A03619:17
An apology made by the reverend father and constant martyr of Christ John Hooper…An apologye made by the reuerende father and constante martyr of Christe Iohn Hooper…
An apology made by the reverend father and constant martyr of Christ John Hooper late bishop of Gloucester and Worcester against the untrue and slanderous report that he should be a maintainer and encourager of such as cursed the Queens highness that then was, Queen Marye. Wherein thou shalt see this godly mans innocency and modest behaviour: and the falsehood and subtlety of the adversaries of Gods truthAn apologye made by the reuerende father and constante martyr of Christe Iohn Hooper late bishop of Gloceter and Worceter againste the vntrue and sclaunderous report that he should be a maintainer and encorager of suche as cursed the Quenes highnes that then was, Quene Marye. Wherein thou shalte see this godlye mannes innocency and modest behauioure: and the falsehode and subtyltye of the aduersaryes of Gods truth
printed by John Tisdale, 1562printed by Iohn Tisdale, 1562
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But seeing death must ensue the true religion and faith of Jesus Christ: I will not appoint God what death he shall take me out of this life by. I am in Christ wholly and throughly at a point with the world. I pray daily and will pray for my persecutors even as for myself. But their tyranny and death, that they will kill me with all, I contemp••e & pass nothing of. I am no better then my master Christ was in his service. if I die therefore by his grace whether it be by fire, or sword, or halter, it ⟨image 11⟩is all one to me: and the rather death cometh the better shall it be welcome. For the sooner shall my soul rest with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in my heavenly fathers kingdom: Whereof in Christ I am assured to be a right heir, ordained to the same of mercy by him: before the world was made.
But seinge death must ensue the true religion and faith of Iesus Christe: I wyll not appoint God what deathe he shall take me oute of this lyfe by. I am in Christe wholy and throughly at a pointe wyth the worlde. I praye dailye and wyll pray for my persecutors euē as for myself. But their tirāny and death, that they will kyll me with all, I contemp••e & passe nothing of. I am no better then my master Christ was in his seru•ce. if I dy therfore by his grace whether it be by fyer, or sworde, or halter, it ⟨image 11⟩is all one to me: and the rather death commethe the better shall it be welcome. For the soner shall my soule rest wyth Abraham Isaac and Iacob in my heauenly fathers kingedome: Whereof in Christe I am assured to bee a ryghte heire, ordayned to the same of mercye by hym: before the worlde was made.
The pharisees did not lay only heresy to Christs charge: and in deed the manner of his death upon the cross was not appointed for heresy amongst the Jews, but rather stoned too death. There was never a pair of stocks in the town that Jeremy the prophet scoured not, but still his accusers, the false priests made their accusations in both states aswell in heresy as in treason: lest the king should not punish the poor preacher for preaching, but let him go. So Christs accusers (the holy bishops and priests) when they perceived that Pilate savoured the innocent cause of Christ, and said he found nothing that they laid against