looked on as the threatenings of an angry father, was now but too certain, became melancholy, and that, by degrees, wrought so great a change on him, that what his father could not prevail in while he lived, was now effected by the severity of his last will, so that it was now too late for him to change in hopes of an estate that was gone from him. But his brother observing the reality of the change, resolved within himself what to do: so he called him, with many of his friends, together, to a feast, and after other dishes had been served up to dinner, he ordered one that was covered to be set before his brother, and desired him to uncover it; which he doing, the company was surprised to find it full of writings. So he told them that he was now to do what he was sure his father would have done, if he had lived to see that happy change, which they now all saw in his brother; and therefore he freely restored to him the whole estate. This is so great an instance of a generous and just dispo sition, that I hope the reader will easily pardon this digression; and that the rather, since that worthy serjeant was so instrumental in the happy change that followed in the course of Mr. Hale's life.

Yet he did not at first break off from keeping too much company with some vain people, till a sad accident drove him from it; for he, with some other young students, being invited to be merry out of town, one of the company called for so much wine, that notwithstanding all that Mr. Hale could do to prevent it, he went on in his excesses till he fell down as dead before them, so that all that were present were not a little af frighted at it, who did what they could to bring him to himself again. This did particularly

affect Mr. Hale, who thereupon went into another room, and shutting the door, fell on his knees, and prayed earnestly to God, both for his friend, that he might be restored to life again, and that himself might be forgiven for giving such countenance to so much excess; and he vowed to God, that he would never again keep company in that manner, nor drink a health while he lived. His friend recovered, and he. most religiously observed his vow till his dying day. And although he was afterwards pressed tó drink healths, particularly the king's, which was set up by too many, as a distinguishing mark of loyalty, and drew many into great excess after his Majesty's happy restoration; yet he would never dispense with his vow, though he was sometimes roughly treated for this, which some hot and indiscreet men called obstinacy.

This wrought an entire change on him; now he forsook all vain company, and divided himself between the duties of religion, and the studies of his profession. In the former he was so regular, that for six and thirty years' time he 1 never once failed going to church on the Lord's day; this observation he made when an ague first interrupted that constant course, and he reflected on it as an acknowledgment of God's great goodness to him, in so long a continuance of his health.

He took a strict account of his time, of which the reader will best judge, by the scheme he drew for a diary, which I shall insert, copied from the original, but I am not certain when he made it: it is set down in the same simplicity in which he writ it for his own private use.

Morning.

I. To lift up the heart to God in thankfulness for renewing my life.

II. To renew my covenant with God in Christ. 1. By renewed acts of faith receiving Christ, and rejoicing in the height of that relation. 2. Resolution of being one of his people, doing him allegiance.

III. Adoration and prayer.

IV. Setting a watch over my own infirmities and passions, over the snares laid in our way. Perimus licitis.

Day Employment.

There must be an employment, two kinds. I. Our ordinary calling, to serve God in it. It is a service to Christ, though never so mean. Colos. 3. Here faithfulness, diligence, cheerfulness. Not to overlay myself with more business than I can bear.

II. Our spiritual employments; mingle somewhat of God's immediate service in this day.

Refreshments.

I. Meat and drink, moderation seasoned with somewhat of God.

II. Recreations. 1. Not our business. 2. Suitable. No games, if given to covetousness or passion.

If alone.

I. Beware of wandering vain lustful thoughts; fly from thyself rather than entertain these.

II. Let thy solitary thoughts be profitable; view the evidences of thy salvation, the state of

thy soul, the coming of Christ, thy own mortait will make thee humble and watchful.

lity;

Company.

Do good to them. Use God's name reverently. Beware of leaving an ill impression of ill example. Receive good from them if more knowing.

Evening

Cast up the accompts of the day. If aught amiss, beg pardon. Gather resolution of more vigilance. If well, bless the mercy and grace of God that hath supported thee.

These notes have an imperfection in the wording of them, which shews they were only intended for his privacies. No wonder a man who set such rules to himself, became quickly very eminent and remarkable.

Noy, the attorney-general being then one of the greatest men of the profession, took early notice of him, and called often for him, and directed him in his study, and grew to have such friendship for him, that he came to be called Young Noy. He, passing from the extreme of vanity in his apparel, to that of neglecting himself too much, was once taken when there was a press for the king's service, as a fit person for it; for he was a strong and well-built man; but some that knew him, coming by, and giving notice who he was, the press-men let him go. This made him return to more decency in his clothes, but never to any superfluity or vanity in them.

Once as he was buying some cloth for a new suit, the draper with whom he differed about the price, told him he should have it for no

thing, if he would promise him an hundred pounds when he came to be Lord Chief Justice of England, to which he answered, that he could not, with a good conscience, wear any man's cloth, unless he paid for it; so he satisfied the draper, and carried away the cloth.Yet that same draper lived to see him advanced to that same dignity.

While he was thus improving himself in the study of the law, he not only kept the hours of the hall constantly in term-time, but seldom put himself out of commons in vacation-time, and continued then to follow his studies with an unwearied diligence; and not being satisfied with the books wrote about it, or to take things upon trust, was very diligent in searching all records. Then did he make divers collections out of the books he had read, and mixing them with his own observations, digested them into a commonplace book, which he did with so much industry and judgment, that an eminent judge of the King's Bench borrowed it of him when he was Lord Chief Baron. He unwillingly lent it, because it had been writ by him before he was called to the bar, and had never been thoroughly revised by him since that time, only what alterations had been made in the law by subsequent statutes and judgments, were added by him as they had happened: but the judge, having perused it said, that though it was composed by him so early, he did not think any lawyer in England could do it better, except he himself would again set about it.

He was soon found out by that great and learned antiquary, Mr. Selden, who, though much superior to him in years, yet came to have such a liking of him, and of Mr. Vaughan, who was afterwards Lord Chief Justice of the Com