RAY. 137 



natural history has had among its most successful cul- 

 tivators men of all stations in society, from the lowest 

 to the highest. He received the rudiments of his 

 education at Braintree School, under the care of a 

 Mr Love, who, it seems, was but indiiferently qua- 

 lified for his office. Young Wray, however, profited 

 so well by his opportunities of acquiring knowledge, 

 that at the age of sixteen he was sent to the Uni- 

 versity of Cambridge, where he entered at Katherine 

 Hall in June 1644. As it is not stated that on this 

 occasion he had to draw on the generosity of any of 

 his rich neighbours, it is to be presumed that his 

 father vv^as in prosperous circumstances. At the end 

 of a year and three-quarters he removed to Trinity 

 College, where he had the good fortune to have for 

 his tutor Dr Duport, a man of great learning, under 

 whose direction he acquired considerable skill in the 

 Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages. About three 

 years afterwards he was chosen iMinor Fellow of Tri- 

 nity, at the same time with his friend the celebrated 

 Isaac Barrow; and, after passing through the usual 

 gradations, was appointed Greek lecturer of the Col- 

 lege in October Itiol, Mathematical lecturer in Oc- 

 tober 1653, and Humanity reader in October 1655. 

 After this he was made Prselector Primarius, Junior 

 Dean, and College Steward, having been sworn 

 into the latter office in 1659. 



During the time of Mr Wray's residence at the 

 university, he had several gentlemen of great merit 

 under his tuition. He also became eminent as a 

 pulpit orator, being, according to the testimony of 

 Dr Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury, '*^ much 

 celebrated for his preaching solid and useful divi- 

 nity, instead of that enthusiastick stuff, which the 



