Lives of John Donne, Henry Wotton, Richd Hooker, George Herbert, | Page 7

pleasure equal to
such a friendship; yet obedience to parents, and a desire to know the
affairs, manners, laws, and learning of other nations, that they might
thereby become the more serviceable unto their own, made them put
off their gowns, and leave the College and Mr. Hooker to his studies, in
which he was daily more assiduous, still enriching his quiet and
capacious soul with the precious learning of the Philosophers, Casuists,
and Schoolmen; and with them the foundation and reason of all Laws,
both Sacred and Civil; and indeed with such other learning as lay most
remote from the track of common studies. And, as he was diligent in
these, so he seemed restless in searching the scope and intention of
God's Spirit revealed to mankind in the Sacred Scripture: for the
understanding of which, he seemed to be assisted by the same Spirit
with which they were written; He that regardeth truth in the inward
parts, making him to understand wisdom secretly. And the good man
would often say, that "God abhors confusion as contrary to his nature;"
and as often say, "That the Scripture was not writ to beget disputations
and pride, and opposition to government; but charity and humility,
moderation, obedience to authority, and peace to mankind;" of which

virtues, he would as often say, "no man did ever repent himself on his
death-bed." And that this was really his judgment, did appear in his
future writings, and in all the actions of his life. Nor was this excellent
man 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.
[Sidenote: Hebrew Lecturer]
In the year 1579, the Chancellor of the University was given to
understand, that the public Hebrew Lecture was not read according to
the Statutes; nor could be, by reason of a distemper, that had then
seized the brain of Mr. Kingsmill, who was to read it; so that it lay long
unread, to the great detriment of those that were studious of that
language. Therefore the Chancellor writ to his Vice-Chancellor, and the
University, that he had heard such commendations of the excellent
knowledge of Mr. Richard Hooker in that tongue, that he desired he
might be procured to read it: and he did, and continued to do so till he
left Oxford.
Within three months after his undertaking this Lecture,--namely in
October 1579,--he was, with Dr. Reynolds and others, expelled his
College; and this Letter, transcribed from Dr. Reynolds his own hand,
may give some account of it.
[Sidenote: Expulsion from College]
To SIR FRANCIS KNOLLES.
"I am sorry, Right Honourable, that I am enforced to make unto you
such a suit, which I cannot move; but I must complain 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. Our matter must be heard before the Bishop of
Winchester, with whom I do not doubt but we shall find equity.
Howbeit, forasmuch as some of our adversaries have said that the
Bishop is already forestalled, and will not give us such audience as we
look for; therefore I am humbly to beseech your Honour, that you will
desire the Bishop, by your letters, to let us have justice; though it be
with rigour, so it be justice: our cause is so good, that I am sure we
shall prevail by it. Thus much I am bold to request of your honour for
Corpus Christi College sake, or rather for Christ's sake; whom I

beseech to bless you with daily increase of his manifold gifts, and the
blessed graces of his Holy Spirit.
"Your Honour's in Christ to command,
"JOHN REYNOLDS.
"LONDON, October 9, 1579."
[Sidenote: At Paul's Cross]
This expulsion was by Dr. John Barfoote, then Vice-President of the
College, and Chaplain to Ambrose Earl of Warwick. I cannot learn the
pretended cause; but that they were restored the same month is most
certain.[12] I return to Mr. Hooker in his College, where he 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.[13]
[Sidenote: His sermon]
In order to which Sermon, to London he came, and immediately to the
Shunamite's House; which is a House so called, for that, besides the
stipend paid the Preacher, there is provision made also for his lodging
and diet for two