cast away in prison before I come to judgment. But I commit my just cause to God, whose will be done, whether it be by life or death.

Thus much wrote he himself of this matter.

Another Examination of Master HOOPER. The 22d of January following, 1555, Babington, the Warden of the Fleet, was commanded to bring Master Hooper before the Bishop of Winchester, with other bishops and commissioners, at the said Winchester's house, at St. Mary Overy's, where in effect thus much was done.

The Bishop of Winchester, in the name of himself and the rest, moved Master Hooper earnestly to forsake the evil and corrupt doctrine (as he termed it) preached in the days of King Edward the Sixth, and to return to the unity of the catholic church, and to acknowledge the Pope's Holiness to be head of the same church, according to the determination of the whole Parliament, promising, that as he himself, with other his brethren, had received the Pope's blessing, and the Queen's mercy; even so mercy was ready to be shewn to him and others, if he would arise with them, and condescend to the Pope's Holiness.

Master Hooper answered, that forasmuch as the Pope taught doctrine altogether contrary to the doctrine of Christ, he was not worthy to be accounted a member of Christ's church, much less to be head thereof, wherefore he would in no wise condescend to any such usurped jurisdiction, neither esteemed he the church, whereof they called him head, to be the catholic church of Christ: for the church only heareth her spouse Christ, and flieth the strangers. "Howbeit (saith he) if in any point, to me unknown, I have offended the Queen's Majesty, I shall most humbly submit myself to her mercy, if mercy may

be had with safety of conscience, and without the displeasure of God."

Answer was made, that the Queen would shew no mercy to the Pope's enemies. Whereupon Babington was cominanded to bring him to the Fleet again: who did so, and shifted him from his former chamber into another, near unto the Warden's own chamber, where he remained six days: and in the mean time, his former chamber was searched by D. Marten and others, for writings and books, which Master Hooper was thought to have made, but none was found.

Here followeth another Examination of Master HOOPER.

The 28th of January, Winchester and other the commissioners sat in judgment at St. Mary's, where Master Hooper appeared before them at afternoon again, and there, after much reasoning and disputation to and fro, he was commanded aside, till Master Rogers (which was then come) had been likewise examined. Examinations being ended, the two Sheriffs of London were commanded, about four of the clock, to carry them to the compter in Southwark, there to remain till the morrow at nine o'clock, to see whether they would relent and come again to their catholic church. So Master Hooper went before with one of the Sheriffs, and Master Rogers came after with the other, and being out of the church door, Master Hooper looked back, and stayed a little till Master Rogers drew near, unto whom he said, "Come, brother Rogers, must we two take this matter first in hand, and begin to fry these faggots?"—"Yea, Sir," said Master Rogers, "by God's grace."-"Doubt not," said Master Hooper, "but God will give strength," So going forwards, there was such a press

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 allega-· tions 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