Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/194

180 bishop of Oxford, who was that gentleman's guardian, and had taken care of his education. That great prelate, so famous for his piety and learning, thought the forwarding this match the greatest service he ever rendered his pupil.

When she came into Mr. Berkley's family, she found that gentleman's mother, who had great interest with him, a pious woman, but a zealous Papist. This induced her to study her own religion more, in order to understand the controversies between it and the church of Rome. But, considering the particular turn of his mind, and the great deference he paid to his mother, she found herself obliged to be very tender and careful, that he might not be disturbed with unnecessary disputes about religion, in which, and in her whole management in this respect, she shewed admirable discretion.

At the same time, she obliged herself to more than ordinary strictness in her whole conduct, that she might adorn her own profession by a suitable practice; and, living in the country, where she had much leisure, she spent great part of her time in devotion and reading; and, when she would divert herself with work, she generally had some person to read to her. When her poor neighbours came to visit her (which, encouraged by her, they often did), that she might instruct them without seeming to take too much upon her, she would frequently read good books to them.

In this manner she lived for six years, esteemed even by those, who, on account of different opinions in religion, were likely to be prejudiced against her.

In king James's time, on the death of bishop Fell, who had great influence over Mr. Berkley, and visited him once a year, to prevent his being wrought upon by his relations, at a time when they had hopes of seeing their