and merciful Father, to offer unto Thy Divine Majesty the monthly tribute of that duty, which indeed we are continually bound to perform, the tender of our most humble and hearty thanks for those inestimable benefits which we, unworthy sinners, have from time to time in abundant manner received of Thy goodness, and do even unto this hour enjoy. Yet by our ingratitude and abuse of them, we have deserved not only the deprivation of these good things, but that by a rigorous chastisement Thou shouldest make us an example of Thine impartial justice. For there is none, O Lord, to whom Thou hast given more abundance or greater variety of the comforts of this life. If we should go about to tell them, they are more in number than the sand: there are none upon whom Thou hast more freely conferred them; yet ought we to confess that we are not worthy of the least of Thy favours. And as in regard of our unworthiness, so likewise in respect of the lowliness of our condition whence Thou hast raised us, of the dangers wherewith we have been environed, of the difficulties wherewith we have been enthralled, we must needs cry out, Great are the wondrous works which Thou hast done for on every side we hear the voice of the beholders, Blessed are the people who are in such a case. Wonderful indeed hath been Thy goodness towards us, while the wise have been disappointed in their counsels, while the full of friends have been left desolate, while the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing, while the strong on every side have fallen, We, O Lord, have been by Thy power raised up, by Thine arm have we been strengthened, guided by Thy counsels, and relieved by the favour of Thy mercies. And that we might know that it was Thy doing, by those ways and means which we thought not of, Thou hast brought us into a wealthy place, and to these many comforts which we now enjoy. And although we have not any way deserved Thy favours, yet is Thy patience extended towards us. We must needs acknowledge, O Lord, that the liberality of Thy hand is extended even beyond the largeness of our own hearts.

And yet, O Lord, all this is nothing in comparison

20

of that which we may farther enjoy. By how much the things of heaven do surpass those of the earth, by how much everlasting happiness is more worth than the transitory and feeble pleasures of this life, by so much more surpassing are those graces and favours with which Thou hast furnished us for the knowledge of Thy heavenly will, and for the practices of those duties, of which our conversation in this world is capable.

Thou hast given to us a freedom from all other affairs that we may without distraction attend Thy service. That holy Gospel which came down from heaven, with things the angels desire to look into, is by Thy goodness continually open to our view the sweet music thereof is continually sounding in our ears heavenly songs are by Thy mercy put into our mouths, and our tongues and lips made daily instruments of pouring forth Thy praise. This, Lord, is the work, and this the pleasure of the angels in heaven and dost Thou vouchsafe to make us partakers of so high an happiness? The knowledge of Thee and of Thy Son is everlasting life. Thy service is perfect freedom: how happy then are we, that Thou dost constantly retain us in the daily exercise thereof!

With these favours, and mercies, O Lord, we ought to acknowledge ourselves most happy: we ought to be joyful in the midst of adversities, in the depth of affliction, and in the highth of distress. How much more then are we bound to Thee for Thy merciful continuance of those blessings which we enjoy! we are bound, O Lord, but unable to perform this duty as we ought; yet since Thou hast invited us, we now come to the performance thereof; to render to Thy Divine Majesty the most humble, and hearty acknowledgement of our own demerits, and Thy infinite goodness. We beseech Thee that Thou wilt enlarge our hearts, and open our mouths, that our prayers may be set forth in Thy sight as incense, and the lifting up of our hands as a sacrifice unto Thee, for the only merits of Thy dear Son, in Whose name and mediation we offer up both our prayers and praises, and together with them ourselves, beseeching Thee that they being sanctified by

Thy grace, may be every way made acceptable to Thee. Amen."

How greatly this prayer has suffered from Peckard's treatment will appear from the following passage, one of four paragraphs which remain of twenty-one whose contents are preserved in Middle Hill MS. 9527.

"Commemoration prayer drawn up by N. F. and by him enjoined to be said monthly the last day of each month... Begun to be said in 1625 and continued to be said till 28 Sept. 1657, if not longer.

"We come, O Lord, most mighty God and most merciful Father, again to offer up unto Thy Divine Majesty the monthly tribute of that duty which we are so perpetually bound to perform, even the repeated tender of our most humble and hearty thanks and praises for all those infinite and most inestimable benefits, which we unworthy sinners have in such an inestimable manner from time to time received at Thy gracious hands, and which we do even still through Thy continued favour unto this same hour enjoy."

Page 231. n. "Beyond all, her mercifulness towards the sick was most laudable: her provision of antidotes against infection, and of cordials and several sorts of physic for such of her neighbours as should need them, amounted yearly to very considerable sums, and though in distributing such medicinal provisions her hand was very open, yet it was close enough in applying them, her skill, indeed, was more than ordinary, and her wariness too, &c."-Duncon's Memoirs of Lady Falkland (Gibbons's Pious Women, 1804, ii. 30, 31).

Page 243. n. 2. "I beseech you certify me, what and how I may present my respects to your friends of Huntingdonshire."-R. Busby to Basire, Sept. 20. 1642 (Basire's Life, 42). "Mr. Thurscross is again settled in Yorkshire: Mr. Ferrar with his family at Gidding; long since Mr. MapleAll remember you the Joseph in affliction." Same to same. July 27. 1647. (ibid. 62). The allusion must be to the spoliation of Gidding.

toft hath a good living.

"Two Letters of Mr. John Ferrar's to Dr. Basire, about

Bibles and Testaments, as also about the labours of the reputed Nuns of Little Gidding.

At your best leisure.

Worthy sir, That you will please to favour me with your help and advice, how and where to procure these ensuing things, by your own or friends' assistance.

I. All the several translations that have been since Henry the Eighth's time of the holy Bible in the English tongue. The New Testament is my chief aim. These several translations I hear to have been extant, viz.

1. King Henry's Bible, as they call it, printed)

anno

2. By Richard Taverner

1539

1540

II. All the several translations of the New Testament, which are said to be twenty in number, in the Latin

tongue.

All the several that have been in the French.

All in the Italian.

All in the Spanish.

All in the Low Dutch.

All in the High Dutch.

III. To inquire if the great and stately Bible of the King of France, in the seven several languages, be come yet into England, and the price of it; if not, how it is at

Paris sold; and if the New Testament be not to be had single, and the price of it. I suppose the French preachers in London can inform you at full of it. So can the Italian and Dutch of the above-mentioned.

IV. If you could by the help of any friend procure me two Testaments in the Cantabrian tongue, the language spoken in Navarre: they were printed at Rochelle, anno 1571, and dedicated to the then queen of Navarre, dame soveraine de Bearn; and in 8vo. Some of the French preachers might (methinks) procure them you. I suppose at Geneva, or Bourdeaux, or thereabouts, they may be had.

V. Two Testaments in the

Ethiopian tongue.

Two in the Slavonian

tongue.

Two in the Armenian.

Two in the Persian.

Two in the Portingal.

They must be both the Testaments in the same language, alike, and the same impression.

These, or all but the last, are to be had at Venice: so that Signior Burlamac, the postmaster at London, spoken to by any friend, would easily send for them to come in the first ship that comes from Venice; which would infinitely pleasure me.

The four Evangelists translated by Mr. Fox in the old Saxon and English is a book in 4to, printed anno 1570. One of these I have; but two I must have of all sorts for my work, just alike. I have also one in the Cantabrian tongue already; but one will not serve my turn, as I must use them....

If so be our dear brother Thristcross should desire, or you so think good, that he take a copy of the titles of these books in the other paper, which were done at Gidding, he may. For it may be some of his acquaintance of noble personages may desire some of them to be made for them: yea, some rich