question was, Are my books and written papers safe?" and being answered, that they were, his reply was, "Then it "matters not; for no other loss can trouble me." About one day before his death, Dr. Saravia, who knew the very secrets of his soul, (for they were supposed to be confessors to each other,) came to him, and after a conference of the benefit, the necessity, and safety of the Church's absolution, it was resolved the doctor should give him both that and the Sacrament the day following. To which end, the doctor came, and after a short retirement and privacy, they two returned to the company; and then the doctor gave him and some of those friends which were with him, the blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of our Jesus. Which being performed, the doctor thought he saw a reverend gaiety and joy in his face; but it lasted not long; for his bodily infirmities did return suddenly, and became more visible; insomuch that the doctor apprehended death ready to seize him yet, after some amendment, left him at night, with a promise to return early the day following; which he did, and then found him better in appearance, deep in contemplation, and not inclinable to discourse; which gave the doctor occasion to inquire his present thoughts: to which he replied, "That he was meditating the number and nature of "angels, and their blessed obedience and order, without "which, peace could not be in heaven; and oh that it might "be so on earth!" After which words he said, "I have lived "to see this world is made up of perturbations, and I have "been long preparing to leave it, and gathering comfort for "the dreadful hour of making my account with God, which "I now apprehend to be near; and, though I have by his "grace loved him in my youth, and feared him in mine age, "and laboured to have a conscience void of offence to him, "and to all men; yet, if thou, O Lord, be extreme to mark "what I have done amiss, who can abide it? And therefore, "where I have failed, Lord shew mercy to me, for I plead "not my righteousness, but the forgiveness of my unrighteous"ness, for His merits who died to purchase pardon for "penitent sinners; and since I owe thee a death, Lord let it "not be terrible, and then take thine own time; I submit to "it! Let not mine, O Lord, but let thy will be done!" With which expression he fell into a dangerous slumber; dangerous, as to his recovery; yet recover he did, but it was to speak only these few words: "Good doctor, God hath heard my "daily petitions, for I am at peace with all men, and He is at 66 peace with me; and from that blessed assurance I feel that "inward joy, which this world can neither give nor take "from me my conscience beareth me this witness, and this "witness makes the thoughts of death joyful. I could wish "to live to do the Church more service, but cannot hope it, "for my days are past as a shadow that returns not." More he would have spoken, but his spirits failed him; and after a short conflict betwixt nature and death, a quiet sigh put a period to his last breath, and so he fell asleep. And now he seems to rest like Lazarus in Abraham's bosom; let me here draw his curtain, till with the most glorious company of the Patriarchs and Apostles, the most noble army of Martyrs and Confessors, this most learned, most humble, holy man, shall also awake to receive an eternal tranquillity; and with it, a greater degree of glory than common Christians shall be made partakers of. In the mean time, bless, O Lord, Lord bless his brethren, the clergy of this nation, with effectual endeavours to attain, if not to his great learning, yet to his remarkable Meekness, his godly Simplicity, and his Christian Moderation for these will bring peace at the last! And, Lord, let his most excellent writings be blest with what he designed when he undertook them which was, "Glory to thee, O God on high, peace in thy Church, and good-will to mankind!" : Amen, Amen. IZAAK WALTON. The following epitaph was long since presented to the world, in memory of Mr. Hooker, by Sir William Cooper, who also built him a fair monument in Borne church, and acknowledges him to have been his spiritual father. THOUGH nothing can be spoke worthy his fame, MR. RICHARD HOOKER. In his own Books, yet ought we to express, Was it because his life and death should be Or that perhaps this only glorious one And God in me this lesson did inspire, To bid this humble man, Friend, sit up higher 61. 61 ["Sir William Cowper, who "erected this monument, was the great grandfather of William, the first Earl Cowper. He suffered imprisonment, the loss of his son, "and other great calamities, for his 66 66 87 fidelity to Charles I. He outlived all his troubles, residing at "his castle of Hertford, and famed "for his hospitality, charity, and "other Christian virtues." Zouch, I. 439.] AN APPENDIX TO THE LIFE OF MR. RICHARD HOOKER. AND now having by a long and laborious search satisfied myself, and I hope my reader, by imparting to him the true relation of Mr. Hooker's life: I am desirous also to acquaint him with some observations that relate to it, and which could not properly fall to be spoken till after his death; of which my reader may expect a brief and true account in the following Appendix. And first it is not to be doubted, but that he died in the forty-seventh, if not in the forty-sixth year of his age; which I mention, because many have believed him to be more aged; but I have so examined it, as to be confident I mistake not; and for the year of his death, Mr. Camden, who, in his Annals of Queen Elizabeth, 1599, mentions him with a high commendation of his life and learning, declares him to die in the year 1599; and yet in that inscription of his monument set up at the charge of Sir William Cooper in Borne church, where Mr. Hooker was buried, his death is there said to be in anno 16031, but doubtless both mistaken; for I have it attested under the hand of William Somner the archbishop's register for the province of Canterbury, that Richard Hooker's 1 ["The following is an accurate copy of the inscription on Hooker's "monument: "SUNT MELIORA MIHI. "RICHARDUS HOOKER EXONIENSIS SCHOLARIS SOCIUSQ: COL"LEGII CORP. XTII OXON. DEINDE LONDINIIS TEMPLI INTERI"ORIS IN SACRIS MAGISTER RECTORQ: HUJUS ECCLÆ. SCRIPSIT « VIII LIBROS POLITIÆ ECCLESIASTICÆ ANGLICANÆ, QUORUM "TRES DESIDERANTUR. OBIIT ANo. DOM. MDC. ÆTATIS SUÆ L. “POSUIT HOC PIISSIMO VIRO MONUMENTUM ANo. DOM. "MDCXXXIII. GULIELMUS COWPER ARMIGER IN CHRISTO JESU " QUEM GENUIT PER EVANGELIUM. 1 Cor. iv. 15." Dr. Zouch.] iij will bears date Octob. 26th, in anno 1600, and that it was proved the third of December followings. And that at his death he left four daughters, Alice, Cicily, Jane, and Margaret; that he gave to each of them an hundred pound; that he left Joan his wife his sole executrix; and that by his inventory, his estate (a great part of it being in books) came 66 66 66 2 [Zouch's Walton, I. 440. "The following is extracted from the "Registry of the Archdeacon's "court of Canterbury. In the name of God, Amen. This sixe "and twentieth of October, in the 66 yeare of our Lord one thousand "and sixe hundred, I Richard "Hooker of Bishopsborne, though "sicke in bodye, yet sounde in "minde, thankes be unto almightye "God, doe ordaine and make this my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge. "First, I bequeth my soule unto "allmightye God my Creator, "hopinge assuredly of my salvation purchased thorough the death of "Christ Jesus, and my bodye to "the earth to be buried at the dis"cretion of mine executor. Item, "I give and bequeth unto my daughter Alice Hooker one hun"dred pounds of lawfull Englishe "money, to be paide unto her at the "day of her marriage. Item, I "give and bequeth unto my daugh"ter Cicilye Hooker one hundred 66 66 66 pounds of lawful Englishe moneye, "to be paid unto her at the daye of "her marriage. Item, I give and "bequethe unto my daughter Jane "Hooker one hundred pounds of "lawful Englishe money, to be "paid unto her at the day of her marriage. Item, I give unto my "daughter Margaret Hooker one "hundred pounds of lawful Englishe "moneye, to be paid unto her at "the day of her marriage. And if "it shall happen any of my said daughters to departe this life be"fore the day of their said marriage, "then I will that her or their por"tion so dieinge, shall be equally "divided among her or their sisters "survivinge. Item, I give and be"queth unto the poor of the p'ishe |