166 The Story of a Prebendal Stall at Sarum. 



well recollect, that, after the ceremony of my installation was over, 

 the chief verger came to me, and asked politely for the customary 

 fees due to him. I paid them ; upon which he made a low bow, 

 and said, " We congratulate you, Sir, on your appointment to the 

 stall of Richard Hooker. " When I named this afterwards to a 

 friend, I was told that my immediate predecessor was congratulated 

 in like manner, and was so delighted that he offered spontaneously 

 an additional half-sovereign in fees. I am afraid that I was not 

 quite so amenable to compliments ; but I assure you that I always 

 feel an honest pride in thinking of myself as a successor of so good 

 and learned a man, and hoping that a small portion of his mantle 

 may have fallen on my shoulders. 



Of course you all know that beautiful and life-like sketch, that is 

 given to us by Isaac Walton, of Richard Hooker ; one or two 

 matters, however, not brought into prominence in that biography, 

 may be of interest to you . 



Among the Royal Commissioners, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, 

 for visiting cathedrals and churches in the West of England, was 

 John Jewel, afterwards Bishop of Salisbury. In the course of their 

 enquiries they went to Exeter, where then lived the family of Hooker. 

 It soon became known that Jewel took a kindly interest in promoting 

 the advancement of poor, yet worthy, scholars. Soon after his con- 

 secration, an application was made to him in behalf of Richard 

 Hooker, a lad who had shewn more than ordinary ability. The 

 good bishop helped him materially, not only enabling him, at the 

 early age of 14, to enter Corpus Christi College, Oxford, but sup- 

 plying him also with a pension, which, added to the small means 

 furnished by his family, enabled him to prosecute his studies, and to 

 lay the foundation of his future renown. 



Bishop Jewel died before Richard Hooker was of age for ordination. 

 He found a friend, however, in Archbishop Whitgift, who, during a 

 vacancy in the see, collated him to the sub-deanery, and also to the stall 

 of Netheravon. A private patron about the same time appointed 

 him to the Vicarage of Boscomb, in South Wilts, and it was there 

 that a considerable portion of his great work on the Ecclesiastical 

 Polity of the Church of England was written. The insight of the 



