178 The Bishop's Palace at Salisbury, 
when they came to visit him he seldom dismissed them without substantial 
proofs of his liberality. And blessed indeed was the fruit of this pious and 
charitable practice; for it is among the glories and felicities of Jewel, that 
he helped to rescue from obscurity and indigence the immortal Richard 
Hooker.”’ 
It will be remembered that early in the reign of Elizabeth the western 
parts of England were visited by Jewel, under the Queen’s com- 
mission. His benevolent and generous disposition thus became 
known to the people of Exeter, which was the native place of 
Hooker’s family; and accordingly, some short time after Jewel’s 
promotion to the see of Salisbury, John Hooker, the uncle of Richard, 
ventured on an application to the bishop, in behalf of his nephew, who 
had already given promise of more than ordinary virtue and ability. 
On being admitted into Jewel’s presence, the uncle “ besought him, 
for charity’s sake, to look favourably upon a poor nephew of his, 
whom nature had fitted for a scholar, but the estate of his parents 
was so narrow that they were unable to give him the advantage of 
learning; and that the bishop would, therefore, become his patron, 
and prevent him from being a tradesman, for he was a boy of re- 
markable hopes.” ‘Lhe bishop immediately appointed that the boy 
should attend him at Salisbury at the Easter next following, together 
with his schoolmaster. At the time fixed the teacher and the pupil 
made their appearance. After some examination Jewel was so well 
satisfied with the manners and attainments of the lad that he gave 
a reward to the schoolmaster for his care, assigned a pension to the 
parents of Richard for his support, and also promised to keep an 
eye on him, with a view to his future advancement. Conformably 
to this engagement, the bishop had him removed to Oxford in the 
year 1567, when he was about fourteen years of age, and consigned 
him to the care of Doctor Cole, then President of Corpus Christi 
College. After he had been about four years at Oxford Richard 
Hooker went on foot to visit his mother at Exeter, and on his way 
thither he travelled by Salisbury, for the express purpose of visiting 
his kind friend and benefactor. Both he and another youth from 
Oxford, who was the companion of his journey, were invited to the 
bishop’s table ; an honour which was always proudly and gratefully 
remembered by Hooker. On his departure the bishop furnished 
