Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

And by how much the dignity of any is greater, as we more need it, so we hope for more perfect and ample favour in this kind, inasmuch as true greatness is not greater in anything than in pardoning of human errors and frailties, and in gracious acceptance of good intents and endeavours, though they attain not the measure of that perfection which is requisite for things intended to the service and satisfaction of great and excellent dignities, and especially of supreme majesty. To which, as nothing ought to be voluntarily presented that is not absolutely perfect in its own kind, so nothing ought to be kept back or withheld that is commanded or required, be it after never so light a manner. On this last ground hath the performance of this last work been attempted, and on the former the direct and immediate presentation of it forborne." Page 132. line 15. read English.

Page 149. n. This harmony, bound in purple velvet (like the presentation copies of the Basilicon Doron, and of Bacon's Novum Organum in the Cambridge Library), is in the library of St. John's College, Oxford. Peckard (208 n.) seems to doubt Hearne's correctness (Caius, 812), but the book is still at St. John's.

Page 154. § 134. A fragment of a longer account is preserved in Middle Hill MS. 9527. "-and accepted all in good part, and were well pleased and very merry with the coarse and homely country fare. His majesty being mounted, all repaired to horse, and the gentlewomen to the gate; where they all kneeled down, and with hearty and earnest prayers most humbly besought God Almighty, that His holy angels might be his guide, and that he might be preserved from all evil both in soul and body, and that his return might be safe and speedy, to the comfort of himself and of all his people. Thereat the king moved his hat to them all, and said, Do, I pray you, daily so pray for me; and God bless you all. The prince shook his hand at them, they crying, God bless prince Charles; and the palsgrave and duke bad them farewell, they beseeching God to keep in safety both his highness and his grace. And thus Little Gidding was made happy in the entertainment of

so royal and princely a company; and the honours which they then received have obliged them perpetually to pray day and night to the God of heaven for the long and happy life of the king and of his children, and that they may be prosperous and victorious over all who shall rise up against them. Amen. Amen. Amen."

Page 150. § 132. Peck (Middle Hill MS. 9527) has preserved a fragment relating to this visit. "The family at Little Gidding had very ill usage [on various] hands. Some because of their strict observance of the Lord's day (about frequenting of sermons) termed them puritans, and represented them even to the king him[self] as such. But this charge was well sifted and cleared by his majesty when he was at Little Gidding, March 164. Some because of their fashions of Lent, Ember Days, Vigils and all Fridays in the year, &c. called them Papists.”

Page 166. § 2. The story is more fully given in Peck's letter to Ward (Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 6209. fol. 89 a).

(Godeby Sept. 10, 1735.) In the MS. Life of Mr. Nicholas Ferrar, Lib. I. cap. 11, it is said: "For his [N. F.'s] apparel, his disposition in these his so young years, was to be neat, handsome and plain. One time his mother and her maids were making bands for the children, and setting fine laces on them. Whereupon he came very soberly to his mother, and earnestly prayed her, that his bands might have no lace upon them, but be made little plain bands.- Why, child, saith she, will you not have your bands made like the rest of your brothers? -No, I pray you, dear mother, said he, let mine be such little plain bands as Mr. Antony Wotton wears; for I will be a preacher as he is. Mr. Wotton was then newly come into the parlour to visit Mr. Ferrar and his wife (as he once a week, if not oftener, used to do), and he and Mrs. Ferrar heartily laughed at the child's earnestness in that particular: for he would have no nay.

This Mr. Wotton was a learned divine and reader of the divinity lecture at Gresham College, and always made very much of Nich. Ferrar when he came; posing him ever in

many things to try his wit and learning, and was wonderfully taken with the child's forwardness. And the child was ever a great observer of him, and would hearken very diligently to his discourses at all times when he came to the house." Page 166. last line. read bands.

Page 171. n. I. The following list (Baker's MS. xxxviii. 254) was "taken from a table at Clare Hall (penes magistrum coll.), and yet so far," says Baker, "from being correct and accurate, that I find it mistaken in several particulars; and yet is of some use."

Catalogue of the master and present [Dec. 1, 1617] fellows. Robert Scot1, D.D., dean of Rochester, sub-almoner, now Master or keeper.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Page 200. line 9. hectors. "One hector, a phrase at that time for a daring ruffian."-Hacket, ii. 219.

Page 219. n. 2. "We come, O Lord, most mighty God,

1 See his epitaph in Baker's MS. xxxii. 512.

2 B.A. 1598-9. M.A. 1602. "An. 1608. Winston, M.D. Aul. Clar. incorporatus." BAKER.

3 B.A. 1609-10. M.A. 1613. B.D. 1620.

Nathan, M.A. 1613.

5 Wm. B. A. 1612-3. M. A. 1616.

"Humfrey Henchman, Chr. B. A. 1613. M. A. 1616."

7 Joshua, B.A. 1612-3. M.A. 1616. B.D. 1623.

8 John, 1613-4. M.A. 1617.

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. 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

We

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

« ForrigeFortsett »