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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24984-h.zip b/24984-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca6d4cd --- /dev/null +++ b/24984-h.zip diff --git a/24984-h/24984-h.htm b/24984-h/24984-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d85b5e --- /dev/null +++ b/24984-h/24984-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1989 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> +<title>Little Gidding and its inmates in the Time of King Charles I.</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + P.headingsummary { margin-left: 5%;} + H1, H2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + H3, H4, H5 { + text-align: left; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + table { border-collapse: collapse; } +table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;} + td { vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid black;} + td p { margin: 0.2em; } + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray;} + + .citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + + .GutOldEnglish { font-family: cursive; } + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h2> +<a href="#startoftext">Little Gidding and its inmates in the Time of King Charles I., by J. E. Acland</a> +</h2> +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Little Gidding and its inmates in the Time of +King Charles I., by J. E. Acland + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Little Gidding and its inmates in the Time of King Charles I. + with an account of the Harmonies + + +Author: J. E. Acland + + + +Release Date: April 3, 2008 [eBook #24984] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE GIDDING AND ITS INMATES IN +THE TIME OF KING CHARLES I.*** +</pre> +<p><a name="startoftext"></a></p> +<p>Transcribed from the 1903 S.P.C.K edition by David Price, +email ccx074@pglaf.org</p> +<h1>LITTLE GIDDING<br /> +<span class="smcap">and its inmates</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">in the time of king charles i.</span></h1> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">with an account +of</span><br /> +THE HARMONIES<br /> +<span class="smcap">designed and constructed by</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">NICHOLAS FERRAR</span>.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">by</span><br /> +J. E. ACLAND, M.A.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">LONDON:<br /> +SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE,<br /> +NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.;<br /> +43, <span class="smcap">queen victoria street</span>, <span +class="smcap">e.c.</span><br /> +BRIGHTON: 129, <span class="smcap">north street</span>.<br /> +1903.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><!-- page 4--><a +name="page4"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 4</span>[<span +class="smcap">published under the direction of the tract +committee</span>.]</p> +<h2><!-- page 5--><a name="page5"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +5</span>CHAPTER I. <a name="citation1"></a><a href="#footnote1" +class="citation">[1]</a></h2> +<p>“How happy a king were I, if I had many more such +workmen and workwomen in my kingdom! Their art and ability +is excellent. Let them know I will not forget them. +God’s blessing on their hearts, and painful +hands.”</p> +<p>Such were the words and opinions of King Charles I., when +speaking of the happy and industrious family whose life and +labours at Little Gidding are described in the following pages, a +family entirely devoted to good works, under the <!-- page 6--><a +name="page6"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 6</span>able direction +of Mr. Nicholas Ferrar, whose history has happily been preserved +for us with great accuracy, and which can hardly fail to be +attractive.</p> +<p>Although Nicholas Ferrar and Little Gidding are names that are +invariably associated with one another, it must not be imagined +that he spent his whole life there. It was not, indeed, +till he was thirty-three years old that he left the busy and +stirring scenes for which he seemed so suited; and before +describing the twelve years of seclusion with which he ended his +life, it is necessary to say something about his more active +employments as a young man. They prove beyond doubt that he +was endued with abilities of the highest order, which might have +led him to positions of great public importance had his +inclinations so prompted him.</p> +<p>Nicholas Ferrar was born in the year 1592, his parents being +conspicuous for their piety and charity, their conscientious +discharge of every duty, and their careful training of a numerous +family in every point of virtue and religion, special attention +being paid to the study of the Bible, large portions of which +were committed to memory.</p> +<p>Mr. Ferrar was a merchant, connected with all <!-- page 7--><a +name="page7"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 7</span>the great +centres of commerce, especially with the East and West Indies; +and being given to most generous hospitality, he was on friendly +terms with many persons of eminence, such as Drake, Raleigh, and +Hawkins.</p> +<p>Nicholas was the third son, and his talents began to develop +themselves very early. His memory, which was naturally very +retentive, was carefully cultivated, and he was at all times +eager and diligent in his studies. At the age of fourteen +he was admitted to Clare Hall, Cambridge; four years later he +took his degree, and was before long elected to a +Fellowship. But his health now broke down, and it was +considered that the only chance of his recovery lay in a complete +change, and in leaving England. Just at this time the +Princess Elizabeth was starting for the Palatinate, after her +marriage with the Elector Frederick, and Ferrar was fortunate in +obtaining permission to be included in her suite. They +first went to Holland, but before long Ferrar left the Royal +party, as he had resolved on seeing some places not included in +the Royal programme.</p> +<p>We must, however, hurry over this part of Ferrar’s life, +very interesting as it is, and it must suffice to say that in the +course of five years he <!-- page 8--><a name="page8"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 8</span>visited many parts of Germany and +Italy, then went to the south of France, by sea to Spain, where +he had several startling adventures, and after travelling five +hundred miles alone, and on foot, reached Saint Sebastian, from +which port he took ship to England.</p> +<p>The advantage of these travels to Ferrar was great in many +ways. He thoroughly mastered the languages of the various +countries; he studied closely their forms of government, trade, +and commerce, and acquired an insight even into the handicrafts +of the people. He made himself acquainted with the +doctrines and discipline of the Churches and religious sects, and +procured, whenever he could do so, the assistance of the ablest +scholars to instruct him. Being well supplied with money by +his father, he was enabled to collect, besides other things, a +great number of prints and engravings by all the best masters; in +fact, it is stated that he let nothing of this sort escape him +that was valuable; and being all relative to, or illustrative of, +passages in the Bible, they were utilized to great advantage when +in his later years he compiled “The Harmonies.”</p> +<p>On his return home, his natural inclination was to settle at +Cambridge and resume his work at <!-- page 9--><a +name="page9"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 9</span>Clare Hall; +but, partly owing to his father’s advanced age, and partly +on account of his elder brother having important work in London +in connection with the Virginia Plantation Company, Nicholas +Ferrar determined to settle there with them. Here he soon +attracted much attention for his many eminent qualities, reports +of which had, indeed, been received from abroad, and before long +Sir Edwyn Sandys and Lord Southampton, both of them governors of +the Virginia Company, having discovered for themselves his great +worth, proposed him as King’s Counsel for the +Plantation. He thus became deeply engaged in public +business; and as his work was continually produced in open court, +his reputation increased more and more. Two or three years +later his powers were still further tested, for the Spanish party +exerted all their influence to overthrow the Company; and as +Nicholas Ferrar was at this time the deputy-governor, the chief +burden of the defence fell on his shoulders. His efforts +were, however, all in vain, and before long the patent or charter +was withdrawn, and the Company was dissolved, owing to the false +accusations brought against the managers and directors.</p> +<p>Ferrar was now elected Member of Parliament, <!-- page 10--><a +name="page10"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 10</span>and was able +to bring before the House and the public more fully the iniquity +of these proceedings, and by his skilful management cleared the +directors, and brought their opponents to justice and +punishment.</p> +<p>This was the concluding act of Ferrar’s public life, and +we shall now turn to a scene of a vastly different nature. +But it has been necessary to say thus much to exhibit in its true +light the force of character, the wonderful diligence and +activity of the man, who (as we shall now see) decided on +devoting the rest of his life to religious exercises, to works of +charity and usefulness, but living apart and without interruption +from the busy world.</p> +<p>There is evidence to show that this had long been his wish, in +fact, that from his earliest years some such ideas had been in +his mind; but until now he had not seen his way to carry them +out.</p> +<p>The first and most necessary step was to find a place suitable +for his purpose, and hearing that the lordship of Little Gidding +was for sale, he went to inspect it.</p> +<p>It was in an obscure part of the county of Huntingdon, a large +manor house and a cottage for shepherds the only buildings, with +the exception <!-- page 11--><a name="page11"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 11</span>of a dilapidated church used as a +barn. The air was healthy, and the whole estate lay in +pasture.</p> +<p>The spot seemed admirably adapted to his designs, and was +accordingly bought; and after settling his own business and also +his brother’s, he moved to Little Gidding in the year +1625.</p> +<p>He now gathered round him a very large family party. His +father was dead, but his mother, his brother, and his sister, who +was married to a Mr. Collett, with the children of both families, +all joined under the one roof. When the establishment was +completed and in proper working order, it is said that they +numbered forty persons, including schoolmasters and servants.</p> +<p>The meeting between Nicholas Ferrar and his mother, who was +now 73 years old, is so characteristic that it must be +related. Within three or four days of his arrival, and +before the necessary repairs had been carried out, Mrs. Ferrar +rides to Gidding from her daughter’s home, no great +distance off. Nicholas Ferrar meets her outside the manor +house, and kneeling on the ground, asks and receives her +blessing. He then entreats her to enter his dwelling and +repose herself after the journey.</p> +<p>“Not so,” she says; “yonder I see the +church, let us first go there and give thanks to God.”</p> +<p><!-- page 12--><a name="page12"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +12</span>She is told she cannot even get inside the door, for +there had been no time as yet to clear out the hay which was in +it. But she persists in her resolve, and thrusting herself +in a little way, she kneels and prays. Then sending for the +workmen employed in the house, the hay is flung out of the +windows, and the church is cleansed as well as might be for the +present, and till this is done she will not set foot in her new +home.</p> +<p>The following year, 1626, Nicholas Ferrar returned to London +for a short while to dispose of his house and bid good-bye to his +friends. He now was able to carry out a resolution, which +it is believed he had made long before, and was ordained Deacon +by Dr. Laud, the future Archbishop of Canterbury. Many +people imagined that this was to enable him to seek +ecclesiastical preferments, and several valuable livings were +soon offered to him; but his sole object was that he might have +the necessary authority to carry on the spiritual work of his own +home, and thus be of greater use to his family.</p> +<p>He had doubtless by now worked out the general plan of life, +and put his house and the church into proper order. Certain +glebe lands and tithes which had been alienated from their <!-- +page 13--><a name="page13"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +13</span>rightful owners were restored; and to prove the honesty +of his purpose he even pulled down a very large dovecote upon the +premises, which contained a great number of pigeons. The +reason for this was that all his property was laid out as +pasture, and therefore the pigeons fed on his neighbours’ +corn-fields. In the place of the dovecote he made a +school-house, and permission was given to the people of the towns +and villages within reach to send their children to be instructed +under his supervision, and without payment or expense. For +this purpose he provided three resident masters; one was to teach +English to the poor children and Latin to his nephews and nieces, +another superintended the writing and arithmetic, while the third +was for instruction in the theory and practice of music.</p> +<p>There was also especial inducement held out to all children of +the neighbourhood to learn the Psalms by heart. Each one +was given a Psalter, and had to go to Gidding on Sunday mornings +to repeat his portion learnt during the week. There were +sometimes more than a hundred children, and they were given a +penny for each Psalm learnt, and a dinner served in the great +hall.</p> +<p><!-- page 14--><a name="page14"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +14</span>It will be as well now to describe in detail the +“particular and more punctual actions of each day in the +week,” which we get with great exactness from the records +left us by John Ferrar. To begin with Sunday—early +rising was encouraged on this day, as throughout the week, +namely, five o’clock in winter and four o’clock in +summer. The younger children first assembled in the great +hall, where was always a good warm fire in the winter. Here +they found Nicholas Ferrar awaiting them, to whom they repeated +such chapters or Psalms as they had been given to learn. +After this they returned to their rooms to make themselves +“more comely in their best attires.” Breakfast, +and private reading or conversation in their own rooms, went on +till nine o’clock, when the bell called them together +again. They all met in the great hall, and, having sung a +hymn, proceeded in decent order to the church.</p> +<p>The three schoolmasters led the way, wearing their black +gowns, the youths (also in gowns) following two and two, John +Ferrar and Mr. Collett came next, and then Nicholas Ferrar +leading his aged mother; immediately behind her came Mrs. Collett +and the daughters, and the procession closed with all the +servants.</p> +<p><!-- page 15--><a name="page15"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +15</span>Each as they came into church made a low obeisance, and +took up their allotted places; Nicholas Ferrar, in surplice and +hood, saying the service. This over, the “Psalm +children” went to the manor house and repeated their +Psalms.</p> +<p>At half-past ten they went to the church again, when the +minister of the neighbouring parish came for the Communion +Service and to preach. That done, dinner was served in the +house, first for the “Psalm children”—old Mrs. +Ferrar herself very often bringing in the first dish—and +afterwards for the rest of the family.</p> +<p>Recreation or walking in the garden was permitted till two +o’clock, when the bell called them together again for +evening service at the nearest parish church. Supper-time +was five or six o’clock, and while it was being prepared +the organ was played in the great hall and an anthem was +sung. After supper each one could occupy himself as he +wished, indoors or walking abroad, or “passing the time +with good discourse.” At eight o’clock there +was more singing to the organ, followed by prayers, and then the +children, after asking the “old gentlewoman’s” +blessing, all bid each good night.</p> +<p>Mr. Ferrar also made it his special care that no <!-- page +16--><a name="page16"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 16</span>work +in the house should prevent the servants attending church; there +were none left behind; and on the Sundays when the Holy Communion +was administered, “the servants that had feasted with them +in the church were not thought unworthy to eat with them in the +parlour,” sitting at the end of the same table.</p> +<p>It would be tedious and uninteresting to attempt to follow the +week-day employments in the exact order in which they were +carried out, but the general plan may be given with advantage, as +illustrating the principles inculcated at Gidding.</p> +<p>The day began early—at four or five +o’clock—by the children repeating to Mr. Ferrar what +they had learnt by heart the day before. At six +o’clock the recitation of the Psalms began, and it was so +planned that “certain members of the family repeated +certain Psalms at every hour of the day, every one knowing his +turn and hour of attendance; and thus, without undue interruption +of other work, the whole book of Psalms was repeated once in the +twenty-four hours.” In addition to this, the children +had to say one of the chapters of the Concordance, or Harmony of +the Four Evangelists, which was arranged purposely by <!-- page +17--><a name="page17"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +17</span>Nicholas Ferrar, so that it might be gone through once +in every month.</p> +<p>Three times during the day the bell rang to summon them for a +short service in the church, on each occasion the proceeding +being as described for Sunday.</p> +<p>Every hour of the day had some special employment, some of the +children sitting in the great hall watched by Mrs. Ferrar, some +in the new school-house with the masters. Their occupations +were as varied as possible: English, Latin, and other languages, +writing and ciphering, and learning by heart being interspersed +with singing, playing the organ, and other instruments, making +the Concordances, bookbinding and gilding, and embroidery. +At stated times the boys were encouraged in active outdoor +exercises, running, leaping, and archery. As the girls grew +up they were made to perfect themselves in good +housewifery. A month at a time each one had control of the +housekeeping, all expenditure being carefully booked; at the end +of the month her accounts were looked over, and her duties handed +on to the next in rotation.</p> +<p>A room was set apart as an infirmary for any member of the +family who might require nursing, <!-- page 18--><a +name="page18"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 18</span>and another +room for the reception of any poor person who might be brought in +sick or hurt. The ladies were taught to dress their wounds, +and to do all things necessary for their relief, but the +prescribing of medicines Mr. Ferrar kept for himself, as he had +many years studied this science. They distilled +“cordial waters,” and kept in the dispensary a good +supply of balsams, oils, and all things needful for the cure of +their patients.</p> +<p>At meal times the custom prevailed of reading aloud, the +person whose turn it might be, first having some light food, and +after the reading was finished, “in regard of his +forbearance, always having the advantage of some more food than +his fellows!”</p> +<p>The reading was to be something “delightful and easy, +such as stories of sea voyages, descriptions of foreign +countries, their rise and fall, and illustrated by the particular +actions of eminent persons.” And in order that these +stories might not be forgotten, it was further arranged that +notes (or “a summary collection”) should be taken of +everything worthy of attention, and that these notes should +afterwards be transcribed, and put into language fitted to the +capacity of the children, who then had, in turn, to recite the +stories. This <!-- page 19--><a name="page19"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 19</span>practice brought the boys into a +habit of delivering any speech with assurance and good manner, +and of expressing themselves in a becoming and elegant style.</p> +<p>They also became thoroughly acquainted with ancient and modern +history, and knew and understood the great affairs of life better +than many who lived more in the world.</p> +<p>Analogous to this, and no doubt a development of it, were +“The maiden-sisters exercises.” These were +conversations or dialogues recited by the Miss Colletts, +illustrative of some special virtue, and always enforced by +examples taken from history.</p> +<p>The sisters, for this purpose, were known by such titles as +The Patient, The Cheerful, The Affectionate, etc., and formed +themselves into what they called “The Little +Academy,” of which Mary Collett was “The +Chief,” Mrs. Collett was called “The +Moderator,” John Ferrar “The Guardian,” and +Nicholas Ferrar “The Visitor.”</p> +<p>The subjects and the substance of the exercises were supplied +by Nicholas Ferrar himself, but the sisters were left to compile +them in their own words. They were prepared some time +beforehand, and after they had been recited were transcribed into +books kept for the purpose.</p> +<p><!-- page 20--><a name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +20</span>Four folio volumes of these “conversations” +are still in existence, and are, no doubt, in the handwriting of +Mary and Ann Collett. They are bound in black leather, +stamped with gilt lines, and with gilt edges, and have been +passed on from one member of the family to another to the present +owner, a Mr. Mapletoft Davis, living in Australia. <a +name="citation20"></a><a href="#footnote20" +class="citation">[20]</a></p> +<p>Some idea of the general plan of these “exercises” +may be gathered from the following notes taken from the +manuscripts.</p> +<p>The first meeting of the “Little Academy” was on +Ash Wednesday, 1630, when the subject was “The Folly of +Delaying Repentance.” The next meeting was on Easter +Monday, a speech being made on “Happiness,” +illustrated by stories of King Philip of Spain, King Henry IV. of +France, and Popes Marcellus and Adrian. On other occasions +the following subjects were selected: “Humility towards +God, and moderation to equals and enemies is most +beneficial,” illustrated by stories of Charles V.; +“We must overcome evil with good,” illustration, John +of Alexandria, etc., etc.</p> +<p>At first it seems that the recitations were given on five +festivals, which days naturally provided <!-- page 21--><a +name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 21</span>suitable +subjects, and afterwards it was decided to increase the number to +twelve days, and they pass the following resolution: “Every +day must handle a new matter, that’s the injunction; and +because the days afford not any special occasion, the particular +names imposed on us shall be the subjects successively of our +several exercises.” The titles were (1) “The +Chief” (who chose for her subject “Humility”); +(2) The Patient; (3) The Affectionate; (4) The Cheerful; (5) The +Submiss; (6) The Obedient; (7) The Moderate. Generally the +conversations were enlivened by music and singing, but when the +subject was “Patience” this was omitted, and there +was much less anecdote. The discourse was also somewhat +longer, so that the virtue which was being illustrated was at the +same time practically enforced. It is not quite clear how +long the exercises were continued, but in the second volume of +the manuscripts it is stated that many home troubles had helped +to break up the “Little Academy,” especially old Mrs. +Ferrar’s death, which was in the year 1634, and that the +actors were reduced to three, when their cousin, young Nicholas +Ferrar, “took upon himself to revive their antient +practises.” But after this the actors all appear with +fresh names.</p> +<p><!-- page 22--><a name="page22"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +22</span>Not content with the most careful and minute regulations +for the employment of every hour of the day in some secular or +religious matter, (for we read that “every hour had its +company for the performance of some special duty,”) +Nicholas Ferrar further arranged that those so inclined should +pursue their devotional exercises also at night. Two were +to watch together in a room set apart for the purpose; the +womankind had a room at one side of the house, and the men had +one on the other side. The watching lasted from 9 p.m. till +1 a.m., and during those four hours the whole of the Book of +Psalms was said over carefully, verse by verse, alternately.</p> +<p>Mr. Ferrar himself generally watched twice in the week, the +others never more than once; and in the winter special +precautions were taken to prevent them suffering from cold.</p> +<p>At one o’clock, when the watch was finished, they lay +down till six o’clock, but did not actually go to bed at +all, as on other nights.</p> +<p>It was apparently some account of the “Harmonies of the +Four Evangelists” which first attracted King Charles’ +attention to the family living at Gidding, and about the year +1631, being not far off with his Court, he sent a gentleman to +<!-- page 23--><a name="page23"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +23</span>ask for the loan of the book. This was conceded +with some hesitation, and the King, having once got it into his +hands, would not part with it again, until he had obtained a +promise that another similar volume should be made for him. +The work was promptly executed, and may now be seen in the +British Museum.</p> +<p>The careful study of the Harmonies or Concordances is most +interesting, and even in these modern times one at least is used +daily as a means of instruction for the children of the family +where the book has an honoured home, in much the same manner as +the children at Little Gidding used it two hundred and fifty +years ago.</p> +<p>No more need be said about the Harmonies here, as a full +account of the manner of their construction and the history and +resting-place of all the specimens that can be heard of at the +present time will be related in another chapter.</p> +<p>But in close connection with the making of the Concordances +must be mentioned the art of bookbinding, and embroidered covers +for books, as well as embroidery for other purposes.</p> +<p>The Concordances are all bound in velvet or leather, and are +nearly all stamped with designs in gold, on much the same +plan. The stamps chiefly <!-- page 24--><a +name="page24"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 24</span>used are +<i>fleurs-de-lis</i>, acorns, sprigs of oak, etc., and the amount +of ornamentation appears to depend upon the rank of the person +for whom the book was intended, and also partly upon the date +when the book was made, the earlier copies being much less +elaborate than the later volumes.</p> +<p>It is also evident that books printed in the ordinary way were +bound, or re-bound, at Gidding. One of the most remarkable +of which there is any authentic account is a large folio Bible, +printed by Barker, of London, in the year 1639. It now +belongs to the Marquis of Bute, and, as a rule, is in his library +at Cardiff; but he is most kind in allowing it to be exhibited, +and it has recently been shown at Bath, and before that at +Glasgow. The binding is of blue silk, elaborately decorated +with designs in gilt and silver thread, and in the centre are the +royal arms and initials C. R., which prove clearly enough for +whom the work was originally done. A competent authority, +one of the great professional connoisseurs, has declared the +binding to be one of the most magnificent specimens with which he +is acquainted.</p> +<p>It would ill-befit one of the ruder sex to attempt to write +critically about the needlework of the maidens of Gidding, but we +may sing their praises <!-- page 25--><a name="page25"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 25</span>for the skill, the industry, and the +artistic results exhibited by this branch of their daily +occupations.</p> +<p>The specimen most easily examined by any one wishing to do so, +is a cover for a dressing-case in the South Kensington Museum; +another similar piece of work was lent by a gentleman in London +to an exhibition in Dublin a few years ago; he kindly supplied +the information afterwards that he had been for many years a +collector and admirer of the Gidding needlework, and had one or +two Bible covers and some other pieces of their embroidery in his +possession.</p> +<p>A gentleman at Brighton has also a small 32mo New Testament, +printed by R. Barker, of London, <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> +1640, which has a Gidding embroidered cover. The design is +a simple floral pattern worked in fine close stitches on white +silk, with a foundation of coarse canvas or holland, which was +perhaps glued on to the original boards. He has also a +portrait of Charles I. made in the same kind of stitch on a satin +ground, but it is not certain whether this was worked at Gidding +or not. A great deal of needlework of that date is wrongly +attributed to the Miss Collets.</p> +<p>An altar cloth, shown at Dublin in 1888, was also stated to be +their work, and it is extremely <!-- page 26--><a +name="page26"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 26</span>probable that +they would have done such things, for it is mentioned “that +they were expert with their needles, and made them serve the +altar and the poor.”</p> +<p>In making the embroidery it would appear as if the pattern was +first drawn on paper, then cut out, and finally worked over, the +designs being for the most part in somewhat high relief.</p> +<p>It is worthy of remark that, almost invariably, whenever this +embroidery is put up for sale or is exhibited, it is marked as +the work of the “Nuns of Little Gidding.” Now, +it may be said that all those who at the present day take any +interest in the life, methods, or work of Nicholas Ferrar and his +nieces, do so with feelings of admiration, and are, at least, not +to be numbered amongst their detractors. Yet it is curious +how the one name which helped more than anything else to work +their ruin is even now, as a rule, attached to them. Within +a few years of Nicholas Ferrar’s death, some of his enemies +had a pamphlet printed and distributed “not by hundreds, +but by thousands, and given into the hands of the parliament men +as they went daily to the House of Commons.” The +title was, “The Arminian Nunnery; a description of the +newly erected Monastical Place, or the <!-- page 27--><a +name="page27"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 27</span>Arminian +Nunnery at Little Gidding.” The books were also given +to the Puritan soldiers when near Gidding to excite them to offer +violence to the family. But why should the title +“Nuns of Little Gidding” be still the name most often +given to the Miss Colletts? Few persons can realize that it +is the name invented by their enemies, earnestly repudiated by +themselves, and entirely devoid of truth.</p> +<p>This may be proved in several ways. The house at Little +Gidding contained two <i>married</i> families, the boys and girls +all growing up together. The girls were purposely trained +in such domestic matters as would fit them for <i>good wives</i>, +and five of them did eventually marry. The two eldest +alone, having reached the ages of thirty and thirty-two, resolved +to remain unmarried, but in no way took vows. Nicholas +Ferrar himself was once taxed with having started a +“nunnery,” and replied that the name of +“nuns” was odious, and declared himself against such +vows of single life with great earnestness.</p> +<p>Again, a visitor to Little Gidding, describing the place and +the family, says, “I saluted the mother and daughter <i>not +like nuns</i>, but as we salute other women.”</p> +<p><!-- page 28--><a name="page28"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +28</span>Probably when the phrase “Nuns of Little +Gidding” is used at the present time, it is used in no +reproachful sense; but the name is misleading, and should be +avoided, if for no other reason, because it was invented by the +enemies of Mr. Ferrar’s family and objected to by +themselves.</p> +<p>The family, as a matter of fact, were by no means recluses; +they went about amongst their neighbours, and were “very +well reported of by all who knew them.” They +purposely selected a quiet part of the country to live in, that +they might not be interrupted in their manifold employments; but +they appear to have been always ready to receive visitors, and to +treat them with hospitality.</p> +<p>Ferrar’s rules for his own life were certainly somewhat +austere, and as time went on he increased its rigour, more +especially after his mother’s death; but he never enforced +on others what he did himself, and every hour of the day appears +to have been spent usefully and happily.</p> +<p>It may be interesting to give here the opinions of some of his +more notable friends. Mention has already been made of the +important persons he lived amongst in his public life, and +besides them at this time there was Dr. Laud the Archbishop, <!-- +page 29--><a name="page29"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +29</span>who was so delighted to ordain “such a man as he +never had before nor believed he ever should again.” +There was Dr. Williams the Bishop of the Diocese, who often went +to Gidding and “much magnified all that Nicholas and Mrs. +Ferrar had done;” and not to mention others, there was +George Herbert, “his very dear brother,” who, +“seeing he could not draw Gidding any nearer to him, he +would draw nearer to his brother Ferrar,” and was +endeavouring to exchange his living merely to carry out this +wish. These two good men were indeed very similar in their +religious views; they “loved and trusted one another most +entirely, and drove a large stock of Christian intelligence +together,” and when George Herbert died, he sent his +manuscripts to Ferrar to publish or to withhold, as he thought +right. Chief amongst them were the poems now such +favourites in many a house. These, when Ferrar had many and +many a time read over, he kissed and embraced them again and +again, saying, “they were most worthy to be in the hands +and hearts of all true Christians that feared God and loved the +Church of England.”</p> +<p>The words of the Royal Friend who once or twice visited +Gidding in person stand at the <!-- page 30--><a +name="page30"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 30</span>commencement +of this sketch, and sufficiently prove what was his estimate of +Ferrar and his works.</p> +<p>It may be easily conjectured, however, that this unusual life, +conducted by a man so well known as Ferrar, attracted a great +deal of attention—and that in the days when religious +differences prevailed to a sad extent, there were many persons +eager enough not only to find fault, but to misrepresent what was +done by this family; who, to say the least, did a great deal of +good to their poorer neighbours, and did harm to no one. +But a closer acquaintance with Mr. Ferrar generally dispelled the +calumnies which report had spread of him and his ways. And +one gentleman who went to Gidding purposely to make out their +case as bad as possible, came away full of their praises.</p> +<p>In the end, however, their enemies prevailed; for the Puritan +soldiers (about the time of King Charles’s death) did drive +the family away, ransacked the church, plundered the house, and +destroyed many very valuable books and manuscripts, and, in fact, +everything that had been left behind in a somewhat hasty +flight. It is related that the organ excited their anger +more than anything, and that they relieved their feelings by <!-- +page 31--><a name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +31</span>breaking it up, setting it on fire, and then roasting +some of Mr. Ferrar’s sheep over it.</p> +<p>But he was not spared to see these distressful times himself, +as he died in December, 1637, having lived at Gidding about +twelve years. The accounts of his last illness are very +interesting, as throwing a strong light on his intensely +religious character. In November, 1637, on his return from +the little church, he had an attack of faintness, and never +afterwards left the house. He knew from the first that he +would not recover, and said to those around him, “In former +sickness I have had a strong desire to live, and an earnestness +to pray to my God to spare me, which He hath to this day done, +when all hopes of life were past by the judgments of the most +skilful physicians; and I may further say to the Glory of His +great name, I never earnestly set myself to beg of God anything, +but He fulfilled the petition of His most unworthy servant. +But now and of late, I have not, nor do not find in my heart any +inclination to beg longer life.”</p> +<p>During his illness he continually exhorted the family that +they should “constantly adhere to the doctrine of the +Church of England, and to continue in the good old way;” he +forewarned them of <!-- page 32--><a name="page32"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 32</span>coming oppositions and of danger and +trouble, and urged them to shrink not to rely on God, to serve +Him with soul and body, for “He made both, and both must +worship Him in sincerity of devotion.” “He will +have both inward love, and outward reverence of body and +gesture.”</p> +<p>About three days before his death, he made John Ferrar mark +out the place for his grave seven feet from the west end of the +church, leaving space for his elder brother’s grave nearest +the church. He then directed that all the books of +comedies, tragedies, love-hymns, etc. (three great hampers full, +which had been locked up for many years), should be burnt on the +place marked for his grave. There were many hundreds in +various languages, which he had collected when a young man, but +which he had abjured as dangerous, full of idolatry, and apt to +undermine the Christian religion.</p> +<p>He retained full power of mind, and suffered no pain +throughout the whole illness, and passed away at one +o’clock on the Sunday night, the very hour that he +constantly rose up every morning to praise God, and to pray unto +Him.</p> +<p>The family carried on all the good works in the which they had +been instructed, until they were driven away by the military +zealots of the Puritan <!-- page 33--><a name="page33"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 33</span>party; but in later and more peaceful +times they again assembled in the old home, though there is no +authentic account of the date, nor of the particular members of +the family that returned; but their exile does not appear to have +been of long duration, as there are entries in the register of +Gidding church, and inscriptions on brasses or tombstones, which +record events in the family history of the Ferrars and Collets +(such as baptisms and burials) as early as the year +1650—and at frequent dates afterwards. The Gidding +estate, which had originally been bought by old Mrs. Ferrar, +passed to her eldest son John, which is proved by his being +described on his tombstone as “Lord of this Manor,” +and he was succeeded by his eldest son, who was resident there in +the year 1715, as stated by Dr. Mapletoft in one of the +Concordances.</p> +<h2><!-- page 34--><a name="page34"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +34</span>CHAPTER II.<br /> +THE CONCORDANCES OR HARMONIES.</h2> +<p>Of all the work carried on at Gidding, nothing attracted more +favourable notice at the time, than the Concordances of the Four +Evangelists, and of other portions of the Bible, and at the +present day they are also highly valued by those who possess +them, partly no doubt from a feeling of admiration for Nicholas +Ferrar himself, who designed them, but no less for their +intrinsic worth, and for the skill and industry employed in their +making.</p> +<p>Even in the books which treat of Ferrar’s life with the +greatest exactness, reference is made to some six or seven +Harmonies, but several of these have been either lost or +destroyed, or cannot now be traced; while within the last few +years, several not mentioned in the printed biographies have been +discovered, and in the following pages much interesting matter +will be brought forward about <!-- page 35--><a +name="page35"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 35</span>them, and the +histories of the various volumes will be given. <a +name="citation35"></a><a href="#footnote35" +class="citation">[35]</a></p> +<p>The notoriety attaching to the Concordances can be easily +accounted for by the great interest shown in the work by King +Charles I. There does not appear to be any evidence to show +that the King knew Nicholas Ferrar personally, before he first +heard of the Concordance which was in daily use at Gidding. +The family had settled there the very year King Charles I. began +to reign, but in Ferrar’s early life, as already stated, he +was a distinguished public servant and Member of Parliament, and +had, moreover, travelled in the suite of the King’s sister; +so that in all probability Ferrar’s name and character were +not unknown to him.</p> +<p>But in order to prove the real value of the work, not only as +a clever contrivance, but as an aid to religious instruction, and +to the study of the Gospel history, it is necessary to put on one +side the prestige of the royal patronage, and to give an accurate +description of some one volume.</p> +<p><!-- page 36--><a name="page36"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +36</span>The Harmony selected for this purpose is one of the +earliest, and least elaborate; it was made for a private friend +of the Ferrars, and is no doubt almost an exact reproduction of +the volume which was used every day by the children at Little +Gidding; for it was a part of their daily duty to repeat portions +of the Harmony to Mr. Ferrar—the book being so divided that +“beginning still at the first day of the month, and ending +at the last day of the month, all the heads or chapters were said +over in every month’s time.”</p> +<p>The principle of the work was this—to make one +continuous history of all the actions and discourses of our Lord +wherever related, and this to be so arranged that the Gospel of +any one Evangelist could be read straight through from first to +last.</p> +<p>To do this without confusion was no easy task, for every word +of all four Evangelists is in the Harmony, and yet in reading +them as one connected story there is no repetition. The +whole of the Gospel history is divided for this purpose into one +hundred and fifty heads or chapters, each chapter containing some +special subject, and being made complete by the bringing together +the words of each Evangelist treating of that subject.</p> +<p><!-- page 37--><a name="page37"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +37</span>The following selection will show the manner in which +the subjects were chosen—</p> +<p>54. Christ’s second going about Galilee and +sending the Apostles.</p> +<p>55. John’s beheading.</p> +<p>56. The five loaves.</p> +<p>57. Jesus walking on the sea.</p> +<p>58. Discourse of the Bread from Heaven.</p> +<p>The method adopted throughout the work was very simple and +ingenious. It was this: the words of each Evangelist were +marked in the margin by a distinguishing letter, viz. St. +Matthew, by A; St. Mark, by B; St. Luke, by C.; St. John by D, so +that to read any one Gospel straight through, it was only +necessary to read all the passages marked by the same initial +letter, omitting all the others. But when, as often +happens, two or more writers use identical language, the words +which had been inserted before, were put in different type. +The body of the work was given in ordinary Roman type, but the +words which occurred a second time and were, therefore, +unnecessary for the continuous history were given in old English +lettering.</p> +<p>To make this contrivance quite clear the following directions +were written at the beginning of the concordance—</p> +<p><!-- page 38--><a name="page38"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +38</span>“If you would read the Evangelical History keepe +on still from one of the marking letters to another, reading +onely that which is in the Roman letter. But if you would +read the Evangelists severally, then you must keepe still from +section to section in the same letter with which you begin, +reading both context and supplement, that is the Roman letter and +the Inglish letter annexed. Where you find any one word or +more streaked under, you are to omit it in the reading of the +context to make the clearer sence; but it is necessarily left +remaining for the reading of the Evangelist severally.”</p> +<p>To carry out this scheme in the first instance required a +complete acquaintance with the text, a clear idea of the sequence +of events, an ingenious head to plot out the work, and no small +amount of purely mechanical skill to bring it to a successful +result.</p> +<p>Nicholas Ferrar himself planned the whole Concordance, and +also superintended his nephews and nieces while they did the +work; but the system adopted may well be given in the words of +the old manuscripts. A large room was set apart purposely +for the work, and called “the Concordance room,” +which was all coloured over <!-- page 39--><a +name="page39"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 39</span>with green, +pleasant colour, varnished for the more pleasure to their eyes, +and round the upper part of the walls were sentences written, +suggested by each person of the family and some good friends, +such as “Glory be to God on high,” “Prosper +Thou, O Lord, the work of our hands,” “Innocency is +never better lodged than at the sign of labour,” “The +industrious man hath no leisure to sin; and the idle man hath no +power to avoid sin.”</p> +<p>In this room Mr. Ferrar “every day spent one hour in +contriving the Concordance, and directed his nieces that attended +him in what manner they should cut the pieces out of the +Evangelist, and so, and so, to lay them together as to make and +perfect such a head or chapter. When they had first cut out +those pieces with their knives or scissors, then they did neatly +and exactly fit each verse that was so cut out, to be pasted down +on sheets of paper; and so artificially they performed it, that +it looked like a new kind of printing, when it was finished; so +finely were all the pieces joined together, and with great +presses for that purpose, pressed down upon the white sheets of +paper.”</p> +<p>Even this description scarcely conveys an <!-- page 40--><a +name="page40"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 40</span>adequate +impression of the labour involved, for in many cases only two or +three words are taken out of one Evangelist, and added to the +account given by another.</p> +<p>And, besides the letterpress, every page is supplied with +engravings, relating to the subject in hand; and when, as often +happened, they could not find an engraving to suit exactly, parts +of different prints were combined, so as to make a suitable +illustration; and so cleverly is this “splicing” +carried out, that it is almost impossible to be sure where the +pictures join.</p> +<p>It will give some idea of the work if a few details are given +from the volume under consideration. In one place the +narrative is composed of five verses from St. Matthew, seven from +St. Mark, and four from St. Luke; but there are forty-four +separate cuttings pasted in; in another case seventeen verses +required fifty-three cuttings, and in another, fifteen verses +from the four Evangelists are inserted with thirty-four +cuttings.</p> +<p>But even when whole verses, or perhaps whole chapters, could +have been put in entire (as would occur in the discourses related +only by St. John), the Miss Collets did not save themselves +trouble if the appearance of the page could be improved. +<!-- page 41--><a name="page41"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +41</span>Some of the most attractive sheets are those where each +line has been cut out, and pasted in again in the original +sequence, but with open spacing, so as to occupy the full +page. In one case fifty-six lines have been treated thus, +in another fifty-eight, in another fifty-one, where each passage +might have been inserted entire.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * *</p> +<p>Some instances may now be given to show the clever compilation +of connected sentences out of the accounts of different +Evangelists, <i>e.g.</i>—</p> +<blockquote><p>“And came into the coasts of Judea, beyond +Jordan, into the place where John at first baptized, and there He +abode, and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them +there, and as He was wont He taught them again” +(<i>vide</i> St. Matt. xix. 1; St. John x. 40; St. Mark x. +1),</p> +</blockquote> +<p>which reads as if it was one sentence, but is in reality four +extracts from three Evangelists.</p> +<p>Again—At the supper at Bethany—</p> +<blockquote><p>“She annointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped +His feet with her hair, and she brake the box, and poured it on +His head, and the house was filled with the <!-- page 42--><a +name="page42"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 42</span>odour of the +ointment” (<i>vide</i> St. John xii. 3; St. Mark xiv. +3).</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Or this:</p> +<blockquote><p>“Ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with +her, whereon never man sat; loose them and bring them unto +me” (<i>vide</i> St. Matt. xxi. 2; St. Mark xi. 2).</p> +</blockquote> +<p>In both these extracts a little incident supplied by St. Mark +is introduced into the main narrative of another Evangelist, who +had not mentioned it.</p> +<p>The following also is interesting, taken from the gospels of +St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke—</p> +<blockquote><p>“Is not this Joseph’s +son?” “Is not this the carpenter’s +son?” “Is not this the carpenter, the son of +Mary?” (<i>vide</i> St. Luke iv. 23; St. Matt. xiii. 55; +St. Mark vi. 3).</p> +</blockquote> +<p>It must not be thought that in the Concordance these extracts +are printed straight off, as they read here. If that were +the case, it would be open to objection that something like a new +Gospel history was being compiled; but in every case, without +exception, wherever words are introduced from another Evangelist, +a space is left, a fresh line commenced, and the distinguishing +letter placed <!-- page 43--><a name="page43"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 43</span>in the margin. One short +extract, printed as in the original, will make this quite +clear.</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p>C. 8. 23.</p> +</td> +<td><p>But as they sailed He fell asleep.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>A. 8. 24.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And behold there arose a great tempest in the sea.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>C.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And there came down a storm of wind on the lake.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>B. 4. 37.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now +full.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>C.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>Thus far the instances have been given to illustrate the plan +of making the Gospel history continuous. One or two +examples may now be selected to show how the two distinct types +of print were used, which became necessary for the reading of any +one Evangelist alone.</p> +<h3>THE TRANSFIGURATION.</h3> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p>C. 9. 28.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And it came to pass about an eight days after these +sayings, <span class="GutOldEnglish">he took Peter and John and +James</span>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>A. 17. 1.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his +brother <span class="GutOldEnglish">and bringeth them up into an +high mountain apart.</span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>B. 9. 2.</p> +</td> +<td><p><span class="GutOldEnglish">And after six days Jesus +taketh with him Peter and James and John</span>,</p> +<p>And leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by +themselves,</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>C.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And went up into a mountain to pray.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<blockquote><p> </p> +</blockquote> +<h3>THE TEMPEST STILLED.</h3> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p>A. 8. 25.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And his disciples came to Him, and awoke Him saying</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>B. 4.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><!-- page 44--><a name="page44"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 44</span>A.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Lord save us, we perish.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>26.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little +faith. <span class="GutOldEnglish">Then he arose and +rebukes the winds and the sea, and there was a great +calm.</span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>C. 8.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the +water, <span class="GutOldEnglish">and they ceased and there was +a calm. 25. And he said unto them</span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>B. 39.</p> +</td> +<td><p><span class="GutOldEnglish">And he arose and rebuked the +wind</span> and said unto the sea, Peace, be still; and the wind +ceased, and there was a great calm. 40. And he said unto +them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no +faith?</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>C.</p> +</td> +<td><p>Where is your faith? <span class="GutOldEnglish">And +they being afraid, wondered, saying one to another, what manner +of man is this?</span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>A. 27.</p> +</td> +<td><p>But the men marvelled, saying, <span +class="GutOldEnglish">What manner of man is this that even the +winds and the sea obey him?</span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>B. 41.</p> +</td> +<td><p>And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What +manner of man is this <span class="GutOldEnglish">that even the +winds and the sea obey him?</span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>C.</p> +</td> +<td><p>For he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey +him.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<p>It is interesting to read these passages in the various ways +intended by the compiler, first taking the Evangelists +separately, and reading all the verses marked with the proper +letter, in both sorts of type, and then reading only the common +type, straight on, irrespective of the marking letters.</p> +<p>There is still another way in which the value of the Harmony +may be tested. It is of course well-known that the +historical sequence of events varies <!-- page 45--><a +name="page45"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 45</span>greatly in +the records of the different Evangelists. To reconcile +these discrepancies, is often a very difficult matter, and when +combined with the other principles on which the Harmonies were +constructed must have caused a great deal of trouble, and +required much skilful adaptation. This part of the work can +be tested by examining some one chapter of the Authorized +Version, and we can then discover how the subjects are +treated. The eighth chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel will +be a good example—</p> +<p>Vers. 1–3: “A general account of Christ’s +ministry and followers,” appear on p. 102 of the +Harmony.</p> +<p>Vers. 4–15: “Parable of the Sower, and +explanation,” come on pp. 90–93, being composed of +the narratives of the other two Evangelists interpolated with St. +Luke’s.</p> +<p>Vers. 16–18 follow in natural order, but</p> +<p>Vers. 19–21: “Christ’s mother and +brethren,” are found on p. 90, <i>before</i> the Parable of +the Sower; while</p> +<p>Vers. 22–25: “The Storm on the Lake,” come +still earlier in the Harmony, on p. 45.</p> +<p>Vers. 26–39: “The herd of swine drowned,” +following on p. 47.</p> +<p>Ver. 40. Stands by itself on p. 50, preceeding the +events recorded in St. Luke’s fifth chapter.</p> +<p>Vers. 41–56: “The raising of Jairus’ +daughter,” come prior to the events narrated in St. +Luke’s sixth and seventh chapters, and appear on p. 56 of +the Harmony.</p> +<p>If we may take Nicholas Ferrar’s chronology to be +correct, it is clearly seen that the Harmony is a most valuable +aid to the study of the Gospels.</p> +<p><!-- page 46--><a name="page46"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +46</span>Mention has been made already of the engravings with +which the Concordances are nearly all supplied. On the +title-page, after describing the contents of the book, these +words always occur: “to which are added sundry pictures, +expressing either the facts themselves or their types and +figures, or other matters appertaining thereunto.”</p> +<p>These “pictures” are in many cases delightfully +quaint, and are probably of considerable value, having been +collected by Nicholas Ferrar on his journey through Holland, +Germany, Italy, and Spain in the years 1613 to 1618, it being +expressly stated that they were by the best masters of that time, +and that he let nothing valuable of this sort escape him.</p> +<p>Unfortunately, many of these prints have been cut, to make +them fit into the pages, but on others there are the names or +monograms of the artist and engraver. On one the date 1564 +appears after the name M. Heern, invent. Other names +occurring are M. de Vos, Joannes Strada, Th. Galle, Phl. Galle, +Crispin Van de Passe, Brvegel, etc., etc.</p> +<p>The most usual arrangement is for the engraving to occupy the +upper half of the page, and the letterpress to be put in two +columns underneath; but occasionally there are two or three +prints in <!-- page 47--><a name="page47"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 47</span>the same page. In the copy +under consideration now, being one of the smaller volumes, there +are 138 folio pages, and about 220 prints, varying in size from +12 inches by 8, to small delicate engravings of about 2½ +inches by 1 inch.</p> +<p>It would be useless to attempt to describe the pictures, so as +to give an adequate idea of their interest, but some of the +subjects may be mentioned.</p> +<p>There is a series of small engravings of the eleven Apostles +(a blank space being left in a conspicuous manner for Judas), +which represent each one with his proper emblem, and in the +background of each picture a very small illustration of the +manner of his death; for instance, St. Peter on a cross, upside +down; St. Thomas being killed by the spears of savages; St. Simon +being sawn asunder. Near the beginning of the volume is a +print of the Blessed Virgin with a sword piercing her body, and +surrounded by seven medallions, showing “the seven +griefs.” The parable of “The mote and the +beam” is quaintly depicted by two men standing near +together, one with an enormous log of wood, equal in length to a +third of his height, projecting unsupported from his own eye, +attempting to pull a small bit of straw from the eye of the +other.</p> +<p><!-- page 48--><a name="page48"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +48</span>In the pictures of the Resurrection is one with a small +representation in the background of our Blessed Lord appearing to +his mother, “who had remained at her own home.”</p> +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * *</p> +<p>Perhaps enough has now been said to give a general description +of the design of the Concordances. They were all made on +one plan, but no two were exactly alike. The actual sizes +vary considerably, and the number of pages also, from sixty-five +up to four hundred. By far the greater number deal with the +Gospels of the four Evangelists, but in addition to these there +are Concordances of the Books of Kings and Chronicles, and the +five Books of Moses.</p> +<p>Some slight account may now be given of all the volumes known +to be in existence at the present time. With the exception +of the original book, made for the instruction of the home +family, which was in daily use at Gidding, the splendid copy made +for Charles I. is the earliest of which there is any authentic +history.</p> +<p>As stated on a previous page, it was at the King’s +urgent request that this was put in hand, and, after twelve +months’ hard work, was safely delivered to his Majesty, who +declared it to be a <!-- page 49--><a name="page49"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 49</span>“rich and rare jewel, and that +there was no defect in the skill, care, and cost used in it, but +a superlative diligence in all about it.”</p> +<p>This fine volume is now in the British Museum, having been +sent there from Windsor by George II. It is a large square +folio, measuring 1 foot 7 inches by I foot 2 inches, and has 287 +pages, bound in leather, with a great deal of gilding on the +sides; the date on the title-page is 1635.</p> +<p>The Concordance described on pp. 36–47, and from which +the extracts were taken, has the same date on the title-page, and +the words “done at Little Gidding” added also. +It is much smaller than the Royal copy, with less than half the +number of pages. Its history is not quite so clear, but on +the inside of the cover appear the arms of Sir R. Cotton, who +commenced the library given by his grandson to the nation. +The Cottons were near neighbours of the Ferrars, and nothing is +more likely than that a lover of books should have procured one +of the earliest of the works which were rapidly becoming +famous. From the Cottons it passed to the family of +Bowdlers, one of whom married a daughter of the last baronet; and +the grandson of this Mr. Bowdler left the book to the father of +the writer of this sketch, now living in <!-- page 50--><a +name="page50"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 50</span>Dorchester, +who still makes use of the book in the religious instruction of +his children.</p> +<p>The next volume made was a Harmony of the Kings and +Chronicles, the idea being originated by Charles himself. +He is reported to have asked for it at the very time he received +his first Harmony, saying, “I would gladly have these +skilful persons to make me another book that might be so ordered, +that I might read these stories of Kings and Chronicles, so +interwoven by them, as if one pen had written the whole book, and +to make it a complete history; yet so ordering the matter that I +may also read them severally and apart.”</p> +<p>This was faithfully carried out. The date on the +title-page is 1637, and the book is now at the British +Museum. It is bound in leather, curiously gilt, rather +smaller than the first volume, and without any illustrations; but +a great deal of care was taken in its compilation, especially in +the construction of three tables relating to the contents and to +the various passages related in the Books of Kings and Chronicles +“severally or jointly.”</p> +<p>A third volume was also sent to the British Museum by George +II., as being a Little Gidding <!-- page 51--><a +name="page51"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 51</span>work; but it +is not, strictly speaking, a Concordance, being in many ways +different to all the other Gidding works.</p> +<p>It contains merely the Acts of the Apostles and the +Revelations of St. John. The title-page is very fully and +curiously decorated; there is no date, and the form of title +which occurs with very little alteration in every other specimen +is also absent.</p> +<p>As the King took so much interest in these works, and valued +them so highly, it followed as a very natural result that the +young Princes should demand similar volumes for themselves; +though it is perhaps doubtful if they would have appreciated a +Concordance without any pictures.</p> +<p>Prince Charles asked the King to give him the first Harmony, +but was met with the reply “that he might not part with it, +as he used it daily.” A request was therefore sent to +Gidding that a Harmony might be prepared for the Prince, and Mr. +Ferrar being dead, the Miss Colletts and their cousin, Nicholas +Ferrar (junior), decided to complete a Concordance similar to the +first, but in four languages, English, Latin, French, and +Italian. The book was ready and taken to London by young +Ferrar just before Easter, 1640, <!-- page 52--><a +name="page52"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 52</span>which date is +affixed to the title-page. It was first submitted for the +King’s approval, and, being greatly admired, was then taken +to Prince Charles at Richmond, who was intensely delighted with +his new acquisition. It is, indeed, a splendid volume, +containing over 200 pages, bound in green velvet, with designs of +<i>fleurs de lis</i> and sprigs of oak stamped in gold. The +book measured 2 feet by 1 foot 5 inches, and has “a store +of rare pictures to delight the eye.” The four +languages are arranged in four parallel columns in each page.</p> +<p>It is now in Lord Normanton’s library at Somerley. +The name by which it is commonly known is +“Monotessaron,” which word, in Greek characters, +stands at the head of the title-page.</p> +<p>One work led on to another; and no sooner had Prince Charles +become the happy owner of an illustrated Harmony, than the young +Duke of York, who was with his brother at Richmond, must needs +want one for himself. Nicholas Ferrar assured him that he +should have one “with all good speed.” +“But how long will that be?” said the Prince. +“I pray you tell the gentlewomen at Gidding I will heartily +thank them if they will dispatch it.”</p> +<p><!-- page 53--><a name="page53"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +53</span>And, in accordance with the promise, another work was no +doubt taken in hand; but young Ferrar did not live to see it +completed, dying (as he did) at the early age of 21, within a +very few weeks of his visit to Richmond, and it is almost certain +that the Duke of York never had it given to him. But the +Marquis of Salisbury has at Hatfield a Harmony of the Four +Gospels, there being no record of the person for whom it was +made. Now the appearance of the binding and the evidence of +considerable care being taken in its preparation would lead to +the conclusion that it was originally intended for a member of +the Royal family. It is bound in purple velvet, sprigs of +oak and <i>fleurs de lis</i> being prominent in the decoration of +the outside. There is no date on the title-page, and the +earliest authority as to the owner is the book-plate of +“the Right Hon James Cecill, 1704.” In all +essential points it is identical with the copy made for Charles +I., and may be considered as the book intended for the Duke of +York.</p> +<p>The King and his suite visited Gidding in the year 1642, and +while there was shown another splendid Concordance, which he had +heard was being made for Prince Charles’ use, but which +<!-- page 54--><a name="page54"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +54</span>was not quite ready for presentation at the time. +If the conjecture is correct (and there seems very little doubt +that it is so), that this is the volume now in the possession of +Captain Gaussen, of Brookmans Park—near Hatfield, it is no +wonder that several years were occupied in its completion. +One of the King’s attendants remarked at the time, it was +the “gallantest greatest book in the world,” adding, +“I never saw such paper before. I believe there is no +book of this largeness to be seen in Christendom,” and as +the Royal party were at this time making a somewhat hasty journey +northwards on account of the disorders prevalent in the country, +the book would have been a very unsuitable addition to their +baggage. The writer can vouch for the fact that it is quite +as much as a man can do to carry it comfortably across a +room. It is magnificently bound in purple velvet, with the +usual gilt stamping, chiefly in patterns made of small +crowns. The measurements are 2 feet 5 inches by 1 foot 8 +inches, and there are nearly 450 pages of the thickest paper, +besides which every page is profusely illustrated by the pasting +on of engravings, in the same manner as the other Gidding +works.</p> +<p>The contents of this volume are, however, different <!-- page +55--><a name="page55"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 55</span>to +any yet mentioned. The first part deals with “the +whole law of God as it is delivered in the five Books of +Moses” methodically distributed into three great +classes—moral, ceremonial, and political—and each of +these again subdivided into several heads, etc. There +follows an “harmonical parallel between the types of the +Old Testament and the Four Evangelists’ relations of our +Lord and Saviour;” also a “discourse of the estate of +the Jews,” by Dr. Jackson, “The destruction of +Jerusalem,” and long extracts from a work entitled +“Moses unveiled,” besides other matter.</p> +<p>The history of this book is very obscure. The account +from which the above is taken concludes with these words, +“This book hath been preserved at Gidding, and attends the +happy hour to be delivered into the right owner’s +hands.” This was probably written about 1653. +The next piece of evidence is a note made in the book itself, +that the Rev. J. Bourdillon bought it in the year 1776, but did +not then know who had compiled it. There is then another +break in its history, until the beginning of the nineteenth +century, when it was found walled up in a cupboard at the house +now belonging to Captain Gaussen. But within the last few +years the “gallant book” has had <!-- page 56--><a +name="page56"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 56</span>another +interesting and dangerous experience, as its home was burnt to +the ground. The Concordance was, however, rescued from an +untimely fate.</p> +<p>A somewhat similar volume, but much smaller, is to be seen in +the library of St. John’s College, Oxford. It is +dated 1640, and contains only the “Five Books of +Moses,” treated in the same manner as that last +described. There is good reason for saying that it was made +for the Archbishop of Canterbury (Laud), and sent by him to +Oxford. It is illustrated throughout, and is handsomely +bound in purple velvet.</p> +<p>The late Bishop of Bath and Wells, Lord Arthur Hervey, had +another specimen of Gidding handywork. It is one of the +smaller volumes, containing only 66 pages, bound in leather, and +with the usual style of engravings. It is a Harmony of the +Four Gospels, and the different names, or book-plates, of the +various owners show that it has been in the Hervey family from +the first. The last line of the title page is as follows: +“Done at Little Gidding, <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> +1640, by Virginia Ferrar, age 12.” It would be +interesting to know how much was actually “done” by +this young lady. She was daughter of John Ferrar, and <!-- +page 57--><a name="page57"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +57</span>sister of Nicholas Ferrar, junior, and was given her +name “out of affection to the remembrance of the plantation +of Virginia, and that they might daily have the memorial of it, +as not to cease praying for the prosperity of it, and that +looking upon her they might think upon both at once.” +This book is now in the possession of Lord Bristol, at Ickworth, +Bury St. Edmunds.</p> +<p>Mention has now been made of nine Concordances; and of the two +that still remain to be noticed there is this interesting fact to +be stated—that in all probability they were originally made +for members of the family, and that until a few years ago they +belonged to their descendants, who, for this very reason, +regarded them with special affection. They are both +Harmonies of the Four Gospels; one, dated 1640, is a small work, +and belonged to Miss Heming, of Hillingdon, a descendant of a Mr. +Mapletoft, who married one of the Miss Colletts, it is now in the +possession of Colonel Garrat, Bishop’s Court, Exeter. +The other is a somewhat larger book, now in the British Museum, +recently in the possession of a Mr. Mapletoft Davis, living in +New South Wales, who also had the four volumes of the +“Exercises of the Little Academy” previously <!-- +page 58--><a name="page58"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +58</span>described; all these works, and some other relics of the +Ferrars, having passed on through different branches of the +family to the late owner. An inscription in this +Concordance is worthy of reproduction here; it runs as follows: +“This was the book of my honoured aunt, Mrs. Mary Collet, +compiled at Little Gidding by the direction of her uncle, Mr. N. +Ferrar, and bound, I believe, by herself. It was given to +me by my good and dear cousin, Mrs. Elizabeth Kestian. I +give it to my son, and if he dies without issue, to my daughter +Eliz. Gastrell, and I desire it may be preserved in my family as +long as may be. There were never above two more of the form +that I ever heard of—one was presented to Charles the First +. . . the other to King Charles II., 1660, by John Ferrar, who is +now owner of Little Gidding.—John Mapletoft, Jan., +1715.”</p> +<p>It is certainly a curious fact that this Dr. Mapletoft should +have thought that there were only three Concordances made; and +the same mistaken idea was entertained by the owner of Colonel +Garratt’s copy, words almost identical being written in +that work by another Dr. Mapletoft in the year 1764. The +John Ferrar referred to as giving the Concordance to Charles II. +must <!-- page 59--><a name="page59"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +59</span>have been the son of John Ferrar, brother of Nicholas; +so it is evident that the estates of Gidding were enjoyed by the +family for many years after their return from the flight caused +by the Parliamentary soldiers.</p> +<p>It is not known how long the business of making Concordances +was continued at Gidding. There is a letter from John +Ferrar printed, in which occurs a remark that perhaps if +“noble or learned personages knew of them, they would +desire to have some made for their own use, or for some library, +as rarities in their kind.” He also says that this +work, “which costs much time and labour, might be an answer +to the libel that no work was done at Gidding, but all the time +spent in contemplation, as it would make the world +believe.” There is also a request to a Dr. Basire for +two copies each of various editions and translations of the New +Testament in many different languages, so it is certain that the +work was to be carried on and developed as far as possible; and +in all probability it only ceased when the “handy +workwomen” went away from their united home to marry, and +devote themselves to more serious, and perhaps less pleasant, +occupations.</p> +<p>In the library of Magdalen College, Cambridge, <!-- page +60--><a name="page60"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 60</span>may +be seen all the materials for a Concordance similar to that at +St. John’s, Oxford, viz. “The Five Books of +Moses.” There are two big bundles of folio sheets, +designed and plotted out for engravings and letterpress; but no +progress had been made with the work, except (curiously enough) +the title-page, which was completed, and finishes with the words, +“Done at Little Gidding, <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> +1641.”</p> +<p>This method of bookmaking is not exactly in accordance with +modern ideas, but it may throw a little light on the fact that +although we know the King’s Concordance took a whole year +to complete, there are no less than four volumes dated 1640, and +one of these is the great Harmony in four languages. Until +this unfinished Concordance was brought to light, it was always +difficult to explain why four works were dated the same year.</p> +<p>Before we leave this subject, a few words must be said on some +wonderful productions of the younger Nicholas Ferrar, which are +reported to have been shown to the King when “the +Monotessaron” was presented to Prince Charles; but they +were afterwards taken back to Gidding.</p> +<p><!-- page 61--><a name="page61"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +61</span>There was, first, “The Gospel according to the +holy Evangelists in eight languages, viz. Hebrew, Greek, Latin, +French, Spanish, High Dutch, Saxon, and Welsh, interpreted with +Latin or English, word for word, and at one view to be seen and +read.”</p> +<p>Second: “The New Testament in twenty-four +languages,” each language written in its proper +characters;</p> +<p>Third: “The Gospel of St. John in as many languages as +there are chapters (<i>i.e.</i> each chapter in a different +language), and interpreted word for word into Latin or +English.”</p> +<p>These were not printed books, but all in the handwriting of +young Ferrar, who at the early age of twenty-one had apparently +mastered twenty-four languages.</p> +<p>This brief sketch must now be brought to a close, with the +hope that it may prove interesting to some who are unable to +peruse the longer narratives on the same subject, and which are, +indeed, very scarce at the present time. Should the +writer’s hopes be fulfilled, it will surely be to them, as +it is to him, a matter of great satisfaction that at least a part +of the work carried on at Little Gidding should have been of such +a permanent <!-- page 62--><a name="page62"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 62</span>nature that, after 250 years, the +result can still be seen and enjoyed almost in its original +freshness, and can, indeed, be actually used for its original +purpose.</p> +<p>The workmanship of the Concordances was so excellent in every +detail, even to the paste used for their construction, that the +volumes may well last for another period of 250 years. And +as we turn over their pages and admire the method, the neatness, +and the skilful design therein exhibited, our thoughts are +carried back to the days and the scenes of their creation, and we +picture to ourselves more vividly the happy and religious family +which day by day met in the great Concordance room, the +well-ordered procession wending its way to the little church at +their gate, the meals in the great hall, enlivened only by the +“historical anecdote, easy and delightful,” the daily +repetition of David’s Psalms, and the frequent singing to +the organ, which was tuned so low as to be a disturbance to no +one, and the words of the hymn which was frequently sung every +day—</p> +<blockquote><p>“So angels sing, and so sing we,<br /> +To God on high all glory be,<br /> +Let Him on earth His peace bestow,<br /> +And unto men His favour show.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p><!-- page 63--><a name="page63"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +63</span>But though our fancy naturally dwells on the younger and +more active members, we must by no means forget the mother of the +family, the source of all the virtues exhibited in her children +and grandchildren.</p> +<p>Living to the age of seventy-nine, Mrs. Ferrar “at her +dying day had no infirmity and scarce any sign of old age upon +her.” “There were few women, as all that knew +her can testify, that exceeded her in comeliness of body and +excellent beauty; of fair, modest, and sober deportment, grave in +her looks, humble in her carriage towards all people, superlative +in discretion; of few words but when she spoke (as occasion +offered itself) no woman passed her in eloquence, in judgement, +and wisdom. Great was her devotion to God, and her love to +God’s word, constant her reading of the Scriptures, and her +singing of the Psalms, when she sat at work with her children and +maids about her.”</p> +<p>An inscription in the great parlour, written by her in the +last year of her life, may well be given here as a fitting +conclusion to this imperfect narrative:—</p> +<p style="text-align: center">I. H. S.</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p><!-- page 64--><a name="page64"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 64</span>He who by reproof of our errors, and +remonstrance of that which is more perfect seeks to make us +better, is welcome as an Angel of God. </p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center">And</p> +</td> +<td><p>He who, by a cheerful participation and approbation of +that which is good, confirms us in the same is welcome as a +Christian Friend.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center">But</p> +</td> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>He who any ways goes about to disturb us in that which is +and ought to be amongst Christians (tho’ it be not usual in +the world) is a burden whilst he stays, and shall bear his +judgement, whosoever he be.</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: center">And</p> +</td> +<td><p>He who faults us in absence, for that which in presence he +made show to approve of, doth by a double guilt of flattery and +slander, violate the bands both of friendship and charity.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p style="text-align: center">Mary Ferrar, Widow,<br /> +Mother of this family,<br /> +and aged about fourscore years,<br /> +who bids adieu to all fears and hopes of this world<br /> +and only desires to serve God,<br /> +set up this Table.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">printed by +william clowes and sons</span>, <span +class="smcap">limited</span>, <span class="smcap">london and +beccles</span>.</p> +<h2>Footnotes:</h2> +<p><a name="footnote1"></a><a href="#citation1" +class="footnote">[1]</a> The details of the life at Little +Gidding contained in the following pages are derived chiefly from +“Two lives of Nicholas Ferrar, by his brother John, and by +Dr. Jebb,” Baker’s MSS., edited by Dr. Mayor, of +Cambridge, and from “Life of Nicholas Ferrar, by Dr. +Turner,” Bishop of Ely. Both these works are now out +of print. The accounts of the various Harmonies or +Concordances are derived entirely from personal examination of +the separate volumes, or from direct communication with their +owners.</p> +<p><a name="footnote20"></a><a href="#citation20" +class="footnote">[20]</a> Three of these volumes are now in +the British Museum.</p> +<p><a name="footnote35"></a><a href="#citation35" +class="footnote">[35]</a> The most accurate accounts are +those in “Nicholas Ferrar,” edited by Canon Carter, +published 1892, and in a paper by the present Author, prepared +for the Society of Antiquaries, and printed in +<i>Archæologia</i> for 1888. Even these accounts are +not quite accurate at the present time, some of the volumes +having changed hands in the last few years.—J. E. A.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE GIDDING AND ITS INMATES IN +THE TIME OF KING CHARLES I.***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 24984-h.htm or 24984-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/9/8/24984 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Little Gidding and its inmates in the Time of King Charles I. + with an account of the Harmonies + + +Author: J. E. Acland + + + +Release Date: April 3, 2008 [eBook #24984] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE GIDDING AND ITS INMATES IN +THE TIME OF KING CHARLES I.*** + + +Transcribed from the 1903 S.P.C.K edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org + + + + + +LITTLE GIDDING +AND ITS INMATES +IN THE TIME OF KING CHARLES I. + + + WITH AN ACCOUNT OF + THE HARMONIES + DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED BY + NICHOLAS FERRAR. + + BY + J. E. ACLAND, M.A. + + LONDON: + SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, + NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.; + 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. + BRIGHTON: 129, NORTH STREET. + 1903. + + [PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE TRACT COMMITTEE.] + + + + +CHAPTER I. {1} + + +"How happy a king were I, if I had many more such workmen and workwomen +in my kingdom! Their art and ability is excellent. Let them know I will +not forget them. God's blessing on their hearts, and painful hands." + +Such were the words and opinions of King Charles I., when speaking of the +happy and industrious family whose life and labours at Little Gidding are +described in the following pages, a family entirely devoted to good +works, under the able direction of Mr. Nicholas Ferrar, whose history has +happily been preserved for us with great accuracy, and which can hardly +fail to be attractive. + +Although Nicholas Ferrar and Little Gidding are names that are invariably +associated with one another, it must not be imagined that he spent his +whole life there. It was not, indeed, till he was thirty-three years old +that he left the busy and stirring scenes for which he seemed so suited; +and before describing the twelve years of seclusion with which he ended +his life, it is necessary to say something about his more active +employments as a young man. They prove beyond doubt that he was endued +with abilities of the highest order, which might have led him to +positions of great public importance had his inclinations so prompted +him. + +Nicholas Ferrar was born in the year 1592, his parents being conspicuous +for their piety and charity, their conscientious discharge of every duty, +and their careful training of a numerous family in every point of virtue +and religion, special attention being paid to the study of the Bible, +large portions of which were committed to memory. + +Mr. Ferrar was a merchant, connected with all the great centres of +commerce, especially with the East and West Indies; and being given to +most generous hospitality, he was on friendly terms with many persons of +eminence, such as Drake, Raleigh, and Hawkins. + +Nicholas was the third son, and his talents began to develop themselves +very early. His memory, which was naturally very retentive, was +carefully cultivated, and he was at all times eager and diligent in his +studies. At the age of fourteen he was admitted to Clare Hall, +Cambridge; four years later he took his degree, and was before long +elected to a Fellowship. But his health now broke down, and it was +considered that the only chance of his recovery lay in a complete change, +and in leaving England. Just at this time the Princess Elizabeth was +starting for the Palatinate, after her marriage with the Elector +Frederick, and Ferrar was fortunate in obtaining permission to be +included in her suite. They first went to Holland, but before long +Ferrar left the Royal party, as he had resolved on seeing some places not +included in the Royal programme. + +We must, however, hurry over this part of Ferrar's life, very interesting +as it is, and it must suffice to say that in the course of five years he +visited many parts of Germany and Italy, then went to the south of +France, by sea to Spain, where he had several startling adventures, and +after travelling five hundred miles alone, and on foot, reached Saint +Sebastian, from which port he took ship to England. + +The advantage of these travels to Ferrar was great in many ways. He +thoroughly mastered the languages of the various countries; he studied +closely their forms of government, trade, and commerce, and acquired an +insight even into the handicrafts of the people. He made himself +acquainted with the doctrines and discipline of the Churches and +religious sects, and procured, whenever he could do so, the assistance of +the ablest scholars to instruct him. Being well supplied with money by +his father, he was enabled to collect, besides other things, a great +number of prints and engravings by all the best masters; in fact, it is +stated that he let nothing of this sort escape him that was valuable; and +being all relative to, or illustrative of, passages in the Bible, they +were utilized to great advantage when in his later years he compiled "The +Harmonies." + +On his return home, his natural inclination was to settle at Cambridge +and resume his work at Clare Hall; but, partly owing to his father's +advanced age, and partly on account of his elder brother having important +work in London in connection with the Virginia Plantation Company, +Nicholas Ferrar determined to settle there with them. Here he soon +attracted much attention for his many eminent qualities, reports of which +had, indeed, been received from abroad, and before long Sir Edwyn Sandys +and Lord Southampton, both of them governors of the Virginia Company, +having discovered for themselves his great worth, proposed him as King's +Counsel for the Plantation. He thus became deeply engaged in public +business; and as his work was continually produced in open court, his +reputation increased more and more. Two or three years later his powers +were still further tested, for the Spanish party exerted all their +influence to overthrow the Company; and as Nicholas Ferrar was at this +time the deputy-governor, the chief burden of the defence fell on his +shoulders. His efforts were, however, all in vain, and before long the +patent or charter was withdrawn, and the Company was dissolved, owing to +the false accusations brought against the managers and directors. + +Ferrar was now elected Member of Parliament, and was able to bring before +the House and the public more fully the iniquity of these proceedings, +and by his skilful management cleared the directors, and brought their +opponents to justice and punishment. + +This was the concluding act of Ferrar's public life, and we shall now +turn to a scene of a vastly different nature. But it has been necessary +to say thus much to exhibit in its true light the force of character, the +wonderful diligence and activity of the man, who (as we shall now see) +decided on devoting the rest of his life to religious exercises, to works +of charity and usefulness, but living apart and without interruption from +the busy world. + +There is evidence to show that this had long been his wish, in fact, that +from his earliest years some such ideas had been in his mind; but until +now he had not seen his way to carry them out. + +The first and most necessary step was to find a place suitable for his +purpose, and hearing that the lordship of Little Gidding was for sale, he +went to inspect it. + +It was in an obscure part of the county of Huntingdon, a large manor +house and a cottage for shepherds the only buildings, with the exception +of a dilapidated church used as a barn. The air was healthy, and the +whole estate lay in pasture. + +The spot seemed admirably adapted to his designs, and was accordingly +bought; and after settling his own business and also his brother's, he +moved to Little Gidding in the year 1625. + +He now gathered round him a very large family party. His father was +dead, but his mother, his brother, and his sister, who was married to a +Mr. Collett, with the children of both families, all joined under the one +roof. When the establishment was completed and in proper working order, +it is said that they numbered forty persons, including schoolmasters and +servants. + +The meeting between Nicholas Ferrar and his mother, who was now 73 years +old, is so characteristic that it must be related. Within three or four +days of his arrival, and before the necessary repairs had been carried +out, Mrs. Ferrar rides to Gidding from her daughter's home, no great +distance off. Nicholas Ferrar meets her outside the manor house, and +kneeling on the ground, asks and receives her blessing. He then entreats +her to enter his dwelling and repose herself after the journey. + +"Not so," she says; "yonder I see the church, let us first go there and +give thanks to God." + +She is told she cannot even get inside the door, for there had been no +time as yet to clear out the hay which was in it. But she persists in +her resolve, and thrusting herself in a little way, she kneels and prays. +Then sending for the workmen employed in the house, the hay is flung out +of the windows, and the church is cleansed as well as might be for the +present, and till this is done she will not set foot in her new home. + +The following year, 1626, Nicholas Ferrar returned to London for a short +while to dispose of his house and bid good-bye to his friends. He now +was able to carry out a resolution, which it is believed he had made long +before, and was ordained Deacon by Dr. Laud, the future Archbishop of +Canterbury. Many people imagined that this was to enable him to seek +ecclesiastical preferments, and several valuable livings were soon +offered to him; but his sole object was that he might have the necessary +authority to carry on the spiritual work of his own home, and thus be of +greater use to his family. + +He had doubtless by now worked out the general plan of life, and put his +house and the church into proper order. Certain glebe lands and tithes +which had been alienated from their rightful owners were restored; and to +prove the honesty of his purpose he even pulled down a very large +dovecote upon the premises, which contained a great number of pigeons. +The reason for this was that all his property was laid out as pasture, +and therefore the pigeons fed on his neighbours' corn-fields. In the +place of the dovecote he made a school-house, and permission was given to +the people of the towns and villages within reach to send their children +to be instructed under his supervision, and without payment or expense. +For this purpose he provided three resident masters; one was to teach +English to the poor children and Latin to his nephews and nieces, another +superintended the writing and arithmetic, while the third was for +instruction in the theory and practice of music. + +There was also especial inducement held out to all children of the +neighbourhood to learn the Psalms by heart. Each one was given a +Psalter, and had to go to Gidding on Sunday mornings to repeat his +portion learnt during the week. There were sometimes more than a hundred +children, and they were given a penny for each Psalm learnt, and a dinner +served in the great hall. + +It will be as well now to describe in detail the "particular and more +punctual actions of each day in the week," which we get with great +exactness from the records left us by John Ferrar. To begin with +Sunday--early rising was encouraged on this day, as throughout the week, +namely, five o'clock in winter and four o'clock in summer. The younger +children first assembled in the great hall, where was always a good warm +fire in the winter. Here they found Nicholas Ferrar awaiting them, to +whom they repeated such chapters or Psalms as they had been given to +learn. After this they returned to their rooms to make themselves "more +comely in their best attires." Breakfast, and private reading or +conversation in their own rooms, went on till nine o'clock, when the bell +called them together again. They all met in the great hall, and, having +sung a hymn, proceeded in decent order to the church. + +The three schoolmasters led the way, wearing their black gowns, the +youths (also in gowns) following two and two, John Ferrar and Mr. Collett +came next, and then Nicholas Ferrar leading his aged mother; immediately +behind her came Mrs. Collett and the daughters, and the procession closed +with all the servants. + +Each as they came into church made a low obeisance, and took up their +allotted places; Nicholas Ferrar, in surplice and hood, saying the +service. This over, the "Psalm children" went to the manor house and +repeated their Psalms. + +At half-past ten they went to the church again, when the minister of the +neighbouring parish came for the Communion Service and to preach. That +done, dinner was served in the house, first for the "Psalm children"--old +Mrs. Ferrar herself very often bringing in the first dish--and afterwards +for the rest of the family. + +Recreation or walking in the garden was permitted till two o'clock, when +the bell called them together again for evening service at the nearest +parish church. Supper-time was five or six o'clock, and while it was +being prepared the organ was played in the great hall and an anthem was +sung. After supper each one could occupy himself as he wished, indoors +or walking abroad, or "passing the time with good discourse." At eight +o'clock there was more singing to the organ, followed by prayers, and +then the children, after asking the "old gentlewoman's" blessing, all bid +each good night. + +Mr. Ferrar also made it his special care that no work in the house should +prevent the servants attending church; there were none left behind; and +on the Sundays when the Holy Communion was administered, "the servants +that had feasted with them in the church were not thought unworthy to eat +with them in the parlour," sitting at the end of the same table. + +It would be tedious and uninteresting to attempt to follow the week-day +employments in the exact order in which they were carried out, but the +general plan may be given with advantage, as illustrating the principles +inculcated at Gidding. + +The day began early--at four or five o'clock--by the children repeating +to Mr. Ferrar what they had learnt by heart the day before. At six +o'clock the recitation of the Psalms began, and it was so planned that +"certain members of the family repeated certain Psalms at every hour of +the day, every one knowing his turn and hour of attendance; and thus, +without undue interruption of other work, the whole book of Psalms was +repeated once in the twenty-four hours." In addition to this, the +children had to say one of the chapters of the Concordance, or Harmony of +the Four Evangelists, which was arranged purposely by Nicholas Ferrar, so +that it might be gone through once in every month. + +Three times during the day the bell rang to summon them for a short +service in the church, on each occasion the proceeding being as described +for Sunday. + +Every hour of the day had some special employment, some of the children +sitting in the great hall watched by Mrs. Ferrar, some in the new +school-house with the masters. Their occupations were as varied as +possible: English, Latin, and other languages, writing and ciphering, and +learning by heart being interspersed with singing, playing the organ, and +other instruments, making the Concordances, bookbinding and gilding, and +embroidery. At stated times the boys were encouraged in active outdoor +exercises, running, leaping, and archery. As the girls grew up they were +made to perfect themselves in good housewifery. A month at a time each +one had control of the housekeeping, all expenditure being carefully +booked; at the end of the month her accounts were looked over, and her +duties handed on to the next in rotation. + +A room was set apart as an infirmary for any member of the family who +might require nursing, and another room for the reception of any poor +person who might be brought in sick or hurt. The ladies were taught to +dress their wounds, and to do all things necessary for their relief, but +the prescribing of medicines Mr. Ferrar kept for himself, as he had many +years studied this science. They distilled "cordial waters," and kept in +the dispensary a good supply of balsams, oils, and all things needful for +the cure of their patients. + +At meal times the custom prevailed of reading aloud, the person whose +turn it might be, first having some light food, and after the reading was +finished, "in regard of his forbearance, always having the advantage of +some more food than his fellows!" + +The reading was to be something "delightful and easy, such as stories of +sea voyages, descriptions of foreign countries, their rise and fall, and +illustrated by the particular actions of eminent persons." And in order +that these stories might not be forgotten, it was further arranged that +notes (or "a summary collection") should be taken of everything worthy of +attention, and that these notes should afterwards be transcribed, and put +into language fitted to the capacity of the children, who then had, in +turn, to recite the stories. This practice brought the boys into a habit +of delivering any speech with assurance and good manner, and of +expressing themselves in a becoming and elegant style. + +They also became thoroughly acquainted with ancient and modern history, +and knew and understood the great affairs of life better than many who +lived more in the world. + +Analogous to this, and no doubt a development of it, were "The +maiden-sisters exercises." These were conversations or dialogues recited +by the Miss Colletts, illustrative of some special virtue, and always +enforced by examples taken from history. + +The sisters, for this purpose, were known by such titles as The Patient, +The Cheerful, The Affectionate, etc., and formed themselves into what +they called "The Little Academy," of which Mary Collett was "The Chief," +Mrs. Collett was called "The Moderator," John Ferrar "The Guardian," and +Nicholas Ferrar "The Visitor." + +The subjects and the substance of the exercises were supplied by Nicholas +Ferrar himself, but the sisters were left to compile them in their own +words. They were prepared some time beforehand, and after they had been +recited were transcribed into books kept for the purpose. + +Four folio volumes of these "conversations" are still in existence, and +are, no doubt, in the handwriting of Mary and Ann Collett. They are +bound in black leather, stamped with gilt lines, and with gilt edges, and +have been passed on from one member of the family to another to the +present owner, a Mr. Mapletoft Davis, living in Australia. {20} + +Some idea of the general plan of these "exercises" may be gathered from +the following notes taken from the manuscripts. + +The first meeting of the "Little Academy" was on Ash Wednesday, 1630, +when the subject was "The Folly of Delaying Repentance." The next +meeting was on Easter Monday, a speech being made on "Happiness," +illustrated by stories of King Philip of Spain, King Henry IV. of France, +and Popes Marcellus and Adrian. On other occasions the following +subjects were selected: "Humility towards God, and moderation to equals +and enemies is most beneficial," illustrated by stories of Charles V.; +"We must overcome evil with good," illustration, John of Alexandria, +etc., etc. + +At first it seems that the recitations were given on five festivals, +which days naturally provided suitable subjects, and afterwards it was +decided to increase the number to twelve days, and they pass the +following resolution: "Every day must handle a new matter, that's the +injunction; and because the days afford not any special occasion, the +particular names imposed on us shall be the subjects successively of our +several exercises." The titles were (1) "The Chief" (who chose for her +subject "Humility"); (2) The Patient; (3) The Affectionate; (4) The +Cheerful; (5) The Submiss; (6) The Obedient; (7) The Moderate. Generally +the conversations were enlivened by music and singing, but when the +subject was "Patience" this was omitted, and there was much less +anecdote. The discourse was also somewhat longer, so that the virtue +which was being illustrated was at the same time practically enforced. +It is not quite clear how long the exercises were continued, but in the +second volume of the manuscripts it is stated that many home troubles had +helped to break up the "Little Academy," especially old Mrs. Ferrar's +death, which was in the year 1634, and that the actors were reduced to +three, when their cousin, young Nicholas Ferrar, "took upon himself to +revive their antient practises." But after this the actors all appear +with fresh names. + +Not content with the most careful and minute regulations for the +employment of every hour of the day in some secular or religious matter, +(for we read that "every hour had its company for the performance of some +special duty,") Nicholas Ferrar further arranged that those so inclined +should pursue their devotional exercises also at night. Two were to +watch together in a room set apart for the purpose; the womankind had a +room at one side of the house, and the men had one on the other side. +The watching lasted from 9 p.m. till 1 a.m., and during those four hours +the whole of the Book of Psalms was said over carefully, verse by verse, +alternately. + +Mr. Ferrar himself generally watched twice in the week, the others never +more than once; and in the winter special precautions were taken to +prevent them suffering from cold. + +At one o'clock, when the watch was finished, they lay down till six +o'clock, but did not actually go to bed at all, as on other nights. + +It was apparently some account of the "Harmonies of the Four Evangelists" +which first attracted King Charles' attention to the family living at +Gidding, and about the year 1631, being not far off with his Court, he +sent a gentleman to ask for the loan of the book. This was conceded with +some hesitation, and the King, having once got it into his hands, would +not part with it again, until he had obtained a promise that another +similar volume should be made for him. The work was promptly executed, +and may now be seen in the British Museum. + +The careful study of the Harmonies or Concordances is most interesting, +and even in these modern times one at least is used daily as a means of +instruction for the children of the family where the book has an honoured +home, in much the same manner as the children at Little Gidding used it +two hundred and fifty years ago. + +No more need be said about the Harmonies here, as a full account of the +manner of their construction and the history and resting-place of all the +specimens that can be heard of at the present time will be related in +another chapter. + +But in close connection with the making of the Concordances must be +mentioned the art of bookbinding, and embroidered covers for books, as +well as embroidery for other purposes. + +The Concordances are all bound in velvet or leather, and are nearly all +stamped with designs in gold, on much the same plan. The stamps chiefly +used are _fleurs-de-lis_, acorns, sprigs of oak, etc., and the amount of +ornamentation appears to depend upon the rank of the person for whom the +book was intended, and also partly upon the date when the book was made, +the earlier copies being much less elaborate than the later volumes. + +It is also evident that books printed in the ordinary way were bound, or +re-bound, at Gidding. One of the most remarkable of which there is any +authentic account is a large folio Bible, printed by Barker, of London, +in the year 1639. It now belongs to the Marquis of Bute, and, as a rule, +is in his library at Cardiff; but he is most kind in allowing it to be +exhibited, and it has recently been shown at Bath, and before that at +Glasgow. The binding is of blue silk, elaborately decorated with designs +in gilt and silver thread, and in the centre are the royal arms and +initials C. R., which prove clearly enough for whom the work was +originally done. A competent authority, one of the great professional +connoisseurs, has declared the binding to be one of the most magnificent +specimens with which he is acquainted. + +It would ill-befit one of the ruder sex to attempt to write critically +about the needlework of the maidens of Gidding, but we may sing their +praises for the skill, the industry, and the artistic results exhibited +by this branch of their daily occupations. + +The specimen most easily examined by any one wishing to do so, is a cover +for a dressing-case in the South Kensington Museum; another similar piece +of work was lent by a gentleman in London to an exhibition in Dublin a +few years ago; he kindly supplied the information afterwards that he had +been for many years a collector and admirer of the Gidding needlework, +and had one or two Bible covers and some other pieces of their embroidery +in his possession. + +A gentleman at Brighton has also a small 32mo New Testament, printed by +R. Barker, of London, A.D. 1640, which has a Gidding embroidered cover. +The design is a simple floral pattern worked in fine close stitches on +white silk, with a foundation of coarse canvas or holland, which was +perhaps glued on to the original boards. He has also a portrait of +Charles I. made in the same kind of stitch on a satin ground, but it is +not certain whether this was worked at Gidding or not. A great deal of +needlework of that date is wrongly attributed to the Miss Collets. + +An altar cloth, shown at Dublin in 1888, was also stated to be their +work, and it is extremely probable that they would have done such things, +for it is mentioned "that they were expert with their needles, and made +them serve the altar and the poor." + +In making the embroidery it would appear as if the pattern was first +drawn on paper, then cut out, and finally worked over, the designs being +for the most part in somewhat high relief. + +It is worthy of remark that, almost invariably, whenever this embroidery +is put up for sale or is exhibited, it is marked as the work of the "Nuns +of Little Gidding." Now, it may be said that all those who at the +present day take any interest in the life, methods, or work of Nicholas +Ferrar and his nieces, do so with feelings of admiration, and are, at +least, not to be numbered amongst their detractors. Yet it is curious +how the one name which helped more than anything else to work their ruin +is even now, as a rule, attached to them. Within a few years of Nicholas +Ferrar's death, some of his enemies had a pamphlet printed and +distributed "not by hundreds, but by thousands, and given into the hands +of the parliament men as they went daily to the House of Commons." The +title was, "The Arminian Nunnery; a description of the newly erected +Monastical Place, or the Arminian Nunnery at Little Gidding." The books +were also given to the Puritan soldiers when near Gidding to excite them +to offer violence to the family. But why should the title "Nuns of +Little Gidding" be still the name most often given to the Miss Colletts? +Few persons can realize that it is the name invented by their enemies, +earnestly repudiated by themselves, and entirely devoid of truth. + +This may be proved in several ways. The house at Little Gidding +contained two _married_ families, the boys and girls all growing up +together. The girls were purposely trained in such domestic matters as +would fit them for _good wives_, and five of them did eventually marry. +The two eldest alone, having reached the ages of thirty and thirty-two, +resolved to remain unmarried, but in no way took vows. Nicholas Ferrar +himself was once taxed with having started a "nunnery," and replied that +the name of "nuns" was odious, and declared himself against such vows of +single life with great earnestness. + +Again, a visitor to Little Gidding, describing the place and the family, +says, "I saluted the mother and daughter _not like nuns_, but as we +salute other women." + +Probably when the phrase "Nuns of Little Gidding" is used at the present +time, it is used in no reproachful sense; but the name is misleading, and +should be avoided, if for no other reason, because it was invented by the +enemies of Mr. Ferrar's family and objected to by themselves. + +The family, as a matter of fact, were by no means recluses; they went +about amongst their neighbours, and were "very well reported of by all +who knew them." They purposely selected a quiet part of the country to +live in, that they might not be interrupted in their manifold +employments; but they appear to have been always ready to receive +visitors, and to treat them with hospitality. + +Ferrar's rules for his own life were certainly somewhat austere, and as +time went on he increased its rigour, more especially after his mother's +death; but he never enforced on others what he did himself, and every +hour of the day appears to have been spent usefully and happily. + +It may be interesting to give here the opinions of some of his more +notable friends. Mention has already been made of the important persons +he lived amongst in his public life, and besides them at this time there +was Dr. Laud the Archbishop, who was so delighted to ordain "such a man +as he never had before nor believed he ever should again." There was Dr. +Williams the Bishop of the Diocese, who often went to Gidding and "much +magnified all that Nicholas and Mrs. Ferrar had done;" and not to mention +others, there was George Herbert, "his very dear brother," who, "seeing +he could not draw Gidding any nearer to him, he would draw nearer to his +brother Ferrar," and was endeavouring to exchange his living merely to +carry out this wish. These two good men were indeed very similar in +their religious views; they "loved and trusted one another most entirely, +and drove a large stock of Christian intelligence together," and when +George Herbert died, he sent his manuscripts to Ferrar to publish or to +withhold, as he thought right. Chief amongst them were the poems now +such favourites in many a house. These, when Ferrar had many and many a +time read over, he kissed and embraced them again and again, saying, +"they were most worthy to be in the hands and hearts of all true +Christians that feared God and loved the Church of England." + +The words of the Royal Friend who once or twice visited Gidding in person +stand at the commencement of this sketch, and sufficiently prove what was +his estimate of Ferrar and his works. + +It may be easily conjectured, however, that this unusual life, conducted +by a man so well known as Ferrar, attracted a great deal of +attention--and that in the days when religious differences prevailed to a +sad extent, there were many persons eager enough not only to find fault, +but to misrepresent what was done by this family; who, to say the least, +did a great deal of good to their poorer neighbours, and did harm to no +one. But a closer acquaintance with Mr. Ferrar generally dispelled the +calumnies which report had spread of him and his ways. And one gentleman +who went to Gidding purposely to make out their case as bad as possible, +came away full of their praises. + +In the end, however, their enemies prevailed; for the Puritan soldiers +(about the time of King Charles's death) did drive the family away, +ransacked the church, plundered the house, and destroyed many very +valuable books and manuscripts, and, in fact, everything that had been +left behind in a somewhat hasty flight. It is related that the organ +excited their anger more than anything, and that they relieved their +feelings by breaking it up, setting it on fire, and then roasting some of +Mr. Ferrar's sheep over it. + +But he was not spared to see these distressful times himself, as he died +in December, 1637, having lived at Gidding about twelve years. The +accounts of his last illness are very interesting, as throwing a strong +light on his intensely religious character. In November, 1637, on his +return from the little church, he had an attack of faintness, and never +afterwards left the house. He knew from the first that he would not +recover, and said to those around him, "In former sickness I have had a +strong desire to live, and an earnestness to pray to my God to spare me, +which He hath to this day done, when all hopes of life were past by the +judgments of the most skilful physicians; and I may further say to the +Glory of His great name, I never earnestly set myself to beg of God +anything, but He fulfilled the petition of His most unworthy servant. +But now and of late, I have not, nor do not find in my heart any +inclination to beg longer life." + +During his illness he continually exhorted the family that they should +"constantly adhere to the doctrine of the Church of England, and to +continue in the good old way;" he forewarned them of coming oppositions +and of danger and trouble, and urged them to shrink not to rely on God, +to serve Him with soul and body, for "He made both, and both must worship +Him in sincerity of devotion." "He will have both inward love, and +outward reverence of body and gesture." + +About three days before his death, he made John Ferrar mark out the place +for his grave seven feet from the west end of the church, leaving space +for his elder brother's grave nearest the church. He then directed that +all the books of comedies, tragedies, love-hymns, etc. (three great +hampers full, which had been locked up for many years), should be burnt +on the place marked for his grave. There were many hundreds in various +languages, which he had collected when a young man, but which he had +abjured as dangerous, full of idolatry, and apt to undermine the +Christian religion. + +He retained full power of mind, and suffered no pain throughout the whole +illness, and passed away at one o'clock on the Sunday night, the very +hour that he constantly rose up every morning to praise God, and to pray +unto Him. + +The family carried on all the good works in the which they had been +instructed, until they were driven away by the military zealots of the +Puritan party; but in later and more peaceful times they again assembled +in the old home, though there is no authentic account of the date, nor of +the particular members of the family that returned; but their exile does +not appear to have been of long duration, as there are entries in the +register of Gidding church, and inscriptions on brasses or tombstones, +which record events in the family history of the Ferrars and Collets +(such as baptisms and burials) as early as the year 1650--and at frequent +dates afterwards. The Gidding estate, which had originally been bought +by old Mrs. Ferrar, passed to her eldest son John, which is proved by his +being described on his tombstone as "Lord of this Manor," and he was +succeeded by his eldest son, who was resident there in the year 1715, as +stated by Dr. Mapletoft in one of the Concordances. + + + + +CHAPTER II. +THE CONCORDANCES OR HARMONIES. + + +Of all the work carried on at Gidding, nothing attracted more favourable +notice at the time, than the Concordances of the Four Evangelists, and of +other portions of the Bible, and at the present day they are also highly +valued by those who possess them, partly no doubt from a feeling of +admiration for Nicholas Ferrar himself, who designed them, but no less +for their intrinsic worth, and for the skill and industry employed in +their making. + +Even in the books which treat of Ferrar's life with the greatest +exactness, reference is made to some six or seven Harmonies, but several +of these have been either lost or destroyed, or cannot now be traced; +while within the last few years, several not mentioned in the printed +biographies have been discovered, and in the following pages much +interesting matter will be brought forward about them, and the histories +of the various volumes will be given. {35} + +The notoriety attaching to the Concordances can be easily accounted for +by the great interest shown in the work by King Charles I. There does +not appear to be any evidence to show that the King knew Nicholas Ferrar +personally, before he first heard of the Concordance which was in daily +use at Gidding. The family had settled there the very year King Charles +I. began to reign, but in Ferrar's early life, as already stated, he was +a distinguished public servant and Member of Parliament, and had, +moreover, travelled in the suite of the King's sister; so that in all +probability Ferrar's name and character were not unknown to him. + +But in order to prove the real value of the work, not only as a clever +contrivance, but as an aid to religious instruction, and to the study of +the Gospel history, it is necessary to put on one side the prestige of +the royal patronage, and to give an accurate description of some one +volume. + +The Harmony selected for this purpose is one of the earliest, and least +elaborate; it was made for a private friend of the Ferrars, and is no +doubt almost an exact reproduction of the volume which was used every day +by the children at Little Gidding; for it was a part of their daily duty +to repeat portions of the Harmony to Mr. Ferrar--the book being so +divided that "beginning still at the first day of the month, and ending +at the last day of the month, all the heads or chapters were said over in +every month's time." + +The principle of the work was this--to make one continuous history of all +the actions and discourses of our Lord wherever related, and this to be +so arranged that the Gospel of any one Evangelist could be read straight +through from first to last. + +To do this without confusion was no easy task, for every word of all four +Evangelists is in the Harmony, and yet in reading them as one connected +story there is no repetition. The whole of the Gospel history is divided +for this purpose into one hundred and fifty heads or chapters, each +chapter containing some special subject, and being made complete by the +bringing together the words of each Evangelist treating of that subject. + +The following selection will show the manner in which the subjects were +chosen-- + +54. Christ's second going about Galilee and sending the Apostles. + +55. John's beheading. + +56. The five loaves. + +57. Jesus walking on the sea. + +58. Discourse of the Bread from Heaven. + +The method adopted throughout the work was very simple and ingenious. It +was this: the words of each Evangelist were marked in the margin by a +distinguishing letter, viz. St. Matthew, by A; St. Mark, by B; St. Luke, +by C.; St. John by D, so that to read any one Gospel straight through, it +was only necessary to read all the passages marked by the same initial +letter, omitting all the others. But when, as often happens, two or more +writers use identical language, the words which had been inserted before, +were put in different type. The body of the work was given in ordinary +Roman type, but the words which occurred a second time and were, +therefore, unnecessary for the continuous history were given in old +English lettering. + +To make this contrivance quite clear the following directions were +written at the beginning of the concordance-- + +"If you would read the Evangelical History keepe on still from one of the +marking letters to another, reading onely that which is in the Roman +letter. But if you would read the Evangelists severally, then you must +keepe still from section to section in the same letter with which you +begin, reading both context and supplement, that is the Roman letter and +the Inglish letter annexed. Where you find any one word or more streaked +under, you are to omit it in the reading of the context to make the +clearer sence; but it is necessarily left remaining for the reading of +the Evangelist severally." + +To carry out this scheme in the first instance required a complete +acquaintance with the text, a clear idea of the sequence of events, an +ingenious head to plot out the work, and no small amount of purely +mechanical skill to bring it to a successful result. + +Nicholas Ferrar himself planned the whole Concordance, and also +superintended his nephews and nieces while they did the work; but the +system adopted may well be given in the words of the old manuscripts. A +large room was set apart purposely for the work, and called "the +Concordance room," which was all coloured over with green, pleasant +colour, varnished for the more pleasure to their eyes, and round the +upper part of the walls were sentences written, suggested by each person +of the family and some good friends, such as "Glory be to God on high," +"Prosper Thou, O Lord, the work of our hands," "Innocency is never better +lodged than at the sign of labour," "The industrious man hath no leisure +to sin; and the idle man hath no power to avoid sin." + +In this room Mr. Ferrar "every day spent one hour in contriving the +Concordance, and directed his nieces that attended him in what manner +they should cut the pieces out of the Evangelist, and so, and so, to lay +them together as to make and perfect such a head or chapter. When they +had first cut out those pieces with their knives or scissors, then they +did neatly and exactly fit each verse that was so cut out, to be pasted +down on sheets of paper; and so artificially they performed it, that it +looked like a new kind of printing, when it was finished; so finely were +all the pieces joined together, and with great presses for that purpose, +pressed down upon the white sheets of paper." + +Even this description scarcely conveys an adequate impression of the +labour involved, for in many cases only two or three words are taken out +of one Evangelist, and added to the account given by another. + +And, besides the letterpress, every page is supplied with engravings, +relating to the subject in hand; and when, as often happened, they could +not find an engraving to suit exactly, parts of different prints were +combined, so as to make a suitable illustration; and so cleverly is this +"splicing" carried out, that it is almost impossible to be sure where the +pictures join. + +It will give some idea of the work if a few details are given from the +volume under consideration. In one place the narrative is composed of +five verses from St. Matthew, seven from St. Mark, and four from St. +Luke; but there are forty-four separate cuttings pasted in; in another +case seventeen verses required fifty-three cuttings, and in another, +fifteen verses from the four Evangelists are inserted with thirty-four +cuttings. + +But even when whole verses, or perhaps whole chapters, could have been +put in entire (as would occur in the discourses related only by St. +John), the Miss Collets did not save themselves trouble if the appearance +of the page could be improved. Some of the most attractive sheets are +those where each line has been cut out, and pasted in again in the +original sequence, but with open spacing, so as to occupy the full page. +In one case fifty-six lines have been treated thus, in another +fifty-eight, in another fifty-one, where each passage might have been +inserted entire. + + * * * * * + +Some instances may now be given to show the clever compilation of +connected sentences out of the accounts of different Evangelists, +_e.g._-- + + "And came into the coasts of Judea, beyond Jordan, into the place + where John at first baptized, and there He abode, and great + multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there, and as He was wont + He taught them again" (_vide_ St. Matt. xix. 1; St. John x. 40; St. + Mark x. 1), + +which reads as if it was one sentence, but is in reality four extracts +from three Evangelists. + +Again--At the supper at Bethany-- + + "She annointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair, + and she brake the box, and poured it on His head, and the house was + filled with the odour of the ointment" (_vide_ St. John xii. 3; St. + Mark xiv. 3). + +Or this: + + "Ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her, whereon never man + sat; loose them and bring them unto me" (_vide_ St. Matt. xxi. 2; St. + Mark xi. 2). + +In both these extracts a little incident supplied by St. Mark is +introduced into the main narrative of another Evangelist, who had not +mentioned it. + +The following also is interesting, taken from the gospels of St. Matthew, +St. Mark, and St. Luke-- + + "Is not this Joseph's son?" "Is not this the carpenter's son?" "Is + not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" (_vide_ St. Luke iv. 23; + St. Matt. xiii. 55; St. Mark vi. 3). + +It must not be thought that in the Concordance these extracts are printed +straight off, as they read here. If that were the case, it would be open +to objection that something like a new Gospel history was being compiled; +but in every case, without exception, wherever words are introduced from +another Evangelist, a space is left, a fresh line commenced, and the +distinguishing letter placed in the margin. One short extract, printed +as in the original, will make this quite clear. + +C. 8. 23. But as they sailed He fell asleep. +A. 8. 24. And behold there arose a great + tempest in the sea. +C. And there came down a storm of wind + on the lake. +B. 4. 37. And the waves beat into the ship, so + that it was now full. +C. And they were filled with water, and + were in jeopardy. + +Thus far the instances have been given to illustrate the plan of making +the Gospel history continuous. One or two examples may now be selected +to show how the two distinct types of print were used, which became +necessary for the reading of any one Evangelist alone. + + THE TRANSFIGURATION. + +C. 9. 28. And it came to pass about an eight days after + these sayings, he took Peter and John and James. +A. 17. 1. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, + and John his brother and bringeth them up into + an high mountain apart. +B. 9. 2. And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter + and James and John, + And leadeth them up into an high mountain apart + by themselves, +C. And went up into a mountain to pray. + + THE TEMPEST STILLED. + +A. 8. 25. And his disciples came to Him, and + awoke Him saying +B. 4. Unto him, Master, carest thou not + that we perish. +A. Lord save us, we perish. +26. And he saith unto them, Why are ye + fearful, O ye of little faith. Then + he arose and rebukes the winds and + the sea, and there was a great calm. +C. 8. Then he arose and rebuked the wind + and the raging of the water, and they + ceased and there was a calm. 25. And + he said unto them +B. 39. And he arose and rebuked the wind and + said unto the sea, Peace, be still; + and the wind ceased, and there was a + great calm. 40. And he said unto + them, Why are ye so fearful? How is + it that ye have no faith? +C. Where is your faith? And they being + afraid, wondered, saying one to + another, what manner of man is this? +A. 27. But the men marvelled, saying, What + manner of man is this that even the + winds and the sea obey him? +B. 41. And they feared exceedingly, and said + one to another, What manner of man is + this that even the winds and the sea + obey him? +C. For he commandeth even the winds and + water, and they obey him. + +It is interesting to read these passages in the various ways intended by +the compiler, first taking the Evangelists separately, and reading all +the verses marked with the proper letter, in both sorts of type, and then +reading only the common type, straight on, irrespective of the marking +letters. + +There is still another way in which the value of the Harmony may be +tested. It is of course well-known that the historical sequence of +events varies greatly in the records of the different Evangelists. To +reconcile these discrepancies, is often a very difficult matter, and when +combined with the other principles on which the Harmonies were +constructed must have caused a great deal of trouble, and required much +skilful adaptation. This part of the work can be tested by examining +some one chapter of the Authorized Version, and we can then discover how +the subjects are treated. The eighth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel will +be a good example-- + +Vers. 1-3: "A general account of Christ's ministry and followers," appear +on p. 102 of the Harmony. + +Vers. 4-15: "Parable of the Sower, and explanation," come on pp. 90-93, +being composed of the narratives of the other two Evangelists +interpolated with St. Luke's. + +Vers. 16-18 follow in natural order, but + +Vers. 19-21: "Christ's mother and brethren," are found on p. 90, _before_ +the Parable of the Sower; while + +Vers. 22-25: "The Storm on the Lake," come still earlier in the Harmony, +on p. 45. + +Vers. 26-39: "The herd of swine drowned," following on p. 47. + +Ver. 40. Stands by itself on p. 50, preceeding the events recorded in +St. Luke's fifth chapter. + +Vers. 41-56: "The raising of Jairus' daughter," come prior to the events +narrated in St. Luke's sixth and seventh chapters, and appear on p. 56 of +the Harmony. + +If we may take Nicholas Ferrar's chronology to be correct, it is clearly +seen that the Harmony is a most valuable aid to the study of the Gospels. + +Mention has been made already of the engravings with which the +Concordances are nearly all supplied. On the title-page, after +describing the contents of the book, these words always occur: "to which +are added sundry pictures, expressing either the facts themselves or +their types and figures, or other matters appertaining thereunto." + +These "pictures" are in many cases delightfully quaint, and are probably +of considerable value, having been collected by Nicholas Ferrar on his +journey through Holland, Germany, Italy, and Spain in the years 1613 to +1618, it being expressly stated that they were by the best masters of +that time, and that he let nothing valuable of this sort escape him. + +Unfortunately, many of these prints have been cut, to make them fit into +the pages, but on others there are the names or monograms of the artist +and engraver. On one the date 1564 appears after the name M. Heern, +invent. Other names occurring are M. de Vos, Joannes Strada, Th. Galle, +Phl. Galle, Crispin Van de Passe, Brvegel, etc., etc. + +The most usual arrangement is for the engraving to occupy the upper half +of the page, and the letterpress to be put in two columns underneath; but +occasionally there are two or three prints in the same page. In the copy +under consideration now, being one of the smaller volumes, there are 138 +folio pages, and about 220 prints, varying in size from 12 inches by 8, +to small delicate engravings of about 2.5 inches by 1 inch. + +It would be useless to attempt to describe the pictures, so as to give an +adequate idea of their interest, but some of the subjects may be +mentioned. + +There is a series of small engravings of the eleven Apostles (a blank +space being left in a conspicuous manner for Judas), which represent each +one with his proper emblem, and in the background of each picture a very +small illustration of the manner of his death; for instance, St. Peter on +a cross, upside down; St. Thomas being killed by the spears of savages; +St. Simon being sawn asunder. Near the beginning of the volume is a +print of the Blessed Virgin with a sword piercing her body, and +surrounded by seven medallions, showing "the seven griefs." The parable +of "The mote and the beam" is quaintly depicted by two men standing near +together, one with an enormous log of wood, equal in length to a third of +his height, projecting unsupported from his own eye, attempting to pull a +small bit of straw from the eye of the other. + +In the pictures of the Resurrection is one with a small representation in +the background of our Blessed Lord appearing to his mother, "who had +remained at her own home." + + * * * * * + +Perhaps enough has now been said to give a general description of the +design of the Concordances. They were all made on one plan, but no two +were exactly alike. The actual sizes vary considerably, and the number +of pages also, from sixty-five up to four hundred. By far the greater +number deal with the Gospels of the four Evangelists, but in addition to +these there are Concordances of the Books of Kings and Chronicles, and +the five Books of Moses. + +Some slight account may now be given of all the volumes known to be in +existence at the present time. With the exception of the original book, +made for the instruction of the home family, which was in daily use at +Gidding, the splendid copy made for Charles I. is the earliest of which +there is any authentic history. + +As stated on a previous page, it was at the King's urgent request that +this was put in hand, and, after twelve months' hard work, was safely +delivered to his Majesty, who declared it to be a "rich and rare jewel, +and that there was no defect in the skill, care, and cost used in it, but +a superlative diligence in all about it." + +This fine volume is now in the British Museum, having been sent there +from Windsor by George II. It is a large square folio, measuring 1 foot +7 inches by I foot 2 inches, and has 287 pages, bound in leather, with a +great deal of gilding on the sides; the date on the title-page is 1635. + +The Concordance described on pp. 36-47, and from which the extracts were +taken, has the same date on the title-page, and the words "done at Little +Gidding" added also. It is much smaller than the Royal copy, with less +than half the number of pages. Its history is not quite so clear, but on +the inside of the cover appear the arms of Sir R. Cotton, who commenced +the library given by his grandson to the nation. The Cottons were near +neighbours of the Ferrars, and nothing is more likely than that a lover +of books should have procured one of the earliest of the works which were +rapidly becoming famous. From the Cottons it passed to the family of +Bowdlers, one of whom married a daughter of the last baronet; and the +grandson of this Mr. Bowdler left the book to the father of the writer of +this sketch, now living in Dorchester, who still makes use of the book in +the religious instruction of his children. + +The next volume made was a Harmony of the Kings and Chronicles, the idea +being originated by Charles himself. He is reported to have asked for it +at the very time he received his first Harmony, saying, "I would gladly +have these skilful persons to make me another book that might be so +ordered, that I might read these stories of Kings and Chronicles, so +interwoven by them, as if one pen had written the whole book, and to make +it a complete history; yet so ordering the matter that I may also read +them severally and apart." + +This was faithfully carried out. The date on the title-page is 1637, and +the book is now at the British Museum. It is bound in leather, curiously +gilt, rather smaller than the first volume, and without any +illustrations; but a great deal of care was taken in its compilation, +especially in the construction of three tables relating to the contents +and to the various passages related in the Books of Kings and Chronicles +"severally or jointly." + +A third volume was also sent to the British Museum by George II., as +being a Little Gidding work; but it is not, strictly speaking, a +Concordance, being in many ways different to all the other Gidding works. + +It contains merely the Acts of the Apostles and the Revelations of St. +John. The title-page is very fully and curiously decorated; there is no +date, and the form of title which occurs with very little alteration in +every other specimen is also absent. + +As the King took so much interest in these works, and valued them so +highly, it followed as a very natural result that the young Princes +should demand similar volumes for themselves; though it is perhaps +doubtful if they would have appreciated a Concordance without any +pictures. + +Prince Charles asked the King to give him the first Harmony, but was met +with the reply "that he might not part with it, as he used it daily." A +request was therefore sent to Gidding that a Harmony might be prepared +for the Prince, and Mr. Ferrar being dead, the Miss Colletts and their +cousin, Nicholas Ferrar (junior), decided to complete a Concordance +similar to the first, but in four languages, English, Latin, French, and +Italian. The book was ready and taken to London by young Ferrar just +before Easter, 1640, which date is affixed to the title-page. It was +first submitted for the King's approval, and, being greatly admired, was +then taken to Prince Charles at Richmond, who was intensely delighted +with his new acquisition. It is, indeed, a splendid volume, containing +over 200 pages, bound in green velvet, with designs of _fleurs de lis_ +and sprigs of oak stamped in gold. The book measured 2 feet by 1 foot 5 +inches, and has "a store of rare pictures to delight the eye." The four +languages are arranged in four parallel columns in each page. + +It is now in Lord Normanton's library at Somerley. The name by which it +is commonly known is "Monotessaron," which word, in Greek characters, +stands at the head of the title-page. + +One work led on to another; and no sooner had Prince Charles become the +happy owner of an illustrated Harmony, than the young Duke of York, who +was with his brother at Richmond, must needs want one for himself. +Nicholas Ferrar assured him that he should have one "with all good +speed." "But how long will that be?" said the Prince. "I pray you tell +the gentlewomen at Gidding I will heartily thank them if they will +dispatch it." + +And, in accordance with the promise, another work was no doubt taken in +hand; but young Ferrar did not live to see it completed, dying (as he +did) at the early age of 21, within a very few weeks of his visit to +Richmond, and it is almost certain that the Duke of York never had it +given to him. But the Marquis of Salisbury has at Hatfield a Harmony of +the Four Gospels, there being no record of the person for whom it was +made. Now the appearance of the binding and the evidence of considerable +care being taken in its preparation would lead to the conclusion that it +was originally intended for a member of the Royal family. It is bound in +purple velvet, sprigs of oak and _fleurs de lis_ being prominent in the +decoration of the outside. There is no date on the title-page, and the +earliest authority as to the owner is the book-plate of "the Right Hon +James Cecill, 1704." In all essential points it is identical with the +copy made for Charles I., and may be considered as the book intended for +the Duke of York. + +The King and his suite visited Gidding in the year 1642, and while there +was shown another splendid Concordance, which he had heard was being made +for Prince Charles' use, but which was not quite ready for presentation +at the time. If the conjecture is correct (and there seems very little +doubt that it is so), that this is the volume now in the possession of +Captain Gaussen, of Brookmans Park--near Hatfield, it is no wonder that +several years were occupied in its completion. One of the King's +attendants remarked at the time, it was the "gallantest greatest book in +the world," adding, "I never saw such paper before. I believe there is +no book of this largeness to be seen in Christendom," and as the Royal +party were at this time making a somewhat hasty journey northwards on +account of the disorders prevalent in the country, the book would have +been a very unsuitable addition to their baggage. The writer can vouch +for the fact that it is quite as much as a man can do to carry it +comfortably across a room. It is magnificently bound in purple velvet, +with the usual gilt stamping, chiefly in patterns made of small crowns. +The measurements are 2 feet 5 inches by 1 foot 8 inches, and there are +nearly 450 pages of the thickest paper, besides which every page is +profusely illustrated by the pasting on of engravings, in the same manner +as the other Gidding works. + +The contents of this volume are, however, different to any yet mentioned. +The first part deals with "the whole law of God as it is delivered in the +five Books of Moses" methodically distributed into three great +classes--moral, ceremonial, and political--and each of these again +subdivided into several heads, etc. There follows an "harmonical +parallel between the types of the Old Testament and the Four Evangelists' +relations of our Lord and Saviour;" also a "discourse of the estate of +the Jews," by Dr. Jackson, "The destruction of Jerusalem," and long +extracts from a work entitled "Moses unveiled," besides other matter. + +The history of this book is very obscure. The account from which the +above is taken concludes with these words, "This book hath been preserved +at Gidding, and attends the happy hour to be delivered into the right +owner's hands." This was probably written about 1653. The next piece of +evidence is a note made in the book itself, that the Rev. J. Bourdillon +bought it in the year 1776, but did not then know who had compiled it. +There is then another break in its history, until the beginning of the +nineteenth century, when it was found walled up in a cupboard at the +house now belonging to Captain Gaussen. But within the last few years +the "gallant book" has had another interesting and dangerous experience, +as its home was burnt to the ground. The Concordance was, however, +rescued from an untimely fate. + +A somewhat similar volume, but much smaller, is to be seen in the library +of St. John's College, Oxford. It is dated 1640, and contains only the +"Five Books of Moses," treated in the same manner as that last described. +There is good reason for saying that it was made for the Archbishop of +Canterbury (Laud), and sent by him to Oxford. It is illustrated +throughout, and is handsomely bound in purple velvet. + +The late Bishop of Bath and Wells, Lord Arthur Hervey, had another +specimen of Gidding handywork. It is one of the smaller volumes, +containing only 66 pages, bound in leather, and with the usual style of +engravings. It is a Harmony of the Four Gospels, and the different +names, or book-plates, of the various owners show that it has been in the +Hervey family from the first. The last line of the title page is as +follows: "Done at Little Gidding, A.D. 1640, by Virginia Ferrar, age 12." +It would be interesting to know how much was actually "done" by this +young lady. She was daughter of John Ferrar, and sister of Nicholas +Ferrar, junior, and was given her name "out of affection to the +remembrance of the plantation of Virginia, and that they might daily have +the memorial of it, as not to cease praying for the prosperity of it, and +that looking upon her they might think upon both at once." This book is +now in the possession of Lord Bristol, at Ickworth, Bury St. Edmunds. + +Mention has now been made of nine Concordances; and of the two that still +remain to be noticed there is this interesting fact to be stated--that in +all probability they were originally made for members of the family, and +that until a few years ago they belonged to their descendants, who, for +this very reason, regarded them with special affection. They are both +Harmonies of the Four Gospels; one, dated 1640, is a small work, and +belonged to Miss Heming, of Hillingdon, a descendant of a Mr. Mapletoft, +who married one of the Miss Colletts, it is now in the possession of +Colonel Garrat, Bishop's Court, Exeter. The other is a somewhat larger +book, now in the British Museum, recently in the possession of a Mr. +Mapletoft Davis, living in New South Wales, who also had the four volumes +of the "Exercises of the Little Academy" previously described; all these +works, and some other relics of the Ferrars, having passed on through +different branches of the family to the late owner. An inscription in +this Concordance is worthy of reproduction here; it runs as follows: +"This was the book of my honoured aunt, Mrs. Mary Collet, compiled at +Little Gidding by the direction of her uncle, Mr. N. Ferrar, and bound, I +believe, by herself. It was given to me by my good and dear cousin, Mrs. +Elizabeth Kestian. I give it to my son, and if he dies without issue, to +my daughter Eliz. Gastrell, and I desire it may be preserved in my family +as long as may be. There were never above two more of the form that I +ever heard of--one was presented to Charles the First . . . the other to +King Charles II., 1660, by John Ferrar, who is now owner of Little +Gidding.--John Mapletoft, Jan., 1715." + +It is certainly a curious fact that this Dr. Mapletoft should have +thought that there were only three Concordances made; and the same +mistaken idea was entertained by the owner of Colonel Garratt's copy, +words almost identical being written in that work by another Dr. +Mapletoft in the year 1764. The John Ferrar referred to as giving the +Concordance to Charles II. must have been the son of John Ferrar, brother +of Nicholas; so it is evident that the estates of Gidding were enjoyed by +the family for many years after their return from the flight caused by +the Parliamentary soldiers. + +It is not known how long the business of making Concordances was +continued at Gidding. There is a letter from John Ferrar printed, in +which occurs a remark that perhaps if "noble or learned personages knew +of them, they would desire to have some made for their own use, or for +some library, as rarities in their kind." He also says that this work, +"which costs much time and labour, might be an answer to the libel that +no work was done at Gidding, but all the time spent in contemplation, as +it would make the world believe." There is also a request to a Dr. +Basire for two copies each of various editions and translations of the +New Testament in many different languages, so it is certain that the work +was to be carried on and developed as far as possible; and in all +probability it only ceased when the "handy workwomen" went away from +their united home to marry, and devote themselves to more serious, and +perhaps less pleasant, occupations. + +In the library of Magdalen College, Cambridge, may be seen all the +materials for a Concordance similar to that at St. John's, Oxford, viz. +"The Five Books of Moses." There are two big bundles of folio sheets, +designed and plotted out for engravings and letterpress; but no progress +had been made with the work, except (curiously enough) the title-page, +which was completed, and finishes with the words, "Done at Little +Gidding, A.D. 1641." + +This method of bookmaking is not exactly in accordance with modern ideas, +but it may throw a little light on the fact that although we know the +King's Concordance took a whole year to complete, there are no less than +four volumes dated 1640, and one of these is the great Harmony in four +languages. Until this unfinished Concordance was brought to light, it +was always difficult to explain why four works were dated the same year. + +Before we leave this subject, a few words must be said on some wonderful +productions of the younger Nicholas Ferrar, which are reported to have +been shown to the King when "the Monotessaron" was presented to Prince +Charles; but they were afterwards taken back to Gidding. + +There was, first, "The Gospel according to the holy Evangelists in eight +languages, viz. Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, High Dutch, Saxon, +and Welsh, interpreted with Latin or English, word for word, and at one +view to be seen and read." + +Second: "The New Testament in twenty-four languages," each language +written in its proper characters; + +Third: "The Gospel of St. John in as many languages as there are chapters +(_i.e._ each chapter in a different language), and interpreted word for +word into Latin or English." + +These were not printed books, but all in the handwriting of young Ferrar, +who at the early age of twenty-one had apparently mastered twenty-four +languages. + +This brief sketch must now be brought to a close, with the hope that it +may prove interesting to some who are unable to peruse the longer +narratives on the same subject, and which are, indeed, very scarce at the +present time. Should the writer's hopes be fulfilled, it will surely be +to them, as it is to him, a matter of great satisfaction that at least a +part of the work carried on at Little Gidding should have been of such a +permanent nature that, after 250 years, the result can still be seen and +enjoyed almost in its original freshness, and can, indeed, be actually +used for its original purpose. + +The workmanship of the Concordances was so excellent in every detail, +even to the paste used for their construction, that the volumes may well +last for another period of 250 years. And as we turn over their pages +and admire the method, the neatness, and the skilful design therein +exhibited, our thoughts are carried back to the days and the scenes of +their creation, and we picture to ourselves more vividly the happy and +religious family which day by day met in the great Concordance room, the +well-ordered procession wending its way to the little church at their +gate, the meals in the great hall, enlivened only by the "historical +anecdote, easy and delightful," the daily repetition of David's Psalms, +and the frequent singing to the organ, which was tuned so low as to be a +disturbance to no one, and the words of the hymn which was frequently +sung every day-- + + "So angels sing, and so sing we, + To God on high all glory be, + Let Him on earth His peace bestow, + And unto men His favour show." + +But though our fancy naturally dwells on the younger and more active +members, we must by no means forget the mother of the family, the source +of all the virtues exhibited in her children and grandchildren. + +Living to the age of seventy-nine, Mrs. Ferrar "at her dying day had no +infirmity and scarce any sign of old age upon her." "There were few +women, as all that knew her can testify, that exceeded her in comeliness +of body and excellent beauty; of fair, modest, and sober deportment, +grave in her looks, humble in her carriage towards all people, +superlative in discretion; of few words but when she spoke (as occasion +offered itself) no woman passed her in eloquence, in judgement, and +wisdom. Great was her devotion to God, and her love to God's word, +constant her reading of the Scriptures, and her singing of the Psalms, +when she sat at work with her children and maids about her." + +An inscription in the great parlour, written by her in the last year of +her life, may well be given here as a fitting conclusion to this +imperfect narrative:-- + + I. H. S. + +He who by reproof of And He who, by a cheerful +our errors, and participation and +remonstrance of that approbation of that which +which is more perfect is good, confirms us in +seeks to make us the same is welcome as a +better, is welcome as Christian Friend. +an Angel of God. + But +He who any ways goes And He who faults us in +about to disturb us absence, for that which +in that which is and in presence he made show +ought to be amongst to approve of, doth by a +Christians (tho' it double guilt of flattery +be not usual in the and slander, violate the +world) is a burden bands both of friendship +whilst he stays, and and charity. +shall bear his +judgement, whosoever +he be. + Mary Ferrar, Widow, + Mother of this family, + and aged about fourscore years, + who bids adieu to all fears and hopes of this world + and only desires to serve God, + set up this Table. + + PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES. + + + + +Footnotes: + + +{1} The details of the life at Little Gidding contained in the following +pages are derived chiefly from "Two lives of Nicholas Ferrar, by his +brother John, and by Dr. Jebb," Baker's MSS., edited by Dr. Mayor, of +Cambridge, and from "Life of Nicholas Ferrar, by Dr. Turner," Bishop of +Ely. Both these works are now out of print. The accounts of the various +Harmonies or Concordances are derived entirely from personal examination +of the separate volumes, or from direct communication with their owners. + +{20} Three of these volumes are now in the British Museum. + +{35} The most accurate accounts are those in "Nicholas Ferrar," edited +by Canon Carter, published 1892, and in a paper by the present Author, +prepared for the Society of Antiquaries, and printed in _Archaeologia_ +for 1888. Even these accounts are not quite accurate at the present +time, some of the volumes having changed hands in the last few years.--J. +E. A. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE GIDDING AND ITS INMATES IN +THE TIME OF KING CHARLES I.*** + + +******* This file should be named 24984.txt or 24984.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/9/8/24984 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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