and visityng of scholes. He with his assiduous doctryne, adioyned due and seuere correction: but not so seuere to anye, as to them, whyche for abundannce of riches, and prosperous fortune, thought that they mighte doe, euen what they liste. And doubtles he spared no kynde of people, but was an indifferent iudge to al men, as well to the riche, as to the poore, to the no litle shame and opprobrye of diuers of vs in these our daies: Wherof many you maye see so addicted, to the obsequies of great and riche men, that in the meane tyme they haue no regarde or respecte to the lyfe or maners of the meane, and poore people, whome Christe hathe chieflye in price and estimation: but nowe we wyll agayne reuerte oure talke to Hooper: all whose lyfe in fyne was suche, that to the churche and ecclesiasticall men, yt mighte be a lighte, and example, to the reste a perpetuall lesson and Sermon. Finallye, howe vertuous and good a Bishoppe he was, ye may conceiue, and knowe euidently by this: that euen as he was hated of none, but of them which were euill, so yet the worste of them all coulde not reproue his lyfe in anye one iote. I haue nowe declared his vse and behauiour abroad in the publyke affayres of þe church: & certainly there appeared in him at home no lesse exāple of a worthy prelates life. For although he bestowed, and conuerted the most part of hys care to the poore lambes of Christ, for the which also he spente hys bloude: yet neuerthelesse there lacked no wante in hym, in instructyng hys chyldren wyth learnyng, and good manners: euen so muche, that ye coulde not discerne, whether he deserued more praise, for his fatherly vsage at home, then for his Bishoply doyngs abroade. For euery where he kepte one religion in the same doctrine and integritie. And verelye, when you should haue entred into the Bishoppes pallaice, you shoulde haue thought you came into some holye temple. Euerye corner therof, beyng so stuffed and full of vertue, piety, silence, loue of God, and readyng of the holye Scriptures. There was not to be seene in hys house any courtly roysting, or ydlenes: verelye lyttle pompe or nothyng at all, no dyshoneste worde, swearyng, or forswearyng. I am ashamed when I compare examples, howe muche hys trade and institucion, differeth from the common sorte of the Popishe Bishoppes, whose lyfe and exaumple, as I woulde God oure Bishoppes would followe: so I woulde wishe that that thother prynces & rulers would imitate the good trade and well doynges of them. And as I greately desyre ydlenes to bee eschewed of all Bishoppes seruauntes: so more I wyshe to be auoyded of the Byshoppos themselues, riote and to muche wealthe.
A passage in Rerum (p. 282) and 1563, calling for bishops voluntarily to reduce their incomes and spending was dropped from 1570 and all subsequent editions. The Rerum, however, goes on to criticize the clerical tax known as 'first fruits', stating that it forced bishops to try to raise revenue.
who, albeit he was promoted vnto two Bishoprikes: yet the reuenue of them bothe, as it was handled, dydde not greately exceede. For he, if any thyng surmounted of hys reuenue, folowyng Paules steppes, bestowed the ouerplus in hospitalitie. I was twise, (as I remember in his house) where in hys common hall I sawe a table spreade wyth good store of meate, and beset full of beggers, and poore folke: And I askyng hys seruauntes what this mente,
An interesting biographical detail is revealed about Foxe: he was in Worcester diocese during Hooper's tenure as bishop. These must have been visits, as Foxe lived at the Howard family manor in Reigate, Surrey, during this period.
Note how Foxe reduces the strength of this passage between his first and second editions.
And after thys sorte and maner, Hooper executed the offyce of a moste carefull, and vigilant pastor, by the space of two yeares and more, so longe as the state of religion in kyng Edwardes tyme dyd safely florysh, and take place: wishing God that all other Byshops would vse the lyke diligence, care, and obseruaunce in theyr function.
In the Rerum there are further passages here attacking the conduct of many bishops (Rerum, p. 283).
And when at the daye of hys appearaunce, (whiche was the fyrste of September)
Hooper had made an earlier appearance before the Privy Council on 29 August (APC IV, p. 335).