boys was forthwith chosen fellow of clare hall. his first preferment was the small rectory of betteshanger in his native county, which he tells us was procured for him by his uncle sir john boys of canterbury, whom he calls 'my best patron in cambridge.' he appears to have resided upon this benefice and to have at once begun to cultivate the art of preaching. archbishop john whitgift gave him the mastership of the eastbridge hospital in canterbury, and soon afterwards the vicarage of tilmanstone, but the aggregate value of these preferments was quite inconsiderable, and when he married angela bargrave of bridge, near canterbury, in 1599, he must have had other means of subsistence than his clerical income.