I name

lege in Oxford, and after, President of the same. them here, for that I shall have occasion to mention them in this following discourse; as also George Cranmer their brother, of whose useful abilities my reader may have a more authentick testimony than my pen can purchase for him, by that of our learned Camden and others.

This William Cranmer, and his two forenamed sisters, had some affinity, and a most familiar friendship with Mr. Hooker, and had had some part of their education with him in his house, when he was parson of Bishop's-Borne near Canterbury; in which city their good father then lived. They had (I say) a part of their education with him, as myself, since that time, a happy cohabitation with them; and having some years before read part of Mr. Hooker's works with great liking and satisfaction, my affection to them made me a diligent inquisitor into many things that concerned him: as namely, of his person, his nature, the management of his time, his wife, his family, and the fortune of him and his. Which inquiry hath given me much advantage in the knowledge of what is now under my consideration, and intended for the satisfaction of my reader.

I had also a friendship with the reverend Doctor Usher, the late learned Archbishop of Armagh; and with Doctor Morton, the late learned and charitable Bishop of Durham; as also with the learned John Hales, of Eton college 4; and with them also (who loved the very name of Mr. Hooker) I have had many discourses concerning him; and from them, and many others that have now put off mortality, I might have had more informations, if I could then have admitted a thought of any fitness for what by persuasion I have now undertaken. But, though that full harvest be irrecoverably lost, yet my memory hath preserved some gleanings, and my diligence made such additions to them, as I hope will prove useful to the completing of what I intend. In the discovery

of which I shall be faithful, and with this assurance put a period to my Introduction.

[Archbishop Ussher died 1655, aged 75; Bishop Morton 1660, aged 96; Mr. Hales 1656, aged 72.]

It is not to be doubted, but that Richard Hooker was born at Heavy-tree 5, near, or within the precincts, or in the city of Exeter; a city which may justly boast, that it was the birthplace of him, and Sir Thomas Bodley; as indeed the county may, in which it stands, that it hath furnished this nation with Bishop Jewel, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, and many others, memorable for their valour and learning. He was born about the year of our redemption 15536; and of parents that were not so remarkable for their extraction or riches, as for their virtue and industry, and God's blessing upon both 7; by which they were enabled to educate their children in some degree of learning, of which our Richard Hooker may appear to be one fair testimony; and that nature is not so partial, as always to give the great blessings of wisdom and learning, and with them the greater blessings of virtue and government, to those only that are of a more high and honourable birth.

5

His complexion (if we may guess by him at the age of

[Fuller, Worthies of England, P. 264. "Richard Hooker was born at Heavy-tree." (marg. "MS.

riage,) 25 March, 1599: John Hoker the younger, (his first cousin,) 8 Nov. 1601 Robert, 23 Oct. 1602.]

6 of baronet Northcott.") Gauden, Life, p. 7. "This only "is certain on all hands, that he "was born in the west, either in, "or not far from, the city of Ex"eter: only Dr. Vilvain, an ancient "and learned physician in Exeter, "informs me, that he was born in

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Southgate-street in Exeter, anno "1550." Fulman, MSS. tom. x. fol. 26. "Richardus Hooker ap. Heavy-tree juxta civitatem Ex"oniam natus est circa finem Martii "mensis, anno 1554 ineunte." No trace of him remains in either of the register books of the cathedral, St. Mary Major, or Heavitree. In the register of burials of St. Mary Major are the following entries: Agnes Hoker, (possibly his sister,) 18 Oct. 1590: William, and Richard, both 16 Nov. following: another William, 25 March, 1592: Anstice, the wife of Mr. John Hoker, (and therefore Hooker's aunt by mar

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[There is authority for this in the register of the President of C. C. C. Oxford. "1573. Dec. 24. quendam Ricdum Hooker "viginti annorum ætatis circiter "festum Paschæ proxime futur."] 7 "His great grandfather John "Hooker was mayor of Exeter 1490. Robert Hooker, esquire, "his grandfather, was mayor 1529. Dr. Bliss's note to Ath. Oxon. I. 693. "The family of Hoker was highly respectable. John Hoker," mentioned above, was of a worshipful house and parentage, and represented this city in parliament during the several reigns of Edw. " IV., Rich. III., and Hen. VII. "As a magistrate he was distinguished for probity, learning, and diligence: as a Christian and ci"tizen, he was exemplary for good "conduct and abundant charities. "He was elected into the civic chair "in 1490, and died three years after.

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forty 8) was sanguine, with a mixture of choler; and yet, his motion was slow even in his youth, and so was his speech, never expressing an earnestness in either of them, but an humble gravity suitable to the aged. And it is observed (so far as inquiry is able to look back at this distance of time) that at his being a schoolboy he was an early questionist, quietly inquisitive, why this was, and that was not, to be remembered? why this was granted, and that denied? This being mixed with a remarkable modesty, and a sweet serene quietness of nature; and with them a quick apprehension of many perplext parts of learning imposed then upon him as a scholar, made his master and others to believe him to have an inward blessed divine light, and therefore to consider him to a little wonder. For in that, children were less pregnant, less confident, and more malleable, than in this wiser, but not better, age.

This meekness, and conjuncture of knowledge with modesty in his conversation, being observed by his schoolmaster, caused him to persuade his parents (who intended him for an apprentice) to continue him at school, till he could find out some means, by persuading his rich uncle, or some other charitable person, to ease them of a part of their care and charge; assuring them, that their son was so enriched with the blessings of nature and grace, that God seemed to single him out as a special instrument of His glory. And the good man told them also, that he would double his diligence in instructing him, and would neither expect nor receive any

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"Robert his son was the youngest

of twenty, but lived to witness the "successive deaths of all his bro"thers and sisters, and to inherit "the whole of the family property. "He was registrar of the archdea66 conry of Barnstaple, and became "chief and principal of St. Mary "the More's parish;' was a great peacemaker, and eminently zealous "and attentive to the duties of first magistrate of his native city, in 1529. The pestilence which made "such havoc in Exeter in 1537, "numbered this Robert among its " victims. His will is preserved "in the corporation archives, and "bears date 7 Aug. 1534, in which "he makes provision for his wife

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Agnes, and seven children, Roger, Sydwell, Anne, Alice, Mary, "Juliana, and John." (From the tenor of the will, it may be conjectured that all but the last were the issue of previous marriages. The details of the will evince much public spirit, and considerate benevolence.)

For the whole of this information, as well as the account of John Hooker, alias Vowell, in a subsequent note, the editor is indebted to the Rev. Mr. Oliver, of Exeter.] [About 1594, when he moved into Kent, and the Cranmer family, Walton's informants, became acquainted with him.]

8

other reward, than the content of so hopeful and happy an

employment.

This was not unwelcome news, and especially to his mother, to whom he was a dutiful and dear child; and all parties were so pleased with this proposal, that it was resolved, so it should be. And in the mean time, his parents and master laid a foundation for his future happiness, by instilling into his soul the seeds of piety, those conscientious principles of loving and fearing God; of an early belief that he knows the very secrets of our souls; that he punisheth our vices, and rewards our innocence; that we should be free from hypocrisy, and appear to man what we are to God, because first or last the crafty man is catcht in his own snare. These seeds of piety were so seasonably planted, and so continually watered with the daily dew of God's blessed Spirit, that his infant-virtues grew into such holy habits, as did make him grow daily into more and more favour both with God and man; which, with the great learning that he did after attain to, hath made Richard Hooker honoured in this, and will continue him to be so to succeeding generations.

This good schoolmaster, whose name I am not able to recover, (and am sorry, for that I would have given him a better memorial in this humble monument, dedicated to the memory of his scholar 9,) was very solicitous with John Hooker 10, then chamberlain of Exeter, and uncle to our Richard, to take his nephew into his care, and to maintain him for one year in the university, and in the mean time to use his endeavours to procure an admission for him into some college, though it were but in a mean degree; still urging

MR. RICHARD HOOKER.

and assuring him, that his charge would not continue long; for the lad's learning and manners were both so remarkable, that they must of necessity be taken notice of; and that doubtless God would provide him some second patron, that would free him and his parents from their future care and charge.

These reasons, with the affectionate rhetorick of his good master, and God's blessing upon both, procured from his uncle a faithful promise, that he would take him into his care and charge before the expiration of the year following, which was performed by him, and with the assistance of the learned Mr. John Jewel; of whom this may be noted, that he left, or was, about the first of Queen Mary's reign, expelled out of, Corpus Christi college in Oxford, (of which he was a fellow,) for adhering to the truth of those principles of religion, to which he had assented and given testimony in the days of her brother and predecessor Edward the Sixth; and this John Jewel having within a short time after a just cause to fear a more heavy punishment than expulsion, was forced, by forsaking this, to seek safety in another nation; and, with that safety, the enjoyment of that doctrine and worship, for which he suffered.

But the cloud of that persecution and fear ending with the life of Queen Mary, the affairs of the church and state did then look more clear and comfortable; so that he, and with him many others of the same judgment, made a happy return into England about the first of Queen Elizabeth; in which year this John Jewel was sent a commissioner or visitor of the churches of the western parts of this kingdom,