MR. RICHARD HOOKER. 25 And by this marriage the good man was drawn from the tranquillity of his college 54; from that garden of piety, of pleasure, of peace, and a sweet conversation, into the thorny wilderness of a busy world; into those corroding cares that attend a married priest, and a country parsonage; which was Draiton Beauchamp in Buckinghamshire (not far from Ailesbury, and in the diocese of Lincoln); to which he was presented by John Cheny, esq. then patron of it, the 9th of December 1584, where he behaved himself so as to give no occasion of evil, but (as St. Paul adviseth a minister of God) "in much patience, in afflictions, in anguishes, in necessities; "in poverty, and no doubt in long-suffering;" yet troubling no man with his discontents and wants. And in this condition he continued about a year, in which time his two pupils, Edwin Sandys and George Cranmer 55, took a journey to see their tutor; where they found him with a book in his hand (it was the Odes of Horace), he being then, like humble and innocent Abel, tending his small allotment of sheep in a common field, which he told his pupils he was forced to do then, for that his servant was gone home to dine, and assist his wife to do some necessary household business. When his servant returned and released him, then his two pupils attended him unto his house, where their best entertainment was his quiet company, which was presently denied them; for "Richard was called to rock the cradle 56;" and the rest of their welcome was so like this, that they stayed but till the next morning, which was time enough to discover and pity their tutor's condition; and they having in that time rejoiced in the remembrance, and then paraphrased on many 54 [The college at that time was less tranquil than usual: as might be expected after the strong measures taken in 1568. Mr. Fulman's papers contain many instances, besides those which have been adduced, of the turbulence and faction by which it was long infested.] 55 [Originally, "were returned from 66 travel, and took a journey," &c. Now it appears from Fulman's papers, vol. VIII. that Sandys was made regent M. A. July 8, 1583; Cranmer, not till July 13, 1589. 56 ["This narrative reminds me "of a domestic picture in the Life "of Melancthon, who was seen by 66 one of his friends with one hand "rocking the cradle of his child, "with the other holding a book." Zouch, Life of Walton, subjoined to Walton's Lives, II. p. 370, note.] of the innocent recreations of their younger days, and other like diversions, and thereby given him as much present comfort as they were able, they were forced to leave him to the company of his wife Joan, and seek themselves a quieter lodging for next night. But at their parting from him, Mr. Cranmer said, "Good tutor, I am sorry your lot is fallen in no better ground as to your parsonage: and more sorry "that your wife proves not a more comfortable companion "after you have wearied yourself in your restless studies." To whom the good man replied, "My dear George, if saints "have usually a double share in the miseries of this life, I "that am none, ought not to repine at what my wise Creator "hath appointed for me, but labour (as indeed I do daily) to "submit mine to his will, and possess my soul in patience and "peace." At their return to London, Edwin Sandys acquaints his father 57, who was then Archbishop of York, with his tutor's sad condition, and solicits for his removal to some benefice that might give him a more quiet and a more comfortable subsistence; which his father did most willingly grant him, when it should next fall into his power. And not long after this time, which was in the year 158558, Mr. Alvie (Master of the Temple) died, who was a man of a strict life, of great learning, and of so venerable behaviour, as to gain so high a degree of love and reverence from all men, that he was generally known by the name of Father Alvie. And at the Temple reading, next after the death of this Father Alvie, he the said Archbishop of York being then at dinner with the judges, the reader and benchers of that society, met with a general condolement for the death of Father Alvie, and with a high commendation of his saint-like life, and of his great merit both towards God and man; and as they bewailed his death, so they wished for a like pattern of virtue and learning to succeed him. And here came in a fair occasion for the bishop to commend Mr. Hooker to Father Alvie's place, which he did with so effectual an earnestness, and that seconded with so many other testimonies of his worth, that Mr. Hooker MR. RICHARD HOOKER. 27 was sent for from Draiton Beauchamp to London, and there the mastership of the Temple proposed unto him by the bishop, as a greater freedom from his country cares, the advantage of a better society, and a more liberal pension than his country parsonage did afford him. But these reasons were not powerful enough to incline him to a willing acceptance of it: his wish was rather to gain a better country living, where he might "see God's blessing spring out of the earth, and be "free from noise" (so he exprest the desire of his heart), "and eat that bread which he might more properly call his own in privacy and quietness." But, notwithstanding this averseness, he was at last persuaded to accept of the bishop's proposal; and was by patent for life made Master of the Temple the 17th of March, 158559, he being then in the thirty-fourth year of his age. vours for of the 60 [But before any mention was made of Mr. Hooker for this Endeaplace, two other divines were nominated to succeed Alvey; Travers to whereof Mr. Walter Travers, a disciplinarian in his judgment be Master and practice, and preacher here in the afternoons, was chief, Temple. and recommended by Alvey himself on his deathbed, to be master after him: and no marvel, for Alvey's and Travers's principles did somewhat correspond. And many gentlemen of the house desired him; which desire the lord treasurer Burghley was privy to, and by their request, and his own inclination towards him, being a good preacher, he moved the queen to allow of him; for the disposal of the place was in her. But Archbishop Whitgift knew the man, and his hot temper and principles, from the time he was fellow in Trinity college, and had observed his steps ever after he knew how turbulently he had carried himself at the college, how he had disowned the English established church and episcopacy, and went to Geneva, and afterwards to Antwerp, 59 This you may find in the Temple records. William Ermstead was Master of the Temple at the dissolution of the priory, and died 2 Eliz. Richard Alvey, Bat. Divinity, Pat. 13 Feb. 2 Éliz. Magister sive Custos Domus et Ecclesiæ novi Templi; died 27 Eliz. Richard Hooker succeeded that year by patent, in terminis, as That year Dr. Balgey succeeded 60 [The portions between brackets are the additions of Mr. Strype, who revised the Life of Hooker for the edition of his works printed 1705.] to be ordained minister, as he was by Villers 61 and Cartwright and others, the heads of a congregation there; and so came back again more confirmed for the discipline. And knowing how much the doctrine and converse of the master to be placed here would influence the gentlemen, and their influence and authority prevail in all parts of the realm, where their habitations and estates were, that careful prelate made it Opposed by his endeavour to stop Travers' coming in; and had a learned man in his view, and of principles more conformable and agreeable to the church, namely one Dr. Bond, the queen's chaplain, and one well known to her. She well understanding the importance of this place, and knowing by the archbishop what Travers was, by a letter he timely writ to her majesty upon the vacancy, gave particular order to the treasurer to discourse with the archbishop about it. the arch bishop. The archbi The lord treasurer, hereupon, in a letter, consulted with the said archbishop, and mentioned Travers to him as one desired by many of the house. But the archbishop in his answer, plainly signified to his lordship that he judged him altogether unfit, for the reasons mentioned before; and that he had recommended to the queen Dr. Bond as a very fit person. But however she declined him, fearing his bodily strength to perform the duty of the place, as she did Travers for other causes. And by laying both aside, she avoided giving disgust to either of those great men. This Dr. Bond seems to be that Dr. Nicholas Bond that afterwards was President of Magdalen college, Oxon, and was much abused by Martin Mar-prelate. These particulars I have collected from a letter of the archbishop to the queen, and other letters that passed between the archbishop and the lord treasurer about this affair, while the mastership was vacant. The passages whereof, taken verbatim out of their said letters, may deserve here to be specified for the satisfaction of the readers. And first, in the month of August, upon the death of the former master, the archbishop wrote this letter unto the queen: "It may please your majesty to be advertised, that the shop to the << mastership of the Temple is vacant by the death of Mr. queen con 61 [Of whom see some account in Strype, Whitg. I. 477.] MR. RICHARD HOOKER. 29 vacancy theTemple. "Alvey. The living is not great, yet doth it require a learned, cerning the "discreet, and wise man, in respect of the company there: any of "who being well directed and taught may do much good "elsewhere in the commonwealth, as otherwise also they may "do much harm. And because I hear there is a suit made "unto your highness for one Mr. Travers, I thought it my "duty to signify unto your majesty, that the said Travers "hath been and is one of the chief and principal authors of "dissension in this church, a contemner of the book of "Prayers, and of other orders by authority established; an "earnest seeker of innovation; and either in no degree of the ministry at all, or else ordered beyond the seas; not accord"ing to the form in this church of England used. Whose placing in that room, especially by your majesty, would "greatly animate the rest of that faction, and do very much "harm in sundry respects. "Your majesty hath a chaplain of your own, Dr. Bond, "a man in my opinion very fit for that office, and willing "also to take pains therein, if it shall please your highness "to bestow it upon him. Which I refer to your most gra"cious disposition; beseeching Almighty God long to bless, prosper, and preserve your majesty to his glory, and all our "comforts. "Your majesty's most faithful servant and chaplain, 'From Croyden, "the day of August, 1584." "Jo. CANTUAR." Next, in a letter of the archbishop to the lord treasurer, dated from Lambeth, Sept. 14, 1584, he hath these words: lord trea "I beseech your lordship to help such an one to the master- The archbi"ship of the Temple, as is known to be conformable to the shop to the "laws and orders established; and a defender not a depraver surer. "of the present state and government. He that now readeth "there is nothing less, as I of mine own knowledge and exIperience can testify. Dr. Bond is desirous of it, and I know "not a fitter man." The lord treasurer in a letter to the archbishop, dated from Oatlands (where the queen now was), Sept. 17, 1584, thus wrote: "The queen hath asked me what I thought of Travers The lord treasurer to the archbishop. |