part in a Philosophy Act at Cambridge before King James. He did both, says Fuller, a good judge in such matters, and one who could enter into the spirit of such a character, "to the wonder of the hearers. Herein he was like himself, that he could on a sudden be so unlike himself, and instantly vary his words and matter from mirth to solidity. No man had more ability, or less inclination to be satyrical, in which kind posse et nolle is a rarity indeed. He had wit at will; but so that he made it his page, not privy-councillor to obey, not direct his judgment."1 When the Prevaricator had exhausted his topic or quaestio, and when other speeches had been delivered, the "Answerer in Philosophy" advanced his thesis. After replies and other speeches, the Respondent was then complimented by the Moderator; and the remaining ceremonies of graduation were partly gone through on the spot and partly in the public Schools. Two hundred and sixteen Masters of Arts were graduated on this occasion. Fuller received his degree with applause. Both his degrees, indeed, were (we are told) "taken with such general commendation, and at such unusual age that such a Commencement was not within memory.' His signature is thus attached to the subscription-book : Chomas Fullow. To this time of Fuller's life belongs his acquaintance with the classic authors and with the Fathers, with which his writings -in common with many other wonderful authors of these times -shew such a surprising familiarity. But his course of studies was soon to be somewhat modified. The long-continued endeavours of the Bishop to obtain for his nephew a fellowship were of no avail; for at the election in 1628, perhaps from the want of inclination on the part of the President to advance his promising scholar, he was passed over. Fuller's future life now came under the consideration of his friends, his seven years' studies being at an end. His father probably began to feel the burden of the expense of maintaining him at college, for he had a large family now growing up. And yet it was necessary that his son, being intended for the Church, should continue at Cambridge to qualify himself for the degrees in Divinity. Ere the first of these degrees could be taken, Masters of Arts, according to the 1 Worthies, § Suffolk, p. 62. 2 Life, p. 4. statutes, were to remain in full residence for a further term of five years. There is evidence to show that Fuller's friends were now considering how they might keep up his connection with the University. The prospects of the young Master of Arts are fully set forth in the following important letter, dated Oct. 21, 1628, from the pen of Dr. Davenant : To his very loving freind Dr. Ward professor of Divinity & master of Sidney Colledg, deliver this. Salutem in Christo. DR. WARD, I am informed that they have made a late election at Queens Colledg, & utterly passed by my nephew. I would the Master had but donne mee that kindenes, as not to have made mee expect some kindenes from him. I should have taken it much better, then his dooing of lesse then nothing, after some promise of his favorable assistance. I am loath Mr. ffuller should bee snatched away from ye vniversity before hee bee growen somewhat riper. His ffather is p'swaded to continew him there, vntill I can provide him some other means; but hee think it will bee some disparagement & discouragement to his sonne to continew in that Colledg, where hee shall see many of his punies stept before him in preferment. In wch respect hee is very desirous that hee should remoov vnto your Colledg there to live in fellowes comons, till hee shall bee otherwise disposed of. Wee nether intend nor desire to make him fellow in yours or any other Colledg, but only that hee may bee conveniently placed for ye continuance of his studyes. I pray doe him what kindenes conveniently you may in helping him to a chamber & study, & in admittance into fellowes comons, wth as litle chardg as ye orders of your howse will give leave. In Queens Colledg Mrs of Art, had many times ye favour granted to come into Comons whout giving plate or any other such like burdens wch lay uppon young gentlemen fellow comoners. I make no doubt of your readines to doe him any lawfull favour; but ye cheife thing wch I aim at in his remooval is, that hee may also have your sup'vision & direction bothe in ye course of his life, & study. And thus wth remembrance of my love I comitt you to God & rest alwaies Your very loving friend Jo: SARU.' The anonymous biographer gives another account of the reason why Fuller did not obtain the Fellowship. Referring apparently to the same circumstance, he states that, during Fuller's stay at Queens', a Fellowship fell vacant, and that the young student, "prompted thereto by a double plea of merit and interest besides the desire of the whole house," became a candidate for it. But one of the college statutes was to the effect that two fellows at the same time must not be admitted from one county. Now there was already one student from Northamptonshire already elected. He may have been Fuller's cousin, Robert Townson, elected two 1 Tanner MSS., vol. lxxii. p. 296. years before, who, we presume, stood more in need of the fellowship than did Fuller. Fuller, accordingly, "quitted his pretensions and designation to that preferment." The biographer adds, that he "totally declined," though he was assured that a special dispensation could be obtained in his particular case by which the election might have been assured. Thus, rather than that the statutes of the College should be altered on his account and that an irregular precedent should be formed, he allowed his own merits and interests to suffer— not willing to owe his rise and advancement to the courtesy of so ill a precedent that might usher in more immodest intrusions upon the privileges and laws of the college." 66 Be this as it may, his connection with Queens' was soon afterwards severed. His course of study had begun with eagerness and finished with credit; and he must have left his associates with a mind well informed. At this time, then, he was something more than a mere "general scholar." In after years he looked back with a grateful remembrance to the years he had spent within the college walls. He thus affectionately concludes his notice of the house in the annals of his University: "And thus I take my farewell of this foundation wherein I had my education for the first eight years [1621-8] in that University. Desiring God's blessing to be plentifully poured on all the members thereof."1 1 Sect. v. 39, p. 82. As to the period of time here mentioned, we find him again saying of Queens' College, "to which I owe my education for my first seven years in that University." (Holy War, bk. v. chap. xxiv. p. 270.) The latter period of time noticeably agrees with that given in the register of SydneySussex College (p. 47 antea). Fuller perhaps took a long holiday before entering his new college in the following year. CHAPTER V. STUDENT LIFE: SYDNEY-SUSSEX COLLEGE. FIRST CURACY. (1629-31.) ADMISSION TO SYDNEY COLLEGE. DR. MOUNTAGU. —DR. SAMUEL WARD: HIS RELATIONS TO FULLER.-RICHARD DUGARD.-FULLER AND THE HEBREW LANGUAGE.—FULLER'S FRIENDS AND CONTEMPORARIES: ROWLAND LITTON, JOSEPH MEDE, EDWARD BENLOWES, ETC.; TAYLOR, D'EWES, ETC.-FULLER APPOINTED TO A CURACY BY THE FELLOWS OF CORPUS CHRISTI.-THE PLAGUE. FULLER AND HOBSON THE CARRIER.- FULLER'S VERSES ON THE ROYAL CHILDREN.-DR. JAMES DUPORT.-SIR WM. PASTON.-DRAINAGE OF THE FENS. "[Hildegardis] never learned word of Latin, and yet therein would she fluently express her Revelation to those notaries that took them from her mouth; so that throwing words at random she never brake Priscian's head: as if the Latin had learned to make itself true without the speaker's care. And no doubt he that brought the single parties to her married them also in her mouth, so that the same spirit which furnished her with Latin words, made also the true syntaxis." (Holy State, p. 38.) N September, 1629, there occurred at Cambridge the ceremonious installation of Lord Holland as Chancellor of the University, in the place of the Duke of Buckingham, then recently assassinated. In November, Fuller was admitted at Sydney-Sussex College, not as "Tanquam Socius," as has been stated, but only "ad convictum Sociorum," i.e. as a fellow-commoner.1 Fuller says that in Pembroke Hall "a Tanquam it seems is a fellow in all things save the name thereof;" and he again defines the word as "a fellow's fellow." To acquire the privilege of a fellow-commoner, higher fees had to be paid, the necessary annual charges being about £60 or £70.3 The extra expense in Fuller's case was perhaps defrayed by Bp. Davenant. author refers to his college maintenance in one of his Cambridge sermons, making an appeal to "us who are or should be 'Register, p. 47, anteà. 2 Church-History, xi. 141; Worthies, § London, p. 207. 3 D'Ewes' Life. years before, who, we presume, stood mo Be this as it may, his connection w Sect. v. 39, p. 82. As to the period of time here mentioned, we find him again saying of Queens' College, "to which I owe my education for my first seven years in that University." (Ho!, War, bk. v. chap. xxiv. p. 270.) T |