his constancy in the true doctrine which he had taught them, and desiring God to strengthen him in the same to the end. Master Hooper passed by, and required the people to make their earnest prayers to God for him, and so went through Cheapside to the place appointed, and was delivered as close prisoner to the keeper of Newgate, where he remained six days, nobody being permitted to come to him, or to talk with him, saving his keepers, and such as should be appointed thereto.

During this time Bonner, Bishop of London, and others at his appointment, as Feckenham, Chedsey, and Harpsfield, &c. resorted divers times unto him, to assay if by any means they could persuade him to relent, and become a member of their antichristian church. All the ways they could devise, they attempted. For besides the disputations and allegations of testimonies of the Scriptures, and of ancient writers wrested to a wrong sense, according to their accustomed manner, they used also all outward gentleness and significations of friendship, with great many proofs and promises of worldly commodities, not omitting also most grievous threatenings, if with gentleness they could not prevail; but they found him always the same man, stedfast and immovable. When they perceived that they could by no means reclaim him to their purpose, with such persuasions and offers as they used for his conversion, then went they about by false rumours and reports of recant

ations (for it is well known, that they and their servants did spread it first abroad), to bring him and the doctrine of Christ which he professed, out of credit with the people. So the report being a little spread abroad, and believed of some of the weaker sort, by reason of the often resort of the Bishop of London and others, it increased more, and at the last came to Master Hooper's ears. Wherewith he was not a little grieved, that the people should give so light credit unto false rumours, having so simple a ground, as it may appear by a letter which he wrote upon that occasion, the copy whereof followeth.

A Letter of Master HOOPER for the Stopping of certain false Rumours spread abroad of his Recantation.

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all them that unfeignedly look for the coming of our Saviour Christ. Amen.

"Dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, and my fellow-prisoners for the cause of God's Gospel, I do much rejoice and give thanks unto God for you for your constancy and perseverance in affliction, unto whom I wish continuance unto the end. And as I do rejoice in your faith and constancy in afflictions that be in prison, even so do I mourn and lament to hear of dear brethren that yet have felt such dangers for God's truth, as we have, and do feel, and be daily like to suffer more, yea, the very extreme and vile death of the fire: yet such is the report abroad (as) I am credibly informed), that I John Hooper, a condemned man for the cause of Christ, should now after sentence of death (being in Newgate prisoner, and looking daily for execution) recant and abjure that which heretofore I have preached. And this talk ariseth of this, that the Bishop of London and his chaplains resort unto me. Doubtless, if our

brethren were as godly as I could wish them, they would think, that in case I did refuse to talk with them, they might have just reason to say, that I were unlearned, and durst not speak with learned men, or else proud, and disdained to speak with them. Therefore, to avoid just suspicion of both, I have, and do daily speak with them when they come, not doubting but that they reported that I am neither proud, nor unlearned. And I would wish all men to do as I do in this point. For I fear not their arguments, neither is death terrible unto me, praying you make true report of the same, as occasion shall serve; and that I am more confirmed in the truth which I have preached heretofore, by their coming.

"Therefore, ye that may send to the weak brethren, pray that they trouble me not with such reports of recantations as they do. For I have hitherto left all things of the world, and suffered great pains and imprisonment, and I thank God I am as ready to suffer death, as mortal man may be. It were better for them to pray for us, than to credit or report such rumours that be untrue. We have enemies enough of such as know not God truly. But yet the false report of weak brethren is a double cross. I wish you eternal salvation in Jesus Christ, and also require your continual prayers, that He that hath begun in us, may continue it to the end.

"I have taught the truth with my tongue, and with my pen heretofore, and hereafter shortly will confirm the same by God's grace with my blood. Forth of Newgate the 2d of February, anno 1554. "Your brother in Christ,

"JOHN HOOPER."

Here followeth the form and manner used in the degrading of Bishop Hooper.

The fourth day of February, the year abovemen

tioned, in the chapel in Newgate, the Bishop of London there sitting with his notary and certain other witnesses, came Alexander Andrew the gaoler, bringing with him Master Hooper and Master Rogers, being condemned before by the Chancellor: where the said Bishop of London at the request of the foresaid Winchester, proceeded to the degradation of the parties above mentioned, Master Hooper and Master Rogers, after this form and manner: first, he put upon them all the vestures and ornaments belonging to a priest, with all other things to the same order appertaining, as though (being revested) they should solemnly execute their office, the Bishop beginning to pluck off, first the uttermost vesture, and so by degrees coming to the lowest vesture. And so being stript and deposed, he deprived them of all order, benefit, and privilege belonging to the clergy; and consequently that being done, pronounced, decreed, and declared, the said parties so degraded to be given personally to the secular power, the Sheriffs being for that year, Master Davy Woodroof, and Master William Chester: who, receiving first the said Master Rogers at the hands of the Bishop, had him away with them, bringing him to the place of execution, where he suffered. The witnesses there present were Master Harpsfield, Archdeacon of London; Robert Cosin, and Robert Willerton, Canons of Paul's; Thomas Montague, George How, Clerks; Tristram Swadock, and Richard Clunney Sumner, &c.

The same Monday at night, being the 4th of February, his keeper gave him an inkling that he should be sent to Glocester to suffer death, whereof he rejoiced very much, lifting up his eyes and hands unto heaven, and praising God that he saw it good. to send him amongst the people, over whom he was pastor, there to confirm with his death the truth which he had before taught them; not doubting but