had at my Lord Chancellor's, between him with other commissioners there appointed, and Master Hooper, clean contrary to the verity and truth thereof indeed, and therefore to be judged rather to be risen of malice, for the discrediting of the truth by false suggestions, and evil reports; than otherwise: I thought it my duty, being present thereat myself, in writing to set forth the whole effect of the same: partly that theverity thereof may be known to the doubtful people, and partly to advertise them, how uncharitably Master Hooper was handled at their hands, which with all humility used himself towards them, desiring that with patience he might have been permitted to speak, assuring all men, that where I stood in a doubt, which of these two religions to have credited, either that set forth by the King's Majesty, that dead is, or else that now maintained by the Queen's Majesty, their unreverend behaviour towards Master Hooper doth move me the rather to credit his doctrine, than that which they with railing and cruel words defended, considering that Christ was so handled before. And that this, which I have written here, was the effect of their talk, as I acknowledged it to be true myself: so I appeal to all the hearers' consciences, that were there present (so they put affection away) for the witness of the same.

The Bishops of Winchester, of London, of Durham, of Landaff, of Chichester, sat as Commissioners. Lord Chancellor.

At Master Hooper's coming in, the Lord Chancellor asked whether he was married.

Hooper. Yea, my Lord, and will not be unmarried, till death unmarry me.

Durham. That is matter enough to deprive you. Hooper. That it is not, my Lord, except ye do against the law.

The matter concerning marriage was no more talked of then, for a great space: but as well the commissioners, as such as stood by, began to make such outcries, and laughed, and used such gestures as was unseemly for the place; and for such a matter. The Bishop of Chichester, Dr. Day, called Master Hooper hypocrite, with vehement words and scornful countenance. Bishop Tonstal called him beast; so did Smith, one of the clerks of the council, and divers other that stood by. At length the Bishop of Winchester said, that all men might live chaste that would, and brought in this text, Matt. xix. 12.

Master Hooper said, that text proved not that all men could live chaste, but such only to whom it was given; and read that which goeth before in the text. But there was a clamour and cry, mocking and scorning, with calling him beast, that the text could not be examined. Then Master Hooper said, that it did appear by the old canons, that marriages were not forbidden unto priests, and named the decrces. But the Bishop of Winchester sent for another part, namely, the Clementines, or the Extravagants. But Bishop Hooper said, that book was not it which he

Damed.

Then cried out the Bishop of Winchester, and said, "You shall not have any other, until ye be judged by this." And then began such a noise, tumult, and speaking together of a great many that favoured not the cause, that nothing was done, nor spoken or derly, nor charitably. Afterward Judge Morgan began to rail at Master Hooper a long time, with many opprobrious and foul words of his doings at Gloucester, in punishing of men, and said, there was never such a tyrant as he was, After that, Dr. Day, Bishop of Chichester, said, that the council of Ancyra, which was before the council of Nice, was against the marriage of priests....

Then cried out my Lord Chancellor, and many with him, that Master Hooper had never read the councils.

"Yes, my Lord," quoth Master Hooper," and my Lord of Chichester, Dr. Day, knoweth, that the great council of Nice, by the means of one Paphnutius, decreed that no minister should be separated from his wife." But such clamours and cries were used, that the council of Nice was not seen.

After this long brutish taik, Tonstal, Bishop of Durham, asked Master Hooper whether he believed the corporal presence in the sacrament. And Master Hooper said plainly, that there was none such, neither did he believe any such thing.

Then would the Bishop of Durham have read out of a book, for his purpose belike (what book it was I cannot tell): but there was such a noise and confused talk on every side, that he did not read it. Then asked Winchester of Master Hooper, what authority moved him not to believe the corporal presence? He said, the authority of God's word, and alleged this text, "Whom heaven must hold until the latter day."

Then the Bishop of Winchester would have made that text have served nothing for his purpose: and he said, he might be in heaven, and in the sacrament also.

Master Hooper would have said more to have opened the text, but all men that stood next about the Bishop, allowed so his saying with clamours and cries, that Master Hooper was not permitted to say any more against the Bishop. Whereupon they bade the notaries write that he was married, and said, that he would not go from his wife, and that he believed not the corporal presence in the sacrament, wherefore he was worthy to be deprived of his bishopric.

This is the truth of the matter (as far as I can

truly remember) of the confused and troublesome talk that was between them; and, except it were hasty and uncharitable words, this is the whole matter of their talk at that time.

The true Report of Master HOOPER's Entertainment in the Fleet, written with his own Hand, the seventh of January 1554.

The first of September 1553, I was committed unto the Fleet from Richmond, to have the liberty of the prison: and within six days after I paid for my liberty five pounds sterling to the Warden's fees: who, immediately upon the payment thereof, complained unto Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, and so was I committed to close prison one quarter of a year, in the tower chamber of the Fleet, and used very extremely. Then by the means of a good gentleman, I had liberty to come down to dinner and supper, not suffered to speak to any of my friends: but as soon as dinner and supper was done, to repair to my chamber again. Notwithstanding, whilst I came down thus to dinner and supper, the Warden and his wife picked quarrels with me, and they complained untruly of me to their great friend the Bishop of Winchester.

After one quarter of a year and somewhat more, Babington, the Warden, and his wife, fell out with me for the wicked mass, and thereupon the Warden resorted to the Bishop of Winchester, and obtained to put me into the wards, where I have continued a long time, having nothing appointed to me for my bed, but a little pad of straw, and a rotten covering, with a tick and a few feathers therein, the chamber being vile and stinking, until by God's means good people sent me bedding to lie in. Of the one side of which prison is the sink and filth of the house,

and on the other side the tower ditch, so that the stench of the house hath infected me with sundry diseases.

During which time I have been sick, and the doors, bars, hasps, and chains being all closed, and made fast upon me, I have mourned, called, and cried for help. But the Warden, when he hath known me many times ready to die, and when the poor men of the wards have called to help me, hath commanded the doors to be kept fast, and charged that none of his men should come at me, saying, "Let him alone, it were a good riddance of him." And amongst many other times, he did thus the 18th of October 1553, as many can witness.

I paid always like a baron to the said Warden, as well in fees, as for my board, which was 20 shillings a week, besides my man's table, until I was wrongfully deprived of my bishopric, and since that I have paid him as the best gentleman doth in his house; yet hath he used me worse, and more vilely than the veriest slave that ever came to the hall commons.

The said Warden hath also imprisoned my man, William Downton, and stripped him of all his clothes to search for letters, and could find none but only a little remembrance of good people's names, that gave me their alms to relieve me in prison; and to undo them also the said Warden delivered the same bill unto the said Stephen Cardiner, God's enemy and mine.

I have suffered imprisonment almost eighteen months, my good living, friends, and comforts taken from me; the Queen owing me by just account 80 pounds or more. She hath put me in prison, and giveth nothing to find me, neither is there suffered any to come to me, whereby I might have relief. I am with a wicked man and woman, so that I see no remedy (saving God's help), but I shall be