THE Church of Bishopsbourne, well known as the church in which Hooker's last ministerial duties were performed, and where he was buried, lies in a valley about three or four miles to the south-east of Canterbury. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary; and over the space between the last arch

of the south aisle, and that opening to the large pew on the south side belonging to Bourne House, is a small arched opening in which it is said an image of the Virgin Mary once stood, resting upon a piece of stone given by William Hante, Esq., by his will in 1462, with other relics; this stone, according to a tradition, being one upon which the angel Gabriel descended when he saluted the Virgin. The church consists of a body, and side aisles, and chancel. The appearance of the interior is light, and has been greatly improved by the removal of a wooden screen, by which, through a high pointed arch, the space of the lower part of the tower has been added to the nave. There is a square

tower, with a low spire containing four bells. The east window of the south aisle has a neat perpendicular window filled with stained glass, representing Scripture subjects and several coats of arms. It is of Dutch manufacture, and the colours are well preserved. Some are dated 1550, others 1615. On the latter is the name of the artist, Eœlkins. There are no old monuments in the church; but one was put up by Sir William Cowper (on the north side of the chancel, near the pulpit,) to the memory of Mr. Hooker, of whom he speaks with great respect and affection as his "spiritual father." The register of Bishopsbourne is signed by Hooker in every page while he was rector of the parish. It also has the following entry :—

"An. Do. 1600.

Mr. Richard Hooker, late parson of Bishopsbourne,
buried the 4 of Novembr."

The parsonage is within a very short distance of the church. It has nothing particularly worthy of description, nor any known memorial of Hooker. The garden is bounded on the south and east sides by a very thick and flourishing yew-hedge, about nine feet high, believed to have been planted in his time, though there is no tradition that it was planted by his hand. Mr. Hooker was presented to the living of Bishopsbourne by Queen Elizabeth, July 7th, 1595, when Dr. W. Redman, the former rector, was made Bishop of Norwich; and here he continued till his death, practising "mortification and self-denial, was much in fasting, and frequent in meditation and prayers." Upon his first arrival, his friendship was much sought after by Dr. Hadrian Saravia, one of the prebends of Canterbury cathedral, who became his dear and intimate friend,

"knowing the very secrets of his soul," -for they were supposed to be confessors to each other.

Mr. Hooker's custom was to preach once on every Sunday, and he or his curate to catechise after the second lesson in the evening prayer. On every Ember-week he used to lock himself up in the church for many hours each day, and also on most Fridays, and other days of fasting. He was watchful over and charitable to his parishioners, and frequent in visiting them; and was of so mild and humble a nature, "that his poor parish-clerk and he did never talk but with both their hats on, or both off at the same time." While at Bourne, he wrote the last four books of his "Ecclesiastical Polity."

About the year 1600, and the forty-sixth of his age, he fell into a long and sharp illness, owing to a cold taken in passing by water from London to Gravesend, and from this he never recovered, but was very diligent in his study, and would often say to Dr. Saravia, who saw him daily, and was the chief comfort of his life, "that he did not beg a long life of God for any other reason but to live to finish his three remaining books of Polity;' then, Lord, let thy servant depart in peace." About a month before his death he lost his appetite, but still studied and wrote. Not many days before his death, his house was robbed; of which, when he heard, his question was, ،، Are my books and written papers safe?" and being told that they were, his reply was, "Then it matters not; for no other loss can trouble me." The day before his death, Dr. Saravia gave him "the Church's absolution," and the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, after which he thought he

saw "a reverend gaiety and joy in his face." On returning to him early the next morning, and finding him deep in thought, the doctor asked him what he was thinking of; to which he replied, " that he was meditating the number and nature of angels, and their blessed obedience and order, without which, peace could not be in heaven; and O that it might be so on earth!" His last words were, I could wish to live to do the Church more service; but cannot hope it, for my days are past, as a shadow that returns not." He could say no more; and after a short struggle "fell asleep," with a quiet sigh.

His " poor parish-clerk" lived till the third or fourth year of the Long Parliament, and had many rewards for shewing Mr. Hooker's grave-place and monument. He always heard him spoken of with great praise and reverence, to which he added his own knowledge and observations of his holiness and humility. But when the then rector of Bourne was sequestered, or removed from his living, and a Genevan minister put in his place, in the time of the Long Parliament, the clerk said with wonder, that "they had sequestered so many good men, that he doubted if his good master, Mr. Hooker, had lived till now, they would have sequestered him too." And when the Genevan minister ordered stools and forms to be set round the altar for himself and a party to sit and receive the Sacrament, and bade the clerk cease wondering and lock the door, he replied, Pray take you the keys and lock me out; I will never come more into this church for all men will say my master Hooker was a good man and a good scholar, and I am sure it was not used to be thus in his days." And