A03619:45
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.
¶The copy of Master hoppers letter delivered in the counter at Bread Street.
¶The coppye of Master hoopers letter delyuered in the counter at breadestreete.
The grace, favour, consolation and aid of the holy ghost be with you now and ever so be it.
THe grace, fauour, consolation and ayde of the holy ghoste be wyth you nowe and euer so be it.
Dearly beloved in the Lord, ever sithens your imprisonment, I have been marvellously moved with great affections and passions, as well of mirth and gladness, as of heaviness and sorrow. Of gladness in this, that I perceived how ye be bent and given to prayer, and invocation of Gods help in these dark and wicked proceedings of men, against Gods glory. I have been sorry to perceive the malice and wickedness of men, to be so cruel, devilish and tyrannical, too persecute the people of God, for serving, saying and hearing of the holy psalms, and the word of eternal life. These cruel doings do declare, that the papists ⟨image 25⟩church is more bloody and tyrannical, then ever was the sword of the Ethnics and gentiles. When I heard of your taking, and what ye were doing, wherefore, and by whom ye were taken: I remembered how the Christians in the primitive church were used, by the cruelty of unchristened heathens, in the time of Trajan the Emperor about. 77. years after Christs ascension in to heaven: and how, the Christians were persecuted very sore, as though they had been traitors and movers of sedition. Whereupon, the gentle Emperor Trajan required to know, the true cause of Christian mens trouble. A great learned man called Plinius wrote unto him and said: it was because the Christians said certain psalms before day, unto one called Christ: whom they worshipped for God. When Trajan the emperor understood it was for nothing but for conscience and religion: he caused by his commandments every