science so well as by seeking it there; and therefore lamented much that it was so little studied in England.

He looked on readiness in arithmetic, as a thing which might be useful to him in his own employment, and acquired it to such a degree, that he would often on the sudden, and afterwards on the bench, resolve very hard questions, which had puzzled the best accomptants about town. He rested not here, but studied the algebra both speciosa and numerosa, and went through all the other mathematical sciences, and made a great collection of very excellent instruments, sparing no cost to have them as exact, as art could make them. He was also very conversant in philosophical learning, and in all the curious experiments, and rare discoveries of this age and had the new books written on those subjects sent from all parts, which he both read and examined so critically, that if the principles and hypotheses which he took first up, did any way prepossess him, yet those who have differed most from him, have acknowledged, that in what he has writ concerning the Torricellian experiment, and of the rarefaction and condensation of the air, he shews as great an exactness, and as much subtilty in the reasoning he builds on them, as these principles to which he adhered could bear. But indeed it will seem scarce credible, that a man so much employed, and of so severe a temper of mind, could find leisure to read, observe and write so much of these subjects as he did. He called them his diversions; for he often said, when he was weary with the study of the law, or divinity, he used to recreate himself with philosophy or the mathematicks. To these he added great skill in physic, anatomy and chirurgery: and he used to say, "no man could be absolutely a master in any profession,

profession, without having some skill in other sciences;" for besides the satisfaction he had in the knowledge of these things, he made use of them often in his employments. In some examinations he would put such questions to physicians or chirurgeons, that they have professed, the College of Physicians could not do it more exactly; by which he discovered great judgment, as well as much knowledge in these things. And in his sickness he used to argue with his doctors about his distempers, and the methods they took with them, like one of their own profession; which one of them told me he understood, as far as speculation without practice could carry him.

To this he added great searches into ancient history, and particularly into the roughest and least delightful part of it, chronology. He was well acquainted with the ancient Greek philosophers; but want of occasion to use it, wore out his knowledge of the Greek tongue; and though he never studied the Hebrew tongue, yet by his great conversation with Selden, he understood the most curious things in the rabbinical learning.

But above all these he scemed to have made the study of divinity the chief of all others; to which he not only directed every thing else, but also arrived at that pitch in it, that those who have read what he has written on these subjects, will think they must have had most of his time and thoughts.

It may seem extravagant, and almost incredible, that one man, in no great compass of years, should have acquired such a variety of knowledge: and that in sciences, that require much leisure and application. But as his parts were quick, and his apprehensions lively, his memory great, and his judgments strong; so his industry was almost indefatigable. He rose always betimes in the

morning;

morning; was never idle; scarce ever held any discourse about news, except with some few in whom he confided entirely. He entered into no correspondence by letters, except about necessary business, or matters of learning, and spent very little time in eating or drinking; for as he never went to public feasts, so he gave no entertainments but to the poor; for he followed our Saviour's directions (of feasting none but these) literally and in eating and drinking, he observed not only great plainness and moderation, but lived so philosophically, that he always ended his meal with an appetite; so that he lost little time at it, (that being the only portion which he grudged himself) and was disposed to any exercise of his mind to which he thought fit to apply himself, immediately after he had dined. By these means be gained much time, that is otherwise unprofitably wasted.

He had also an admirable equality in the temper of his mind, which disposed him for whatever studies he thought fit to turn himself to; and some very uneasy things which he lay under for many years, did rather engage him to, than distract him from his studies.

When he was called to the bar, and began to make a figure in the world, the late unhappy wars broke out, in which it was no easy thing for a man to preserve his integrity, and to live securely, free from great danger and trouble. He had read the life of Pomponius Atticus, writ by Nepos; and having observed, that he had passed through a time of as much distraction, as ever was in any age or state, from the wars of Marius and Scylla, to the beginnings of Augustus's reign, without the least blemish on his reputation, and free from any considerable danger, being held in great esteem by all parties, and courted and favoured by them; he set

him as a pattern to himself: and observing, that besides those virtues which are necessary to all men, and at all times, there were two things that chiefly preserved Atticus; the one was his engaging in no faction, and meddling in no public business; the other was his constant favouring and relieving those that were lowest, which was ascribed by such as prevailed to the generosity of his temper, and procured him much kindness from those on whom he had exercised his bounty, when it came to their turn to govern: he resolved to guide himself by those rules as much as was possible for him to.

do.

He not only avoided all public employment, but the very talking of news, and was always both favourable and charitable to those who were depressed, and was sure never to provoke any in particular, by censuring or reflecting on their actions; for many that have conversed much with him, have told me they never heard him once speak ill of any

person.

He was employed in his practice by all the king's party. He was assigned council to the earl of Strafford, and archbishop Laud, and afterwards to the blessed king himself, when brought to the infamous pageantry of a mock trial, and offered to plead for him with all the courage that so glorious a cause ought to have inspired him with; but was not suffered to appear, because the king refusing, as he had good reason, to submit to the court, it was pretended none could be admitted to speak for him. He was also council for the duke of Hamilton, the earl of Holland, and the lord Capel. His plea for the former of these, I have published in the memoirs of that duke's life. Afterwards also being council for the lord Craven, he pleaded with that force of argument, that the then attorney-general

threatened

threatened him for appearing against the government; to whom he answered," he was pleading in defence of those laws, which they declared they would maintain and preserve: and he was doing his duty to his client, so that he was not to be daunted with threatenings."

Upon all these occasions he had discharged himself with so much learning, fidelity, and courage, that he came to be generally employed for all that party. Nor was he satisfied to appear for their just defence in the way of his profession, but he also relieved them often in their necessities; which he did in a way that was no less prudent than charitable, considering the dangers of that time: for he did often deposit considerable sums in the hands of a worthy gentleman of the king's party, who knew their necessities well, and was to distribute his charity according to his own discretion, without either letting them know from whence it came, or giving himself any account to whom he had given it.

Cromwell seeing him possessed of so much practice, and he being one of the eminentest men of the law, who was not at all afraid of doing his duty in those critical times; resolved to take him off from it, and raise him to the bench.

Mr. Hale saw well enough the snare laid for him; and though he did not much consider the prejudice it would be to himself, to exchange the easy and safer profits he had by his practice, for a judge's place in the common-pleas, which he was required to accept of, yet he did deliberate more on the lawfulness of taking a commission from usurpers; but having considered well of this, he came to be of opinion, "that it being absolutely necessary, to have justice and property kept up at all times, it was no sin to take a commission from usurpers,