HOOKER

HOOKER, JOHN, alias VOWELI, was born in Exeter, about the year 1524, the second son of Robert Hooker, who in 1529 was mayor of that city. He was instructed in grammar learning by Dr Moreman, vicar of Menhinit in Cornwall, and thence removed to Oxford; but to what college is uncertain. Having left the university, he travelled to Germany, and resided some time at Cologne, where he kept exercises in law, and probably graduated. Thence he went to Strasburg, where he studied divinity under the famous Peter Martyr. He now returned to England, and soon after visited France, intending to proceed to Spain and Italy; but was prevented by a declaration of war. Returning therefore again to England, he fixed his residence in his native city, where, having married, he was in 1554 elected chamberlain, being the first person who held that office, and in 1571 represented his fellow-citizens in parliament. He died in the year 1601, and was buried in the cathedral church at Exeter. He wrote, among other works, 1. Order and usage of keeping of parliaments in Ireland. 2. The events of comets or blazing stars, made upon the sight of the comet Pagonia, which appeared in November and December 1577. 3. An addition to the chronicles of Ireland from 1546 to 1568; in the second volume of Holinshed's chronicle. 4. A description of the city of Exeter, and of the fondrie assaults given to the same; Holinsh. Chron. vol. iii. 5. A book of ensigns. 6. Translation of the history of the conquest of Ireland from the Latin of Giraldus Cambrensis; in Holinsh. Chron. vol. ii. 7. Synopsis chorographica, or an historical record of the province of Devon; never printed.