“I am sorry, Right Honourable, that I am enforced to make unto you such a suit, which I cannot move; but I must complain of the unrighteous dealing of one of our College, who hath taken upon him, against all law and reason, to expel out of our house both me and Mr. Hooker, and three other of our fellows, for doing that which by oath we were bound to do.  Our matter must be heard before the Bishop of Winchester, with whom I do not doubt but we shall find equity.  Howbeit, forasmuch as some of our adversaries have said that the Bishop is already forestalled, and will not give us such audience as we look for; therefore I am humbly to beseech your Honour, that you will desire the Bishop, by your letters, to let us have justice; though it be with rigour, so it be justice:  our cause is so good, that I am sure we shall prevail by it.  Thus much I am bold to request of your honour for Corpus Christi College sake, or rather for Christ’s sake; whom I beseech to bless you with daily increase of his manifold gifts, and the blessed graces of his Holy Spirit.

    “Your Honour’s in Christ to command,

       “JohnReynolds.

“London, October 9, 1579.”

[Sidenote:  At Paul’s Cross]

This expulsion was by Dr. John Barfoote, then Vice-President of the College, and Chaplain to Ambrose Earl of Warwick.  I cannot learn the pretended cause; but that they were restored the same month is most certain.[12] I return to Mr. Hooker in his College, where he continued his studies with all quietness, for the space of three years; about which time he entered into Sacred Orders, being then made Deacon and Priest, and, not long after, was appointed to preach at St. Paul’s Cross.[13]

[Sidenote:  His sermon]

In order to which Sermon, to London he came, and immediately to the Shunamite’s House; which is a House so called, for that, besides the stipend paid the Preacher, there is provision made also for his lodging and diet for two days before, and one day after his Sermon.  This house was then kept by John Churchman, sometime a Draper of good note in Watling-street, upon whom poverty had at last come like an armed man, and brought him into a necessitous condition; which, though it be a punishment, is not always an argument of God’s disfavour; for he was a virtuous man.  I shall not yet give the like testimony of his wife, but leave the Reader to judge by what follows.  But to this house Mr. Hooker came so wet, so weary, and weather-beaten, that he was never known to express more passion, than against a friend that dissuaded him from footing it to London, and for finding him no easier an horse,—­supposing the horse trotted when he did not;—­and at this time also, such a faintness and fear possessed him, that he would not be persuaded two days’ rest and quietness, or any other means could be used to make him able to preach his Sunday’s Sermon; but a warm bed, and rest, and drink proper for a cold, given him by Mrs. Churchman, and her diligent attendance added unto it, enabled him to perform the office of the day, which was in or about the year 1581.