exactly true; for where there is so much excellent truth to be told, it were an inexcusable fault to corrupt that, or prejudice the reader against it by the mixture of falshoods with it.

In short; as he was a great example while he lived, so I wish the setting him thus out to posterity, in his own true and native colours, may have its due influence on all persons; but more particularly on those of that profession, whom it more immediately concerns, whether on the bench, or at the bar.

SIR MATTHEW HALE.

MATTHEW HALE, was born at Alderly in Glocestershire, the first of November, 1609. His grandfather was Robert Hale, an eminent clothier in Wotton-under-edge, in that county, where he and his ancestors had lived for many descents; and they had given several parcels of land for the use of the poor, which are enjoyed by them to this day. This Robert acquired an estate of ten thousand pounds, which he divided almost equally amongst his five sons; besides the portions he gave his daughters, from whom a numerous posterity has sprung. His second son was Robert Hale, a barrister of Lincoln's-Inn; he married Joan, the daughter of Matthew Poyntz, of Alderly, esq. who was descended from that noble family of the Poyntzes of Acton. Of this marriage there was no other issue but this one son. His grandfather by his mother was his godfather, and gave him his own name at his baptism. His father was a man of that strictness of conscience, that he gave over the practice of the law, because he could not understand the reason of giving colour in pleadings, which as he thought was to tell a lie'; and that, with some other things commonly practised, seemed to him contrary to that exactness of truth and justice which became a Christian, so that he withdrew himself from the Inns of Court to live on his estate in the country. Of this I was informed by an

1

1 To tell a lie.] See Life of sir Thomas More, Vol. II. p.

68.

ancient

ancient gentleman, that lived in a friendship with his son for fifty years, and he heard judge Jones, that was Mr. Hale's contemporary, declare this in the King's Bench. But as the care he had to save his soul, made him abandon a profession in which he might have raised his family much higher, so his charity to his poor neighbours, made him not only deal his alms largely among them while he lived, but at his death he left (out of his small estate which was 100l. a year) 20l. a year to the poor of Wotton, which his son confirmed to them with some addition, and with this regulation, that it should be distributed among such poor housekeepers, as did not receive the alms of the parish; for to give it to those, was only, as he used to say, to save so much money to the rich, who by law were bound to relieve the poor of the parish.

Thus he was descended rather from a good, than a noble family; and yet what was wanting in the insignificant titles of high birth, and noble blood, was more than made up in the true worth of his ancestors. But he was soon deprived of the happiness of his father's care and instruction; for as he lost his mother before he was three years old, so his father died before he was five; so early was he cast on the providence of God. But that unhappiness was in a great measure made up to him: for after some opposition made by Mr. Thomas Poyntz, his uncle by his mother, he was committed to the care of Anthony Kingscot, of Kingscot, esq. who was his next kinsman, after his uncles, by his mother.

Great care was taken of his education; and his guardian intended to breed him to be a divine; and being inclined to the way of those then called Puritans, put him to some schools that were taught by those of that party, and in the 17th year of his

age,

age, sent him to Magdalen Hall in Oxford, where Obadiah Sedgwick was his tutor. He was an extraordinary proficient at school, and for some time at Oxford. But the stage players coming thither, he was so much corrupted by seeing many plays, that he almost wholly forsook his studies. By this, he not only lost much time, but found that his head came to be thereby filled with such vain images of things, that they were at best unprofitable, if not hurtful to him; and being afterwards sensible of the mischief of this, he resolved upon his coming to London, (where he knew the opportunities of such sights would be more frequent and inviting) never to see a play again; to which he constantly adhered.

The corruption of a young man's mind in one particular, generally draws on a great many more after it; so he being now taken off from following his studies, and from the gravity of his deportment, that was formerly eminent in him, far beyond his years; set himself to many of the vanities incident to youth, but still preserved his purity, and a great probity of mind. He loved fine clothes, and delighted much in company and being of a strong robust body, he was a great master at all those exercises that required much strength. He also learned to fence, and handle his weapons, in which he became so expert, that he worsted many of the masters of those arts: but as he was exercising of himself in them, an instance appeared, that shewed a good judgment, and gave some hopes of better things. One of his masters told him he could teach him no more, for he was now better at his own trade than himself was. This Mr. Hale looked on as flattery; so to make the master discover himself, he promised him the house he lived in, for he was his tenant, if he could hit him a blow on the

head: