328 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. with some difficulty, he procured entertainment sometimes at the house of his father-in-law, andsometimes at the house of his wife's father in Coventry, till a little before the death of King Henry VIII., when he removed to London. For a considerable time atter his removal to the metro- polis, having no employment, nor yet any preferment, he was again reduced to extreme want. However, by the kind providence of God, he was at length relieved, in the following remarkable manner : As he was sittingone day in St. Paul's church, his countenance being pale, his eyes hollow, and like a ghastly, dying man, a person, whom he never remembered to have seen before, came and sat down by him, and accosting himwith much familiarity, put a sumof money into his hand, saying, 44 Be of good comfort, Mr. Fox. Take care of yourself, and use all means to preserve your life. For, depend upon it, God will, in a few days, give you a better prospect, and more certain means of subsistence." Though lie could never learn from whom he received this seasonable relief, within three days ofthat memorable event, he was taken into the family of the Duchess of Richmond, to be tutor to the Earl of Surrey's children, whose education was committed to her care.. Mr. Fox continued in this honourable family, at Ryegate in Surrey, during part of the reign of Henry VIII., the whole of Edward VI., andpart of Queen Mary's. Bishop Gardiner, a most bloody persecutor, inwhose diocese he found so comfortable and safe a retreat, would have brought him to 'the stake, had he not been protected by the Duke of Norfolk, who had been one of his pupils. Mr. Fox, it is said, was the first person whoventured to preach the gospel at Ryegate ; and with deep concern, Gardiner beheld the heir to one of the noblest families in England, trained up, under his influence, to the protestant religion. This pre- late formed various designs against the safety of Mr. Fox ; and sought by numerous stratagems, to effect his ruin. The good man, who was less suspicious of the bishop, than the bishop was of him, was obliged, at length, to quit his native country, and seek refuge in a foreign land. The duke who loved and revered him as a father, sheltered him from the storm as long as he was able; and when Mr. Fox was obliged to flee for safety, he took care to provide him with every comfortable accommodation for the voyage, Life of Mr. Fox.
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