1555.] condemned to be burned alive. 103 to state their belief upon the points wherein it was known they rejected the tenets of Romanism, they were at once brought within reach of these statutes, and exposed to punishment. HOOPER was accused of having married a wife, of arguing that divorces were lawful in certain cases without the Pope's dispensation, and of denying the real presence of Christ's body in the Sacrament. He admitted these accusations, and offered to shew the truth of his opinions, but this was not allowed. When Rogers was condemned, he requested permission to see his wife, that he might take leave of her, and give some directions respecting his eleven children, urging that she was a foreigner, and therefore the more needed his counsel. This favour, even then allowed to the most atrocious felon, was refused to this zealous preacher of God's word; and, in giving his refusal, Gardiner denied that she was his wife, expressing himself in the coarsest language! After their condemnation, Hooper and Rogers were detained till it was dark, and were then sent to Newgate, in the custody of the Sheriffs of London, guarded by many armed men. Desirous of concealing what had passed, or fearing an attempt to rescue the prisoners, the Sheriffs sent forward some of their officers, to put out the lights in the stalls and shops along the streets, (there were no lamps at that time in London), but many persons watched the approach of the prisoners, and coming to their doors with lights, entreated their blessing, fervently praying that God would strengthen them to the end, in the doctrine he had hitherto enabled them to maintain. They were confined in Newgate for six days, in hourly expectation of the writ for their execution. On the 4th of February they were carried down to the chapel of the prison, where Bonner attended to degrade them. This ceremony being performed, Rogers was delivered over to the Sheriffs, who immediately led him forth to Smithfield, where the pile was prepared. He had repeated to Bonner his request to be allowed to speak to his wife; this was again refused him; but on his way to the stake he saw her in the street, with his eleven children, one at the breast and ten standing by her side, anxiously waiting for that painful opportunity for a last sight of her beloved husband. Severe as this trial must have been, he was enabled to endure stedfastly to the end; 104 Rogers burned in Smithfield. and again refused a pardon offered if he would recant, saying, "That which I have preached, I will seal with my blood." "Thou art a heretic," said the Sheriff. "That shall be known at the last day," answered Rogers." I will never pray for thee," exclaimed the persecutor. "But I will pray for you," replied the Martyr. He suffered the torments prepared for him with patience and fortitude, washing his hands as it were in the flames while he was burning. Thus died THE FIRST MARTYR in this reign, about eighteen months after the accession of Mary to the throne. 6 Fox has given a particular account of several examinations of Rogers, which he penned with his own hand,' and records the remarkable manner in which these documents were preserved. One reason for his earnest desire to see his wife probably was to inform her where he had concealed these writings; but as already mentioned, his cruel persecutors refused to allow his wife an interview with her husband. After his decease, she was permitted to visit the place of his confinement, with one of her sons. They sought for his writings, but in vain, till, just as they were about to depart, the lad saw something lying in a dark corner under the stairs, which proved to be a book containing his examinations, with some other pieces he had written. At the end were some observations upon the events then occurring. The following is an extract; " If God look not mercifully upon England, the seeds of utter destruction are sown in it already by these hypocritical tyrants and Antichristian prelates, popish papists and double traitors to their natural country. And yet they speak of mercy, of blessing, of the Catholic Church, of unity, of power, of strengthening of the realm!" He had, however, an anticipation of a time of deliverance, for he told Day, the printer of Fox's Acts and Monuments, at that time imprisoned for the truth, "Thou shalt live to see the alteration of this religion, and the Gospel preached again freely." A paragraph subjoined to one of his examinations conveys a lively idea of his situation, and his patience and fortitude. He says, "And here would I gladly make a more perfect answer to all the former objections, which I had taken in hand to do, but at this present I was informed that I should to-morrow come to further answer; wherefore I am compelled to leave it out, desiring here the hearty and unfeigned help of the prayers of all Christ's true members, the true children of the true unfeigned Catholic Church, 1555.] Rogers's examinations. 105 That the Lord God of all consolation will now be my comfort and strength, buckler and shield, as also of all my brethren that are in the same case and distress, that I and they all may despise all manner of threats and cruelty, and even the bitter burning fire, and the dreadful dart of death; and stick, like true soldiers, to our dear and loving Captain, Christ, our only Redeemer and Saviour, and also the only true Head of the church, who doth in us all things, which is the very property of a head, and what all the Bishops of Rome cannot do; and that we do not traiterously run out of his tents, or rather out of the plain field, from him, in the jeopardy of the battle; but that we may persevere in the fight till we be most cruelly slain of his enemies. For this I most heartily and at this present with weeping tears most earnestly desire and beseech you all to pray. And also if I die, be good to my poor and most honest wife, being a poor stranger, and all my little souls, her and my children; whom with all the whole faithful and true catholic congregation of Christ, may the Lord of life and death save, keep, and defend in all the troubles and assaults of this vain world, and bring at the last to everlasting salvation, the true and sure inheritance of all crossed christians. Amen! Amen! The xxvii day of January at night. HOOPER expected to have accompanied Rogers to the stake, but was led back to his cell; and in the evening he learned that he was to be carried down to Gloucester, to suffer among his own people. At this intelligence he rejoiced his persecutors thought it would deter his flock from adhering to the doctrines their Bishop had taught; but he praised God, believing that he should be enabled to suffer with such constancy as would be the means of confirming them in the truth. The next morning he was roused at four o'clock; and being committed to the care of six of the Queen's guards, they took him before it was light to the Angel Inn, St. Clements, then standing in the fields. After muffling their prisoner's face in a hood, they began their journey to Gloucester. On the third day they arrived in the city, and were met at the entrance by a crowd of people, who lamented the fate of their beloved pastor. Sir Anthony Kingston, a particular friend of Hooper, who had been reclaimed from a sinful course of life by the faithful preaching of the Bishop, by a refinement of cruelty, was ordered to superintend his burning, and now with tears urged the Bishop to remember that "life was sweet, and death bitter." Hooper replied, that he was come thither to suffer death for the truths he had formerly taught in that place; and although life was sweet and death bitter, yet by the strength of God's Holy Spirit, he trusted to pass through the sufferings prepared for him without shrinking, rather than deny the truth. A day's respite being allowed, he passed it in fasting and prayer, and had interviews with several persons, the particulars of which are both interesting and instructive. A blind boy, named Drowry, after much entreaty, was allowed to be introduced to the Bishop, who conversing with him, and finding him stedfast in the faith of Christ, said, "Ah, poor boy! God hath taken from thee thy outward sight, for what cause he best knoweth; but he hath given thee another sight much more precious, for he hath endued thy soul with the eye of knowledge and faith. God give thee grace continually to pray unto him, that thou lose not that sight; for then shouldest thou be blind both in body and in soul." This pious lad was afterwards burned. Bishop Hooper thanked the Mayor and Sheriffs for their courtesy towards him, and requested that there might be a quick fire, shortly to make an end." We shall see how far this was complied with. He added, "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 consent to the wicked papistical religion of the Bishop of Rome." The Sheriffs would have lodged him that night in the common gaol; but the guards who brought him from London declared how quietly, mildly, and patiently he had conducted himself; adding, that any child might keep him, and that they would rather continue to watch him themselves than he should be treated harshly. He was then suffered to remain at the private house whither he had been at first conducted. The venerable Martyr desired to go to bed betimes, saying, he had many things to remember. Having slept one sleep soundly, he rose, and spent the rest of the night in prayer, desiring that no one would come to his chamber till eight o'clock, the hour fixed for his martyrdom. On the 9th of February, he was led forth to execution, to the place appointed, which was before the Cathedral. Óbserving the armed men, he said he was no traitor, and there needed not these precautions for he would have gone by himself to the stake if they had desired. He went leaning upon a staff, as he suffered pain from his long imprisonment. 1555.] His prayer. 107 A vast concourse of people, estimated to exceed seven thousand in number, had assembled. He wished to address them, but was restrained by a promise which he had been constrained to give;* for the Romish Prelates threatened the Martyrs that their tongues should be cut out, unless they would engage not to speak to the multitudes who might assemble to witness their execution; but it was remarked, that his countenance was serene and unusually cheerful! He then knelt down in prayer; and presently a box was set before him, said to contain his pardon, if he would recant. This he desired they would take away if they loved his soul. Lord Shandois desired him to despatch, but Hooper requested to be permitted to finish his prayer, part of which was heard by some of the by-standers, who stepped forward: it was to the following purport: "Lord, 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 knowest thou, O Lord, wherefore I am come hither to suffer, and why the wicked do persecute this thy poor servant; not for my sins and transgressions which I have 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 might, I, being thereto called, have set forth to 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 endure. But all things that are impossible with man, are possible with thee. Therefore strengthen me of thy goodness, that when in the fire I break not the rules of patience; or else assuage the terror of the pains, as shall seem most to thy glory." When he had proceeded thus far, the Mayor perceived the persons listening, and ordered them away. After some further time spent in prayer, Hooper was fastened to the stake. Three irons were brought * The Queen's own letter, ordering the manner of Hooper's death, expressly directed that he should "not be suffered to speak." |