EXCERPTS
WARNING!
This page contains graphic descriptions of actual historical events of persecutions under the Roman Catholic Church and may be offensive to some. Do not proceed unless you realize this and are so prepared.
We take no pleasure in presenting these facts, but we must never forget. If you believe you may be offended, stop reading now.[1]
THE MARTYRDOM OF JOHN HOOPER, BISHOP OF WORCHESTER
September 1557
There had been many executions done under the authority of the Inquisition.[2]
While others had kept silence in total fear, Bishop John Hooper had publically stated and preached from his pulpit that accorcing to the Dictates of his Conscience he did not wish to live under the authority of the Pope of Rome. He had stated and preached publically that he no longer wished as a Christian to be any more a part of their "antichristian church" because his Conscience forbad it.
"Bloody Mary", an obedient Roman Catholic, was queen of England at this time. His trial was conducted and he was found guilty of "heresy". The heresy of rejecting the Popes' authority. After a long imprisonment he was sentenced to die by being publicly burned at the stake. What follows is a description of the events.
"So he went forward led by two sheriffs (as it were a lamb to the place of slaughter) in a gown of his host's, his hat upon his head, and a staff in his his hand to stay him withal: for the grief of the sciatica, taken in prison, had caused him somewhat to halt. He would look very cheerfully on such as he knew: and he was never known, during his time amongst them, to look with so cheerful and reddish a countenance as he did at that present. When he came to that place appointed that he should die, smilingly he beheld the stake and the 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 trees, were replenished with people; and in the chamber over the college gate stood the wolvish blood-suckers and turnelings, the priests of the college.
"He kneeled down forasmuch as he could not be suffered to speak to the people. After he was somewhat entered into his prayer, a box was brought and laid before him on a stool, with his pardon (or at least-wise it was feigned to be his pardon) from the Queen, if he would turn. At the sight whereof he cried, 'If you love my soul, away with it! If you love my soul, away with it!'.
"Prayer being done, he prepared himself to 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 obediently submitted himself; and his doublet, hose and petticoat 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 bag 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 it with tears, during the time of his pains), he went up to the stake. The hoop of iron prepared for his middle was brought, but when they offered to have bound his neck and legs with the other two hoops of iron, he utterly refused them.
"Thus being ready, he looked upon all the people, of whom he might well be seen (for he was both tall, and stood also on a high stool), and in every corner there was nothing to be seen but weeping and sorrowful people. Then lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven, he prayed to himself. By and by, him that was appointed to make the fire, came to him, and did ask of him forgiveness. Of whom he asked why he should forgive him, saying, that he never knew any offense he had committed aginst him. 'O sir!' said the man, 'I am appointed to make the fire!', 'Therein', said Master Hooper, 'thou dost nothing offend me; God forgive thee thy sins, and do thine office, I pray thee.'
"Then the reeds were cast up, and he received two bundles of them in his own hands, embraced them, kissed them, and put under either arm one of them, and showed with his hand how the rest should be bestowed, and pointed to the place where any did lack.
"Anon, command was given that the fire should be set to. But because there were put to no fewer green faggots than two horses could carry upon their backs, it kindled not by and by, and was a pretty while also before it took the reeds upon the faggots. At length it burned about him, but the wind having full strength in that place (it was a lowering and cold morning), it blew the flame from him, so that in a manner he was nothing but touched by the fire.
"Within a space after, a few dry faggots were brought, and a new fire kindled with faggots (for there were no more reeds), and that burned at the nether parts, but had small power above, because of the wind, saving that it did burn his hair, and swell his skin a little. In the time of which fire even as at the first flame, he prayed, saying mildly and not very loud, (but as one without pains), 'O Jesus, the Son of David, have mercy upon me, and receive my soul!' After the second was spent, he did wipe both his eyes with his hands, and beholding the people, he said with an indifferent loud voice, 'For Gods' Love good people let me have more fire!' And all this while his nether parts did burn: for the faggots were so few, that the flame did not burn at his upper parts.
"The third fire was kindled within a while after, which was more extreme than the other two: and then the bladders of gunpowder brake, which did him small good, they were so placed, and the wind had such power. In the fire he prayed with somewhat a loud voice, 'Lord Jesus have mercy upon me! Lord Jesus receive my spirit!' And these were the last words he was heard to utter. But when he was black in the mouth, and his tongue swollen, that he could not speak, yet his lips went until they were shrunk to the gums: and he knocked his breast with his hands, until one of his arms fell off, and he knocked still with the other, what time the fat, water, and blood, dropped out at his fingers' ends, until by renewing of the fire his strength was gone, and his hand did cleave fast, in knocking, to the iron upon his breast. So immediately, bowing forward he gave up the spirit.
"Thus was he three-quarters of an hour or more in the fire. Even as a lamb, patiently he abode the extremity thereof, neither moving forwards, backwards, nor to any side: but he died as quietly as a child in his bed. And he now reigneth, I doubt not, as a blessed martyr in the Joys of Heaven, prepared for the faithful in Christ before the foundation of the world; for whose constancy all Christians are bound to Praise God."
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FOOTNOTES
[1
Later, it became "silent reading", and then the Book was no longer read but encouraged. Today it is largely ignored and sometimes ridiculed.
[2
Translations: 
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