his life. Nor was he a stranger to the more light and airy parts of learning, as music and poetry; all which he had digested and made useful; and of all which the reader will have a fair testimony in what will follow.

CHAP. II.

MR. HOOKER continued his studies with all quietness for the space of three years, about which time he entered into sacred orders, being then made deacon and priest, and not long after was appointed to preach at St. Paul's Cross.

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In order to which sermon, he came to London, and immediately to the Shunammite's house a house so called, for that, besides the stipend paid the preacher, there was provision made also for his lodging and diet for two days before, and one day after his sermon. The house was then kept by John Churchman, sometime a draper of good note in Watling-street, upon whom poverty had at last come, like an armed man, and brought him into a necessitous condition; which, though it be a punishment, is not always an argument of God's disfavour; for he was a virtuous man. To this house Mr. Hooker came so wet, so weary, and weather-beaten, that he was never known to express more passion than against a friend that dissuaded him from footing it to London, and for finding him no easier a horse; and at this time also, such a faintness and fear possessed him, that

he would not be persuaded two days' rest and quietness, or any other means could be used to make him able to preach his Sunday's sermon; nevertheless, the diligent attendance of Mrs. Churchman enabled him to perform the office of the day, which was in or about the year 1581.

The kindness of Mrs. Churchman in curing him of his late distemper and cold, was so gratefully apprehended by Mr. Hooker, that he was led to believe all that she said; so that the good man came to be persuaded by her, " that he was a man of a tender constitution ;" and "that it was best for him to have a wife that might prove a nurse to him; such a one as might both prolong his life and make it more comfortable; and such a one she could and would provide for him, if he thought fit to marry." And he, like a true Nathanael, fearing no guile, because he meant none, did give her such a power as Eleazer was trusted with, when he was sent to choose a wife for Isaac; for even so he trusted her to choose for him, promising to return to London and accept of her choice; which he did. Now, the wife provided for him was her daughter Joan, who brought him neither beauty nor portion, and for her conditions, they were too like that wife's, which is by Solomon compared to a dripping house; so that the good man had no reason to rejoice in the wife of his youth; but too just cause to say, with the holy prophet, Wo is me, that I am constrained to have my habitation in the tents of Kedar!

This choice of Mr. Hooker's (if it were his choice), may be wondered at; but let us consider

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that the prophet Ezekiel says, There is a wheel within a wheel; a secret wheel of Providence, guided by his hand, who can bring good out of evil, and who only knows why that blessing, which was denied to patient Job, to meek Moses, was also wanting to our as meek and patient Mr. Hooker. But so it was; and let the reader cease to wonder, for affliction is a divine diet; which, though it be not pleasing to mankind, yet Almighty God hath often, very often, imposed it as good, though bitter physic, to those children whose souls are dearest to him.

And by this marriage the good man was drawn from the tranquillity of his college; from that garden of piety, of pleasure, of peace, and a sweet conversation, into the thorny wilderness of a busy world; which was to the living of Drayton Beauchamp, in Buckinghamshire, being presented by John Cheney, Esq. (then patron of it), the 9th of December, 1584.

In this condition he continued about a year; in which time his two pupils, Sandys and Cranmer, 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. But 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; and the rest of their welcome was so like this, that they stayed but till 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 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, 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

"It might not be wrong to enumerate, among other providential circumstances, the discomfort of Hooker's domestic life. His "restless studies" might bear the more fruit, as he had less temptation to withdraw himself from them."-Keble.