d, had shown by his conduct in his diocese that in one instance at
least doctrinal fanaticism was compatible with the loftiest
excellence. While the great world was scrambling for the church
property, Hooper was found petitioning the council for leave to
augment impoverished livings out of his own income.[440] In the hall
of his palace at Gloucester a profuse hospitality was offered daily to
those who were most in need of it. The poor of the city were invited
by relays to solid meat dinners, and the bishop with the courtesy of a
gentleman dined with them, and treated them with the same respect as
if they had been the highest in the land. He was one of the first
persons arrested after Mary's accession, and the cross of persecution
at once happily made his peace with Ridley. In an affectionate
interchange of letters, the two confessors exhorted each other
{p.191} to constancy in the end which both foresaw, determining "if
they could not overthrow, at least, to shake those high altitudes" of
spiritual tyranny.[441] The Fleet prison had now been Hooper's house
for eighteen months. At first, on payment of heavy fees to the warden,
he had lived in some degree of comfort; but as soon as his deprivation
was declared, Gardiner ordered that he should be confined in one of
the common prisoners' wards; where "with a wicked man and a wicked
woman" for his companions, with a bed of straw and a rotten
counterpane, the prison sink on one side of his cell and Fleet ditch
on the other, he waited till it would please parliament to permit the
dignitaries of the Church to murder him.[442]

[Footnote 440: _Privy Council Register_, Edward VI.
_MS._]

[Footnote 441: Correspondence between Hooper and
Ridley: Foxe, vol. vi.]

[Footnote 442: Account of Hooper's Imprisonment, by
himself: Foxe, vol. vi.]

These were the two persons with whom the Marian persecution opened. On
their appearance in the court, they were required briefly to make
their submission. They attempted to argue; but they were told that
when parliament had determined a thing, private men were not to call
it in question, and they were allowed twenty-four hours to make up
their minds. As they were leaving the church Hooper was heard to say,
"Come, brother Rogers, must we two take this matter first in hand and
fry these faggots?" "Yea, sir, with God's grace," Rogers