“What Scripture doth plainly deliver, to that first place both of credit and obedience is due; the next whereunto is whatsoever any man can necessarily conclude by force of reason; after these the voice of the Church succeedeth. That which the Church by her ecclesiastical authority shall probably think and define to be true or good, must in congruity of reason over-rule all other inferior judgments whatsoever” ( Laws, Book V, 8:2; Folger Edition 2:39,8-14).
It's not a 3-legged stool. It's a chain. The anchor link is Scripture. Hanging from that is Reason - and that would be Reason based on a reading of Scripture, not knowledge independent of Scripture. Finally, hanging from that is the Tradition or Authority of the Church, but that again must be based on the Church's use of Scripture and Reason. The 3-legged stool is a false metaphor that diminishes the role of Scripture and accord to reason and tradition a status that neither Hooker nor other theologians ever intended.
Thank you for the refinement to the idea which you post presents.
You are correct. Too often I have heard that metaphor used as an excuse to override or ignore a scriptural truth.