place, though it were not a full maintenance, yet with the contribution of - his uncle, and the continued pension of his patron, the good bishop, gave

him a comfortable subsistence. And in this condition he continued unto the eighteenth year of his age, still increasing in learning and prudence, and so much in humility and piety, that he seemed to be filled with the Holy Ghost, and even, like St. John Baptist, to be sandified from his mother's womb, who did often bless the day in which she bare him.

About this time of his age he fell into a dangerous sickness, which lasted two months'; all which time his mother, having notice of it, did in her hourly prayers as earnestly beg his life of God, as the mother of St. Auguftine did that he might become a true Christian, and their prayers were both so heard as to be granted. Which Mr. Hooker would often mention

with:

I i 2

Having succeeded Dr. Cole as President of Corpus Christi College in Oxford, he died
May 21, 1607. Whilst he was public professor of divinity at Oxford, he was involved
in a controversy “on the Authority of the Scripture Chronology," with Hugh Broughton,
a vain and arrogant man, though the first scholar of his age in oriental literature. From
the active part which he took in the conference at Hampton Court, he is clafled amongst
" the pillars of puritanism and the grand favourers of nonconformity.”. Yet it ought ne-
ver to be forgotten, that to his exertions we are principally indebted for that noble version
of the Bible which is now in use. Fuller asserts, “ that his disaffection to the discipline esta-.
“blished in England was not so great as some bishops did suspect, or as more nonconformists
o did believe. No doubt, he desired the abolishing of some ceremonies for the ease of the
« conscience of others, to which in his own practice he did willingly submit, constantly wear-
“ing hood and surplice, and kneeling at the facrament. On his death-bed he earnestly desired
« abfolution, according to the form of the church of England, and received it from Dr.
“ Holland, whose hand he affectionately kissed in expression of the joy he received there-
“ by.” ( Fuller's Church History, Book X. p. 48.)

It has been related that John Reynolds was brought up in the church of Rome, whilst his brother William was educated a Protestant: and that the two brothers, meeting together one day, disputed with so much energy, that each of them changed his religion on conviction from the other's arguments. This circumstance gave occasion to a copy of verses, concluding with this distich,

“ Quod genus hoc pugnæ est ? ubi victus gaudet uterque,
“ Et fimul alteruter se superäle dolet."

To this William Reynolds has been ascribed an English New Testament in quarto, printed at Rheims, in 1582, translated from the vulgate Latin, and retaining many Hebrew, Greek, and Latin words, with an apparent intention of rendering the text less intelligible to common readers.

with much joy, and pray that he“ might never live to occasion any forrow " to so good a mother'; whom, he would often say, he loved so dearly, that “ he would endeavour to be good, even as much for her fake, as for his 65 own.”

As soon as he was perfectly recovered from his sickness, he took a journey from Oxford to Exeter, to satisfy and see his good mother, being accompanied with a countryman and companion of his own college, and both on foot; which was then either more in fashion, or want of

money or their hunnility made it so : But on foot they went, and took Salisbury in their way, purposely to see the good bishop, who made Mr. Hooker and his companion dine with him at his own table; which Mr Hooker boasted of with much joy and gratitude when he saw his mother and friends : and at the bishop's parting with him, the bishop gave him good counsel, and his benediction, but forgot to give him money ; which when the bishop had considered, he sent a servant in all haste to call Richard back to him ; and at Richard's return the bishop said to him,“ Richard, I sent for you

back to lend you a horse which hath carried me many a mile, and, I thank God, with “ much ease? ;” and presently delivered into his hand a walking-staff, with which he professed he had travelled through many parts of Germany. And he said, Richard, I do not give, but lend you my horse; be sure you be

honest, and bring my horse back to me at your return this way to Ox“ ford. And I do now give you ten groats“, to bear your charges to Ex

eter; and here is ten groats more, which I charge you to deliver to your mother, and tell her, I send her a bishop's benediction with it, and beg

the

* the continuance of her prayers for me. And if you bring my horse back to

me, I will give you ten groats more, to carry you on foot to the college: “ and so God bless you, good Richard."

And this, you may believe, was performed by both parties. But alas ! the next news that followed Mr. Hooker to Oxford was, that his learned and charitable patron had changed this for a better life. Which may

be believed, for as he lived, so he died, in devout meditation and prayer ; and in both so zealously, that it became a religious question,“ Whether his “ last ejaculations or his soul did first enter into heaven?”

And now Mr. Hooker became a man of sorrow and fear: of forrow, for the loss of so dear and comfortable a patron; and of fear for his future subsistence. But Mr. Cole raised his fpirits from this dejection, by bidding him go cheerfully to his studies, and assuring him, that he should neither want food nor raiment (which was the utmost of his hopes), for he would become his patron.

And so he was for about nine months, or not much longer; for about that time the following accident did befal Mr. Hooker.

Edwin

5“ It is hard to say whether his soul or his ejaculations arrived first in heaven, feeing he " prayed dying, and died praying.” ( Fuller.)

-The circumstances that attended his death are related in “ Prince's Worthies,” p. 428. The following beautiful lines upon him were written by Fuller:

“ Holy learning, sacred arts,
“ Gifts of nature, strength of parts,
“ Fluent grace, an hunible mind,
“ Worth reform'd, and wit refin'd,
“ Sweetness both in tongue and pen,
“ Insight both in books and men,
“ Hopes in wo, and fears in weal,
“ Humble knowledge, sprightly zeal,
“ A lib'ral heart, and free from gall,
« Close to friend and true to all,
" Height of courage in truth's duel,
“ Are the stones that made this JEWEL.
“ Let him that would be truly bleft
“ Wear this Jewel in his breaft."

FULLER'S Abel redivivus, p. 314.

Edwin Sandys (then Bishop of London, and after Archbishop of York) had also been in the days of Queen Mary forced, by forsaking this, to seek fafety in another nation; where, for many years, Bishop Jewel and he were companions at bed and board in Germany“; and where, in this their exile, they did often eat the bread of sorrow, and by that means they there began such a friendship, as time did not blot out, but lasted till the death of Bishop Jewel, which was in 1571. A little before which time the two bishops meeting, Jewel began a story of his Richard Hooker, and in it gave such a character of his learning and manners, that though Bishop Sandys was educated in Cambridge', where he had obliged, and had many friends ; yet his resolution was, that his son Edwin' should be sent to Corpus Chrifti college in Oxford, and by all means

be

• Dr. Edwin Sandys was born at Hawkshead in Westmoreland, where he founded a grammar-school. When he was reproached with being neither gentleman nor honest man, he answered " that he would not contend for gentry, but would defend his honesty; that his “ father was an honest man, and served the King, and was a justice of peace in his country.” He and Jewel were two of the eight divines appointed by Queen Elizabeth to hold a conference with an equal number of Romanists, before the two Houses of Parliament, on certain great controversial points of their religion. While he was Archbishop of York, he spent the greater part of his time in retirement at Southwell. A very numerous family demanded from him the utmost economy. Hence he has been charged with excessive parsimony, though in the inscription on his monument, in the church of Southwell, he is called “Summe liberalis, atque “ mifericors, hospitalissimus.” “He was,” saith Fuller," an excellent and painful preacher, “ of a pious and godly life, which increased in his old age ; so that by a great and good ftride, “ while he had one foot in the grave he had the other in heaven. It is hard to say, whether “ he was more eminent in his own virtues, or more happy in his flourishing posterity.” His sermons, preached between 1550 and 1576, are said to have been superior to those of his cotemporaries, and are yet admired as patterns of eloquence and fine writing.

d First at Francfort, afterward at Strasburgh and Zurich, in which two last places they resided in the house of Peter Martyr.

· At St. John's college in Cambridge.

* Afterward Sir Edwin Sandys, prebendary of York, and the author of “ Europæ Specuis lum; or, a View or Survey of the State of Religion in the Westerne Parts of the World ; “ wherein the Romane Religion, and the pregnant Policies of the Church of Rome to sup*** port the fame, are notably displayed with some other memorable Discoveries and Memora

« tions.

be pupil to Mr. Hooker, though his son Edwin was then almost of the same age: For the bishop said, “ I will have a tutor for my son, that shall “ teach him learning by instruction, and virtue by example ; and my

greatest care shall be of the last; and (God willing) this Richard Hooker “ shall be the man into whose hands I will commit my Edwin.” And the bishop did so about twelve months after this resolution.

And doubtless, as to these two, a better choice could not be made; for Mr. Hooker was now in the nineteenth year of his age; had spent five in the university; and had, by a constant unwearied diligence, attained unto a perfection in all the learned languages ; by the help of which, an excellent tutor,and his unintermitted study, he had made the subtilty of all the arts easy and familiar to himself, and useful for the discovery of such learning as lay

hid

~ tions. Hagæ Comitis, 1629." This work is dedicated to Archbishop Whitgift. In the address to the reader, the editor styles the author “ ingenuous, ingenious, and acute : a gentle“ man who, as I have been credibly informed, both heretofore deserved right well of his “ countrye in the service of the Prince of Orange, and the Lords of the States General, his Ma“ jesty of England's fast friends and allies.” The reader will not be displeased with the following specimen of his mode of writing. He thus describes the various contrarieties of the state and church of Rome. “What pomp, what riot, to that of their cardinals ? What seve“rity of life comparable to that of their heremits and capuchins ? Who wealthier than their “ prelates ? who poorer by vow and profession than their mendicants ? On the one side of the “ street, a cloister of virgins : on the other, a stye of courtezans, with public toleration. This

day all in masks, with all looseness and foolery: to-morrow all in processions, whipping thema “ selves till the blood follow. On one door an excommunication, throwing to hell all trans

gressours: on another a jubilee, or full discharge from all transgressions. Who learneder in “ all kinds of sciences than their Jesuits? What thing more ignorant than their ordinary mass“ priests? What prince so able to prefer his servants and followers as the Pope, and in so

great multitude ? Who able to take deeper or readier revenge on his enemies? What pride “ equal unto his, making kings kiss his pontafle? What humility greater than his, shriving “ himself daily on his knees to an ordinary priest?” Page 39.

Sir Edwin Sandys was the intimate friend of Mr. Nicholas Ferrar. On a large silver flagon belonging to the communion-plate at Little Gidding, are these inscriptions: On the handle, - For the church of Little Giddinge in Huntington (layer.” And on the bottom of the flagon, " What Sir Edwin Sandys bequeathed to the rememberance of friendship, his friend hath con« fecrated to the honour of God's service.” He died in 1629, leaving behind him five sons, all of whom, except one, forgetting their allegiance to their King, joined the Parliament in the beginning of the rebellion; his second son, Colonel Edwin Sandys, particularly dif. gracing his family by acts of the most favage inhumanity against the royalists.