Hoper visits his diocese. CHAPTER XVIII. BISHOP HOPER VISITS HIS DIOCESE. THE summer next after his consecration he went down and made a strict visitation of his diocese, fortified with letters from the privy-council; that so his authority might be the greater, and do the more good among an ignorant, superstitious, stubborn clergy and laity. I have seen a manuscript in folio, giving an account of the whole visitation, of the method thereof, and of the condition he found the clergy of the diocese in, as to their learning and abilities. First, he sent a general monitory letter to his clergy, signifying his intention of coming among them, gravely advising them of their office, and what was required of them who were entered into this holy vocation. This letter may be found in the Appendix. When he visited them, he gave them articles concerning Christian religion, to the number of fifty; which bore this title: "Articles concerning Christian religion, given by the reverend father in Christ, John Hoper, bishop of Gloucester, unto all and 217 singular deans, parsons, prebendaries, vicars, curates, and other ecclesiastical ministers within the diocese of Glocester, to be had and retained of them for the unity and agreement, as well as the doctrine of God's word, as also for the confirmation of the ceremonies agreeing with God's word." Let me give the reader but a taste of them. Number His articles of religion. "I. That none do teach any manner of thing to be necessary for the salvation of man, other than what is contained in the books of God's holy Word. "II. That they faithfully teach and instruct the people committed unto their charge, that there is but one God, everlasting, incorporate, almighty, wise and good, the maker of heaven and earth, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also he will be called upon by us. And though one God in essence and unity in the Godhead, yet in the same unity three distinct persons. "III. That they teach all the doctrines contained in the three creeds. "IV. That they teach that the church of God is the congregation of the faithful, wherein the word of God is truly preached, and the sacraments justly ministered, according to the institution of Christ: and that the church of God is not by God's word taken for the multitude or company of men, as of bishops, priests, and such other; but that it is the company of all men hearing God's word, and obeying to the same; lest that any man should be seduced, believing himself to be bound unto an ordinary succession of bishops and priests, but only unto the word of God, and the right use of his sacraments. "V. That though the true church cannot err from the faith, yet nevertheless, forasmuch as no man is free from sin and lies, there is, nor can be any church known, be it never so perfect or holy, but it may err." These are the five first. Then he gave them injunctions to the number of one His injunc and thirty; seven and twenty interrogatories and demands tions and interrogaof the people and parishioners, and of their conversation, to tories. be required and known by the parsons, vicars, and curates. Sixty-one interrogatories and examinations of the ministers, and of their conversation, to be required and known by the parishioners. There were also articles, whereupon all ministers were examined concerning the Ten Commandments, the Articles of faith, and the petitions of the Lord's Prayer; viz. to each minister were these questions put: 1. Concerning 1. How many Commandments. the Com- 2. Where they are written. mandments, 3. Whether they can recite them by heart. 218 Which demands, how easy soever they were, many Holds Worcester in "commen dam." curates and priests, (such was the ignorance of those days), could say but little to. Some could say the Pater Noster in Latin, but not in English. Few could say the Ten Commandments. Few could prove the Articles of faith by Scripture: that was out of their way. The memory of such as have been greatly useful in the church or state ought religiously to be preserved. Of this number was this bishop, who, as he was naturally an active man, put forth all his strength and vigour of body and mind to set forward a good reformation in religion, and afterwards as courageously shed his blood for it. Therefore I cannot part with this good prelate till I have gathered up and reposited here some farther memorials of him. The diocese of Worcester becoming void by the deprivation of Hethe in October 1551, and requiring an industrious man to be set over that see, it was given to Hoper to hold in "commendamf." In the year 1552, in July, he visited that diocese, which he found much out of order. But before he had finished, he was fain to go back to Gloucester, hearing of the ungodly behaviour of the ministers there. He left them the last year seemingly f [See above, p. 205, n. ".] very compliant to be reformed, and took their subscription to his articles of religion. But in his absence, when his back was turned, they became as bad altogether as they were before. Yet he conceived good hopes of the laypeople, if they had but good justices and faithful ministers placed among them, as he wrote to secretary Cecyl; to whom he signified his desire that the Articles of religion, which the king had mentioned to him when last at London, were set forth. Them he intended to make the clergy not only subscribe, (which, being privately done, he saw they regarded not), but to read and confess them openly before their parishioners. At his visitation he constituted certain of his clergy superintendants, who in his absence were to have a constant eye over the inferior clergy. that church After this visit to Gloucester, he returned back again And visits to Worcester in October, and then proceeded in his visita- and see. tion there. Here Johnson and Jolliffeh, two canons of this church, disallowing some doctrines recommended to them by the bishop, (in his articles abovesaid), held a dispute thereupon with him and Mr. Harley', (who was after beyond sea to Louvain, in the be- i "John Harley, was conse- ward bishop of Hereford.) And one of these behaved himself most insolently and disrespectfully to both. - The bishop sent up by Harley a large relation of his visitation in writing, and the matter these canons misliked, and recommended Harley to the secretary to give account of the disputation. This caused him to break out into a complaint for want of good men in the cathedrals: "Ah! Mr. Secretary, that there were good men in the cathedral churches! God then should have much more honour than he hath, the king's majesty more obedience, and the poor people better knowledge: but the realm wanteth light in such churches, whereas of right it ought most to be." In Worcester church he now put in execution the king's injunctions for the removal of superstition. For which there arose a great clamour against him, as though he 219 had spoiled the church; and yet he did no more than the express words of the injunctions commanded to be done. Goes over both his dioceses again. Number The Coun After his visitation was over, he accounted not his work done; but soon went over both his dioceses again, to take account of his clergy, how they profited since his last examining them; and to oversee even his superintendants themselves, to commend their well-doings, and to see what was ill done. So great was his pains and zeal; which made him most truly and experimentally write as he did to the secretary: There is none that eat their bread in the sweat of their face, but such as serve in public vocation. Yours is wonderful, but mine passeth. Now I perceive that private labours be but plays, nor private troubles but ease and quietness. These matters I extract from two original letters of this bishop to secretary Cecyl; which I have thought well worthy of preserving in the Appendix; and there they may be met with. Whereas it was mentioned before, how the bishop had |