N20568:4870
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
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 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all them, who 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 your constancy and perseverance in afflictions, 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 our dear brethren that yet have not felt such dangers for God's truth, as we have and do feel, and are daily likely to suffer more, yea, the very extreme and vile death ⟨p. 459⟩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 prisoner in Newgate, and looking daily for execution) recant and abjure that which heretofore I have preached. And this talk ariseth from 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 occasion to say that I was 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 they report 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 to make true report of the same, as occasion shall serve; and that I am more confirmed in the truth which I have heretofore preached by their coming. THEREFORE, you that may send to the weak brethren, pray them 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 a mortal man can be. It were better for them to pray for us, than to credit or report such rumours that are 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 which 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 shall confirm the same by God's grace with my blood. From Newgate, Febr. 2, 1555. Your brother in Christ, JOHN HOOPER.
MONDAY morning, Bonner, bishop of London, came to Newgate, and degraded bishop Hooper; the sentence of his degradation here followeth.
IN the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Whereas by a definitive sentence from the reverend father in Christ, Stephen, by divine permission, lord bishop of Winchester, against you John Hooper, presbyter of his jurisdiction, on account of heresy and offence notoriously committed within his diocese of Winchester, and of late justly and legally proved; it plainly appears to us, Edmund, bishop of London, that you the aforesaid John Hooper have been and still continue to be an open, obstinate, and incorrigible heretic; and it also appears by the aforesaid sentence, that you have been declared and pronounced an heretic of this sort, and have likewise incurred the sentence of the greater excommunication; and it plainly and fully appears that you are to be deposed and degraded from your order, and for these your demerits are to be delivered to the secular power, according to the tenor of the aforesaid sentence, to which we refer ourselves in this affair. We therefore, the aforesaid Edmund, bishop of London, as it concerns us and the university to do our alternate endeavours, in whose diocese you John Hooper have committed the same heresy then, and often times both before and after; for these, I say, and the aforesaid considerations, and that we may execute the aforesaid sentence in a better and more efficacious manner, have thought fit to proceed to the actual degradation of you the aforesaid John Hooper, (your crime and justice so requiring) and so we do really proceed according to the direction of the law, and the laudable custom of former times, that we may rightly and legally •eliver you to the secular power, who are unwilling to continue in the pale of the church; and that this ought to be done, we do by these presents declare and pronounce in this our sentence.
IN the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Whereas by a definitive sentence from the reverend father in Christ, Stephen, by divine permission, lord bishop of Winchester, against you John Hooper, presbyter of his jurisdiction, on account of heresy and offence notoriously committed within his diocese of Winchester, and of late j•stly and legally proved; it plainly appears to us, Edmund, bishop of London, that you the aforesaid J•hn Hooper have been and still continue to be an open, obstinate, and incorrigible heretic; and it also appears by the aforesaid sentence, that you have been declared and pronounced an heretic of this sort, and have likewise incurred the sentence of the greater excommunication; and it plainly and fully appears that you are to be deposed and degraded from your order, and for these your demerits are to be delivered to the secular power, according to the tenor of the aforesaid sentence, to which we refer ourselves in this affair. We therefore, the aforesaid Edmund, bishop of London, as it concerns us and the university to do our alternate endeavours, in whose diocese you John Hooper have committed the same heresy then, and often times both before and after; for these, I say, and the aforesaid considerations, and that we may execute the aforesaid sentence in a better and more efficacious manner, have thought fit to proceed to the actual degradation of you the aforesaid John Hooper, (your crime and justice so requiring) and so we do really proceed according to the direction of the law, and the laudable custom of former times, that we may rightly and legally eliver you to the secular power, who are unwilling to continue in the pale of the church; and that this ought to be done, we do by these presents declare and pronounce in this our sentence.
AFTER the sentence of degradation thus declared, now let us see the form and manner of their degrading, which here also followeth. But first is to be no•ed, that they, degrading this blessed bishop, did not proceed against him as a bishop, but only as against a priest, as they termed him: for such as he was, these Baalamites accounted no bishop.
THE fourth day of February, the year abovementioned, in the chapel of Newgate, Gardiner, bishop of London, there sitting with his notary and several other witnesses, Alexander Andrew the gaoler came in, bringing with him bishop Hooper and the Rev. Mr. Rogers, being condemned before by the lord chancellor, where the said bishop of London, at the request of the bishop of Winchester, proceeded to the degradation of Mr. Hooper and Mr. Rogers, after this form and manner: first, he put upon him 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. They b•ing thus apparelled and revested, the bishop beginneth to pluck off, first the outermost vesture, and so by degree and order coming down to the lowest vesture, which they had only in taking Benet and Collet; and so being stripped and deposed, he deprived them of all order, benefit, and privilege belonging to the clergy; and consequently that being done, pronounced, decreed, and declared that the said parties so degraded, to be given personally to the secular power▪ as the ⟨p. 460⟩sheriffs being for that year, Mr. David Woodrooffe, and Mr. William Chester; who receiving first the Rev. Mr. 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 Mr. Harpsfield, archdeacon of London, Robert Cousin, and Robert Willerton, canons St. Paul's, Thomas Montague, and George How, clerks, Tristram Swadock, and Richard Clumney, sumner, &c.
THE fourth day of February, the year abovementioned, in the chapel of Newgate, Gardiner, bishop of London, there sitting with his notary and several other witnesses, Alexander Andrew the gaoler came in, bringing with him bishop Hooper and the Rev. Mr. Rogers, being condemned before by the lord chancellor, where the said bishop of London, at the request of the bishop of Winchester, proceeded to the degradation of Mr. Hooper and Mr. Rogers, after this form and manner: first, he put upon him all the vestures and ornaments belonging to a priest, with all other things to the same order apper•aining, as though (being revested) they should solemnly execute their office. They b•ing thus apparelled and revested, the bishop beginneth to pluck off, first the outermost vesture, and so by degree and order coming down to the lowest vesture, which they had only in taking Benet and Collet; 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 that the said parties so dgrded, to be given personally to the secular power as the
THE same Monday at night, February 4, his keeper gave the bishop a hint that he should be sent to Gloucester to suffer death, whereat 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 the Lord would give him strength to perform the same to his glory: and immediately he sent to his servant's house for his boots, spurs, and cloak, that he might be in readiness to ride when he should be called.
THE next day following, about four o'clock in the morning, before day, the keeper with others came to him and searched him, and the bed wherein he lay, to see if he had written any thing, and then he was led by the sheriffs of London, and their officers, from Newgate to a place appointed, not far from St. Dunstan's church in Fleet-street, where six of the queen's guard were appointed to receive, to carry him to Gloucester, there to be delivered unto the sheriff, who with the Lord Shandois, Mr. Wicks, and other commissioners, were appointed to see execution done. Which guard brought him to the Angel, where he brake his fast with them, eating his meat at that time more liberal than he had used to do a good while before. About break of day he leaped cheerfully on horseback without help, having a hood upon his head, under his hat, that he should not be known, and so he took his journey joyfully towards Gloucester; and by the way the guard inquired of him, where he was accustomed to bait or lodge, but always carried him to another inn.
THE next day following, about four o'clock in the morning, before day, the keeper with others came to him and searched him, and the bed wherein he lay, to see if he had written any thing, and then he was led by the sheriffs of London, and their officers, from Newgate to a place appointed, not far from St. Dunstan's church in Fleet-street, where six of the queen's guard were appointed to receive, to carry him to Gloucester, there to be delivered unto the sheriff, who with the Lord Shandois, Mr. Wicks, and other commissioners, were appointed to see execution done. Which guard brought him to the Angel, where he brake his fast with them, eating his meat at that time more liberal than he had used to do a good while before. About break of day he leaped chearfully on horseback without help, having a hood upon his head, under his hat, that he should not be known, and so he took his journey joyfully towards Gloucester; and by the way the guard inquired of him, where he was accustomed to bait or lodge, but always carried him to another inn.
ON the Thursday following, he came to a town in his diocese called Cirencester, 15 miles from Gloucester, about eleven o'clock, and there dined at a woman's house who had always hated the truth, and spoken all the evil she could of bishop Hooper. This woman, perceiving the cause of his coming, showed him all the friendship she could, and lamented his case with tears, confessing that she before had often reported, that if he were put to the trial, he would not stand to his doctrine.
ON the Thursday following, he came to a town in his diocese called Cirencester, 15 miles from Gloucester, about eleven o'clock, and there dined at a woman's house who had always hated the truth, and spoken all the evil she could of bishop Hooper. This woman, perceiving the cause of his coming, shewed him all the friendship she could, and lamented his case with tears, confessing that she before had often reported, that if he were put to the trial, he would not stand to his doctrine.
AFTER dinner he rode forwards, and came to Gloucester about five o'clock, and a mile without the town was much people assembled, who cried and lamented his state; insomuch that one of the guard rode post into the town, to require aid of the mayor and sheriffs, fearing lest he should have been taken from them. The officers and their retinue repaired to the gate with weapons, and commanded the people to keep their houses, &c. but there was no man that once gave any signification of a rescue or violence. He lodged at one Ingram's house in Gloucester, and that night (as he had done all the way) he did eat his meat quietly, and slept his first sleep soundly, as it was reported by the guard and others. After his first sleep, he continued in prayer until morning; and all the day, except a little time at meals, and when conversing with such as the guard permitted to speak to him, he spent in prayer.
SIR Anthony Kingston, at one time Dr. Hooper's good friend, was appointed by the queen's letters to attend at his execution. As soon as he saw the bishop, he burst into tears. At first sight, Dr. Hooper did not know him; the knight therefore addressing the bishop, said, "Why, my lord, do you not know me, an old friend of your's, Anthony Kingston?"
