"words of the Psalmist: Cast thy care on the "Lord, and he shall nourish thee, Psal. lv. To “which join that of St. Peter, Casting all your 66 care on the Lord, for he careth for you, "1 Pet. v. 7. What an admirable thing is this, "that God puts his shoulder to our burden, and "entertains our care for us that we may the more quietly intend his service. To conclude, let me "commend only one place more to you (Philip. "iv. 4.); St. Paul saith there, Rejoice in the Lord "always: And again I say, rejoice. He doubles "it to take away the scruple of those that might say, what, shall we rejoice in afflictions? yes, I 66 say again, rejoice; so that it is not left to us to " rejoice or not rejoice; but whatsoever befals us "we must always, at all times, rejoice in the Lord, "who taketh care for us. And it follows in the "next verse: Let your moderation appear unto "all men: The Lord is at hand: Be careful for nothing.-What can be said more comfortably? "trouble not yourselves, God is at hand to deliver ❝us from all, or in all. Dear Madam, pardon my boldness, and accept the good meaning of 46 66 "Your most obedient son, "TRIN. COL. MAY 25, 1622. "GEORGE HERBERT." About the year 1629, and the 34th of his age, Mr. Herbert was seized with a sharp quotidian ague, and thought to remove it by the change of air; to which end, he went to Woodford in Essex, but thither more chiefly to enjoy the company of his beloved brother Sir Henry Herbert, and other friends then of that family. In his house he remained about twelve months, and there became his own physician, and cured himself of his ague, by forbearing drink, and not eating any meat, no not mutton, nor a hen, or pigeon, unless they were salted; and by such a constant diet he removed his ague, but with inconveniences that were worse; for he brought upon himself a disposition to rheumes and other weaknesses, and a supposed consumption. And it is to be noted that in the sharpest of his extreme fits he would often say, "Lord abate my great affliction, or increase my patience; but, Lord, I repine not; I am dumb, Lord, before thee, because thou doest it." By 66 66 The following lines are taken from a poem of Mr. Herbert's, entitled "Affliction." "At first thou gav'st me milk and sweetnesses; "I had my wish and way : "My days were strew'd with flow'rs and happiness; "But with my years sorrow did twist and grow, "And made a party unawares for woe: "My flesh began unto my soul in pain, “ Consuming agues dwell in every sein, "And tune my breath to groans. which, and a sanctified submission to the will of God, he showed he was inclinable to bear the sweet yoke of Christian discipline, both then and in the latter part of his life, of which there will be many true testimonies. And now his care was to recover from his consumption by a change from Woodford into such an air as was most proper to that end: And his remove was to Dauntsey in Wiltshire, a noble house which stands in a choice air; the owner of it then was the Lord Danvers Earl of Danby, who loved Mr. Herbert so very much, that he allowed him such an apartment in it as might best suit with his accommodation and liking. And in this place, by a spare diet, declining all perplexing studies, moderate exercise, and a cheerful conversation, his health was apparently improved to a HENRY DANVERS, created Baron of Dauntsey by King James, and Earl of Danby by Charles I. He was Knight of the Bath, and died unmarried, Jan. 20, 1673. good degree of strength and cheerfulness: And then he declared his resolution both to marry, and to enter into the Sacred Orders of Priesthood. These had long been the desires of his mother and his other relations; but she lived not to see either, for she died in the year 1627. And though he was disobedient to her about Layton Church, yet in conformity to her will, he kept his Orator's place till after her death, and then presently declined it; and the more willingly, that he might be succeeded by his friend Robert Creighton, who now is Dr. Creighton, and the worthy Bishop of Wells. I shall now proceed to his marriage; in order to which, it will be convenient that I first give the reader a short view of his person, and then an e" ROBERT CREtone, of CHEITTON, was elected scholar of Trinity College in Cambridge, May 6, 1614; Minor Fellow, "Oct. 1, 1619; Major Fellow, March 16, 1620." (From the Bursar's Books of Trinity College.) He was a native of Scotland, educated at Westminster School, and from thence elected to Trinity College. He was afterward Greek Professor, and Orator of the University. In 1632 he was made Treasurer of Wells, and in 1637 Dean of St. Burien in Cornwall. In the beginning of the Rebellion, as well as in its progress, he suffered severely for the royal cause, and was an exile with Charles II. who, on his Restoration, gave him the Deanery of Wells. During his absence from England he was the Editor of "The History of the Council of Florence," written originally in Greek, and translated by him into Latin, from an authentic MS. copy. "Vera Historia unionis non veræ inter "Græcos et Latinos: sive Concilii Florentini exactissima narratio "Græcè scripta," &c. Haga Comitis, 1660, fol. paginis, 351. VOL. II. F Being account of his wife, and of some circumstances concerning both. He was for his person of a stature inclining to wards tallness; his body was very straight; and so far from being cumbered with too much flesh, that he was lean to an extremity. His aspect was cheerful, and his speech and motion did both declare him a gentleman; for they were all so meek and obliging, that they purchased love and respect from all that knew him. These, and his other visible virtues, begot him much love from a gentleman, of a noble fortune, and a near kinsman to his friend the Earl of Danby; namely, from Mr. Charles Danvers of Bainton, in the county of Wilts, Esq.; this Mr. Danvers having known him long, and familiarly, did so much affect him, that he often and publicly declared a desire that Mr. Herbert would marry any of his nine daughters (for he had so many); but rather his daughter Jane than any other, because Jane was his beloved daughter: And he had often said the same to Mr. Herbert himself; and that if he could like her for a wife, and she him for a husband, Jane should have a double blessing; Being Chaplain to the King, he reproved the vices of the times with boldness, whenever he preached at Court; "which," says Wood, "was well taken by some, though sneered at by others." However, in 1670 he was advanced to the see of Bath and Wells, and dying in 1672 was buried in that Cathedral. See " Wood's "Fasti," Vol. I. p. 243. And "Walker's Sufferings of the "Clergy." |