took him by the hand. Unto whom Hooper spake

on this manner:

"Master Mayor, I give most rearty thanks to you, and to the rest of your brethren, that you have vouchsafed to take me a prisoner and a condemned man by the hand; whereby to my rejoicing it is some deal apparent that your old love and friendship towards me is not altogether extinguished: and I trust also that all the things I have taught you in times past are not utterly forgotten, when I was here, by the good King that is dead, appointed to be your bishop and pastor. For which true and sincere doctrine, because I will not now account it falsehood and heresy, as many other men do, I am sent hither (as I am sure you know) by the Queen's commandment, to die, and am come where I taught it, to confirm it with my blood. And now, Master Sheriffs, I understand by these good men, and my very friends (meaning the guards), at whose hands I have found so much favour and gentleness by the way hitherward, as a prisoner could reasonably require (for the which also I most heartily thank them), that I am committed to your custody, as unto them that must see me brought to-morrow to the place of execution. My request therefore to you shall be only, that there may be a quick fire, shortly to make an end, and in the mean time I will be as obedient to you, as yourselves would wish. If you think I do amiss in any thing, hold up your finger, and I have done. For I am not come hither as one enforced or compelled to die; for it is well known I might have had my life with worldly gain; but as one willing to offer and give my life for the truth, rather than to consent to the wicked papistical religion of the Bishop of Rome, received and set forth by the magistrates in England, to God's high displeasure and dishonour; and I trust

by God's grace to-morrow to die a faithful servant of God, and a true obedient subject to the Queen.”

These and such-like words in effect used Master Hooper to the Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen, whereat many of them mourned and lamented. Notwithstanding, the two Sheriffs went aside to consult, and were determined to have lodged him in the common gaol of the town called Northgate, if the guard had not made earnest intercession for him; who declaring at large how quietly, mildly, and patiently he behaved himself in the way, adding thereto, that any child might keep him well enough, and that they themselves would rather take pains to watch with him, than that he should be sent to the common prison so it was determined at the length he should still remain in Robert Ingram's house; and the Sheriffs and the sergeants and other officers did appoint to watch with him that night themselves. His desire was, that he might go that night to bed betimes, saying, that he had many things to remember: and so did at five of the clock, and slept one sleep soundly, and bestowed the rest of the night in prayer. After he gat up in the morning, he desired that no man should be suffered to come into the chamber, that he might be solitary till the hour of execution.

About eight of the clock came Sir John Bridges, Lord Shandois, with a great band of men, Sir Anthony Kingston, Sir Edmund Bridges, and other commissioners appointed to see execution done. At nine of the clock Master Hooper was willed to prepare himself to be in readiness, for the time was at hand. Immediately he was brought down from his chamber by the Sheriffs, who were accompanied with bills and other weapons. When he saw the multitude of weapons, he spake to the Sheriffs on this wise: "Master Sheriffs (said he), I am no traitor,

neither need you to have made such a business to bring me to the place where I must suffer: for if ye had willed me, I would have gone alone to the stake, and have troubled none of you all."

Afterwards, looking upon the multitude of people that were assembled, being by estimation to the number of seven thousand (for it was market-day, and many also came to see his behaviour towards death), he spake unto those that were about him, saying, "Alas! why be these people assembled and come together? Peradventure, they think to hear something of me now, as they have in times past, but, alas! speech is prohibited me. Notwithstanding, the cause of my death is well known unto them. When I was appointed here to be their pastor, I preached unto them true and sincere doctrine, and that out of the word of God. Because I will not now account the same to be heresy and untruth, this kind of death is prepared for me.

So he went forward, led between the two Sheriffs (as it were a lamb to the slaughter), in a gown of his host's, his hat upon his head, and a staff in his hand to stay himself withal. For the grief of the sciatica, which he had taken in prison, caused him somewhat to halt. All the way, being straitly charged not to speak, he could not be perceived once to open his mouth, but beholding the people all the way, which mourned bitterly for him, he would sometimes lift up his eyes toward heaven, and look very cheerfully upon such as he knew: and he was never known, during the time of his being amongst them, to look with so cheerful and ruddy a countenance as he did at that present.

When he came to the place appointed where he should die, smiling he beheld the stake and preparation made for him, which was near unto the great elm-tree over against the college of priests, where he

was wont to preach. The place round about the houses and the boughs of the tree were replenished with people; and in the chamber over the college gate stood the priests of the college. Then kneeled he down (forasmuch as he could not be suffered to speak unto the people) to prayer, and beckoned six or seven times unto one whom he knew well, to hear the said prayer, to make report thercof in time to come (pouring tears upon his shoulders and in his bosom), who gave attentive ears unto the same: the which prayer he made upon the whole creed, wherein he continued the space of half an hour. Now after he was somewhat entered into his prayer, a box was brought and laid before him upon a stool, with his pardon (or at the least wise it was feigned to be his pardon) from the Queen, if he would turn. sight whereof he cried, "If you love my soul, away with it." The box being taken away, the Lord Shandois said, "Seeing there is no remedy, dispatch him quickly." Master Hooper said, "Good my Lord, I trust your Lordship will give me leave to make an end of my prayers."

At the

Then said the Lord Shandois to Sir Edmund Bridges his son, which gave ear before to Master Hooper's prayer at his request: "Edmund, take heed that he do nothing else but pray: if he do, tell me, and I shall quickly dispatch him." While this talk was, there stepped one or two uncalled, which heard him speak these words following:

"Lord," said he, "I am hell, but thou art heaven; I am a swill and a sink of sin, but thou art a gracious God and a merciful Redeemer. Have mercy therefore upon me, most miserable and wretched offender, after thy great mercy, and according to thine inestimable goodness. Thou art ascended into heaven; receive me to be partaker of thy joys, where thou sittest in equal glory with thy Father. For

well thou knowest, Lord, wherefore I am come hither to suffer, and why the wicked do persecute this thy poor servant; not for my sins and transgressions committed against thee, but because I will not allow their wicked doings, to the contaminating of thy blood, and to the denial of the knowledge of thy truth, wherewith it did please thee by thy holy Spirit to instruct me: the which with as much diligence as a poor wretch night (being thereto called) I have set forth thy glory. And well seest thou, my Lord and God, what terrible pains and cruel torments be prepared for thy creature: such, Lord, as without thy strength none is able to bear, or patiently to pass. But all things that are impossible with man, are possible with thee. Therefore strengthen me of thy goodness, that in the fire I break not the rule of patience; or else assuage the terror of the pains, as shall seem most to thy glory."

As soon as the Mayor had espied these men which made report of the former words, they were commanded away, and could not be suffered to hear any more. Prayer being done, he prepared himself for the stake, and put off his host's gown, and delivered it to the Sheriffs, requiring them to see it restored unto the owner, and put off the rest of his gear, unto his doublet and hose, wherein he would have burned. But the Sheriffs would not permit that (such was their greediness), unto whose pleasures (good man) he very obediently submitted himself; and his doublet, hose, and waistcoat were taken off. Then being in his shirt, he took a point from his hose himself, and trussed his shirt between his legs, where he had a pound of gunpowder in a bladder, and under each arm the like quantity delivered him by the guard. So desiring the people to say the Lord's prayer with him, and to pray for him (who performed

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