speech transferred it in a figure as if he was alwaies learning from another mans mouth or pen and not racking any And whereas we all of us deserved the sharpnesse of reproof he saith He does this and He does that whereas poor men we did no such thing This dart of his thus dipped pierces the Soul 8. His Art of Divine Poetry and other polite learning so commenâ—ed him to Persons most eminent in their time that Dr Donne inscribed to him a paper of Latin Verses in pring and the Lord Bacon having transhred some Psalms into English Meeter sent them with a Dedication prefixed To his very good Friend Mr George Herbert thinking he had kept a true decorum in chusing one so fit for the Argument in respect of Divinity and Poetry the one as the matter the other as the stile that a better choice he could not make 9. I shall omit several excellencies of this Person His conscientious expence of Time which he ever measured by the Pulse that native watch God has set in every of us his eminent Temperance and Frugality the two best Purveyors for his Liberalitie and Beneficence his private fastings his mortification of the body his extemporary Exercises thereof at the sight or visit of a Charnel-house where every bone before the day rises up in judgment against fleshly lust and pride at the stroke of a passing-bell when antient Charity used said he to run to Church and assist the dying Christian with prayers and tears for sure that was the ground of that custome and at all occasions he could lay hold of possibly which he sought with the diligence that others shun and shift them besides his carefull not scrupulous Observation of appointed Fasts Lents and Embers The neglect and defect of this last he said had such influx on the Children which the Fathers of the Church did beget at such time as malignant stars are said to have over natural productions 10. With Fasting he impt his prayers both private and publick His private must be left to God who saw them in secret his publick were the morning and evening Sacrifice of the Church Liturgie Which he used with conscientious Devotion not of Custom but serious judgment knowing 1. That the Sophism used to make people hate them was a solid reason to make men of understanding love them namely Because taken out of the Masse-book taken out but as gold from drosse the precious from the vile The wise Reformers knew Rome would cry Schism Schism and therefore they kept all they could lawfully keep being loth to give offence as our blessed Saviour being loth to offend the Jews at the great Reformation kept divers old Elements and made them new Sicrament and Services as their frequent Washings he turned into one baptism some service of the Passover into the Lord's Supper 2. That the homelinesse and ccursenesse which also was objected was a a great commendation The poor Lambs of the flock are forty for one grounded Christian proportionable must be the care of the Church to provide milk i. e. plain and easie nourishment for them and so had our Church done hoping that stronger Christians as they abounded in gifts so they had such a store of the grace of charity as for their weak Brethrens sakes to be content therewith 11. He thought also that a set Liturgie was of great use in respect of those without whether erring Christians or unbelieving men that when we had used our best Arguments against their errors or unbelief we might shew them a Form wherein we did and desired they would serve Almighty God with us that we might be able to say This is our Church Here would we land you Thus we belive See the Creed Thus we pray baptize Catechise Celebrate the Eucharist Marry Bury Intreat the Sick c. These beside Unitie and other accessary benefits he thought ground sufficient to bear him out in his practice wherein he ended his life calling for the Church-prayers a while before his death saying None to them None to them at once both commending them and his Soul to God in them immediately before his dissolution as some Martyrs did Mr Hulliar by name Vicar of Babram burnt to death in Cambridge Who having the Common-prayer book in his hand instead of a Censer and using the prayers as Incense offerd up himself as a whole burnt Sacrifice to God With whom the very Book it self suffered Martyrdome when fallen out of his consumed hands it was by the Executioners thrown into the fire and burnt as an heretical book 12. He was moreover so great a lover of Church-Musick that he usually called it Heaven upon earth and attended it a few daies before his death But above all his chief delight was in the Holy Scripture One leaf whereof he professed he would not part with though he might have the whole world in exchange This high esteem of the Word of Life as it wrought in himself a wondrous expression of high Reverence when ever he either read it himself or heard others read it so it made him equally wonder that those who pretended such extraordinary love to Christ Jesus as many did could possibly give such leave and liberty to themselves as to hear that Word that shall judge us at the last day without any the least expression of that holy fear and trembling which they ought to charge upon their Souls in private and in publick to imprint upon others 13. I have not so much as with one dash of a pencil offered to describe that person of his which afforded so unusual a Contesseration of Elegancies and Set of rarities to the beholder nor said I any thing of his personal Relation as a Husband to a loving and virtuous Lady as a Kinsman Master c. Yet will I not silence his spiritual love and care of Servants teaching Masters this duty To allow their servants dayly time wherein to pray privately and to enjoyn them to do it holding this for true generally That publick prayer alone to such persons is no prayer at all 14. I have given thee only these lineaments of his mind and thou mayest fully serve thy self of his book The Country-Parson in what vertue of his thy soul longeth after His practice it was and his Character it is His as Author and his as Object Yet lo the Humilitie of this gracious man He had small esteem of this book and but very little of his Poems Though God had magnifyed him with extraordinary Gifts yet said he God hath broken into my study and taken off my Chariot wheels I have nothing worthy of God And even this lowlinesse in his own eyes doth more advance their worth and his Virtues Here my Reader give me leave to propose to thy view some lines of that excellent Figure The Country Parson written by the Author 1632. printed 1652. which book I read with joy that we have any such and with grief that we have no more 1. The Country
School had had before great experience And so much were they pleased to honour the judgment and integrity of this worthy man that presently after his death they pitched upon an excellent learned man whom he had so providently commended to them 11. This worthy friend of mine the Friday and Saturday before his own Fit was pleased to visit me lying at that time under a sore Fit of the Stone It pleased the Lord the Monday following to bring a Fit upon him and sending to enquire of his condition he sent me word hov it was with him and that he looked on this Fit as a Messenger of death from God unto him And though in obedience to Gods appointment he made use of means yet he still insisted upon it that his time of dissolution was now come and accordingly with great composednesse and resolvednesse of spirit waited for death as a man doth for a loving friend whom he is willing to embrace Ob. Septemb. 1657. III. Dr THOMAS MORTON Bishop of Duresme Out of his Life Written by Dr Barwick now Dean of S. Pauls D. Thomae Vyner Rect. de Staunton HIs Coat-armour and pedigree shew him to be of the same Original and Stock with that eminent Prelate and wise States-man John Morton Lord Chanc of England and Arch-bishop of Cant by whose contrivance and management the two Houses of York and Lancaster were united But in his great modesty and humility he would not revive nor so much as look upon a very fair and large descent of his Pedigree when it was presented to him though he liberally rewarded the person that presented it 2. The place of his birth was the antient and famous City of York his Parents were of good note Mr Richard Morton Mercer and Mrs Eliz Leedale by whom the Valvasours and Langdales acknowledge themselves to be of his kindred by whose care he was brought up in pietie and learning firâ—â— at York and afterward at Hallifax under Mr Maud of whom he alwaies spake with great reverence as a grave man and a good Shoolmaster He took root in the Nursery of Hallifax till the eighteenth year of his age before he was trans-planted into the Garden of the Vniversity 3. An. 1582. he was sent to Cambridge and there admitted into S. John's Coll. wherein were so many eminent Scholars at that time as he was wont to say It seemed to be a whole University of it self The Master of the Colledge was Dr Whitaker his first Tutor was Mr Anthony Higgon who left him to the care of Mr Hen Nelson who lived to see his Pupil passe through all the other Dignities he had in the Church till he came to be Bishop of Duresm and a good many years after 4. An. 1590 he took his Degree of Master of Arts having performed all his Exercises with great approbation and applause Afterward for above two years he continued his studies in the Colledge at his Fathers charge And then Marâ— 17. 1592. he was admitted Fellow meerly for his worth against eight Competitors for the place Which he was wont to recount with greater contentment to himself than his advancement to any Dignity he ever enjoyed in the Church About the same time he was chosen Logic Lecturer for the University which place he discharged with as much Art and Diligence as may appear by his Lectures fairly written which I find among his papers 5. In the same year he was admitted to the sacred Order of Deacon and the next after of Priesthood Having received his Commission from God and his Church he was very ready to assist others in the way of charity but not too forward to take upon him a particular care of Souls And accordingly we find him for about five years after this continuing in the Colledge prosecuting his own private Study and reading to such yong Scholars as were committed to his care and Tuition 6. An. 1598. he took his Degree of Bachelor in Divinitie And about the same year being presented instituted and inducted to the Rectory of Long Marston four miles distant from his native City of York he beâ—ook himself wholly to the Cure of Souls there committed to him which he discharged with great care and diligence And yet he did not intermit his higher studies for the general good of the Church while he attended it To that end he had alwaies some Person to be his Assistant whom he knew to be pious and learned 7 And this assistance was the more necessary because his great parts and worth would not suffer him to enjoy his privacy in a country-cure For first he was made choice of by the Earl of Huntington then Lord President of the North to be his Chaplain for his dexterity and acutenesse in disputing with the Romish Recusants for it was Queen Elizabeth's expresse command to him to convince them by Arguments rather than suppresse them by force and this she expressed as his Lordshop was wont to say in the words of the Prophet Nolo mortem peccatoris 8. But the Earl dying presently after he returned again to his privacy at Marston where he continued not long before the Lord Sheffield who succeeded as Lord President commanded him to hold a publick Conference before his Lordship and the Council at the Mannor house in York with two Romish Recusants then prisoners in the Castle which he performed with great satisfaction to the Auditory among whom were many of the chief Gentry and Clergy of Yorkshire 9 An. 1602 began the great plague at York at which time he carried himself with much Heroical Charitie For the poorer sort being remov'd to the Pesâ—house he made it his frequent exercise to visit them with food both for their bodies and souls His chief errand was to instruct and comfort them to pray for them and with them and to make his coming the more acceptable he carried usually a sack of provision with him for those that wanted it And because he would have no man run any hazard thereby but himself he seldom suffered any of his servants to come near him but sadled and unsadled his own horse and had a private door made on purpose into his house and chamber 10. An. 1603. he attended the Queens Embassador into Germany being desirous to improve himself by seeing forein Kingdoms Churches and Universities His stay in those parts was the shorter because the Embassadors Commission determined at the death of the Queen But however he improved his time so well partly in furnishing his own Librarie with books at Frankfurt and elsewhere but chiefly in his conversation with learned men and in his forein Observations that he alwaies very highly valued that opportunity 11. At his return he was sollicited by Roger Earl of Rutland to be his domestical Chaplain Which proffer he was the more willing to accept for the privacy he hoped to enjoy in a place where he was not know for making use of that Treasure of Books he had got in his travels And the
whose sake principally Father Paulo compiled that eminent Historie of the Council of Trent Which History was as faâ—t as it was written sent in several sheets in Letters by Sir H. Wotton Mr Bedel and others unto K. James and the then B. of Cant in England and there first made publick both in â—nglish and in the Universal Language 14. For eight years after Sir Henrie Wotton's going into Italie he stood fair and highly valued but at last became much clouded by this accident Being merry with his friends at Augusta men of the best note for learning and ingenuousness the Virtuosâ— of that Nation he was requested by Christopher Flecamore to write some Sentence in his Albo a book of white paper which for that purpose many of the German Gentry usually carry about them and consenting to the motion took an occasion from some accidental discourse of the present company to write a pleasant definition of an Embassador in these very words Legatus est Vir boâ—us peregrè missus ad mentiendum Reipub. causa which Sir Henrie could have been content should have been thus Englished An Ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his Countrie But the word for lie being the hinge upon which the conceit was to turn was not so expresse in Latin as would admit in the hands of an enemy especially so fair a construction as Sir Henrie thought in English This coming to the knowledge of K. James by the malicious pen of Caspar Scioppius much offended his Majestie and this caused Sir Henrie Wotton to write two Apologies one in Latin to Velserus and another to K. James which were so ingenuous so clear and so choicely eloquent that his Majestie who was a pure Judge of it could not forbear to declare publiâ—kly That Sir H. Woâ—ton had commuted sufficiently for a greater offence And now as broken bones well set become stronger so Sir Henrie Wotton did not only recover but was much more confirmed in his Majesties favour 15. And his Interest stil increased with the Duke Leonardo Donato after whose death as though it had been an entaild love it was still found living in the succeding Dukes during all the time of his employment to that State which was almost 20 years All whiâ—h time he studyed the Dispositions of those Dukes the Consultors of State wel knowing that he who negotiates a continual business and neglects the studie of dispositions usually fails in his proposed ends But this Sir H. Wotton did not For by a fine sorting of fit Presents curious and not costly entertainments alwaies sweetned by various and pleasant discourse by his choice application of stories and his so elegant delivery of all these even in their Italian Language he first got and still preserved such interest in the State of Venice that it was observed such was either his merit or his modestie they never denyed him any request 16. When he had attended the Emperour and German Princes eight months to incline them to equitable conditions for the Restoration of the Queen of Bohemia and her Descendants to their Patrimonial Inheritance of the Palatinate and had brought the businesse to a probability of successe but after a victory gotten by the Imperial Army saw the face of peace altered at his departure from the Emperour he was so bold as humbly to advise him to use his Victorie soberly and still put on thoughts of peace Which advice though it seemed to be spoke with some passion yet was taken in good part by the Emperour who was ever much pleased with his cariage all the time that he resided in his Court and said That though the King his Master was lookt on as an Abetter of his enemie the Palsgrave yet he took him to be a Person of much honour and merit and did therefore desire him to accept of that Jewel as a testimonie of his good opinion of him which was a Jewel of Diamonds of more value than a thousand pounds This was received with all circumstances and terms of honour by Sir H. Wotton but the next morning at his departing from Vienna at his taking leave of the Countess of Salvina an Italian Lady in whose house the Emperour had appointed him to be lodged and honourably entertained He acknowledged her merits and besought her to accept of that Jewel as a testimonie of his gratitude presenting her with the same that was given him by the Emperour Which being suddenly discovered by the Emperour was by him taken for a high affront and Sir H. Wotton told so To which in the nobleness of his mind he repli'd That though he received it with thankfulness yet he found in himself an indisposition to be the better for any gift that came from an Enemie to his Royal Mistresse for so the Queen of Bohemia was pleas'd he should call her 17. Many other of his Services to his Prince and this Nation might be insisted on as his procuration of Privileges and courtesies with the German Princes and the â—epublick of Venice for the English Merchants his releasing and relieving many hundred captivated English soldiers and sending them back in a comfortable condition to thank God for their lives and libertie in their own Nation but I must haâ—â— to bring Sir H. Wotton in an instant from Venice to London whither he returned that year in which K. James dyed 18. The King had for the reward of his forrein service promised him the reversion of an Office which was fit to be turned into present money and also granted him the Reversion of the Master of the Rolls place if he outlived charitable Sir Julius Caesar who then possessed it and then grown so old that he was said to be kept alive beyond natures course by the prayers of those many poor which he dayly relieved Mean while his condition requir'd present support For in the beginning of these imployments he sold to his elder brother the Lord Wotton the Rent-charge left by his good Father and which is worse was now at his return indebted to several persons whom he was not able to satisfie but by the Kings payment of his Arrears He had brought into England many servants of whom some were German and Italian Artists This was part of his condition who had many times hardly sufficient to supply the occasions of the day For it may by no means be said of his providence as himself said of Sir Philip Sidney's wit That it was the very measure of congruitie he being alwaies so careless of mony as though our Saviours words Care not for to morrow were to be literally understood 19. But it pleased God that in this juncture of time the Provostship of his Majesties College of Eaton became void by the death of Murray for which there were as the place deserv'd many earnest and powerful Suitors to the King Sir Henrie who had for many years rolled the restlesse stone of a State employment and knowing experimentally that the