1

corners, but in print; not by hundreds, but by thousands of their pamphlets, dispersed through the whole kingdom, being put up to the parliament anno 1641, and given into the hands of parliament men, as they went daily into the house; boasting that they had printed and dispersed above nine thousand copies thereof. The title they gave it was: The Arminian Nunnery, or a brief Description and Relation of the newly erected Monasticall Place called The Arminian Nunnery at Little Gidding in Huntingdonshire, Humbly recommended to the wise consideration of this Part. The Foundation is a Company of Ferrars at Gidding. Printed by Thomas Underhill. 1641. London3.

55. The whole book is stuffed with abominable falsehoods, and such stories told as the devil himself would be ashamed to utter: and though it was most easily to be confuted, yet it was upon consideration of some wise men, seeing then the stream of the tide, better to bear it with patience and to do as meek Dr. Jackson had done, as knowing

1 So in the last paragraph; "not many scores, but many hundreds."

2 Reprinted by Hearne, Appendix to his Preface to Peter Langtoft, cxxv. seq., which reprint I have used, notwithstanding Oldys's insinuation. No one has a right to hint a random charge of inaccuracy against a man like Hearne.

3 See Prynne's and Burton's charges against Jackson in Wood, ii. 666. "He had an adversary in England who writ a book against him, with a title not so kindly as might have

their own innocency and the then madness of the people, and that the family's innocency and real actions did sufficiently convince this abominable Lye-Bell'. Yet it must not be omitted, that by the soldiers then raised, that came out of Essex to pass towards the north, and coming near to Gidding, intelligence was given them at Gidding from good hands, that those books were given to many of them, and that they were hired and animated, some of them, not only to use threats, as they did in their march, but to have offered violence to the family and house. But God Almighty in His special providence did turn away their fury at that time, and it then passed over.

56. But to return. His brother, &c., coming up to his bed-side, told him, all was done, as he had required. Then he, suddenly lifting up himself, sat

been devised. It was this, A Discovery of Dr. Jackson's follies: which he bound as an ornament upon him (as Job says), that is, never answered but in the language of the lamb dumb before the shearer, silence and sufferance. And he had one in Scotland who also girded at him :" (Barnabas Oley in Herbert's Remains, xcvii). Ferrar recommended Jackson's works to Oley. See the preface to Jackson.

1 "This I may call a libel indeed, according to sir Francis Bacon's description thereof: for first, it is a lie, a notorious untruth: and then a bell, some loud and lewd tongue hath told, yea rung it out, and perchance was welcome music to some hearers thereof."-Fuller's Worthies (8vo ed.), i. 78. "Many a libel (lie, because false; bell, because loud).”— Ibid. ii. 199.

up in his bed, gave God hearty thanks, and called for pen, ink, and paper. So this ensuing writing shews his mind more at large, viz.

"November 28th, 1637. I. H. S. In the name of God, Amen.

"Inasmuch as all the comedies, tragedies, pastorals, &c. and all those they call heroical poems, none excepted; and likewise all the books of tales, which they call novels, and all feigned histories written in prose, all love-hymns, and all the like books are full of idolatry, and especially tend to the overthrow of Christian religion, undermining the very foundations thereof, and corrupt and pollute the minds of the readers with filthy lusts, as, woe is me, I have proved in myself:-in this regard therefore, to shew my detestation of them to the world, and that all others may take warning, I have burned all of them', and most humbly have, and do beseech God, to forgive me all my misspent time in them, and all the sins that they have caused in me, which surely, but for His infinite grace, had carried my soul down into hell long ere this. And I profess to be of Mr. Galliatius his opinion, that

1 Sir Samuel Morland "had newly buried £200 worth of music books 6 feet under ground, being, as he said, love songs and vanity."-Evelyn's Diary, Oct. 25, 1695.

2 Perhaps Galeazzo Caraccioli, whose life was translated into Latin by Beza, and into English by William Crashaw father of the poet. In this life however there is no mention of the saying in the text.

the having an Orlando in the house is sufficient ground to have burnt it down over their heads, that truly fear God. I beseech all that truly fear God, that love Jesus Christ, to consider these things well. Amen, Amen, Amen."

57. Nicholas Ferrar, fearing and foreseeing the ill times to come', about a year before he died, which was anno 1637, the tenants to the lordship that dwelt round about Little Gidding (for they had none but their own family that lived in Gidding, being a lone house) consisting all of pasture-grounds, desired to have new leases for fifteen years at the old rent. His brother John Ferrar was against it, saying to his brother, that the rent was a hundred marks per an. under foot, by all other land about them, and that that time was much too long to let leases at in that case. Nicholas Ferrar takes his brother aside, saying, Content yourself, I pray, let the men have ten years' time, and a good pennyworth, that so they may be willing to pay you honestly at your days of payment. For I tell you, that before those times come out, you will see other days, and think yourselves happy that you may receive, and they pay you, that rent in quiet. I pray you be content: and so turning to the tenants, told them, they should have leases for ten years, and good pennyworths, that would be time long

1 See Andrewes's remarkable prediction in Hearne's Langtoft, ccxiii, also printed in Wren's Parentalia.

2 Barnabas Oley says seven (Life of Herbert, cii).

enough, for he doubted troublesome times were coming on, they might all have cause to thank God, if they could enjoy things in quiet so long, which he doubted. 58. And this must not be forgotten, that not long after, before Nicholas Ferrar died, he being in London went to the Tower' to visit the bishop of Lincoln his diocesan, and he told him, he came to take his leave of him and last farewell. The bishop and he fell into much discourse of past and present things, and after a long time spent, craving leave to depart, he begged his blessing and came away. His brother John Ferrar, some time after his brother's death, going to London, went also to visit the bishop in the Tower, who after he had much condoled with him N. F.'s death, and asked many questions about his sickness and departure, at the end of all said, Your brother at his parting made me much to wonder, for he said unto me, I should come out of this place, and rise to greater dignity, but the times would be dangerous. I thought, said the bishop, when he was gone, the more upon them, as from a dying man's words, and of another world, for so

1 Hacket (ii. 126 seq.) tells us that the bishop's friends were generally allowed access to him. "He kept honourable hospitality in the Tower, and maintained a table furnisht for the noon meal... with as much plenty and decorum as any of the prelates kept, that had all their rents and incomes to themselves; and yet this little solace, to draw friends about him, was repined at by the archbishop."-Ibid. 128. See ibid. 110 seq. the grounds on which he was committed.

2 On the belief that dying men have the gift of prophecy,