of the Land he could not before evening be admitted to the Kings presence There the Question was again agitatated Whether the King in justice might pass the Bill of Attainder against the Earle of Strafford For that he might shew mercy to him was no Question at all no man doubting but that the King without any scruple of conscience might have granted him a pardon if other reasons of State in which the Bishops were made neither Judges nor Advisers did not hinder him The whole result therefore of the Bishops determination was to this effect That herein the matter of Fact and the matter of Law were to be distinguished that of the matter of Fact he himself might make a Judgement having been present at all the proceedings against the said Lord where if upon hearing all the allegations on either side he did not conceive him guilty of the Crimes wherewith he was charged he could not in justice condemn him But for the matter in Law what was Treason and what was not he was to rest in the opinion of the Judges whose office it was to declare the Law and who were sworn therein to carry themselves indifferently betwixt him and his subjects c. Upon his losses in Ireland and the straits he was brought into here two Offers were made unto him from Forreign Nations the one from Cardinal Riâ—hlieu onely in relation to his eminent learning with a promise of large maintenance and liberty to live where he pleased in France amongst the Protestants The other from the States of Holland who proffered him the place of being Honorarius Professor at Leiden which had an ample stipend belonging to it but he refused both And now by reason of the disturbance of the times he was perpetually removing having with St. Paul no certain dwelling place and some of those evidences mentioned by that great Doctor of the Gentiles to prove himself to be the Minister of Christ were applicable to him 2 Cor. 6. 3 c. In much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in tumults or tossings to and fro in labours in watchings and fastings By honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true as unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live as chastened and not killed as sorrowful and yet alwayes rejoycing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things c. Anno Christi 1642 He obtained leave of both Houses of Parliament to go to Oxford for his study in that Library Anno Christi 1644 the late King coming thither he preached before him on the fifth of November His Text was Nehem. 4. 11. And our Adversaries said they shall not know neither see till we come in the middest amongst them and stay them and cause their work to cease In his Sermon he advised his hearers to put no repose in the Papists who saith he upon the first opportunity will serve us here as they have done the poor Protestants in Ireland which much offended some that were there present In March following he went from thence into Wales to Cardiff in Glamorganshire where for a time he abode with his Daughter But Septem 16. Anno Christi 1645 he removed from thence to St. Donnets the Lady Stradlings and by the way meeting with some Souldiers they used him barbarously plucked him off his horse and brake open two of his Trunks full of Books taking them all away amongst these he lost two Manuscripts of the History of the Waldenses most of his Books he recovered again but these Manuscripts though the meanliest clad he could never hear of which gave suspicion that some Priest or Jesuit had lighted upon them The loss of them grieved him much they being of use to him for the finishing of that Book De Ecclesiarum Christianarum successione statu Not long after he fell into a painful sickness wherein he bled four dayes together so that he swoonded and all hope of life was past and a rumour was spread abroad that he was dead which occasioned grief to many and it was so far believed at Court that a Letter came over for a successor in his Primacy in Ireland But it pleased God that he recovered and June 11 Anno Christi 1646 he came to London where the Countess of Peterborough gladly received him After a while he was chosen to be preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inne where he continued divers years with great honour and respect from them till at the last losing his sight so that he could not read his Text and his strength decaying he was advised by his friends to forbear and to reserve himself and the remainder of his strength for the writing of Books which were yet expected from him No spectacles could help his sight onely when the Sun shone he could see at a window which he hourly followed from room to room in the house of his abode In Winter the casement was often set open for him to write at This Summer he conceived would be the last wherein he should make use of his eyes the Winter following he intended to have an Amanuensis to write for him and a competent salary was intended for him whom he should choose to that work But the Lord was pleased to prevent it by taking him to the sight of himself After he had left Lincolns Inne he was prevailed with to preach in several places as in Graies Inne Nov. 5. Anno 1654 which he then thought might have been his last Sermon and it was taken as an honour by that Honourable Society whereof he had been admitted a member at a Reading above thirty years before He preached also at the Temple at Mr. Seldens Funeral and at two other places in the City both which the Lord was pleased to make very effectual in the conversion of divers that were his hearers And indeed seldome did the Sword drawn by him return empty The last Sermon which he preached was about Michelmas Anno 1655 at Hammersmith He complained that he was much troubled finding himself unable to continue his Ministry his thoughts were on it in the day and his dreams in the night and though he had been a preacher about fifty and five years and so like the Levites might well be excused from this service of the Sanctuary and have imployed himself as his manner was in directing of others yet he resolved if God continued his life the Summer following to return to it again in some small Church or Chappel He sought not great things for himself In the time of his distress by reason of his losses in Ireland the Parliament for some years was bountiful to him but the two last years of their sitting it fell out to be suspended But after they were dissolved the care of him was renewed by the Lord Protector by whose Order a constant competent allowance was given him which was continued till
he betook himself to the station and imployment whereunto he was before designed and to the work depending thereon wherein his pains in seasoning young Students with principles of Piety and Learning were both great and very successful For some of them that watered their Gardens at his Spring or kindled their Lamps at his Light grew up to great eminency as Mr. John Hoyl and Mr. Thomas Pell who were afterwards worthy Fellows of that Society About that time there were certain persons in the University zealous of promoting the glory of God and of gaining souls to Christ that lay in a sad condition through the defect of Pastors able to teach and lead the people in the wayes of truth life and peace especially Mr. Abdias Ashton of St. Johns College and Mr. William Bedel of Emanuel who set on foot a design of preaching in places adjacent to Cambridge even to a considerable distance These men invited Mr. Gataker to be a partner in this good imployment who being drawn and encouraged by them preached every Lords day at Everton a Village in the meeting-confines of Cambridge Bedford and Huntingtonshire where a decrepid man who was reported to be sixscore and ten years old sustained the name of Vicar Vix magni nominis umbra Here a Family of the Burgoines resident in that place deserveth this honourable remembrance that Mr. Roger Burgoine during that time used Mr. Gataker with great humanity and respect which by him was construed to be an effect of his Piety After he had thus religiously imployed himself for the space of half a year manifesting his publick spirit therein he had some causes that moved him to retire from the University at the motion of Mr. Ashton before mentioned who had been his Tutor whereupon he removed to Sir William Cooks Family then resident in London This place and imployment occasioned a more publick discovery of his Ministerial Gifts with the singular approbation of many persons of note not onely for their outward estate but also for their affection unto and judgement in Religion Hereupon the Lecturers place of Lincolns Inne falling void some principal persons of that Honourable Society who had been his Auditors occasionally elsewhere made addresses unto him inviting him unto that place offering their assistance and alledging the facility of his Introduction by the Lord Chief Justice Pophams interessing himself in the business whom they knew to have loved his Father Mr. Thomas Gataker being once his intimate friend and contemporary in the study of the Law and to favour this his son very highly for his own worth and work in the Ministry But he according to his usual modesty declined the undertaking of it and resisted the importunities even of his Friend Mr. Stock till Dr. Mountague Master of Sidney-College repairing to London and being made acquainted with the design in hand though â—e had it in his thoughts to invite Mr. Gataker back to the College that he might read an Hebrew Lecture which had a Salary annexed to it by the Lord Harrington â—eâ— laying that aside he pressed Mr. Gataker with Arguments and Authority encouraging him against his own dissidence and so wrought him at last to an assent that without any suit made by him the Lord Popham should recommend him to that Society Thus was he chosen Preacher at Lincolns-Inne where he spent ten years to the great advancement of Piety amongst them and with an happy Reformation of some abuses of the Lords day as he himself testifies in his Apologetical Discourse against Lilly p. 16 17. But notwithstanding that engagement Mr. Gataker did not totally abandon the Family of Sir William Cook to whose Lady he was near by blood and dear to them both upon the account of his pious and profitable labours amongst them Therefore in the Vacation-times being dis-ingaged from his attendance at the Innes of Court he resided in that Family exercising his Ministry either in their Chappel or in the Parish Church as occasion offered it self and this he did with an Apostolical minde not for filthy lucre but freely making the Gospel a burden onely to the Dispenser of it yet such was the care and piety of that Religious pair that they also would not serve God with that that cost them nothing For aftewards in consideration of those his pains freely taken amongst them they settled upon Mr. Gataker an Annuity of 20 l. per annum which also he received for some few years but afterwards he saw reason to remit it to the Heire of that Family forbearing to make use of his right he had to it and forbidding his Executor to demand any Arrears of that Annuity This is mentioned the rather to shew the generous temper of this holy man of God who aimed at the spiritual good of others more than at his own temporal advantages and how infinitely he was removed from the fordid acquisition of gain or the prostitution of his sacred Function unto secular designs which may stop the mouth of malice and the impudent clamours of some whose consciences being either gauled or cauterized spared not to traduce him for covetousness But his own pen wrote the best Apology as indeed according to that of Nazianzen they that will give him a just Character have need of his Eloquence Whilst he attended on that Flock at Lincolns Inne Sir William Sidley a learned Mecaenas and pious Patron of the Church proffered him a fair Benefice and when Mr. Gataker declined the burden of a Pastoral charge and pleaded an unwillingness to be removed from those worthy Gentlemen of whose favour he had such good experience he endeavoured to perswade him that by taking an assistant all those inconveniences would be salved and so he needed not to desert that Society which in Termâ— time only required his labours and attendance But Mr Gataker who poised the burden in the ballance of the Sanctuary alwayes judged one cure of souls to be sufficient for one man and therefore ventured the unkinde resentment of the Noble Gentleman upon his refusal rather than the multiplying of preferments to himself After ten years labours profitably imployed at Lincolns Inne not onely to the great benefit of the then living servants of God but also for the behoof of posterity especially by that his learned Tractate of Lots there and then conceived and formed wherein what satisfaction is given to conscience in many cases let the judicious acknowledge Mr. Gataker thence removed to undertake the Rectory of Rotherhithe in Surry of the grounds motives and manner whereof he himself hath largely given an account to the world in his Apologetick against Lilly p. 44 48. of which this is the sum The Rectory of Redrith in Surry as it is commonly called being void and one of an infamous life labouring hard to succeed in it in order to which before the former Incumbents death he had set on foot a transaction with the mother of certain Orphans in whose
and listed not to encounter him any farther pretending a necessity to be gone and so left the place So mightily it pleased God by him to convince them Another was this A Protestant Knight in Ireland had prevailed so far with his Lady who was then a Papist as to admit of a Parley about their Religion and she made choice of one for her that was called amongst them the Rock of Learning The Knight made choice of this our Primate to encounter him and upon the day appointed many persons of note were there assembled the learned and prudent Primate before the Disputation began spake thus to the Lady Madam said he let us know the end of our meeting Is it that this Gentleman and I should try our strength before you If so then it is like that we can speak Languages and quote Authors which you do not understand how then will you know who gets the better Therefore this is not our end If this Gentleman desires to shew his learning and reading that way if he please to come to the College of Dublin where there are men that will understand us both and can judge between us I shall willingly deal with him at those weapons but now our business is something else It is supposed that we two whom your Husband and you have chosen can speak more for the defence of our Religion than you that chose us and your desire is to know by hearing our discourse in your own Language how to rectifie your judgements Now therefore I will give you a rule which if you please to remember you shall be able to discern which of us two have the truth on our side and it is this The Points we will discourse of shall be such without some knowledge whereof no man may in an ordinary way attain to the end of his Faith the salvation of his soul. In these you may easily lose your selves not onely by Heresie which is a flat denying of them but by Ignorance also by a bare not know of them The word of truth contained in the Scriptures is the rule both of Faith and Life common to small and great concerning these things Now whilst we keep to the true sense of the Scriptures in these points you may understand us both but when we shall fly to subtle distinctions to evade plain Texts or flye from the Scriptures to take sanctuary in Authors which you know not assure your selves that we are at a loss and seek victory rather than truth Keep this Rule Madam in you minde for this Gentleman dares not deny it to be a true one and then you will be the better for our meeting And now Sir said he to the Jesuit her Champion I am ready to engage with you in any such points The Dispute was begun and after a short encounter the Jesuit was driven to those shifts whereupon the Primate said Madam do you understand my Argument that I propounded to this Gentleman She answered Yes and do you said he understand this Gentlemans answer She answered No indeed It is too high for me But said the Primate I do and can answer him in his own way but then you would not understand me neither Therefore Sir said he to the Jesuit I pray you help the Lady to understand your answer as she doth my Argument then I will further reply But it pleased God within a while so to disable the Jesuit from proceeding that he left the place with shame and the Lady by this and some further endeavours became not only a good Protestant but a very gracious woman The last instance I shall give of the successfulness of his labors is this About twelve or thirteen years ago we had an Ordination of Ministers in our seventh Classis at which time according to our custome we called in the young men that were to be Ordained one after an other and examining of them about the work of Gods Grace in their hearts three of them acknowledged that they were converted by Gods blessing upon the labours of this our Lord Primate whilst he preached at Oxford where they then were Students about the beginning of the long Parliament Anno Christi 1640 He came out of Ireland into England being invited thereto by some eminent persons wherein the special providence of God did manifest it self for his preservation it being the year before the Rebellion brake out in Ireland as if according to the Angels speech to Lot nothing could be done there till he was come hither and escaped to this his Zoar. His Library which was very great in the first year of the Rebellion viz. 1641 was in Drogheda which place was besieged four moneths by the Irish Rebels and they made no question of taking it and some of their Priests and Friers talked much what a prize they should gain by that Library but the barbarous multitude spake of burning it But it pleased God to hear the Fastings and Prayers of his people within and in a wonderful manner to deliver them and so all his Books and Manuscripts were sent him that Summer to Chester and from thence were brought safe to London The sufferings he now lay under were many and great All his personal estate was lost and that which belonged to his Primacy in Ireland was destroyed only for the present he was preacher in Covent Garden Anno Christi 1641 The great business of the Earle of Strafford came in agitation upon which a scandal was raised of him by a rash if not a malicious Pen in his Vocal Forrest as if he had made use of a pretended distinction of a personal and Political conscience to satisfie the late King that he might consent to the beheading of the said Earle telling him that though the first resisted yet he might do it by the second but to clear him of this a person of quality affirmed under his hand that some years agone a rumour being spread of the death of this Reverend Prelate whose loss was much lamented at Oxford when this concerning the Earle was then by one objected against him the late King answered that person in very great passion and with an oath Protested his innocency therein Besides he left under his owne hand a relation of that whole business a true Copy whereof followeth That Sunday morning wherein the King consulted with the four Bishops viz. of London Durham Lincoln and Carlisle the Archbishop of Armagh was not present being then preaching as he then accustomed to do every Sabbath in the Church of Covent Garden where a message coming to him from his Majesty he descended from the Pulpit and told the Messenger that he was then as he saw imployed in Gods business which as soon as he had done he would attend upon the King to understand his pleasure But the King spending the whole afternoon in the serious debate of the Lord Straffords Case with the Lords of his Council and the Judges
one year in the pursuit thereof by force of Arms but effected little Nor did the Archbishop of Upsal get ought in Denmark who saw that he played his own game nor could he escape the seisure of his Temporalities in Sueden for his treachery against his native Country whereupon the year following he obtained the Popes sentence of Excommunication against the Governour of Sueden and all his partakers for invading the rights of his Church and Bishoprick and hereupon the King of Denmark takes courage to invade Sweden once more with an Army under his General who in a Battel overthrew the Suedes and wounded Steno their Governour who thereupon retired to Stockholm the Regal City and unto him repaired all such as intended to adventure their all in the defence of their Country The rest of the Suedes submitted to the Danish General who encouraged thereby marched to Stockholm but meeting with many difficulties in his march and when he came to the City finding no hope to draw them to a Treaty and his Army being now much wasted he sent to Denmark for Recruit and after a while the King in person comes to him and so Stockholme is beleagured which yet held out bravely so that the Danish Army being wasted and the remainder being wind-bound and almost famished a Treaty of peace is set on foot and at last agreed unto by both parties But the King intending nothing less than to stand to it pretends that he could not come into Stockholme to finish the Treaty till pledges were first given for the safety of his person This the Suedes assent to and send him pledges of the Sons of the Nobles who were sent aboard his Ship and the Kings minde changing with the wind away he sails with them into Denmark and there committed them to safe custody And after four years returns into Sueden with a great Army and gives a second overthrow to the Suedes in the Field wherein the Governour Steno was slain then the King marching to Stockholme findes the City standing upon its Guard under the Government of Christina the Wife of Steno where for a while we shall leave him in a long and tedious siege whilst we give you some account of our Gustavus Amongst the pledges carried away and imprisoned as aforesaid by the King of Denmark was this Gustavus the Son of Ericus a Noble Suedish Lord now in Stockholme beleagured by the King This Gustavus was of a Noble Familiy whose Grandfather having married the sister of Steno Stur the Governour thereby he became incorporate into the antient Stem of the Kings of Sueden and in his younger years he was trained up in the Court under his Uncle Steno who was no less valiant in the Field than wise for Government in peace Under him did our Gustavus learn the principles of War which afterwards he began to practice under Suanto the next Governour For after the death of Steno the first the difference between the Danes and Suedes about the Government grew so high that they fought two Battels in both which the Suedes were the Victors Gustavus carrying the Royal Standard of Sueden though at that time he was but eighteen years old and being now about the age of twenty six he was as was said before committed prisoner to the Castle of Callo in Jutland under the custody of Sir Ericus Banner a Knight of Denmark who kept him warily that he might suffer no wrong except from the King himself This imprisonment he had now endured for the space of four years with patience But having daily intelligence brought him of the Danes cruelty to the Suedes his Countrymen he concluded that his own condition was like to Ulysses in Polyphemus his Den being reserved but as a chief dish for the Tyrants pallate when all the rest were devoured Having therefore upon a day obtained liberty to ride on hunting being eager in the chase though he minded another game he rode away and having changed his apparel as well as his course passing through many unknown wayes and dangers after a chase of three hundred miles he arrived at last at Lubeck one of the Hanse Towns and that held correspondence with Sueden against the Dane upon the same quarrel of being oppressed by them No sooner was Gustavus arrived at Lubeck but that his Keeper Sir Ericus Banner was come thither also in pursuit of him who demanded of the Magistrates the delivery of his Prisoner Gustavus pleaded for himself that he was no lawful Prisoner to the King of Denmark but amongst others was delivered by his Country as a pledge for the safety of the Kings person during the Treaty between the King and his Countrymen and that the King contrary to all right and faith detaining him and the other pledges had carried them captive into Denmark that now he was under the Publick Faith of the State of Lubeck to whom he was fled for refuge against oppression desiring to have the benefit of Law and to have the matter tried divers of the Senate of Lubeck were of opinion that Gustavus ought to be returned to the Dane as his prisoner and that it concerned not them to be Judges of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of his imprisonment But the Consul overruled the matter who affirmed that though originally they had not power to determine the point yet Gustavus being before them de facto a Freeman and as such had put himself into the protection of the City of Lubeck and had appealed to them for Justice it becomes them therefore to do herein according to Law and that by the Law of God the Law Civil and the Law of Nations they ought to enquire into the true state of Gustavus his Captivity and to determine the same upon grounds of Justice otherwise they might make themselves parties to the King of Denmarks oppressions if the case prove so before they understand what they do The Authority of the Consul and the strength of his reasons prevailed so far with the rest of the Senate that they passed this definitive sentence That Gustavus shall be protected by the State of Lubeck till the cause be tried This served Gustavus his turn for the present but he knew not how short a time it would continue He knew that interests of Nations are soon changed especially of such petty States as Lubeck was Besides he had too much other work to do to continue long in one place and thereupon secretly without giving notice to any save to his good Friend the Consul whose counsel he took along with him he gat aboard a Merchants ship and sailed into the Bay of Calmar into which he entred secretly and finding that they stood upon their Guard against the Danes he discovered himself to the Lady Magnus that held the Castle acquainting her with the manner both of his Captivity and escape and taking advantage of the reports which then came of the sad examples of the
could not attend upon it every morning yet he failed not of it in the evening Well Sir said Mr. Jurdaine I will tell you in plain tearms what I would have you â—o do I would take all these goods and throw them out into the street and let them rather be cast away and perish than that they should be a means to ruine my soul unto all eternity From this Assurance it was that he was so fearless of Death He knew that Death was an enemy as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. 26. But that through Christ it was become a Friend to open the Gate of Heaven Whereas Death in it self is as Bildad saith Job 18. 14. the King of Terrours or as the Heathen said Of all Terribles the most terrible yet he being assured of his interest in Christ found it not so to him for he looked upon it as having lost its sting through Christ. Indeed he made it so familiar to him by his continuall meditation of it that he was so far from fearing it that he did delight to speak of it yea earnestly desired it and with joy expected it whereby he discovered his great proficiency in the School of Christ. It was his usuall saying that if Death were offered him on the one hand and the Kings Crown on the other he would take the Crown and throw it into the Kennel and choose Death far before it He knew that he should be a great gainer by Death and thereby obtain the Crown of life and glory Jam. 1. 12. 1 Pet. 5. 4. and that he feared not but rather hoped for Death And this was further manifested in that when the Plague was very hot in the City of â—xeter and he being in the highest place of Authority there at that time when the poor flocked about his house for relief though he would not causelesly expose himself to danger yet being in the discharge of his Duty he feared not the infection but often professed that if by Gods disposing the Plague should seize on him he would kiss and welcome it as the messenger of Death Nor was the meditation of Death then in his minde onely in times of danger but at all times there was not a day wherein he did not speak of it and not onely when there was occasion offered to talk of it but he would take occasion to discourse of that subject As when he was invited to a Feast he would tell the messenger that he would come if he did live so long And when he went out of his house upon publick or private businesses he would as it were take a solemn leave of his wife telling her that he knew not whether he should return to his house again Yet did he not so much desire Death as to undervalue the blessing of life or to neglect the means for the preservation of it for he acknowledged it to be a great blessing and he was willing to live as long as the longest lived man if it were Gods good pleasure and if he might do him service And when he was sick or in any danger he would carefully make use of the means that he might thereby serve Gods good providence for his recovery or deliverance saying that though he must trust in God yet he must not tempt him by seeming to trust in him His minde was not so much upon Earth and Death as upon Heaven to which he was assured Death would be a passage for him Sure his heart was much upon Heaven or Heaven was much in his heart as appeared by his frequent discourse of it both day and night and our Saviour Christ tells us Mat. 12. 34. That out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks All that knew him and looked upon him without a prejudiced eye would say that he was a most heavenly minded man a man that lived in Heaven as much as most that lived upon earth When in the night he looked upon those glistering lights of Heaven Ezek. 32. 8. the Firmament adorned with those Stars of light Psal. 148. 3. he used to raise up his thoughts and speech much higher even to the glory of the highest Heaven saying If these visible Heavens be so glorious how doth the Heaven above them exceed in glory where God alone shall be the light and yet the Righteous shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdome of their Father Mat. 13. 43. There was scarce any occasion administred or any special act of Gods providence that did occur but it would draw out some speech of Heaven from him as when any cross or loss befell him in his affairs he would say no more but Heaven will pay for all And when in a journey he fell from his horse and lay for a while in a swoon as soon as he recovered his first words were Well I see that I am now deceived I thought that my horse would have cast me into Heaven These are some few heads of the breathings of his piety to which much more might be added and truly they which knew him will marvell not that so much is said of him but rather that there is so little He was as eminent for Justice as for Piety when he was advanced to the chiefest place of Government in that City to be Mayor of that honourable Corporation He was an eminent Magistrate and that not only in the year of his Majoraâ—ty but ever after as long as he lived He looked upon it not as a place of honour onely but as an office of trust wherein he might honour God and execute justice amongst men and reform those evils which abounded in those times in that place He did not glory so much in having the Sword carried before him though it was a singular badge of honour to that City that the Kings swoâ—d should be taken from his side and delivered to the Mayor to be carried before him as a signall testimony of his favour and their loyalty and courage in the insurrection of Perkin Warbeck as he was desirous to draw forth the sword of Justice against evil doers and not to carry it in vain Rom. 13. 4. He was observed to be an impartial Administrator of Justice and one that without respect of persons did punish evill doers of whatquality or condition soever they were that did transgress the Law whether they were Citizens or strangers that came thither if complaint were made to him they should not escape condign punishment as the Laws of the Land or custome of the place did award As for instance There was a Gentleman of quality that was complained of to him for swearing five Oaths and for some other misdemeanours Mr. Jurdaine thereupon sent a Constable with a Warrant to fetch him before him but the Gentleman gave the Constable threatening language so that he durst not execute his Office Whereupon Mr. Jurdaine sent one Constable more for him who brought the Gentleman before him And he being in
his Court when he came after divers good admonitions given him he told him that though he was never so great a Gentleman he could no more go to Heaven whilest he took such courses than he could eat that stone pointing to a great stone in his Court and then required him to pay five shillings for his Oaths which he did Then he told him that he must put in sureties for the good behaviour This the Gentleman refused to do alleadging that he was a stranger Whereupon Mr. Jurdainâ— commanded the Constables to carry him away to prison till he would find sureties which accordingly they did and as he was going into the prison door he desired that he might return back again and he would give Bail When he came to Mr. Jurdainâ— to do it he again gave him many good instructions and the Gentleman though he was a man of a very high spirit gave him many hearty thanks for his good counsell and promised amendment for the time to come The Master of Bridewell could witness how many disorderly persons were sent thither by Mr. Jurdains Warrants more than by any other Justices in his time The Stocks and Whipping-post could testifie what swearers drunkards unclean persons and such like notorious offendors were punished principally by his indifferent execution of justice And if any of the offenders that were liable to the censure and penalty of the Law desired to be spared he would tell them Here be my children whom I dearly love and yet if any of them should commit such offences they should suffer as you must do and therefore I cannot remit of the penalty of the Law What excuses or fair pretences soever they made he caused the Law to be executed upon them yea and that the more severely because of the greatness of the crime and the greater dishonour that redounded to the Name of the most high God thereby When some scandalous offenders for the gross sin of uncleanness were accused and questioned before the Court and some present for by-respects pleaded for them desiring to have them spared he wished the Watchmen that were at the Gates to keep out the Plague it being a time wherein some neighbour-Towns were infected should be called home For saith he the Plague is in the Guild-Hall of the City Adding further that if they did not execute the Law upon them he would complain of them to the Council Table And thereupon after much contest there was Order taken for their severe and just punishment He was ever very vigilant especially in the year of his Mayoralty when the government of the City lay upon him both to prevent and remove disorders Insomuch as he would go himself with the Constables to search for idle and disorderly persons on Sabbath dayes at night and at the end of the Assizes and Sessions and in Fair weeks c. Yea he did not only execute justice but he shewed himself zealous therein manifesting the greatest indignation against those evils whereby God was most highly dishonoured as swearing and Sabbath-breaking Indeed swearing was most odious unto him and had there been a greater penalty than was at that time appointed by the Law of the Land he would most readily have inflicted it But by his punishing as many as were brought before him it struck such an awe into the generality as that some that lived at that time in the City and near the place of the greatest concourse of people the Corn-market observed that they did not hear an Oath sworn for many years together He did not only maintain his zeal against swearing and swearers of the ordinary sort and rank of men but even of the highest that came within the verge of his authority As for example A Gentleman of great quality and much favoured at Court was heard to swear five or six times in the City Mr. Jurdaine having notice of it sent some Constables to demand the penalty for swearing The Gentleman was of an high spirit and at this time accompanied with the chiefest of the County of Devonshire and there were divers hot spirits about him The Constables pressed towards the room where he was saying that Mr. Jurdaine had sent them to demand the aforementioned penalty and it was like to have broken forth into a great and dangerous contest but a prudent Gentleman of a more moderate temper and one that feared an Oath stepped forth to them and told the Constables that this Gentleman was of an high and impatient spirit and had great company about him I fear therefore said he that the event may be of sad consequence if you pursue your intentions at this time yet the Constables seemed unwilling to depart till they had what they came for the Gentleman seeing this said I will now pay the six shillings to you for him and I promise you faithfully that I will take a convenient time to admonish the Knight when it shall do him more good than the rigorous exaction of the penalty of the Law can at this time and so they departed It is credibly related that Mr. Jurdaine being summoned to appear in the Star-chamber for an act of Justice wherein it was supposed that he went somewhat beyond the strict letter of the Law being there in the presence of some of his Judges who were Noble men and hearing them to swear divers Oaths he told them that they must pay for every oath that they had sworn or otherwise he would make it farther known When he was Mayor of Exeter he did much reform the open prophanation of the Sabbaths For whereas the Hullers had wont to set their Mills agoing on the Sabbaths he put a stop upon them for that whole day knowing that that whole day was to be dedicated to God and his worship and service and whereas it was usuall to sell fruit and herbs and other things on the Lords holy day as also Bowling Cudgel-playing and other prophane pastimes were then much used by his zeal and vigilancy and by the care of other Officers under him they were wholly left off though not without much reluctancy opposition and some danger at the first for there were commotions and tumults and great resistance made against him but by his constant zeal for God and his day and Gods blessing upon the same they were at last suppressed and quelled And not onely when he was Mayor but ever after being a Justice of Peace in which Office he continued for twenty and four years he was much taken up in the execution of Justice yea sometimes for the whole day from morning till night So that he did not onely execute Judgement in the morning as Jer. 21. 12. after he had been with God in the Mount of heavenly meditation but all the day long as Moses sate to judge the people and the people stood before Moses from the morning untill the evening Exod. 18. 13. And when he was out of power as a Justice he discovered his
forget to acknowledge Gods goodness in bestowing any of these outward things upon him He found by experience that they were but uncertain riches 1 Tim. 6. 17. And that they had wings and would fly away Prov. 23. 5. But he did not run crying after them as they use to do who set their hearts upon them whereas he saw and acknowledged Gods hand as well in taking away as in giving as Job did Job 1. 21. and therefore was quiet and content having experimentally learned in some good measure that excellent lesson with St Paul I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content Phil. 4. 11. By vicissitudes and changes of estates God did exercise his faith patience and contentation Having passed through the severall inferior Offices he at last ascended to the highest place of honour in the City to be Mayor there wherein as hath been shewed he demeaned himself as became a Christian Magistrate and his ambition therein was highly to honour God who had thus honoured him And afterwards he was twice chosen to be a Burgess of Parliament wherein his zeal for God and against the corruptions of the times was abundantly manifested He was a great stickler to have the Bill passed for the punishment of Adultery with death but those times would not bear it Surely some of the Lawmakers knew some speciall reason for it When he made a motion for the passing of that Bill one or more of the Members in the House cried out Commit it Mr. Jurdain commit it upon which a great laughter was occasioned whereupon he presently said unto them in a zealous manner like himself Do you laugh when a man speaks for Gods honour and glory Upon which there was a more than ordinary silence in the House The Bill was at that time laid aside but in a following Parliament it was called upon by the name of Mr. Jurdains Bill He was also as it 's said the first man that promoted the Bills for the more strict sanctification of the Sabbaths and against Swearing Yea God did not only advance him to places of honour and dignity in the eye of the world but gave him an high place also in the hearts of his people and therein God made good his promise 1 Sam. 2. 30. Such as honour me I will honour His name was very precious in the esteem of those that knew his worth both whilest he lived and since his death Indeed it is confessed that he was a by-word unto many and that his name was taken up by way of reproach but it was by such as were upbraided and reproved by his holy and gracious conversation And he valued not their reproaches knowing that his Lord and Master did suffer much more in this kind and that this was but a Chip of that Cross which as he was commanded he was willing to bear Yea he was well content to drink of this bitter Cup after his Master and with him he despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. which the men of the world cast upon him Nay he accounted it his honour to suffer shame for the Name of Christ as the Apostles did Act. 5. 4. But some there were that brought shame upon themselves whilest they thought to cast contempt and scorn upon him Amongst other instances this one was remarkeable That being chosen Burgess for the Parliament not without much opposition and going up to London to clear the Election at which time there was an accusation sent up against him by a man of no mean place and power That he was the Host of the Schismaticks Whereupon some presumed that he would have been sent back with disgrace and accordingly there was a Sermon prepared by one to jeer him at his return this being his Text Psal. 114. 5. What ailed thee thou Jordan that thou wast driven back Thus men of prophane spirits will dare to make the sacred Word of God to serve their own base lusts and ends But Mr. Jurdaine instead of being driven back was confirmed in the place to which he was chosen and so shame was cast into the face of this wicked scorner and his Sermon or Invective rather proved abortive And as Mr. Jurdaine stood up boldly for God so did God stand by and for him and assisted him and carried him through many troubles and dangers that did threaten and even compass him about One act of Gods providence amongst many others was most notable in delivering him out of trouble He having done an act of justice as was hinted before in punishing an unclean person whose offence was aggravated by some hainous circumstances being moved with an holy indignation against the offence he went as it seems besides the letter of the Law in some circumstance Whereupon some friends of the person punished being stirred up with fury for the disgrace that reflected upon them without weighing the dishonour that was done to God and the foul blot that was cast upon Religion resolved to prosecute him to the uttermost for it wherein they put him to great charge and trouble by prosecuting him in the Star-Chamber and when the cause was to come to a finall determination it was much feared by many of his friends and through the boastings of his adversaries that some heavy censure would have passed upon him to his crushing if not to his utter undoing But when his friends on earth failed he flees to Heaven for succour and defence and cried unto God in Davids words Psal. 22. 11 19. Be not far from me O Lord for trouble is near for there is none to help O my strength hast thou to help me And he set apart the evening and a great part of the night by fasting and Prayer to engage God of his side who hath the hearts of all men even of the greatest in his hands to turn them as he pleaseth Prov. 21. 1. And behold the next morning he received a reall and gracious answer from Heaven being not only acquitted but commended by the Lord Keeper God stirring up the hearts of divers in that high and arbitrary Court to speak for him Thus the Lord was a very present help to him in the time of trouble Psalme 46. 1. After he was thus through Gods mercy freed and returned to his house he piled up the Books and Papers of all the proceedings in that troublesome and vexatious business under his Cupboard in his Parlour which was the place to which he did often resort and where he had that daily sweet and heavenly communion with God aforementioned and being asked the reason why he left so many Books and Papers to lie in that manner His answer was These I keep in my sight as memorials and monuments of Gods mercy in freeing me from my troubles Many other particulars might be instanced in but by that little which hath been said you may guess at the great worth of this holy man Only give me leave to adde the observations and testimony