284 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. ANDREW WILLET, D. D.-This learned and laborious divine was born in the city of Ely, in the year 1562, and educated first in Peter-house, then in Christ's college, Cambridge. He was blessed with pious parents, who ,brought him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His father, Mr. Thomas Willet, was sub-almoner to King Edward VI., and a painful sufferer during the cruel perse- cutions of Queen Mary. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, he became rector of Barley in Hertfordshire, and was preferred to a prebend in the church of Ely. His son Andrew, while a boy at school, discovered an uncommon genius, and made extraordinary progress in the various rudiments of knowledge. He was so intense in his application, that his parents were obliged to use various methods to divert his attention from his books. At the age of fourteen, he was sent to the university, where be was soon preferred to a fellowship. Here he became intimate, with Downham, Perkins, and other celebrated puritans, who encouraged each other in their studies. Willet soon distinguished himself by his exact acquaintancewith the languages,the arts, and all the branches of useful literature. He was concerned not to have these things to learn, when he came forth to teach others ; wisely judging that youth should prepare that which riper years must use. Among the anecdotes related of him while at Cambridge, shewing the promising greatness ofhis abilities, is the following :-" The proctor of the college being prevented, by some unforeseen occurrence, from executing his office at the commencement, just at hand, none couldbe found to take his place excepting Willet, who acquitted himself so well, that his orations gained him the approbation and applause of the university, and the high admiration of all who knew how short a time he had for preparation.". In the year 1586, he united with the master and fellows of Christ's college, in defence of themselves against the accusations of their enemies, in which they acquitted themselves with great honour.+ Having spent thirteen years at the university, he came forth richly fraught with wisdom and knowledge. On the death of his father, the queen presented him to the rectory of Barley, and gave him his father's prebend in the church 4. Barksdale's Remembrancer, p. 53-5S. + Baker's MS. Collec. vol. iv. p. 79.
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