Reader may be pleased to know that his Father was masculinely and lineally descended from a very antient Family in Wales where many of his name now live that deserve and have great reputation in that Countrey By his Mother he was descended of the Family of the famous and learned Sir Tho. Moor sometime Lord Chancellour of England as also from that worthy and laborious Judge Rastall who left Posterity the vast Statutes of the Law of this Nation most exactly abridged He had his first breeding in his Fathers house where a private Tutor had the care of him until the ninth year of his age and in his tenth year was sent to the University of Oxford having at that time a good command both of the French and Latine Tongue This and some other of his remarkable Abilities made one give this censure of him That this age had brought forth another Picus Mirandula of whom Story sayes That he was rather born than made wise by study There he remained in Hart-Hall having for the advancement of his studies Tutors of several Sciences to attend and instruct him till time made him capable and his learning expressed in publick exercises declared him worthy to receive his first degree in the Schools which he forbore by advice from his friends who being for their Religion of the Romish perswasion were conscionably averse to some parts of the Oath that is always tendered at those times and not to be refused by those that expect the titulary honour of their studies About the fourteenth year of his age he was transplanted from Oxford to Cambridge where that he might receive nourishment from both Soils he staid till his seventeenth year all which time he was a most laborious Student often changing his studies but endeavouring to take no degree for the reasons formerly mentioned About the seventeenth year of his age he was removed to London and then admitted into Lincolns-Inne with an intent to study the Law where he gave great testimonies of his Wit his Learning and of his Improvement in that profession which never served him for other use than an Ornament and Self-satisfaction His Father died before his admission into this Society and being a Merchant left him his portion in money it was 3000 l. His Mother and those to whose care he was committed were watchful to improve his knowledge and to that end appointed him Tutors in the Mathematicks and all the Liberal Sciences to attend him But with these Arts they were advised to instil particular Principles of the Romish Church of which those Tutors profest though secretly themselves to be members They had almost obliged him to their faith having for their advantage besides many opportunities the example of his dear and pious Parents which was a most powerful perswasion and did work much upon him as he professeth in his Preface to his Pseudo-Martyr a Book of which the Reader shall have some account in what follows He was now entered into the eighteenth year of his age and at that time had betrothed himself to no Religion that might give him any other denomination than a Christian. And Reason and Piety had both perswaded him that there could be no such sin as Schis me if an adherence to some visible Church were not necessary He did therefore at his entrance into the nineteenth year of his age though his youth and strength then promised him a long life yet being unresolved in his Religion he thought it necessary to rectifie all scruples that concerned that and therefore waving the Law and betrothing himself to no Art or Profession that might justly denominate him he begun to survey the Body of Divinity as it was then controverted betwixt the Reformed and the Roman Church And as Gods blessed Spirit did then awaken him to the search and in that industry did never forsake him they be his own words so he calls the same holy Spirit to witness this Protestationâ— that in that disquisition and search he proceeded with humility and diffidence in himself and by that which he took to be the safest way namely frequent Prayers and an indifferent affection to both parties and indeed truth had too much light about her to be hid from so sharp an Inquirer and he had too much ingenuity not to acknowledge he had found her Being to undertake this search he believed the Cardinal Bellarmine to be the best defender of the Roman cause and therefore betook himself to the examination of his Reasons The Cause was weighty and wilful delays had been inexcusable both towards God and his own Conscience he therefore proceeded in this search with all moderate haste and before the twentieth year of his age did shew the then Dean of Gloucester whose name my memory hath now lost all the Cardinals works marked with many weighty observations under his own hand which works were bequeathed by him at his death as a Legacy to a most dear Friend The year following he resolved to travel and the Earl of Essex going first the Cales and after the Island voyages he took the advantage of those opportunities waited upon his Lordship and was an eye-witness of those happy and unhappy employments But he returned not back into England till he had staid some years first in Italy and then in Spain where he made many useful observations of those Countreys their Laws and manner of Government and returned perfect in their Languages The time that he spent in Spain was at his first going into Italy designed for travelling the Holy Land and for viewing Jerusalem and the Sepulchre of our Saviour But at his being in the furthest parts of Italy the disappointment of Company or of a safe Convoy or the uncertainty of returns for Money into those remote parts denied him that happiness which he did often occasionally mention with a deploration Not long after his return into England that exemplary Pattern of Gravity and Wisdom the Lord Elsemore then Keeper of the Great Seal and Lord Chancellour of England taking notice of his Learning Languages and other Abilities and much affecting his Person and Condition took him to be his chief Secretary supposing and intending it to be an Introduction to some more weighty Employment in the State for which his Lordship did often protest he thought him very fit Nor did his Lordship in this time of Master Donne's attendance upon him account him to be so much his Servant as to forget he was his friend and to testifie it did always use him with much courtesie appointing him a place at his own Table to which he esteemed his Company and Discourse a great Ornament He continued that employment for the space of five years being daily useful and not mercenary to his Friends During which time he I dare not say unhappily fell into such a liking as with her approbation increased into a love with a young Gentlewoman that lived in that Family who was Niece to the Lady Elsemore and daughter to
with her presence I leave to the most hopeful Prince the Picture of the elected and crowned Queen of Bohemia his Aunt of clear and resplendent vertues through the clouds of her Fortune To my Lords Grace of Canterbury now being I leave my Picture of Divine Love rarely copied from one in the Kings Galleries of my presentation to his Majesty beseeching him to receive it as a pledge of my humble reverence to his great Wisdom And to the most worthy Lord Bishop of London Lord high Treasurer of England in true admiration of his Christian simplicity and contempt of earthly pomp I leave a Picture of Heraclitus bewailing and Democritus laughing at the world Most humbly beseeching the said Lord Archbishop his Grace and the Lord Bishop of London of both whose favours I have tasted in my life time to intercede with our most gracious Soveraign after my death in the bowels of Jesus Christ That out of compassionate memory of my long Services wherein I more studied the publick Honour then mine own Utility some Order may be taken out of my Arrears due in the Exchequer for such satisfaction of my Creditors as those whom I have Ordained Supervisors of this my â—ast Will and Testament shall present unto their Lordships without their farther trouble Hoping likewise in his Majesties most indubitable Goodness that he will keep me from all prejudice which I may otherwise suffer by any defect of formality in the Demand of my said Arrears To for a poor addition to his Cabinet I leave as Emblems of his attractive Vertues and Obliging Nobleness my great Load-stone and a piece of Amber of both kindes naturally united and onely differing in degree of Concoction which is thought somewhat rare Item A piece of Christal Sexangular as they grow all grasping divers several things within it which I bought among the Rhâ—â—tian Alps in the very place where it grew recommending most humbly unto his Lordship the reputation of my poor Name in the point of my debts as I have done to the forenamed Spiritual Lords and am heartily sorry that I have no better token of my humble thankfulness to his honoured Person It ' I leave to Sir Francis Windebank one of his Majesties principall Secretaries of State whom I found my great friend in point of Necessity the four Seasons of old Bassano to hang near the Eye in his Parlour being in little form which I bought at Venice where I first entred into his most worthy Acquaintance To the above named Doctor Bargrave Dean of Canterbury I leave all my Italian Books not disposed in this Will I leave to him likewise my Viol de Gamba which hath been twice with me in Italy in which Country I first contracted with him an unremovable Affection To my other Supervisor Mr. Nicholas Pey I leave my Chest or Cabinet of Instruments and Engines of all kinds of uses in the lower box whereof are some fit to be bequeathed to none but so entire an honest man as he is I leave him likewise forty pound for his pains in the solicitation of my Arrears and am sorry that my ragged Estate can reach no further to one that hath taken such care for me in the same kind during all my forreign Imployments To the Library at Eaton Colledg I leave all my Manuscripts not before disposed and to each of the Fellows a plain Ring â—of Gold enameld black all save the verge with this Motto within Amor unit omnia This is my last Will and Testament save that shall be added by a Schedule thereunto annexed Written on the first of October in the present year of our Redemption 1637. And subscribed by my self with the Testimony of these Witnesses Nich. Oudert Geo. Lash H. Wotton ANd now because the mind of man is best satisfied by the knowledge of Events I think fit to declare that every one that was named in his Will did gladly receive their Legacies by which and his most just and passionate desires for the payment of his debts they joyned in assisting the Overseers of his Will and by their joynt endeavours to the King then whom none was more willing conscionable satisfaction was given for his just debts The next thing wherewith I shall acquaint the Reader is That he went usually once a year if not oftner to the beloved Bocton-hall where he would say he found both cure for all cares by the company which he called the living furniture of that place and a restorative of his strength by the Connaturalness of that which he called his genial aire He yearly went also to Oxford But the Summer before his death he changed that for a journey to Winchester Colledge to which School he was first removed from Bocton And as he returned from Winchester towards Eaton Colledge said to a friend his Companion in that Journey How usefull was that advice of a Holy Monk who perswaded his friend to perform his Customary devotions in a constant place because in that place we usually meet with those very thoughts which possessed us at our last being there And I find it thus far experimentally true that at my now being in that School and seeing that very place where I sate when I was a boy occasioned me to remember those very thoughts of my youth which then possessed me sweet thoughts indeed that promised my growing years numerous pleasures without mixtures of cares and those to be enjoyed when time which I therefore thought slow pac'd had changed my youth into manhood But age and experience have taught me that those were but empty hopes And though my dayes have been many and those mixt with more pleasures than the sons of men do usually enjoy yet I have alwâ—â—es found it true as my Saviour did fore-tell Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof Nevertheless I saw there a succession of boyes using the same recreations and questionless possessed with the same thoughts that then possessed me Thus one generation succeeds another both in their lives recreations hopes fears and dâ—aths Aâ—ter his return from Winchester which was about nine Moneths before his death he fell into a dangerous Fever which weakned him much he was then also much troubled with an Asthma or continual short spitting but that infirmity he seemed to overcome in a good degree by leaving Tobacco which he had taken somewhat immoderately And about two moneths before his death in October 1639. he again fell into a Fever which though he seem'd to recover yet these still left him so weak that those common infirmities which were wont like civil Friends to visit him and after some short time to depart came both oftner and at last took up their constant habitations with him still weakning his body of which he grew dayly more sensible retiring oftner into his Study and making many Papers that had past his Pen both in the dayes of his youth and business useless by fire These and several unusual expressions to his Friends seemed
l. 24. r. do it 32. l. 2. r. fortune 63. l. 121. r. Dort In Sir H. Wotton 29. l. 10. r. samed 35. l. 9. as well 37. l. 22. dele Mr. Bedell 38. l. 17. dele mis 41. l. 8. r. delivery 45. l. 5. r. mont 47. l. 19. r. Syfiphâ— 53. l. 7. r. against 56. l. 24. r. Elegy 75. l. 19. r. those In Mr. Hoooker 25. l. 4. r. assiduous still 42. l. 7. r. God and so These must be thus corrected or that Paragraph will not be senceâ— 42 l. 11. r. and in wicked 42. l. 15. dele it 56. l. 20. r. answers In George Herbert 14. l. 4. r. his 24. dele of 32. l. 22. â—r Parish Church 33. l. 26. r. she 34. l. 4. dele at 49. l. 10. r. wants it 63. l. 24. dele too 65. l. 24. r. spirits and 72. l. 3. r. for the 80. l. 1. r. to their The Copy of a Letter writ to Mr. Isaac Walton by Doctor King Lord Bishop of Chichester Honest Isaac THough a Familiarity of more then Forty years continuance and the constant experience of your Love even in the worst times be sufficient to indear our Friendship yet I must confess my Affection much improved not onely by Evidences of private Respect to many that know and love you but by your new Demonstration of a publick Spirit testified in a diligent true and useful Collection of so many Material Passages as you have now afforded me in the Life of Venerable Mr. Hooker of which since desired by such a Friend as your self I shall not deny to give the Testimony of what I know concerning him and his learned Books but shall first here take a fair occasion to tell you that you have been happy in choosing to write the Lives of three such Persons as Posterity hath just cause to honour which they will do the more for the true Relation of them by your happy Pen of all which I shall give you my unfeigned Censure I shall begin with my most dear and incomparable Friend Dr. Donne late Dean of St. Pauls Church who not onely trusted me as his Executor but three days before his death delivered into my hands those excellent Sermons of his now made publick professing before Dr. Winniff Dr. Monford and I think your self then present at his bed side that it was by my restless importunity that he had prepared them for the Press together with which as his best Legacy he gave me all his Sermon-Notes and his other Papers containing an Extract of near Fifteen hundred Authours How these were got out of my hands you who were the Messenger for them and how lost both to me and your self is not now seasonable to complain but since they did miscarry I am glad that the general Demonstration of his Worth was so fairly preserved and represented to the World by your Pen in the History of his Life indeed so well that beside others the best Critick of our later time Mr. John Hales of Eaton Colledge affirm'd to me He had not seen a Life written with more advantage to the Subject or more reputation to the Writer then that of Dr. Donnes After the performance of this task for Dr. Donne you undertook the like office for our Friend Sir Henry Wotton betwixt which two there was a Friendship begun in Oxford continued in their various Travels and more confirmed in the religious Friendship of Age and doubtless this excellent Person had writ the Life of Dr. Donne if Death had not prevented him by which means his and your Pre-collections for that Work fell to the happy Menage of your Pen a Work which you would have declined if imperious Persuasions had not been stronger then your modest Resolutions against it And I am thus far glad that the first Life was so imposed upon you because it gave an unavoidable Cause of Writing the second if not 't is too probable we had wanted both which had been a prejudice to all Lovers of Honour and ingenious Learning And let me not leave my Friend Sir Henry without this Testimony added to yours That he was a Man of as Florid a Wit and as Elegant a Pen as any former or ours which in that kind is a most excellent Age hath ever produced And now having made this voluntary Observation of our two deceased Friends I proceed to satisfie your desire concerning what I know and believe of the ever-memorable Mr. Hooker who was Schismaticorum Mallcus so great a Champion for the Church of Englands Rights against the Factious Torrent of Separatists that then ran high against Church-Discipline and in his unanswerable Books continues to be so against the unquiet Disciples of their Schism which now under other Names still carry on their Design and who as the proper Heirs of Irrational Zeal would again take into the scarce closed Wounds of a newly bleeding State and Church And first though I dare not say that I knew Mr. Hooker yet as our Ecclesiastical History reports to the honour of S. Ignatius that he lived in the time of St. John and had seen him in his Childhood so I also joy that in my Minority I have often seen Mr. Hooker with my Father who was then Bishop of London from whom and others at that time I have heard most of the material passages which you relate in the History of his Life and from my Father received such a Character of his Learning Humility and other Virtues that like Jewels of unvaluable price they still cast such a lustre as Envy or the Rust of Time shall never darken From my Father I have also heard all the Circumstances of the Plot to defame him and how Sir Edwin Sandys outwitted his Accusers and gained their Confession and I could give an account of each particular of that Plot but that I judge it fitter to be forgotten and rot in the same grave with the malicious Authors I may not omit to declare that my Fathers Knowledge of Mr. Hooker was occasioned by the Learned Dr. John Spencer who after the Death of Mr. Hooker was so careful to preserve his unvaluable Sixth Seventh and Eighth Books of ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY and his other Writings that he procured Henry Jackson then of Corpus Christi Colledge to transcribe for him all Mr. Hookers remaining written Papers many of which were imperfect for his Study had been rifled or worse used by Mr Chark and another of Principles too like his but these Papers were endeavored to be compleated by his dear friend Dr. Spencer who bequeathed them as a precious Legacy to my Father after whose Death they rested in my hand till Dr. Abbot then Archbishop of Canterbury commanded them out of my custody by authorizing Dr. John Barkcham to require and bring them to him to his Palace in Lambeth at which time I have heard they were put into the Bishops Library and that they remained there till the Martyrdom of Archbishop Laud and were then by the Brethren of
most glad to renew his intermitted friendship with those whom he so much loved and where he had been a Saul though not to persecute Christianity or to deride it yet in his irregular youth to neglect the visible practise of it there to become a Paul and preach salvation to his beloved brethren And now his life was as a Shining light among his old friends now he gave an ocular testimony of the strictness and regularity of it now he might say as St Paul adviseth his Corinthians Be ye followers of me as I follow Christ and walk as yee have me for an example not the example of a busie-body but of a contemplative a harmless an humble and an holy life and conversation The love of that noble society was expressed to him many wayes for besides fair lodgings that were set apart and newly furnished for him with all necessaries other courteesies were daily added indeed so many and so freely as if they meant their gratitude should exceed his merits and in this love-strife of desert and liberality they continued for the space of two years he preaching â—uthfully and constantly to them andâ— they liberally requiting him About which time the Emperour of Germany died and the Palsgrave who had lately married the Lady Elizabeth the Kings onely daugher was elected and crowned King of Bohemia the unhappy beginning of many miseries in that Nation King James whose Motto Beati pacifici did truly speak the very thoughts of his heart endeavoured first to prevent and after to compose the discords of that discomposed State and amongst other his endeavours did then send the Lord Hay Earl of Doncaster his Ambassadour to those unsetled Princes and by a special command from his Majesty Dr Donne was appointed to assist and attend that employment to the Princes of the Union for which the Earl was most glad who had alwayes put a great value on him and taken a great pleasure in his conversation and discourse and his friends of Lincolns Inne were as glad for they feared that his immoderate study and sadness for his wives death would as Jacob said make his daies few and respecting his bodily health evil too and of this there were some visible signs At his going he left his friends of Lincolns-Inne and they him with many reluctations for though he could not say as S. Paul to his Ephesians Behold you to whom I have preached the Kingdom of God shall from henceforth see my face no more yet he believing himself to be in a Consumption questioned and they feared it all concluding that his troubled mind with the help of his unintermitted studies hastened the decays of his weak body And God turned it to the best for this employment to say nothing of the event of it did not onely divert him from those too serious studies and sad thoughts but seemed to give him a new life by a true occasion of joy to be an eye-witness of the health of his most dear and most honoured Mistress the Qu. of Bohemia in a forraign Nation and to be a witness of that gladness which she expressed to see him Who having formerly known him a Courtier was much joyed to see him in a Canonical habit and more glad to be an ear-witness of his excellent and powerful Preaching About fourteen moneths after his departure out of England he returned to his friends of Lincolns-Inne with his sorrows moderated and his health improved and there betook himself to his constant course of Preaching About a year after his return out of Germany Dr. Cary was made Bishop of Exeter and by his removal the Deanry of St. Pauls being vacant the King sent to Dr. Donne and appointed him to attend him at Dinner the next day When his Majesty was sate down before he had eat any meat he said after his pleasant manner Dr. Donne I have invited you to Dinner and though you sit not down with me yet I will carve to you of a dish that I know you love well for knowing you love London I do therefore make you Dean of Pauls and when I have dined then do you take your beloved dish home to your study say grace there to your self and much good may it do you Immediately after he came to his Deanry he employed work-men to repair and beautifie the Chappel suffering as holy David once vowed his eyes and temples to take no rest till he had first beautified the house of God The next quarter following when his Father-in-law Sir George Moor whom Time had made a lover and admirer of him came to pay to him the conditioned summe of twenty pounds he refused to receive it and said as good Jacob did when he heard his beloved son Joseph was alive It is enough You have been kind to me and mine I know your present condition is such as not to abound and I hope mine is or will be such as not to need it I will therefore receive no more from you upon that contract and in testimony of it freely gave him up his bond Immediately after his admission into his Deanry the Vicarage of St. Dunstan in the West London fell to him by the death of Dr. White the Advowson of it having been given to him long before by his honourable friend Richard Earl of Dorset then the Patron and confirmed by his brother the late deceased Edward both of them men of much honour By these and another Ecclesiastical endowment which fell to him about the same time given to him formerly by the Earl of Kent he was enabled to become charitable to the poor and kind to his friends and to make such provision for his children that they were not left scandalous as relating to their or his Profession and Quality The next Parliament which was within that present year he was chosen Prolocutor to the Convocation and about that time was appointed by his Majesty his most gracious Master to preach very many occasional Sermons as at St. Paul's Cross and other places All which employments he performed to the admiration of the Representative Body of the whole Clergy of this Nation He was once and but once clouded with the Kings displeasure and it was about this time which was occasioned by some malicious whisperer who had told his Majesty that Dr. Donne had put on the general humour of the Pulpits and was become busie in insinuating a fear of the Kings inclining to Popery and a dislike of his Government and particularly for his then turning the Evening Lectures into Catechising and expounding the Prayer of our Lord and of the Belief and Commandments His Majesty was the more inclineable to believe this for that a Person of Nobility and great note betwixt whom and Dr. Donne there had been a great friendship was at this very time discarded the Court I shall forbear his name unless I had a fairer occasion and justly committed to prison which begot many rumours in the common people who in this Nation
holy numbers weave A Crown of Sacred Sonnets sit to adorn A dying Martyrs brow or to be worn On that blest head of Mary Magdalen After she wip'd Christs feet but not till then Did he fit for such Penitents as she And he to use leave us a Letanie Which all devout men love and doubtless shall As times grow better grow more Classicall Did he write Hymns for Piety and Wit Equal to those great grave Prudentius writ Spake he all Languages Knew he all Laws The grounds and use of Physick but because 'T was mercenary wav'd it went to see That happy place of Christs Nativity Did he return and preach him preach him so As since St. Paul none ever did they know Those happy souls that hear'd him know this truth Did he confirm thy ag'd convert thy youth Did he these wonders and is his dear loss Mourn'd by so few few for so great a Cross. But sure the silent are ambitious all To be close Mourners at his Funerall If not in common pity they forbear By Repititions to renew our care Or knowing grief conceiv'd and bid consumes Mans life insensibly as poyson fumes Corrupt the brain take silence for the way To'inlarge the soul from these walls mud and clay Materials of this body to remain With him in Heaven where no promiscuous pain Lessens those joyes we have for with him all Are satisfied with joyes essentiall Dwell on these joyes my thoughts oh do not call Grief back by thinking on his Funerall Forget he lov'd me waste not my swift years Which haste to Davids seventy fill'd with fears And sorrows for his death Forget his parts They find a living grave in good mens hearts And for my first is daily paid for sin Forget to pay my second sigh for him Forget his powerful preaching and forget I am his Convert Oh my frailty let My flesh be no more heard it will obtrude This Lethargy so shou'd my gratitude My vows of gratitude shou'd so be broke Which can no more be than his vertues spoke By any but himself for which cause I Write no Incomiums but this Elegy Which as a Free-will offering I here give Fame and the World and parting with it grieve I want abilities fit to set forth A Monument great as Donne's matchless worth April 7. 1631. Iz Wa. FINIS THE LIFE OF S r HENRY WOTTON SOMETIME Provost of Eaton Colledge There are them that have left a name behinde them so that their praise shall be spoken of Ecclus. 44. 8. LONDON Printed by Thomas Newcomb for Richard Marriot and sold by most Booksellers 1670. THE LIFE OF Sir HENRY WOTTON SIR Henry Wotton whose Life I now intend to write was born in the year of our Redemption 1568. in Bocton-hall commonly called Bocton or Bougton place in the Parish of Bocton Malherb in the fruitful Country of Kent Bocton-hall being an ancient and goodly structure beautifying and being beautified by the Parish Church of Bocton Malherb adjoyning unto it and both seated within a fair Park of the Wottons on the Brow of such a Hill as gives the advantage of a large Prospect and of equal pleasure to all Beholders But this House and Church are not remarkable for any thing so much as for that the memorable Family of the Wottons have so long inhabited the one and now lie buried in the other as appears by their many Monuments in that Church the Wottons being a Family that hath brought forth divers Persons eminent for Wisdom and Valour whose Heroick Acts and Noble Imployments both in England and in forraign parts have adorn'd themselves and this Nation which they have served abroad faithfully in the discharge of their great trust and prudently in their Negotiations with several Princes and also serv'd it at home with much Honour and Justice in their wise managing a great part of the publick affairs thereof in the various times both of War and Peace But lest I should be thought by any that may incline either to deny or doubt this Truth not to have observed Moderation in the commendation of this Family And also for that I believe the Merits and Memory of such persons ought to be thankfully recorded I shall offer to the consideration of every Reader out of the testimony of their Pedegree and our Chronicles a part and but a part of that just Commendation which might be from thence enlarged and shall then leave the indifferent Reader to judge whether my errour be an excess or defect of Commendations Sir Robert Wotton of Bocton Malherb Knight was born in the year of Christ 1463. He living in the Reign of King Edward the fourth was by him trusted to be Lieutenant of Guisnes to be Knight Porter and Comptroller of Callais where he dyed and lies honourably buried Sir Edward Wotton of Bocton Malherb Knight Son and Heir of the said Sir Robert was born in the year of Christ 1489. in the Reign of King Henry the Seventh He was made Treasurer of Callais and of Privie-Councel to King Henry the Eight who offered him to be Lord Chancellour of England but saith Hollinshed out of a virtuous modesty he refused it Thomas Wotton of Bocton Malherb Esquire Son and Heir of the said Sir Edward and the Father of our Sir Henry that occasions this relation was born in the year of Christ 1521. He was a Gentleman excellently educated and studious in all the Liberal Arts in the knowledg whereof he attained unto a great perfection who though he had besides those abilities a very Noble and plentiful estate and the ancient Interest of his Predecessors many invitations from Queen Elizabeth to change his Country Recreations and Retirement for a Court-Life offering him a Knight-hood she was then with him at his Bocton-hall and that to be but as an earnest of some more honorable and more profitable imployment under Her yet he humbly refused both being a man of great modesty of a most plain and single heart of an antient freedom and integrity of mind A commendation which Sir Henry Wotton took occasion often to remember with great gladness and thankfully to boast himself the Son of such a Father From whom indeed he derived that noble ingenuity that was alwayes practised by himself and which he ever both commended and cherish'd in others This Thomas was also remarkable for Hospitality a great Lover and much beloved of his Country to which may justly be added that he was a Cherisher of Learning as appears by that excellent Antiquary M. William Lambert in his perambulation of Kent This Thomas had four sons Sir Edward Sir James Sir John and Sir Henry Sir Edward was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth and made Comptroller of Her Majesties Houshould He was saith Cambden a man remarkable for many and great Imployments in the State during her Reign and sent several times Ambassadour into Forraign Nations After her death he was by King James made Comptroller of his Houshold and called to be of his
considered the Dream more seriously and then both joyned in praising God for it That God who tyes himself to no Rules either in preventing of evil or in shewing of mercy to those whom of his good pleasure he hath chosen to love And this Dream was the more considerable because many of the Dreams of this Thomas Wotton did most usually prove ture both in foretelling things to come and discovering things past of which I will give the Reader but one particular more namely this This Thomas a little before his death dream'd that the University Treasury was robbed by Townsmen and poor Scholars and that the number was five And being that day to write to his Son Henry at Oxford he thought it worth so much pains as by a Postscript in his Letter to make a slight inquiry of it the Letter which was writ out of Kent and dated three dayes before came to his Sons hands the very morning after the night in which the Robbery was committed and when the City and University were both in a perplext Enquest of the Thieves then did Sir H. Wotton shew his fathers Letter and by it such light was given of this work of darkness that the five guilty persons were presently discovered and apprehended without putting the Univesity to so much trouble as the casting of a Figure And it may yet be more considerable that this Nicholas and Thomas Wotton should both being men of holy lives of even tempers and much given to fasting and prayer foresee and foretell the very dayes of their own death Nicholas did so being then Seventy years of age and in perfect health Thomas did the like in the 65 year of his age who being then in London where he dyed and foreseeing his death there gave direction that his Body should be carried to Bocton and though he thought his Uncle Nicholas worthy of that noble Monument which he built for him in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury yet this humble man gave direction concerning himself to be buried privately and especially without any pomp at his Funeral BUt it may now seem more then time that I return to Sir Henry Wotton at Oxford where after his optick Lecture he was taken into such a bosom friendship with the learned Albericus Gentilis whom I formerly named that if it had been possible Gentilis would have breathed all his excellent knowledge both of the Mathematicks and Law into the breast of his dear Harry for so Gentilis used to call him and though he was not able to do that yet there was in Sir Henry such a propenfity and connaturalness to the Italian Language and those Studies whereof Gentilis was a great Master that this friendship between them did daily increase and proved daily advantagious to Sir Henry for the improvement of him in several Sciences during his stay in the University From which place before I shall invite the Reader to follow him into a forreign Nation though I must omit to mention divers persons that were then in Oxford of memorable note for Learning and Friends to Sir Henry Wotton yet I must not omit the mention of a love that was there begun betwixt him and Dr. Donne sometimes Dean of St. Pauls a man of whose abilities I shall forbear to say any thing because he who is of this Nation that pretends to Learning or Ingenuity and is ignorant of Dr. Donne deserves not to know him The friendship of these two I must not omit to mention being such a friendship as was generously elemented And as it was begun in their Youth and in an University and there maintained by correspondent Inclinations and Studies so it lasted till Age and Death forced a Separation In Oxford he stayed till about two years after his fathers death at which time he was about the two and twentieth year of his Age and having to his great Wit added the ballast of Learning and knowledge of the Arts he then laid aside his Books and betook himself to the useful Library of Travel and a more general Conversation with Mankind employing the remaining part of his Youth his industry and fortune to adorn his mind and to purchase the rich treasure of forreign knowledge of which both for the secrets of Nature the dispositions of many Nations their several Laws and Languages he was the possessor in a very large measure as I shall faithfully make to aâ—pear before I take my Pen from the following Narration of his Life In his Travels which was almost nine years before his return into England he stayed but one year in France and most of that in Geneva where he became acquainted with Theodor Bezâ— then very aged and with Isaac Causabon in whose fathers house if I be rightly informed Sir Henry Wotton was lodged and there contracted a most worthy friendship with him and his most learned Son Three of the remaining eight years were spent in Germany the other five in Italy the Stage on which God appointed he should act a great part of his life where both in Rome Venice and Florence he became acquainted with the most eminent men for Learning and all manner of Arts as Picture Sculpture Chymistry Architecture and divers other manual Arts even Arts of inferiour nature of all which he was a most dear Lover and a most excellent Judge He returned out of Italy into England about the Thirtieth year of his Age being then noted by many both for his person and comportment for indeed he was of a choice shape tall of stature and of a most perswasive behaviour which was so mixed with sweet Discourse and Civilities as gained him much love from all persons with whom he entred into an acquaintance And whereas he was noted in his Youth to have a sharp wit and apt to jest that by Time Travel and Conversation was sâ— polish'd and made so useful that his company seemed to be one of the delights of Mankind insomuch as Robert Earl of Essex then one of the darlings of fortune and in greatest favour with Queen Elizabeth invited him first into a friendship and after a knowledge of his great abilities to be one of his Secretaries the other being Mr. Henry Cuffe sometimes of Merton Colledge in Oxford and there also the acquaintance of Sir Henry Wotton in his Youth Mr. Cuffe being then a man of no common note in the University for his Learning nor after his removal from that place for the great abilities of his mind nor indeed for the fatalness of his end Sir Henry Wotton being now taken into a serviceable friendship with the Earl of Essex did personally attend his Counsels and Employments in two Voyages at Sea against the Spaniard and also in that which was the Earls last into Ireland that Voyage wherein he did so much provoke the Queen to anger then and worse at his return into England upon whose immovable favour he had built such sandy hopes as incouraged him to those undertakings which with the help
Italy is observed to breed the most vertuous and most vicious men of any Nation these two having been long complained of at Rome in the name of the State of Venice and no satisfaction being given to the Venetians they seised their persons and committed them to prison The justice or injustice of such power then used by the Venetians had formerly had some calm debates betwixt the present Pope Clement the Eighth and that Republick for he did not excommunicate them considering as I conceive that in the late Council of Trent it was at last after many Politique disturbances and delayes and indeavours to preserve the Popes present power declar'd in order to a general reformation of those many Errours which were in time crept into the Church that though Discipline and especial Excommunication be one of the chief sinews of Church government and intended to keep men in obedience to it for which end it was declar'd to be very profitable yet it was also declar'd and advised to be used with great sobriety and care because experience had informed them that when it was pronounced unadvisedly or rashly it became more contemn'd then fear'd And though this was the advice of that Council at the Conclusion of it which was not many years before this quarrel with the Venetians yet this prudent patient Pope Clement dying Pope Paul the fiâ—t who succeeded him being a man of a much hotter temper brought this difference with the Venetians to a much higher Contention objecting those late acts of that State to be a diminution of his just power and limited a time for their revocation threatning if he were not obeyed to proceed to excommunication of the Republick who still offered to shew both reason and ancient custom to warrant their Actions But this Pope contrary to his Predecessors moderation required absolute obedience without disputes Thus it continued for about a year the Pope still threatning Excommunication and the Venetians still answering him with fair speeches and no performance till at last the Popes zeal to the Apostolick Sea did make him to excommunicate the Duke the whole Senate and all their Dominions and then shut up all their Churches charging the whole Clergy to forbear all sacred Offices to the Venetians till their Obedience should render them capable of Absolution But this act of the Popes did the more confirm the Venetians in their resolution not to obey him And to that end upon the hearing of his Interdict they presently published by sound of Trumpet a Proclamation to this effect That whosoever hath received from Rome any Copy of a Papal interdict publish'd there well against the Law of God as against the Honour of this Nation shall presently render it to the Councel of Ten upon pain of death Then was the Inquisition presently suspended by Order of the State and the Flood-gates being thus set open any pleasant or scoffing wit might safely vent it self against the Pope either by free speaking or in Print Matters thus heightned the State advised with Father Paul a holy and Learned Fryer the Authour of the History of the Council of Trent whose advice was Neither to Provoke the Pope nor lose their own Right he declaring publickly in Print in the name of the State That the Pope was trusted to keep two Keyes one of Prudence and the other of Power And that if they were not both used together Power alone is not effectual in an Excommunication And thus it continued till a report was blown abroad that the Venetians were all turned Protestants which was believed by many for that it was observ'd the English Ambassadour was so often in conference with the Senate aud his Chaplain Mr. Bedel more often with Father Paul And also for that the Republick of Venice was known to give Commisâ—â—on to Gregory Justiniano then their Ambassadour in England to make all these proceedings known to the King and to crave a Promise of his assistance if need should require and in the mean time the King's advice and judgment which was the same that he gave to Pope Clement at his first coming to the Crown of England that Pope then moving him to an Union with the Roman Church namely To endeavour the calling of a free Council for the settlement of peace in Christendom And that he doubed not but that the French King and divers other Princes would joyn to assist in so good a work and in the mean time the sin of this Breach both with his and the Venetians Dominions must of necessity lie at the Pope's door In this contention which lasted several years the Pope grew still higher and the Venetians more resolv'd and careless still acquainting King James with their proceedings which was done by the help of Sir Henry Wotton Mr. Bedel and Padre Paulo whom the Venetians did then call to be one of their Consultors of State and with his Pen to defend their Cause which was by him so performed that the Pope saw plainly he had weakned his Power by exceeding it and offered the Venetians Absolution upon very easie terms which the Venetians still slighting did at last obtain by that which was scarce so much as a shew of acknowledging it For they made an order that in that day in which they were absolv'd there should be no publick rejoycing nor any Bonefires that night lest the Common people might judg they were absolved for committing a fault These Contests were the occasion of Padre Paulo his knowledge and interest with King James for whose sake principally Padre Paul compiled that eminent History of the remarkable Council of Trent which History was as fast as it was written sent in several sheets in Letters by Sir Henry VVotton Mr Bedel and Mr. Bedel and others unto King James and the then Bishop of Canterbury in England and there first made publick both in English and in the universal Language For eight years after Sir Henry Wottons going into Italy he stood fair and highly valued in the Kings opinion but at last became much clouded by an accident which I shall proceed to relate At his first going Embassadour into Italy as he passed through Germany he stayed some dayes at Augusta where having been in his former Travels well known by many of the best note for Learning and Ingeniousness those that are esteemed the Virtuosi of that Nation with whom he passing an evening in merriments was requested by Christopher Flecamore to write some Sentence in his Albo a Book of white paper which for that purpose many of the German Gentry usually carry about then and Sir Henry Wotton consenting to the motion took an occasion from some accidental discourse of the present Company to write a pleasant definition of an Embassadour in these very words Legatus est vir bonus peregre mismissus ad mentiendum Reipublicae causâ Which Sir Henry Wotton could have been content should have been thus Englished An Ambassadour is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good
Parties were so pleased with this proposal that it was resolved â—o it should be And in the mean time his Parents and Master laid a foundation for his future happiness by instilling into his Soul the seeds of Piety those conscientious principles of loving and fearing God of an early belief that he knows the very secrets of our Souls That he punisheth our Vices and rewards our Innocence That we should be free from hypocrisie and appear to man what we are to God because first or last the crafty man is catch't in his own snare These seeds of Piety were so seasonably planted and so continually watered with the daily dew of Gods blessed Spirit that his Infant vertues grew into such holy habits as did make him grow daily into more and more favour both with God and man which with the great Learning that he did attain to hath made Richard Hooker honour'd in thisâ— and will continue him to be so to succeeding Generations This good Schoolmaster whose Name I am not able to recover and am sorry for that I would have given him a better memorial in this humble Monument dedicated to the memory of his Scholar was very sollicitous with John Hooker then Chamberlain of Exeter and Uncle to our Richard to take his Nephew into his care and to maintain him for one Year in the University and in the mean time to use his endeavours to procure an admission for him into some Colledge still urging and assuring him that his Charge would not continue long for the Lads Learning and Manners were both so remarkable that they must of necessity be taken notice of and that doubtless God would provide him some second Patron that would free him and his Parents from their future care and charge These Reasons with the affectionate Rhetorick of his good Master and Gods blessing upon both procured from his Uncle a faithful promise that he wou'd take him into his care and charge before the expiration of the Year following which was performed by the assistance of the Learned John Jewell who left or was about the first of Queen Maries Reign expell'd out of Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford of which he was a Fellow for adhering to the Truth of those Principles of Religion to which he had assented in the dayes of her Brother and Predecessor Edward the Sixth and he having now a just cause to fear a more heavy punishment than Expulsion was forced by forsaâ—ing this to seek safety in another Nation and with that safety the enjoyment of that Doctrine and Worship for which he suffer'd But the Cloud of that Persecution and Fear ending with the Life of Queen Mary the Affairs of the Church and State did then look more clear and comfortable so that he and with him many others of the same judgement made a happy return into England about the first of Queen Elizabeth in which Year this John Jewell was sent a Commissioner or Visitor of the Churches of the Western parts of this Kingdom and especially of those in Devonshire in which County he was born and then and there he contracted a friendship with John Hooker the Uncle of our Richard In the second or third Year of her Reign this John Jewell was made Bishop of Salisbury and there being alwayes observed in him a willingness to do good and to obliege his Friends and now a power added to it John Hooker gave him a Visit in Salisbury and be sought him for Charity 's sake to look favourably upon a poor Nephew of his whom Nature had fitted for a Scholar but the Estate of his Parents was so narrow that they were unable to give him the advantage of Learning and that the Bishop would therefore become his Patron and prevent him from being a Tradesman for he was a Boy of remarkable hopes And though the Bishop knew men do not usually look with an indifferent eye upon their own Children and Relations yet he assented so far to John Hooker that he appointed the Boy and his Schoolmaster should attend him about Easter next following at that place which was done accordingly and then after some Questions and observations of the Boyes learning and gravity and behaviour the Bishop gave his Schoolmaster a reward and took order for an annual Pension for the Boyes Parentsâ— promising also to take him into his care for a future preferment which was performed for about the Fifteenth Year of his age which was Anno 1567 he was by the Bishop appointed to remove to Oxford and there to attend Dr. Cole then President of Corpus-Christi Colledge Which he did and Dr. Cole had according to a promise made to the Bishop provided for him both a Tutor which was said to be the learned Dr. John Reynolds and a Clerks place in that Colledge which place though it were not a full maintenance yet with the contribution of his Uncle and the continued Pension of his Patron the good Bishop gave him a comfortable subsistence And in this condition he continued unto the Eighteenth Year of his age still increasing in Learning and Prudence and so much in Humility and Piety that he seemed to be filled with the Holy Ghost and even like St. John Baptist to be sanctified from his Mothers womb who did often bless the day in which she bare him About this time of his age he fell into a dangerous Sickness which lasted two Months all which tim his Mother having notice of it did in her houâ—ly prayers as earnestly beg his life of God as the Mother of St. Augustine did that he might become a true Christian and their prayers were both so heard as to be granted Which Mr. Hooker would often mention with much joy and as often pray that he might never live to occasion any sorrow to so good a Mother of whom he would often say he loved her so dearly that he would endeavour to be good even as much for hers as for his own sake As soon as he was perfectly recovered from this Sicâ—ness he took a jâ—urney from Oxford to Exeter to satisfie and see his good Mother being accompanied with a Countreyman and Companion of his own Colledge and both on foot which was then either more in fashion or want of money or their humility made it so But on foot they went and took Salisbury in their way purposely to see the good Bishop who made Mr. Hooker and his Companion dine with him at his own Table which Mr. Hooker boasted of with much joy and gratitude when he saw his Mother and Friends And at the Bishops parting with him the Bishop gave him good Counsel and his Benediction but forgot to give him money which when the Bishop had considered he sent a Servant in all haste to call Richard back to him and at Richards return the Bishop said to him Richard I sent for you back to lend you a Horse which hath carried me many a Mile and I thank God with much ease and presently delivered into
worthy of noting That these Exceptions of Mr. Travers against Mr. Hooker were the cause of his Transcribing several of his Sermons which we now see printed with his Books of his Answer to Mr. Travers his Supplication and of his most learned and useful discourse of Justification of Faith and Works and by their Transcription they fell into the hands of others and have been thereby preserved from being lost as too many of his other matchless writings were and from these I have gathered many observations in this Discourse of his Life After the publication of his Answer to the Petiton of Mr. Travers Mr. Hooker grew dayly into greater repute with the most learned and wise of the Nation but it had a contrary effect in very many of the Temple that were zealous for Mr. Travers and for his Church Discipline insomuch that though Mr. Travers left the place yet the seeds of Discontent could not be rooted out of that Society by the great Reason and as great Meekness of this humble man for though the chief Benchers gave him much Reverence and Incouragement yet he there met with many neglects and oppositions by those of Master Travers Judgment in so much that it turned to his extreme grief and that he might unbeguile and win them he designed to write a deliberate sober Treatise of the Churches power to make Canons for the use of Ceremonies and by Law to impose an obedience to them as upon her Children and this he proposed to do in eight Books of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity intending therein to shew such Arguments as should force an assent from all men if Reason delivered in sweet Language and void of any provocation were able to do it And that he might prevent all prejudice he wrote before it a large Preface or Epistle to the Dissenting Brethren wherein there were such Bowels of Love and such a Commixture of that Love with Reason as was never exceeded but in Holy Writ and particularly by that of St. Paul to his dear Brother and fellow Labourer Philemon than which none ever was more like this Epistle of Mr. Hookers so that his dear friend and Companion in his Studies Doctor Spenser might after his death justly say What admirable height of Learning and depth of Judgment dwelt in the lowly mind of this truly humble man great in all wise mens eyes except his own with what gravity and Majesty of speech his Tongue and Pen uttered Heavenly Mysteries whose eyes in the Humility of his Heart were alwayes cast down to the ground how all things that proceeded from him were breathed as from the Spirit of Love as if he like the Bird of the Holy Ghost the Dove had wanted Gall let those that knew him not in his Person judge by these living Images of his soul his Writings The foundation of these Books was laid in the Temple but he found it no fit place to finish what he had there designed and therefore solicited the Arch-Bishop for a remove to whom he spake to this purpose My Lord When I lost the freedom of my Cell which was my Colledge yet I found some degree of it in my quiet Country Parsonage but I am weary of the noise and oppositions of this place and indeed God and Nature did not intend me for Contentions but for Study and quietness My Lord My particular contests with Mr. Travers here have proved the more unpleasant to me because I believe him a good man and that belief hath occasioned me to examine mine own Conscience concerning his opinions and to satisfie that I have consulted the Scripture and other laws both humane and divine whether the Conscience of him and others of his judgment ought to be so farr complyed with as to alter our frame of Church Government our manner of Gods worship our praising and praying to him and our established Ceremonies as often as their tender Consciences shall require us and in this examination I have not onely satisfyed my self but have begun a treatise in which I intend the Justification of our Laws of Church-Government and I shall never be able to finish it but where I may Study and pray for Gods blessing upon my indeavours and keep my self in Peace and Privacy and behold Gods blessing spring out of my Mother Earth and eat my own bread without oppositions and therefore if your Grace can Judge me worthy such a favonr let me beg it that I may perfect what I have begun About this time the Parsonage or Rectory of Boscum in the Diocess of Sarum and six miles from that City became void The Bishop of Sarum is Patron of it but in the vacancy of that See which was three years betwixt the Translation of Bishop Peirce to the See of York and Bishop Caldwells admission into it the disposal of that and all Benefices belonging to that See during this said vacancy came to be disposed of by the Archbishop of Canterbury and he presented Richard Hooker to it in the year 1591. And Richard Hooker was also in the said year Instituted July 17. to be a minor Prebend of Salisbury the Corps to it being Nether-Havin about ten miles from that City which Prebend was of no great value but intended chiefly to make him capable of a better preferment in that Church In this Boscum he continued till he had finished four of his eight proposed Books of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity and these were entered into the register Book in Stationers Hall the 9. of March 1592. but not published till the year 1594. and then with the before-mentioned large and affectionate Preface which he directs to them that seek as they term it the Reformation of the laws and orders Ecclesiastical in the Church of England of which Books I shall yet say nothing more but that he continued his laborious diligence to finish the remaining four during his life of all which more properly hereafter but at Boscum he finisht and publisht but onely the first four being then in the 39 th year of his Age. He left Boscum in the year 1595. by a surrender of it into the hands of Bishop Caldwell and he presented Benjamin Russel who was Instituted into it the 23. of June in the same year The Parsonage of Bishops Borne in Kent three miles from Canterbury is in that Arch-Bishops gift but in the latter end of the year 1594. Doctor William Redman the Rector of it was made Bishop of Norwich by which means the power of presenting to it was pro ea vice in the Queen and she presented Richard Hooker whom she loved well to this good living of Borne the 7. of July 1595. in which living he continued till his Death without any addition of Dignity or Profit And now having brought our Richard Hooker from his Birth place to this where he found a Grave I shall onely give some account of his Books and of his behaviour in this Parsonage of Borne and then give a
1670. Sam Woodforde The LIFE OF Mr. GEORGE HERBERT THE Introduction IN a late retreat from the business of this World and those many little cares with which I have too often incumbred my self I fell into a Contemplation of some of those Historical passages that are recorded in Sacred Story and more particularly of what had past betwixt our Blessed Saviour and that wonder of Women and Sinners and Mourners Saint Mary Magdalen I call her Saint because I did not then nor do now consider her as when she was possest with seven Devils not as when her wanton Eyes and dissheveld Hair were designed and manag'd to charm and insnare amorous Beholders But I did then and do now consider her as after she had exprest a visible and sacred sorrow for her sensualities as after those Eyes had wept such a flood of penitential tears as did wash and that hair had wip't and she most passionately kist the feet of hers and our blessed Jesus And I do now consider that because she lov'd much not only much was forgiven her but that beside that blessed blessing of having her sins pardoned she also had from him a testimony that her alablaster box of precious oyntment poured on his head and feet and that Spikenard and those Spices that were by her dedicated to embalm and preserve his sacred body from putrefaction should so far preserve her own memory that these demonstrations of her sanctified love and of her officious and generous gratitude should be recorded and mentioned wheresoever his Gospel should be read intending thereby that as his so her name should also live to succeeding generations even till time shall be no more Upon occasion of which fair example I did lately look back and not without some content at least to my self that I have endeavour'd to deserve the love and preserve the memory of my two deceased friends Dr. Donne and Sir Henry Wotton by declaring the various employments and accidents of their Lives And though Mr. George Herbert whose Life I now intend to write were to me a stranger as to his person yet since he was and was worthy to be their friend and very many of his have been mine I judge it may not be unacceptable to thoseâ— that knew any of them in their lives or do now know their Writings to see this Conjunction of them after their deaths without which many things that concern'd them and some things that concern'd the Age in which they livâ—d would be less perfect and lost to posterity For these Reasons I have undertaken it and if I have prevented any abler person I beg pardon of him and my Reader The Life GEorge Herbert was born the Third day of April in the Year of our Redemption 1593. The place of his Birth was near to the Town of Montgomery and in that Castle that did then bear the name of that Town and County that Castle was then a place of state and strength and had been successively happy in the Family of the Herberts who had long possest it and with it a plentiful Estate and hearts as liberal to their poor Neighbours A Family that hath been blest with men of remarkable wisdom and with a willingness to serve their Countrey and indeed to do good to all Mankind for which they were eminent But alas this Family did in the late Rebellion suffer extremely in their Estates and the Heirs of that Castle saw it laid level with that earth that was too good to bury those Wretches that were the cause of it The Father of our George was Richard Herbert the Son of Edward Herbert Knight the Son of Richard Herbert Knight the Son of the famous Sir Richard Herbert of Colebrook in the County of Monmouth Banneret who was the youngest Brother of that memorable William Herbert Earl of Pembroke that liv'd in the Reign of our King Edward the fourth His Mother was Magdalen Newport the youngest Daughter of Sir Richard and Sister to Sir Francis Newport of High Arkall in the County of Salop Knight and Grand-father of Francis Lord Newport now Comptroller of His Majesties Houshold A Family that for their Loyalty have suffered much in their Estates and seen the ruine of that excellent Structure where their Ancestors have long liv'd and been memorable for their Hospitality This Mother of George Herbert of whose person and wisdom and vertue I intend to give a true account in a seasonable place was the happy Mother of seven Sons and three Daughters which she would often say was Jobs number and as often bless God that they were neither defective in their shapes or in their reason and often reprove them that did not praise God for so great a blessing I shall give the Reader a short accompt of their names and not say much of their Fortunes Edward the eldest was first made Knight of the Bath at that glorious time of our late Prince Henries being install'd Knight of the Garter and after many years useful travel and the attainment of many Languages he was by King James sent Ambassador Resident to the then French King Lewis the Thirteenth There he continued about two Years but he could not subject himself to a compliance with the humors of the Duke de Luines who was then the great and powerful Favourite at Court so that upon a complaint to our King he was call'd back into England in some displeasure but at his return he gave such an honourable account of his employment and so justified his Comportment to the Duke and all the Court that he was suddenly sent back upon the same Embassie from which he return'd in the beginning of the Reign of our good King Charles the first who made him first Baron of Castle-Island and not long after of Cherberie in the County of Salop He was a man of great learning and reason as appears by his printed Book de veritate and by his History of the Reign of King Henry the Eight and by several other Tracts The second and third Brothers were Richard and William who ventur'd their lives to purchase Honour in the Wars of the Low Countries and dyed Officers in that employment Charles was the fourth and dyed Fellow of New-Colledge in Oxford Henry was the sixth who became a menial servant to the Crown in the dayes of King James and hath continued to be so for fifty years during all which time he hath been Master of the Revels a place that requires a diligent wisdome with which God hath blest him The seventh Son was Thomas who being made Captain of a Ship in that Fleet with which Sir Robert Mansell was sent against Algiers â—id there shew a fortunate and true English valor Of the three Sisters I need not say more then that they were all married to persons of worth and plentiful fortunes and liv'd to be examples of vertue and to do good in their generations I now come to give my intended account of George who was the fifth of
return into England he had by the death of his father or an elder brother an Estate left him that enabled him to buy Land to the value of 500 l. a year the greatest part of which Land was at Little Gidden four or six miles from Huntington and about 18 from Cambridge which place he chose for the privacy of it and the Hall which had the Parish-Church or Chappel belonging and adjoining near to it for Mr. Farrer having seen the manners and vanities of the World and found them to be as Mr. Herbert sayes A nothing between two Dishes he did so contemn the World that he resolv'd to spend the remainder of his life in mortifications and in devotion and charity and to be alwayes prepar'd for Death And his Life was spent thus He and his Family which were like a little Colledge and about Thirty in number did most of them keep Lent and all Ember-weeks strictly both in fasting and using all those prayers that the Church hath appointed to be then used and he and they did the like on Fridayes and on the Vigils or Eves appointed to be fasted before the Saints dayes and this frugality and abstinence turn'd to the relief of the Poor but this was but a part of his charity none but God and he knew the rest This Family which I have said to be in number about Thirty were a part of them his Kindred and the rest chosen to be of a temper fit to be moulded into a devout life and all of them were for their dispositions serviceable and quiet and humble and free from scandal Having thus fitted himself for his Family he did about the year 1630. betake himself to a constant and methodical service of God and it was in this manner He did himself use to read the Common prayers for he was a Deacon every day at the appointed hours of ten and four in the Church which was very near his House and which he had both repair'd and adorn'd for it was fall'n into a great ruine by reason of a depopulation of the Village before Mr. Farrer bought the Mannor And he did also constantly read the Mattins every morning at the hour of six either in the Church or in an Oratory which was within his own House And many of the Family did there continue with him after the Prayers were ended and there they spent some hours in singing Hymns or Anthems sometimes in the Church and often to an Organ in the Oratory And they sometimes betook themselves to meditate or to pray privately or to read a part of the New Testament or to continue their praying or reading the Psalms and in case the Psalms were not all read in the day then Mr. Farrer and others of the Congregation did at Night at the ring of a Watch-bell repair to the Church or Oratory and there betake themselves to prayers and lauding God and reading the Psalms that had not been read in the day and when these or any part of the Congregation grew weary or faint the Watch-bell was rung sometimes before and sometimes after Midnight and then a part of the Family rose and maintain'd the Watch sometimes by praying or singing Lands to God or reading the Psalms and when after some hours they also grew weâ—â—y or â—aâ—nt then they rung the Watch-bell and were reliev'd by some of the former or by a new part of the Society which continueâ— their devotions as hath been mentioned until morning And it is to be noted that in this continued serving of God the Psalter or whole Book of Psalms was in every four and twenty hours sung or read over from the first to the last verse and this done as constantly as the Sun runs his Circle every day about the World and then begins it again the same instant that it ended Thus did Mr. Farrer and his happy Family serve God day and night Thus did they alwayes behave themselves as in his presence And they did alwayes eat and drink by the strictest rules of Temperance eat and drink so as to be ready to rise at Midnight or at the call of a Watch-bell and perform their devotions to God And 't is fit to tell the Reader that many of the Clergy that were more inclin'd to practical prety and devotion then to doub ful and needless Disputations did often come to Gidden Hall and make themselves a part of that happy Society and stay a week or more and join with Mr. Farrer and the Family in these Devotions and assist and ease him or them in their Watch by Night and these various Devotions had neverless than two of the domestick Family in the Night and the Watch was alwayes kept in the Church or Oratory unless in extreme cold Winter-nights and then it was maintain'd in a Parlor which had a fire in it and the Parlor was fitted for that purpose and this course of piety and great liberality to his poor Neighbours Mr. Farrer maintain'd till his death which was in the year 1639. Mr. Farrers and Mr. Herberts devout lives were both so noted that the general report of their sanctity gave them occasion to renew that slight acquaintance which was begun at their being Contemporaries in Cambridge and this new holy friendship was maintain'd without any interview but only by loving and endearing Letters And one testimony of their friendship and pious designs may appear by Mr. Farrers commending the considerations of John Valdesso a Book which he had met with in his Travels and Translated out of Spanish into English to be examin'd and censur'd by Mr. Herbert which Book Mr. Herbert did read and return back with many marginal Notes as they be now printed with that excellent Book and with them Mr. Herberts affectionate Letter to Mr. Farrer This John Valdesso was a Spaniard and was for his Learning and Vertue much valued and lov'd by the great Emperour Charles the fifth whom Valdesso had followed as a Cavalier all the time of his long and dangerous Wars and when Valdesso grew old and weary of the World he took his fair opportunity to declare to the Emperour that his resolution was to decline His Majesties Service and betake himself to a quiet and contemplative life because there ought to be a vacancy of time betwixt fighting and dying The Emperor had himself for the same or other reasons put on the same resolutions but God and himself did then only know them and he did for those or other reasons desire Valdesso to consider well of what he had said but keep his purpose within his own breast till they two had another like opportunity of a friendly Discourse which Valdesso promis'd In the mean time the Emperour appoints privately a day for him and Valdesso to receive the Sacrament publickly and appointed an eloquent and devout Fryer to preach a Sermon of contempt of the World and of the happiness sand benefit of a quiet and contemplative life which the Fryer did most affectionately
occasion to interpret the Scripture to Cleopas and that other Disciple which he met with and accompanied too in their journey to Emmaus so Mr. Herbert in his path toward Heaven did daily take any fair occasion to instruct the ignorant or comfort any that were in affliction and did alwayes confirm his precepts by shewing mercy And he was most happy in his Wifes unforc'd compliance with his acts of Charity whom he made his Almoner and paid constantly into her hand a tenth penny of what money he receiv'd for Tythe and gave her a power to dispose that to the poor of his Parish and with it a power to dispose a tenth part of the Corn that came yearly into his Barn which trust she did most faithfully perform and would often offer to him an account of her stewardship and as often beg an inlargement of his bounty for she rejoyc'd in the employment and this was usually laid out by her in Blankets and Shooes for some such poor people as she knew to stand in most need of them This as to her Charity And for his own he set no limits to it nor did ever turn his face from any that he saw in want but would relieve them especially his poor Neighbours to the meanest of whose Houses he would go and inform himself of their wants and relieve them chearfully if they were in distress and would alwayes praise God as much for being willing as for being able to do it And when he was advis'd by a friend to be more frugal because he might have Children his answer was He would not see the danger of want so far off but being the Scripture does so commend Charity as to tell us that Charity is the top of Christian vertues the covering of sins the fulfilling of the Law the life of Faith And that Charity hath a promise of the blessings of this life and of a reward in that life which is to come being these and more excellent things are in Scripture spoken of thee O Charity and being all my Tythes and Church-dues are a Deodate from thee O my God make me O my God so far to trust thy promise as to return them back to thee and by thy grace I will do so in distributing them to any of thy poor members that are in distress or do but bear the image of Jesus my Master Sir said he to his friend my Wife hath a competent maintenance secur'd her after my death and therefore as this is my prayer so this my resolution shall by Gods grace be unalterable This may be some account of the excellencies of the active part of his life and thus he continued till a Consumption so weakned him as to confine him to his House or to the Chappel which does almost join to it in which he continued to read Prayers constantly twice every day though he were very weak in one of which times of his reading his Wife observ'd him to read in pain and told him so and that it wasted his spirits weakned him and he confess'd it but said His life could not be better spent than in the service of his Master Jesus who had done and suffered so much for him But he said I will not be wilful for Mr. Bostock shall be appointed to read Prayers for me to morrow and I will now be only a hearer of them till this mortal shall put on immortality And Mr. Bostock did the next day undertake and continue this happy employment till Mr. Herberts death This Mr. Bostock was a learned and vertuous man an old friend of Mr. Herberts and then his Cuâ—are to the Church of Fulston which is a mile from Bemerton to which Church Bemerton is but a Chappel of ease And this Mr. Bostock did also constantly supply the Church-service for Mr. Herbert in that Chappel when the Musick-meeting at Salisbury caus'd his absence from it About one month before his death his friend Mr. Farrer for an account of whom I am by promise indebted to the Reader and intend to make him sudden payment sent Mr. Edmund Duncon who is now Rector of Fryer Barnet in the County of Middlesex from his House of Gidden Hall which is near to Huntington to see Mr. Herbert and to assure him he wanted not his daily prayers for his recovery and Mr. Duncon was to return back to Gidden with an account of Mr. Herberts condition Mr. Duncon found him at that time lying on his Bed or on a Pallet but at his seeing Mr. Duncon he rais'd himself vigorously saluted him and with some earnestness inquir'd the health of his brother Farrer of which Mr. Duncon satisfied him and after a conference of Mr. Farrers holy life and the manner of his constant serving God he said to Mr. Duncon Sir I see by your habit that you are a Priest and I desire you to pray with me which being granted Mr. Duncon ask'd him what Prayers to which Mr. Herberts answer was O Sir the Prayers of my Mother the Church of England no other Prayers are equal to them but at this time I beg of you to pray only the Litany for I am weak and faint and Mr. Duncon did so After which and some other discourse of Mr. Farrer Mrs. Herbert provided Mr. Duncon a plain Supper and a clean Lodging and he betook himself to rest This Mr. Duncon tells me and that at his first view of Mr. Herbert he saw majesty and humility so reconcil'd in his looks and behaviour as begot in him an awful reverence for his person and sayes his discourse was so pious and his motion so gentile and meek that after almost forty years they remain still fresh in his memory The next morning Mr. Duncon left him and betook himself to a Journey to Bath but with a promise to return back to him within five dayes and he did so but before I shall say any thing of what discourse then fell betwixt them two I will pay my promis'd account of Mr. Farrer Mr. Nicholas Farrer who got the reputation of being call'd Saint Nicholas at the age of six years was born in London and doubtless had good education in his youth but certainly was at a fit age made Fellow of Clare-Hall in Cambridge where he continued to be eminent for his temperance and learning About the 26 th year of his Age he betook himself to Travel in which he added to his Latin and Greek a perfect knowledge of all the Languages spoken in the Western parts of our Christian world and understood well the principles of their Religion and their manner and the reasons of their worship In this his Travel he met with many perswasions to come into a communion with that Church which calls it self Catholick but he return'd from his Travels as he went eminent for his obedience to his Mother the Church of England In his absence from England Mr. Farrers father who was a Merchant allow'd him a liberal maintenance and not long after his