and Peter Martyr, and
the most celebrated foreign reformers, were consulted on this important
question: and a compromise, with great difficulty, was at last made,
that Hooper should not be obliged to wear commonly the obnoxious robes,
but should agree to be consecrated in them, and to use them during
cathedral service;[*] a condescension not a little extraordinary in a
man of so inflexible a spirit as this reformer.

The same objection which had arisen with regard to the episcopal habit,
had been moved against the raiment of the inferior clergy; and the
surplice in particular, with the tippet and corner cap, was a great
object of abhorrence to many of the popular zealots.[**]

* Burnet, vol. ii. p. 152. Heylin, p. 90.

** Strype, vol. i. p. 416.

In vain was it urged, that particular habits, as well as postures and
ceremonies, having been constantly used by the clergy, and employed
in religious service, acquire a veneration in the eyes of the people,
appear sacred in their apprehensions, excite their devotion, and
contract a kind of mysterious virtue, which attaches the affections of
men to the national and established worship: that in order to produce
this effect, a uniformity in these particulars is requisite, and even a
perseverance, as far as possible, in the former practice: and that the
nation would be happy, if, by retaining these inoffensive observances,
the reformers could engage the people to renounce willingly what was
absurd or pernicious in the ancient superstition. These arguments, which
had influence with wise men, were the very reasons which engaged the
violent Protestants to reject the habits. They pushed matters to a total
opposition with the church of Rome; every compliance, they said, was a
symbolizing with Antichrist.[*] And this spirit was carried so far by
some reformers, that, in a national remonstrance, made afterwards by the
church of Scotland against these habits, it was asked, "What has
Christ Jesus to do with Belial? What has darkness to do with light? If
surplices, corner caps, and tippets have been badges cf idolaters in
the very act of their idolatry, why should the preacher of Christian
liberty, and the open rebuker of all superstition, partake with the
dregs of the Romish beast? Yea, who is there that ought not rather to be
afraid of taking in his hand, or on his forehead, the print and mark of
that odious beast?"[**] But this application was rejected by the English
churc