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it is impossible to refrain from quoting: it is as follows. After dwelling on Hooker's learning, Walton goes on to say

"And for his behaviour, amongst other testimonies this still remains of him, that in four years he was but twice absent from the chapel-prayers; and that his behaviour there was such as shewed an awful reverence of that God which he then worshipped and prayed to; giving all outward testimonies that his affections were set on heavenly things. This was his behaviour towards God; and for that to man, it is observable that he was never known to be angry, or passionate, or extreme in any of his desires; never heard to repine or dispute with Providence, but, by a quiet gentle submission and resignation of his will to the wisdom of his Creator, bore the burthen of the day with patience; never heard to utter an uncomely word; and by this, and a grave behaviour, which is a divine charm, he begot an early reverence unto his person, even from those that at other times, and in other companies, took a liberty to cast off that strictness of behaviour and discourse that is required in a collegiate life. And when he took any liberty to be pleasant, his wit was never blemished with scoffing, or the utterance of any conceit that bordered upon, or might

beget a thought of looseness in his hearers. Thus mild, thus innocent and exemplary was his behaviour in his college; and thus this good man continued till his death, still increasing in learning, in patience, and piety."1

Richard took his M.A. degree and was admitted Fellow of Corpus Christi College in the year 1577. He was by far the most distinguished member of that college admitted during Dr. Cole's presidency, and probably the most distinguished-the author of The Christian Year excepted-admitted at any time during its history. In addition to what has been said above, there are but two events during his college life which remain to be mentioned. In October 1579, for some unexplained reason, both Richard Hooker and Dr. Reynolds, with others, were expelled the college for a few weeks. The letter of the latter is given by Walton, in which complaint is made of "the unrighteous dealing of one of our college, who hath taken upon him, against all law and reason, to expel out of our house both me and Mr. Hooker, and three other of our fellows, for doing that which by oath we were bound to do." 2 The most probable reason for this is that Hooker and his friends had offended Dr. John Barfoote, the vice-president, an ardent 1 Walton's Life, p. 15. 2 Ibid. p. 20.

Puritan. However, the expelled Fellows were speedily restored by the Visitor, Bishop Watson. The other event of moment was, that on the illness of Thomas Kingsmill,1 the professor of Hebrew, Richard Hooker was appointed, on the recommendation of the Earl of Leicester, chancellor of the university, as his deputy. Hooker read Hebrew lectures in the university until his final departure. He took holy orders, it is thought, about 1581.

1 "By reason of a distemper that had then seized the brain of Mr. Kingsmill."-Walton's Life, p. 19.

CHAPTER III

SERMON AT ST. PAUL'S CROSS-MARRIAGEDRAYTON BEAUCHAMP THE TEMPLE HOOKER AS A PREACHER

RICHARD HOOKER's first public appearance in London, in the year 1581, or thereabouts, must have followed close upon his ordination. About that date he was appointed to preach at St. Paul's Cross, most probably on the nomination of John Aylmer, Bishop of London. Strype, the historian, in his life of that bishop, speaks of "it having been of long time customary for the Bishops of London to summon up from the Universities, or elsewhere, persons of the best abilities to preach those public sermons, whither the Prince and Court, and the magistrates of the city, besides a vast conflux of people, used to resort. For the due providing therefore for these sermons, and for the encouragement of the preachers that should come up, this Bishop was a great benefactor."1

1 Strype's Life of John Aylmer, Oxford 1821, p. 201.

Anyhow, Bishop Aylmer was amongst the hearers on the occasion of Hooker's sermon.1 St. Paul's Cross was an open-air pulpit at St. Paul's, where the great preachers of the day, and specially during the early days of the Reformation, attracted crowds of hearers. Books condemned as heretical were burned

there, also penances were formerly done there, and thither alleged heretics bore their fagots.2 It was at St. Paul's Cross that John

1 See Hooker's "Answer to Travers," cited in Hooker's Works, Vol. III. p. 576.

2 "Oh! it had been a godly sight, to have seen St. Paul with a fagot on his back, even at Paul's Cross . . ."-Hugh Latimer, Remains, Parker Soc., 1845, p. 326. St. Paul's Cross was destroyed by order of the Long Parliament (A.D. 1640-1653). A stone inscribed "This is the site of Paul's Cross," now marks the spot in St. Paul's churchyard where it formerly stood. Quite recently Mr. H. C. Richards has left a legacy of £5,000 to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral to rebuild St. Paul's Cross.

In the year 1521 the Pope's sentence against Martin Luther was published in London, and a sermon was preached at St. Paul's Cross by Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, condemning Luther's doctrines; during the sermon many of Luther's books were burned in the churchyard. In 1534 the Maid of Kent was exposed, with her accomplices, on a scaffold at St. Paul's Cross; whilst their confession was read from it, previous to their execution at Tyburn. In 1538, at St. Paul's Cross, Fisher exposed the so-called miraculous rood of Boxley as a deception, whereupon the thing was destroyed before the congregation. In 1554 St. Paul's Cross was the scene of the disclosure of an unpardonable insult offered by certain profane Protestants of the baser sort, for "a priest exhibited a poor hanged cat at the Cross, which had been found dangling on a gallows near the Cross in Cheapside, dressed in the sacred vestments of the altar, with the head shaved, and an imitation of the host, or consecrated wafer, tied between the fore paws."-Malcolm, Londinium Redivivum, Lond. 1803. Vol. III. p. 179.

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