The Works of Mr. Richard Hooker ... Also a life of the author, by Isaac Walton. A new edition

Front matter

THE WORKS OF MR. RICHARD HOOKER, IN EIGHT BOOKS OF THE LAWS OF ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY; WITH SEVERAL OTHER TREATISES, AND A GENERAL INDEX. ALSO A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, BY ISAAC WALTON. a J-rto ©Bttion, in ©tree Cioluotrs. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM BAYNES AND SON, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1822. TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY CHARLES II. BY THE GRACE OF GOD. KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, Sec. MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN, Although T know how little leisure great kings have to read large books, or indeed any, save only God's (the study, belief, and obedience of which are precisely commanded, even to kings (Deut. xvii. 18, 19), and from which, whatever wholly diverts them, will hazard to damn them; there being no affairs of so great import ance, as their serving God, and saving their own souls ; nor any precepts so wise, just, holy, and safe, as those of the Divine oracles; nor any empire so glorious, as that by which kings, being subject to God's law, have dominion over themselves, and so best deserve and exercise it over their subjects) : Yet having lived to see the wo.iderful aud happy restoration of your Majesty to your rightful kingdoms and of this reformed church to its just rights, primitive order, and pristine constitution, by your Majesty's prudent care and unparalleled bounty, I know not what to present more worthy of your Majesty's acceptance and my duty, than these elaborate and seasonable works of the famous and prudent Mr. Richard Hooker, now augmented, and I hope completed, with the three last books, so much desired, and so long concealed.

The publishing of which volume so entire, and thus presenting it to your Majesty, seem to be a blessing and honour reserved by God's providence, to add a farther lustre to your Majesty's glorious name, and happy reign, whose transcendant favour, justice, merit, and munificence, to the long-afflicted church of England, is a sub ject no less worthy of admiration than gratitude to all posterity. And of all things (next God's grace) not to be abused or turned into wantonness by any of your Majesty's clergy, who are highly obliged, beyond all other subjects, to piety, loyalty, and industry. I shall Deed nothing more to ingratiate this incomparable piece to your Majesty's acceptance, and all the English world's, than those high commendations it hath ever had, as from all prudent. VOL. l, B AN EPISTLE peaceable, and impartial readers, so especially from your Majesty's royal father, who, a few days before he was crowned with martyr dom, recommended to his dearest children the diligent reading of Mr. Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, even next the Bible ; as an ex cellent means to settle them iu the truth of religion, and in the peace of this church, as much Christian, and as well reformed as any under heaven : as if God had reserved this signal honour to be done by the best of kings, and greatest sufferers for this church, to him who was one of the best writers and ablest defenders of it.

To this completed edition, is added such particular accounts as could be got of the Author's person, education, temper, manners, fortunes, life, and death, which are now done with much exactness and proportion : that hereby your Majesty, and all the world, may see what sort of men are fittest for church-work (which, like the building of Solomon's temple, is best carried on with most even ness of judgment, and least noise of passion). Also, what manner of man he was, to whom we all owe this noble work, and durable defence. Which is indeed at once (as the tongues of eloquent princes are to themselves and their subjects) both a treasury aud an armoury, to enrich their friends, and defend them against the church of Eng land : a rare composition of unpassionate reason, and impartial religion; the mature product of a judicious scholar, a loyal sub ject, an humble preacher, and a most eloquent writer : the very abstract and quintessence of laws human and Divine; a summary of the grounds, rules, and proportions, of true polity in church and state : upon which clear, solid, and safe foundations, the good order, peace, and government, of this church were anciently settled, and on which, while it stands firm, it will be flourishing : all other popular and specious pretensions being found by late sad expe riences, to be as novel and unfit, so factious and fallacious, yea, dangerous and destructive to the peace and prosperity of this church and kingdom, whose inseparable happiness and interests are bound up in monarchy and episcopacy.

Introduction

. I have been persuaded by a friend, that I ought to obey, to write the life of Richard Hooker, the happy Author of five (if not more) of the eight learned books of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. And though I have undertaken it, yet it hath been with some unwilling ness, foreseeing that it must prove to me, and especially at this time of my age, a work of much labour to inquire, consider, research, and determine, what is needful to be known concerning him. For I knew him not in his life, and must therefore not only look back to his death (now sixty-four years past), but almost fifty years beyond that, even to his childhood and youth, and gather thence such observations and prognostics, as may at least adorn, if not prove necessary for the completing of, what I have undertaken. This trouble I foresee, and foresee also that it is impossible to es cape censures; against which I will not hope my well-meaning and diligence can protect me (for I consider the age in which I live), and shall therefore but entreat of my reader a suspension of them, till I have made known unto him some reasons, which I myself would now fain believe, do make me in some measure fit for this under taking : and if these reasons shall not acquit me from all censures, they may at least abate of their severity ; aud this is all I can pro bably hope for.

My reasons follow. About forty years past (for I am now in the seventieth of my age) 1 began a happy affinity with William Cranmer (now with God), grand nephew unto the great Archbishop of that name ; a family of noted prudence and resolution : with him and two of bis sisters I had an entire and free friendship : one of them was the wife of Dr. Spencer, a bosom-friend, and sometime com-pupil with Mr. Hooker, in Corpus Christi-college, in Oxford, and after president of the same I name them here, for that I shall have occasion to men tion them in this following discourse ; as also their brother, of whose useful abilities my reader may have a more authentic testi- Ilia liirlli and voutli. mony than my pen can purchase for him, by that of our learned Cambden and others. This William Cranmer, and his two forenamed sisters, had some affinity, and a most familiarfriendship with Mr. Hooker, and had had some part of their education with him in his house, when he was parson of Bishop's Born, near Canterbury ; in which city their good father then lived.

They had (I say) a great part of their education with him, as myself, since that time, a happy cohabition with them ; and having some years before read part of Mr. Hooker's works with great liking and satisfaction, my affection to them made me a diligent inquisitor into many things that concerned him : as namely, of his person, his nature, the management of his time, his wile, his family, and the fortune of him and his. Which inquiry hatb given me mucli advantage in the knowledge of what is now under my con sideration, and intended for the satisfaction of my reader. I had also a friendship wiih the Reverend Doctor Usher, the late learned archbishop of Armagh; and with Doctor Morton ; the late learned and charitable bishop of Durham ; as also with the learned John Hales, of Eton-college ; and wilh them also (who loved the very name of Mr. Hooker) I have had many discourses concerning him ; and from them, and many others that have now put off mortality, I might have had more informations, if I could then have admitted a thought of any fitness for what by persuasion I have now undertaken.

But, though that full harvest be irrecoverably lost, yet my memory hath preserved some gleanings, aud my diligence made such additions to them, as 1 hope will prove useful to Ihe completing of what I intend. Iu the discovery of which I shall be faithful, aud with this assurance put a period to my Introduction, THE LIFE. It is not to be doubted, but that Richard Hooker was born within the precincts, or in the city of Exeter : a city which may justly boast that it was the birth-place of him and Sir Thomas Bodley ; as in deed the county may, iu which it stands, that it hath furnished this nation with Bishop Jewel, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, and many others memorable for their valour and learning. He was bom about the year of our redemption one thousand five hundred fifty and three, and of parents that were not so remarkable for their extraction or riches, as for their virtue and industry and God's blessing upon both ; by which they were enabled to educate their children iu some degree, of learning, of which our Richard Hooker may ap pear to be one fair testimony ; aud that Nature is not so partial as always to give the great blessings of wisdom and learning, aud with them the greater blessings of virtue and government, to those only that are of a more high and honourable birth.

His complexion (if we may guess by him at the age of forty) was sanguine, with a mixture of choler; and yet his motion was slow, even in his youth, and so was his speech, never expressing an ear nestness in either of them, but a gravity suitable to the aged. And it is observed (so far as inquiry is able to look back at this distance of time) that at his being a schoolboy, he was an early questionist, quietly inquisitive, Why this was, and that was not, to be remembered? Why this was granted, and that denied ? This being mixed with a remarkable modesty, and a sweet serene quietness of nature ; and with them a quick apprehension of many perplexed parts of learning, imposed then upon him as a scholar, made his master and others to believe him to have an inward blessed Divine light, and therefore to consider him to a little wonder.

For in that, children were less pregnant, less confident, and more malleable, than in this wiser, but not belter age. This meekness and conjuncture of knowledge, with modesty in bis conversation, being observed by his schoolmaster, caused him to persuade his parents (who intended him for an apprentice) to con tinue him at school till he could find out some means, by persuad ing his rich uncle, or some other charitable person, to case them of a part of their care and charge ; assuring them, that their son was so enriched with the blessings of nature and grace, that God seemed to single him out as a special instrument of his glory. And the good man told them also, that he would double his diligence in instructing him, and would neither expect nor receive any other reward, thau the content of so hopeful and happy an employment.

This was not unwelcome news, and especially to his mother, to whom he was a dutiful and dear child ; and all parties were so pleased with this proposal, that it was resolved so it should be. And in the mean time his parents and master laid a foundation for his future happiness, by instilling into his soul the seeds of piety, those con scientious principles of loving and fearing God ; of au early belief, that he knows the very secrets of our souls; that he punisheth our vices, aud rewards our innocence ; that we should be free from hy pocrisy, and appear to man what we are to God, because first or last the crafty man is catched in his own snare.

These seeds of piety were so seasonably planted, and so continually watered, with the daily dew of God's blessed Spirit, that his infant virtues grew into such holy habits as did make him grow daily into more and more favour both with God and man : which with the great learning lhat he did attain lo, hath made Richard Hooker honoured in this, aud will coutiuue him lo he so to succeeding generations- This good schoolmaster, whose name I am not able to recover (and am sorry, for that I would have given him a better memorial iu this humble monument, dedicated to the memory of his scholar), was very solicitous with John Hooker, then chamberlain of Exeter, and uncle to our Richard, to take his nephew into his care, and to maintain him for one year iu the university, and in the mean time to use his endeavours to procure an admission for him into some college; still urging and assuring him that his charge would not continue long; for the lad's learning and manners were both so remarkable, that they must of necessity be taken notice of; and that God would provide him some second patron, that would free him and his parents from their future care and charge.

These reasons, with the affectionate rhetoric of his good master, and God's blessing upon both, procured from his uncle a faithful promise that he would take him into his care and charge before the expiration of the year following, which was performed. This promise was made about the fourth year of the reign of Queen Mary ; and the learned John Jewel (after bishop of Salis bury) having been in the first of this Queen's reign expelled out of Corpus Christi-college in Oxford (of which he was a fellow), for adhering to the truth of those principles of religion, to which he had assented in the days of her brother aud predecessor, Edward the Sixth ; and he having now a just cause to fear a more heavy punishment than expulsion, was forced, by forsaking this, to seek safety in another nation, and, with that safety, the enjoyment of that doctrine and worship for which he suffered.

But the cloud of that persecution and fear ending with the life of Queen Mary, tbe affairs of the church and state did then look more clear and comfortable ; so that he, and many others of the same judgment, made a happy return into England about the first of Queen Elizabeth ; in which year this John Jewel was sent a com missioner or visitor of the churches of the western parts of this kiugdom, and especially of those in Devonshire, in which county he was born ; and then and there he contracted a friendship with John Hooker, the uncle of our Richard. In the third year of her reign, this John Jewel was made bishop of Salisbury: and there being always observed in him a willingness lo do good and oblige his friends, and now a power added to it ; John Hooker gave him a visit in Salisbury, and 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 remarkable hopes.

And though the Bishop knew men do not usually look with an indifferent eye upon their own children and relations, yet he assented so far to John Hooker, that he appointed the boy and his schoolmaster should attend him about Easter next following at that place; which was done accordingly; and then, after some questions and observations of the boy's learning, and gravity, aud behaviour, the Bishop gave the schoolmaster a reward, and took order for an annual pension for the boy's parents, promising also to take him into his care for a future preferment ; which was per formed. For, about the fourteenth year of his age, which was anno 1567, he was by the Bishop appointed to remove to Oxford, and Admitted there to attend Dr. Cole, then president of Corpus Christi-college; c"^^* which he did ; and Doctor Cole had (according to a promise made lege, Oxon. to the Bishop) provided for him both a tutor (which was said to be the learned Doctor John Reynolds) and a clerk's place in that col lege : which place, though it were not a full maintenance, yet with the contribution of his uncle, and the continued pension of his patron, the good Bishop, gave him a comfortable subsistence.

And Bp. Wei, in this condition he continued unto the eighteenth year of his age, liis p»'">». still increasing in learning and prudence, and so much in humility and piety, that he seemed to be filled with the Holy Ghost, and even, like St. John Baptist, to be sanctified from his mother's womb, who did often bless the day in which she bare him. About this time of his age he fell into a dangerous sickness, which lasted two months: all which time, his mother, having notice of it, did in her hourly prayers as earnestly beg his life of God as the mother of St. Augustine did, that he might become a true Christian ; and their prayers were both so heard, as to be granted : which Mr. Hooker would often mention with much joy, aud pray that he might never live to occasion any sorrow to so good a mother; whom, he would often say, he loved so dearly, that he would endeavour to be good, even as much for her sake as for his own.

As soon as he was perfectly recovered from his sickness, he took a journey from Oxford to Exeter, to satisfy and see his good mother, being accompanied wilh a countryman and companion of his own college, and both on foot ; which was then either more in fashion, or want of money, or their humility made it so: but on foot they went, aud took Salisbury in their way, purposely to see the good Bishop, who made Mr. Hooker and his companion dine with him at his own table ; which Mr. Hooker boasted of with much joy and gratitude when he saw his mother and friends: and at the Bishop's parting with him, the Bishop gave him good counsel, and his benediction, but forgot to give him money; which when ihe Bishop had considered, he sent a servant in all haste to call Richard back to him: and at Richard's return, the Bishop said to him, " Richard, I sent for you back to lend you a horse which hath carried me many a mile, and, I thank God, with much ease."

And presently delivered into his hand a walking-staff, with which he pro fessed he had travelled through many parts of Germany. And he said, " Richard, I do not give, but lend you my horse; be sure you be honest, and bring my horse back to me at your return this way to Oxford. And 1 do now give you ten groats to bear your charges to Exeter ; and here is ten groats more, which I charge you to de liver to your mother, and tell her, I send her a bishop's benedic tion with it, and beg the continuance of her prayers for me. And if you bring my horse back to me, I will give you ten groats more, to carry you on foot to the college : and so God bless you, good Richard." And this, you may believe, was performed by both parties. But, alas ! the next news that followed Mr. Hooker to Oxford was, that bis learned aud charitable patron had changed this for a better life.

Which may be believed, for that as he lived, so he died, in devout meditation and prayer ; and in both so zealously, that it became a religious question, Whether his last ejaculations, or his soul, did first enter into heaven ? And now Mr. Hooker became a man of sorrow and fear : of sor row, for the loss of so dear and comfortable a patron ; and of fear, for bis future subsistence. But Mr. Cole raised his spirits from this dejection, by bidding him go cheerfully to his studies, and assuring him, that he should neither want food nor raiment (which was the utmost of his hopes), for he would become his patron. And so he was for about nine months, or not much longer; for about lhat time the following accident did befal Mr. Hooker. Edwin Sandys (then bishop of London, and after archbishop of York) had also been in tbe days of Queen Mary forced, by forsak ing this, to seek safety in another nation ; where, for many years, Bishop Jewel aud he were companions at bed and board in Ger many; and where, in this their exile, they did often eat the bread of sorrow, and by that means they there began such a friendship as time did not blot out, but lasted till the death of Bishop Jewel, which was one thousand five hundred seventy and one.

A little before which time the two bishops meeting, Jewel began a story of his Richard Hooker, aud in it gave such a character of his learniug and manners, that though Bishop Sandys was educated in Cam bridge, where he had obliged, and had many friends ; yet his resolution was, lhat his son Edwin should be sent to Corpus Christi college, in Oxford, and by all means be pupil to Mr. Hooker, though his son Edwin was then almost of the same age: for the Bishop said, *' I will have a tutor for my son, that shall teach him learning by instruction, aud virtue by example ; aud my greatest care shall be of the last, and (God willing) this Richard Hooker shall be ihe man, into whose hands I will commit my Edwin." And the Bishop did so about twelve months after this resolution. And doubtless, as to these two, a better choice could not be made : for Mr. Hooker was now in the nineteenth year of his age ; bad spent five in the university ; and had, by a constant unwearied diligence, attained unto a perfection in all the learned languages; by the help of which, an excellent tutor, and his unintermitted study, he had made the sub till v of all the arts easy and familiar to himself, and useful for the discovery of such learning as lay hid from common searchers.

So that by these, added to his great rea son, and his industry added to both, he did not only know more of causes and effects; but what he knew, he knew better than other men. And with this knowledge he had a most blessed and clear me thod of demonstrating what he knew, to the great advantage of all his pupils (which in time were many), but especially to his two first, his dear Edwin Sandys, and his as dear George Cranmer ; of which there will be a fair testimony in the ensuing relation. This for his learning. And for his behaviour, amongst other ttstimonies, this si ill remains of him, that in four years he was but twice absent from the e Impelprayers ; and that his behaviour there was such as shewed an awful reverence of that God which he then worshipped and prayed to ; giving all outward testimonies that his affections were set on heavenly things.

This was bis behaviour towards God ; and for that to man, it is observable, that he was never known to be angry, or passionate, or extreme in any of his desires ; never heard to repine or dispute wilb Providence, but, by a quiet genlle submission and resignation of his will to the wisdom of his Creator, bore the burden of the day with patience ; never heard to utter an uncomely word ; and by this, and a grave beha viour, which is a Divine charm, he begot an early reverence unio his person, even from those that at other times, and in other com panies, look a liberty to cast off that strictness of behaviour and discourse that 13 required in a collegiate life. And when he took any liberty to be pleasant, his wit was never blemished with scoffing, or the utterance of any conceit that bordered upon, or might beget a thought of, looseness in his hearers.

Thus innocent and exem plary was his behaviour in his college; aud thus Ibis good man con tinued till death; still increasing in learning, in patience, and piety. In this nineteenth year of his age, he was chosen, December 21, 1573, to be one of the twenty scholars of the foundation ; being elected and admitted as born in Devonshire (out of which county a certain number are to be elected in vacancies by Ihe founder's statutes). And now he was much encouraged; for now he was perfectly incoqiorated into this beloved college, which was then noted for an eminent library, strict sludeuts, and remarkable scholars. And indeed it may glory, that it had Bishop Jewel, Dr. John Reynolds, and Dr. Thomas Jackson, of that foundation. The first, famous by his learned Apology for the Church of England, and his Defence of it against Harding.

The second, for the learned and wise manage of a public dispute with John Hart, of the Roman per suasion, about the head and faith of the church, then printed by consent of both parties. And the third, for his most excellent Ex position of the Creed, and for his other treatises : all such as hath given greatest satisfaction to men of the greatest learning. Nor was this man more eminent for his learning than for his strict aud pious life, testified by his abundant love and charity to all. In the year 1576, February 23, Mr. Hooker's Grace was given him for inceptor of arts ; Dr. Herbert Westphaling, a man of noted learning, being then vice-chancellor, and the act following he was completed master, which was anno 1577, bis patron, Dr. Cole, being that year vice-chancellor, and his dear friend, Henry Savil, of Merton-college, then one of the proctors.

It was that Henry Savil that was after Sir Henry Savil, warden of Merton-college, and provost of Eton : he which founded in Oxford two famous lectures, and endowed them with liberal maintenance. It was that Sir Henry Savil that translated and enlightened the History of Cornelius Ta citus with a most excellent comment ; and enriched the world by bis laborious and chargeable collecting the scattered pieces of St. Chrysostom, and the publication of them in one entire body in Greek ; in which language he was a most judicious critic. It was this Sir Henry Savil that had the happiness to be a contemporary, and a most familiar friend, to our Richard Hooker, and let posterity know it. And in this year of 1577, he was chosen fellow of the college : happy also in being the contemporary and friend of Dr. John Rey nolds, of whom I have lately spoken, and of Dr. Spencer; both which were afterward successively made presidents of his college : men of great learning and merit, and famous in their generations.

Nor was Mr. Hooker more happy iu his contemporaries of his time and college, than in the pupilage aud friendship of his Edwin Sandys and George Cranmer; of whom my reader may note, that this Edwin Sandys was after Sir Edwin Sandys, and as famous for his Speculum Europæ as his brother George for making posterity beholden to his pen by a learned relation and comment on his dan gerous and remarkable travels; and for his harmonious translation of the Psalms of David, the Book of Job, and oilier poetical parts of holy writ, into most high aud elegant verse. And for Cranmer, his other pupil, 1 shall refer my reader to the printed testimonies of our learned Master Camden, the Lord Toltenes, Fines Morrison, aud others. " This Cranmer, whose Christian name was George, was a gentle man of singular hope, the eldest son of Thomas Cranmer, son of Edmund Cranmer, the Archbishop's brother : he spent much of his youth in Corpus Christi-college in Oxford, where he continued master of arts for many years before he removed, and then betook himself to travel accompanying that worthy gentleman Sir Edwin Sandys into France, Germany and Italy, for the space of three years ; and after their happy return, he betook himself to an em ployment under Secretary Davison : after whose fall, he went in place of secretary with Sir Henry Killegrew in his embassage into France; and after his death he was sought after by the most noble Lord Mountjoy, with whom he went into Ireland, where he remained, until, in a battle against the rebels near Charlinford, au unfortunate wound put an end both to his life, and the great hopes that were conceived of him."

Betwixt Mr. Hooker and these his two pupils, there was a sa cred friendship ; a friendship made up of religious principles, which increased daily by a similitude of inclinations to the same recreations and studies ; a friendship elemented in youth, and iu a university, free from self-ends, which the friendships of age usually are not. In this sweet, this blessed, this spiritual amity, they went on for many years : and, as the holy prophet saith, "so they took sweet counsel together, and walked in the house of God as friends.'' By which means they improved it to such a degree of amity, as bordered upon heaven; a friendship so sacred, that when it ended in this world, it began in the next, where it shall have no end. And, though this world cannot give any degree of pleasure equal to such a friendship ; vet obedience to parents, aud a desire to know the affairs, and manners, and 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 Mr. Hooker to his college : were he was daily more assiduous in his studies, 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 with such other learning as lay most remote from the track of common studies.