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XXXVI.

The Queen's Letter, ordering the Manner of Hooper's Execution.

(Cott. Libr. Cleop. E. 5.)

RIGHT Trusty and Well-beloved, &c. Whereas John Hooper, who of late was called Bushop of Worcester and Gloucester, is, by due Order of the Lawes Ecclesiastique, condempned and judged for a moste obstinate, false, detestable Heretique, and committed to our Secular Power, to be burned according to the holsome and good Lawes of our Realme in that Case provided. Forasmuche as in those Cityes, and the Diocesse therof, he hath in Tymes paste preached and taught most pestilent Heresyes and Doctryne to our Subjects there: We have therefore geven Order, that the said Hooper, who yet persisteth obstinate, and hath refused Mercy when it was gracyously offered, shall be put to Execution in the sayd Cytie of Gloucester, for the Example and Terror of suche as he hath there seduced and mistaught, and bycause he hath doone moste Harme there. And woll that you, calling unto you some of Reputation dwelling in the Shire, such as ye thinke best, shall repayre unto our said Cytye, and be at the said Execution, assisting our Mayor and Shriefs of the same Cytie, in this Behalf. And forasmuche also as the said Hooper is, as Heretiques be, a vain-glorious Person, and delyeth in his Tongue, and having Liberty, may use his sayd Tongue to perswade such as he hath seduced, to persist in the myserable Opinion that he hath sowen among them: Our Pleasure is therefore, and we require you to take Order, that the said Hooper be neither, at the Tyme of his Execution, nor in goyng to the Place therof, suffred to speak at large; but thither to be ledde quietly, and in Sylence, for eschuying of further Infection, and such Inconvenyence, as may otherwise ensue in this Parte. Whereof fayle not, as ye tender our Pleasure.

A True Copy of an Old Paper in my Custody, which
seems to be the first Draught of a Letter from the
Queen to the Lord Chandois, &c. who went to see
Execution done on Bishop Hooper.
THOM. TANNer.

XXXVII.

A Letter of Bishop Hooper's to Bullinger written out of Prison.

(Paper-Office.) Hooperus Bullinger.

GRATIAM et Pacem à Domino. Literas tuas, Compater Charissime, datas Tigur' 10 Octobris, 11 Decembris accepi. Fuere mihi perjucundæ, quia plenæ Consolationis. Ex quibus, Animum, Amorem, et Pietatem tuam erga me pristinam, facilè intellexi. Habeo tibi Gratias immortales, quod hisce Temporibus dificillimis, nostri non te capit oblivio: Semper te, ob eximias tuas Virtutes, et præclara Dei in te Dona, præ cæteris amavi, Et quod à me, uti scribis, hactenus per annum integrum nullas acceperis Literas; hoc accedit, non quia non scripserim, sed quas scripseram parum candidis reddendas commisi. Nec omnes quas ad me miseras accepi, sed vel in Curia Tabellarij periere, vel invidia malorum fuerent interceptæ. Idem accidit et Literis et Libello Domini Theodori. Nam de Concione Domini in monte, quam mihi destinavit, nihil intellexi, usque ad aliquot dies post mortem Sanctissimi Regis nostri Edwardi. Et id quidem in Confinibus Valliæ, in bibliotheca pij cujusdam Viri, quem Ecclesiis quibusdam Decanum constitui. Sed quas nunc scripsisti omnibus Concaptivis meis Fratribus, legendas curabo mitti. Incolumitatem et Constantiam vestræ Ecclesiæ vobis omnibus gratulor: Et Deum precor, propter Filium suum Jesum Christum, illam, contra Tyrannidem Antichristi semper muniat, ac defendat. Apud nos, in integrum, vulnus quod accepit, sanatum est; et pro Capite Ecclesiæ denuò habetur, qui Membrum Ecclesiæ Christi non est. Ab aliis, Res nostras, et Statum Reipublicæ intelliges. Versamur in maximis periculis, quemadmodum hactenus, jam per sesquiannium fermè. Indies hostes Evangelij magis ac magis negotium facessunt. In carcere seorsim servamur, et omni ignominiarum fastidio afficimur: Mortem quotidie minitantur; quam nihili facimus. Ferrum et flammas, in Christo Jesu, fortiter contemnimus. Scimus cui credimus ; et certi sumus, quod animas nostras deposituri sumus bene faciendo. Interim adjuvate nos vestris Precibus, ut qui in nobis bonum opus incepit, perficiat usque in finem. Domini sumus; faciat quod videatur bonum in occulis suis. Rogo, ut subinde digneris Literis tuis Uxorem meam, modestissimam et piam mulierem consolari; et exhortari, ut

studiosé Liberos nostros, Rachelem Filiolam tuam, optimæ indolis adolescentulam, ac Filium Danielem pie educat, in Cognitione et Timore Dei. Præterea, tuæ Pietati jam mitto duos Libellos legendos, judicandos, ac corrigendos, si quæ occurrant, Verbo Dei parum Convenientia: Cui Titulum feci, Hyperaspismus de vera Doctrina et Usu Cœnæ Domini; quem Senatui Angliæ dedicavi hoc nomine, ut publicè in Curia Parliamenti, adversariis nostris respondeamus. Alteri Titulum feci, Syntagma, de falsa Religione dignoscenda et fugienda. Et rogo, ut quam citissimè fieri possit, imprimantur. Hic, apud omnes pios et doctos, uterque Liber est approbatus. Lcripsi præterea multas Literas alias ad Episcopos, ut Libros in Parliamento promoverent, et illos imprimi etiam cupio, ut omnes intelligant, quam inique et injuste nobiscum agitur. Non opus est, ut multa hac de scribas: Ex ipsis Libellis et Literis, facilè intelliges quid volo. Et si Froscoverus vester aliis gravioribus Libris impediatur imprimendis; rogo, ut Basileam mittat, ad D. Operinum, qui valdè castè imprimit, et omnia nitide in lucem emittit. Hoc faciet, scio, modò Libelli tuis Literis ad se veniunt commendati: Quod ut facias, vehementer oro. Nihil est quod mihi metuatis, quasi propter Libellos atrocius et severius hostes Evangelij sævient: Habeo Salutis meæ fidelissimum Custodem, et Propugnatorem, Patrem nostrum Cælestem, per Christum Jesum, cui meipsum totum commendavi: Illius Fidei ac Tutelæ meipsum commendo; si dies meos elongaverit, faxit, ut sint ad Gloriam Nominis sui; sin huic brevi et flagitiosa Vitæ finem voluit, æque duco, Fiat Voluntas illius. Quia furtim scribo, breviores et perturbatiores Literas tuæ præstantiæ facio, quas boni consule quæso. Raptim ex Cacere xr Decembris 1554. Saluta officiosè castam tuam Conjugem, cum tota tua familia, domi et foris, ac alios omnes ut nosti.

Tuæ præstantiæ ut debeo Studiosissimus,
J. HOOPERUS.

INSCRIPTIO.

Præstantissimo Viro, Domino Henrico Bullingero, Compatri sue longè Charissimo Tiguri.

XXXVIII.

A Letter of Mason's concerning a Treaty began with France, and of the Affaires of the Empire.

AFTER my hearty Commendations. Your last was of the xxind of the last Month, and my last to you wer of the virth of this present. By these you shall understand that the Emperor hath appointed Monsieur De L'Allain, Governor of Hennalt; Monsieur De Boningcourt, Governor of Arthoys; the Bishop of Arras; the President of the Counsel here, named Viglius; and the President of the Counsel of Mallynes; to resort to Gravelynghe, for the Tretynge of a Peaxe with soch others as may lyke the Frenche Kynge to send to Ardres; wherof the Connestable, and the Cardinal of Lorrayne, he hath alredye appointed. But by reason of the Death of the Pope, I thinke the Cardinal of Lorrayne goeth an other way. In whose Place ys to be thought some other shall be appointed, with the others, to answer to the Numbre assigned by the Emperor. The Cardynal, and my Lord Chawncelor came out of Hand to Callais to be Mediator on the Queen's Behalf, to bring these Princes, yf their Will be, to some Composition. O Lorde assist them so with his Grace, as Christendome may have a Treattyng Tyine. The Ivth of this Month the King and Queen_went to Hampton-Court to keep their Easter; wheather Easter done they retorne to London, or goo to Wyndesor, the certentye ys not yet knowen. Bolls of Cambridgeshire, and Sir Peter Mewtas, remayne still in Prison. The first in the Tower, and thother in the Flete, and lytle Words made of them; so yt is thoght the Suspition was more vehement then fonde to be of any grete Ground. The Dean and Prebendaries of Westminster have laid sore Lawe fo defend th' alteration of the Church into an Abbay; in which Matter, Dr. Cole sheweth hymself very stowte, alleging that Monks have no Institution of Christ, wherein Prestis have the Advantage of them, &c. What thende will be, yt is not known; but yt is feared they shall be put to chose, whether they will depart with their Wills, or against their Wills.

The Emperor hath by reason of his long unseasonable Cold, ben very ill handled of his Gowte, whereof he is now indifferently well amended.

The Princes of Almayne do moche myslyke the Arryving of Cardinal Moron at Augusta; for the Satisfaction of whom, the Emperor hath given full Auctoryte to the Kynge his Brother, as so ys the Cardinal lyke to retayne, con la

picca in sacco. The Duke of Alva ys not yet departed owt of England; neither yet in the Way, so far as I can yet here, albeit his Baggage, and a good Number of his Company are arrived at Callais. On Tuesday last, the Ambassadors, or Agents, Nome them as you will, of Cremona, Novaria, and Lodi, passing between Dover and Callais hitherward, wer taken by a French Shallop; but it is thought, they will shortly be set at Libertye, as well for that they were publycke Persons, and not Subjects to the Emperor, as for that they were taken out of an English Vessel. Their Money and Baggage is saved, whatsoever is become of their Persons. Thus for lack of other Matter, I bid you most hartely well to fare. From Bruxells the xivth Day of April, 1555.

Your own most assuredly,

Endorsed

To the Honourable Mr. Petre Vannes,

the Queen's Majesties Ambassador

at Vennis.

JOHN MASONE.

This Letter is Faithfully transcribed from the Original in the Hands of

THOM. TANNer.

XXXIX.

A Translation of Charles the Vth's Letter, resigning the Crown of Spain to King Philip. (Paper-Office.)

To our Counselours, Justyces, the Nobilytie, Curats, Knights, and Squiers; all kinde of Ministers, and Offycers; and all other our learn'd Men within that our Town of Tolledo, greeting. By such Letters as I have from Time to Tyme taken Order to be wrytten unto you, since my Departing out of the Kingdome of Spain, you have fully bene advertised of the Successes of myne Affayres; and namely how that for Religion's sake, I enterprised the Warre of Almayne, uppon the great Desire I had, as Reasone was, and according to my bounden Dewty, to reduce, and to returne agayne those Countreys into the Unitye of the Church, procuring and seeking by all the Means I could, to sett Peas and Quietnes in all the Estates of Christendome, and do what might be done for the Assembling and Assisting of a General Counsale, bothe for the

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