maried at Zurike) and preached in London euery day ones at the least, 

who being a man verye eloquent in the english tongue, great multitude and concurse of people came daily to heare hym. He in his Sermōs, according to his accustomed maner, corrected synne, and sharpely inueyed against the worlde, and corruption of the church. The people in great flockes and companies, daily came to heare his voice as the moste melodious sounde and tune of Orpheus harpe. For I my selfe haue ben oftentymes present, when he preaching, the church hath bene so ful, that none could enter further then the dores thereof. And this besides other his giftes, and qualities, I especially meruaile at, that euen as he beganne, so he continued still vnto his liues ende. For neyther coulde his labour and paine taking, breake hym, neither promotion chaunge him, neither deintye fare corrupte or applaude him: his lyfe was so pure and good, that no kinde of slaunder (although diuers wente aboute to reproue it) could fasten any faute vpon him. He was of body strong: his health whole and sounde, his wit very pregnant, his stomacke able to suffer all sinister fortune, and aduersitie. He was constant of iudgement, a good iusticer, spare of dyet, sparer of wordes, and sparest of tyme. He was very liberall in keping of house, & sometime more free, then his lyuing woulde extende vnto. He bare in his countenance and talke alwayes a certayn seuere & graue grace, which I wished oftētymes to haue bene more popular & vulgarlike in him: but doutles he knew what he had to doe best him self. But this I note, for that there was ones an honeste Citizen, and to me vnknowen, whiche hauing in himselfe a certaine grudge of conscience, came to his dore for his councell: but being abashed at his austere loke, durst not come in, but departing, sought remedy of his greued wounde at other mens handes, whiche he afterwarde by the helpe of almighty God did fynde and obteyne. Therfore in my iudgement, suche as are appoynted and made gouernoures ouer the flocke of Christ, to teach and instructe them, ought so to frame theyr lyfe, manners, countenance, and external behauiour, that as therby they shoulde not shewe themselues to familiar and affable: so in likewyse they should not appeare more lofty and austere, then appertaineth to the edifyeng of Christes flocke. But I dout not this to bee done in him, without his greate consideration: for it semed to him peraduenture, that this licentious and vnbrideled lyfe, ought to be chastened, not onelye with wordes and discipline, but also with the graue and seuere countenance of good men.

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After he had thus practised him, in this popular and common kynde of preachyng: at length, and that not without the great profite of many, he was called to preach before the kinges maiestie, and soone after made byshop of Gloucester, by the kynges commaundemente. In that office he continued two yeres, and behaued him-

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self so well, that his very enemies (except it wer for his good doynges, and sharpe correcting of synne) coulde finde no faute with him: and after warde he was made Bishop of Worcester. But a gods name I cannot tell what vnlucky and sinister contention, concernyng the order and the consecration of Bishops, and of theyr apparell, with such other like small trifles, began to perturbe, and obnubilate the good lucky beginning of this godly Bishop. For as yet in the church of England, besides other ceremonies, more ambitious then profitable, they vsed to weare suche vesture and apparell, as the olde Bishops were wonte to doe. First a Shemer, and vnder that a white rochette, and a foure forked cappe. For these, and such like causes, (as he thought) tendyng more to superstition then otherwise: as he could neuer abide them, so in no wise he coulde weare thē. And therfore made supplication to þ^e kings maiestie, desiring his highnes of al goodnesse, either to displace him of his bishoprike, or els to dispense with him from doyng, and wearyng of such ceremonious orders, and changeable garmēts: at whose peticion the king streight waies by his graunte dispensed with him. The copy of which graunt foloweth in these wordes.

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RIght reuerend father, and right trusty and welbeloued, we grete you well. Whereas we by the aduise of our counsail, haue called and chosen our righte welbeloued and well worthy master Iohn Hoper, professor of diuinitie, to be our byshop of Gloucester: as well for his great knowlege, depe iudgement, and long study both in the scriptures, and other prophane learning, as also for his good discretion, redy vtterance, and honest life, for that kynde of vocation: to the intent all our louyng subiectes which ar in his said charge and els wher, might by his sound and true doctrine, learne the better their duetie towardes god, their obedience towardes vs, and loue towards their neighbors: from cōsecratyng of whom we vnderstand you do stay, because he would haue you omitte and let passe certain rites and ceremonies, offensiue to his conscience, wherby ye thynke you should fall in to the premunire of our laws: we haue thought good by the aduise aforesaid, to dispense and discharge you of all maner of dangers, penalties, and forfaitures, you should run and bee in, any maner of waie, by omittyng any of the same. And these our letters shall bee your sufficiente warrant and discharge therefore.

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Yeuen vnder oure signet at our Castell of
Wyndsore, the v. of August, the. iiii. yeare
of our reigne.

E. Somerset. VV. VViltshire. VV. North.
VV. Paget. A. VVingfield. N. VVotton.