Lives of John Donne, Henry Wotton, Richd Hooker, George Herbert, | Page 5

Sandys]
[Sidenote: Hooker's pupil]
Edwin Sandys[4]--sometime Bishop of London, and after Archbishop
of York--had also been in the days of Queen Mary, forced, by forsaking
this, to seek safety in another nation; where, for some years, Bishop
Jewel and he were companions at bed and board in Germany; and
where, in this their exile, they did often eat the bread of sorrow, and by
that means they there began such a friendship, as lasted till the death of
Bishop Jewel, which was in September, 1571. A little before which
time the two Bishops meeting, Jewel had an occasion to begin a story
of his Richard Hooker, and in it gave such a character of his learning
and manners, that though Bishop Sandys was educated in Cambridge,
where he had obliged, and had many friends; yet his resolution was,
that his son Edwin should be sent to Corpus Christi College in Oxford,

and by all means be pupil to Mr. Hooker, though his son Edwin was not
much younger than Mr. Hooker then was: for the Bishop said, "I will
have a Tutor for my son, that shall teach him learning by instruction,
and virtue by example: and my greatest care shall be of the last; and,
God willing, this Richard Hooker shall be the man into whose hands I
will commit my Edwin." And the Bishop did so about twelve months,
or not much longer, after this resolution.
[Sidenote: Hooker's behaviour]
And doubtless, as to these two, a better choice could not be made; for
Mr. Hooker was now in the nineteenth year of his age; had spent five in
the University; and had, by a constant unwearied diligence, attained
unto a perfection in all the learned languages; by the help of which, an
excellent tutor, and his unintermitted studies, he had made the subtilty
of all the arts easy and familiar to him, and useful for the discovery of
such learning as lay hid from common searchers. So that by these,
added to his great reason, and his restless industry added to both, he did
not only know more of causes and effects; but what he knew, he knew
better than other men. And with this knowledge he had a most blessed
and clear method of demonstrating what he knew, to the great
advantage of all his pupils,--which in time were many,--but especially
to his two first, his dear Edwin Sandys, and his as dear George
Cranmer; of which there will be a fair testimony in the ensuing relation.
This for Mr. Hooker's learning. 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.
[Sidenote: Scholar of his College]
In this nineteenth year of his age, he was, December 24, 1573, admitted
to be one of the twenty Scholars of the Foundation; being elected and
so admitted as born in Devon or Hantshire; out of which Counties a
certain number are to be elected in vacancies by the Founder's Statutes.
And now as he was much encouraged, so now he was perfectly
incorporated into this beloved College, which was then noted for an
eminent Library, strict Students, and remarkable Scholars. And indeed
it may glory, that it had Cardinal Poole,[5] but more that it had Bishop
Jewel, Dr. John Reynolds, and Dr. Thomas Jackson,[6] of that
foundation. The first famous for his learned Apology for the Church of
England, and his Defence of it against Harding.[7] The