Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 5.djvu/511

1555.] to the trial. She found that both in him and in his creed there was more than she had supposed; and 'perceiving the cause of his coming, she lamented his case with tears, and showed him all the friendship she could.'

At five in the evening he arrived at Gloucester. The road, for a mile outside the town, was lined with people, and the mayor was in attendance, with an escort, to prevent a rescue. But the feeling was rather of awe and expectation, and those who loved Hooper best knew that the highest service which he could render to his faith was to die for it.

A day's interval of preparation was allowed him, with a private room. He was in the custody of the sheriff; 'and there was this difference observed between the keepers of the bishops' prisons and the keepers of the Crown prisons, that the bishops' keepers were ever cruel; the keepers of the Crown prisons showed, for the most part, such favour as they might.' After a sound night's rest, Hooper rose early, and passed the morning in solitary prayer. In the course of the day, young Sir Anthony Kingston, one of the commissioners appointed to superintend the execution, expressed a wish to see him. Kingston was an old acquaintance, Hooper having been the means of bringing him out of evil ways. He entered the room unannounced. Hooper was on his knees, and, looking round at the intruder, did not at first know him.