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 Eichard 

 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." The 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 



