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96. (3) THIRD WORK.

ΜΟΝΟΤΕΣΣΑΡΟΝ.

The actions, doctrines and other passages touching our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as they are related by the Four Evangelists; harmonically, symmetrically, and collaterally placed, in four languages, English, Latin, French, Italian, reduced into one complete body of history; wherein that which is severally related by them is digested into order, and that which is jointly related by all or any of them is first extracted into one narration, by way of composition; secondly, brought into one clear context, by the way of collection to which are, in all the pages of the book, added sundry of the best pictures that could be gotten, expressing the facts themselves, or their types, figures, or other matters appertaining thereunto; done at Little Gidding, anno 1640.

97. (4) FOURth Work.

The Gospel of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, according to the holy Evangelists, in eight several languages, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, High Dutch, Saxon and Welsh, all interpreted with Latin or English, word for word, interlineally placed, and at one view to be seen and read; so done and contrived for the use and benefit of all such as are desirous with sureness, ease, speed and pleasure, to attain to the knowledge of these languages: likewise it may be of very good help to strangers that may desire to learn the English tongue.

98. (5) FIFTH Work.

Novum Testamentum Domini et Salvatoris Nostri Jesu Christi viginti quatuor linguis expressum, vid.

I. Hebraice.

2. Græce.

3. Syriace.

4. Arabice.

5. Æthiopice.

6. Latine.

7. Anglo-Saxonice.

8. Muscovitice.

9. Cambro-Britannice. 10. Belgice.

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Unaquæque lingua proprio suo charactere scripta, et omnes harmonice et symmetrice collocatæ, etiamque Syriaca literis et vocalibus Hebraicis scripta, cum interlineari Latina interpretatione insuper adjecta.

99. (6) SIXTH WORK.

Sacrosanctum S. Johannis Evangelium in totidem linguis quot sunt capita, vid.

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Et unaquæque lingua per interlinearem Latinam interpretationem ad verbum redditam et positam explicata.

Some observations that happened upon these forenamed works, done at Gidding, and the acceptation of them by the king and prince.

100. 1. Upon the first work.

His sacred majesty, anno 1631, having heard of some rare contrivements, as he was pleased to term them, of books done at Little Gidding in Huntingdonshire, in an unusual way and manner, for their own private uses and employments; and that the younger sort learned them without book, and hourly made repetition of some part of them, that so both their hands and minds might be partakers in what was good and useful: it so happened that being at Apthorpe at the earl of Westmoreland's house, in his progress, about seven miles off Gidding; he sent a gentleman of his court, well loved of him, to Gidding; who came and declared, that the king his master desired that there might be sent by him a book, but he knew not the name of it, that was made at Gidding, and somewhat of it every hour repeated by them. The tidings were much unexpected, and Nicholas Ferrar at London. Leave was craved, that the deferring of the sending of it might be respited one week, and the king might be informed, that the book was wholly unfitting every way for a king's eye, and those that had given him any notice of such a thing had much misinformed his majesty; and when he should

see it, he would con them no thanks', the book being made only for the young people in the family. But all excuses would not satisfy this gentleman. He said if we enforced him to go without it, he knew he should be again sent for it that night; and no nays he would have. So necessity enforced the delivery; and the gentleman seemed greatly contented; took the book, saying not his man, but himself would carry it: he knew it would be an acceptable service to his master; and engaged his faith, that at the king's departure from Apthorpe, he would bring it again. But a quarter of a year past. Then came the gentleman again, but brought no book; but after much compliment said, the king so liked the work itself, and the contrivement of it in all kinds, that there had not a day passed, but the king, in the midst of all his progress and sports, spent one hour in the perusing of it and that would apparently be seen by the notations he had made upon the margins of it with his own hand: and that his master would upon no terms part with it, except he brought him a promise from the family, that they would make him. one for his daily use, which he should esteem as a rich jewel. Some months after the gentleman,

1 "So, 'Frend Hoggarde, I cun you thanke, that you have learned somewhat at Father Latimer's Sermons.'-Robert Crowley's Confutation of the Aunswer to the Ballad, called "The Abuse of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altare.' Signat. A 3. b. A.D. 1548." Dr. Wordsworth's note.

acquainting the king what he had done in obedience to his command, brought back the book from London to Gidding; saying, that upon the condition that within the space of twelve months the king might have one made him, he was to render back that again; and so with many courtly terms he departed, with intimation from Nicholas Ferrar, that his majesty's commands should be obeyed.

ΙΟΙ.

The book being opened, there was found, as the gentleman had said, the king's notes in many places in the margin; which testified the king's diligent perusal of it. And in one place, which is not to be forgotten, to the eternal memory of his majesty's superlative humility (no small virtue in a king), having written something in one place, he puts it out again very neatly with his pen. But that, it seems, not contenting him, he vouchsafes to underwrite, I confess my error: it was well before (an example to all his subjects): I was mistaken.

102. Before the year came about, such diligence and expedition was used, that a book was presented to his majesty, being bound in crimson velvet and richly gilded upon the velvet, a thing not usual. The king graciously with a cheerful countenance received it: and after a curious perusal, after having asked many questions concerning the work, and the parties that had done it, said to the lord's grace of Canterbury, and divers other lords that stood about him (doctor Cosins being also there, that was his chaplain for that month), Truly my

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