others three pounds, others four, &c.) to the yearly value of thirty pounds to each man, during the said term of his lease only, for a monument of my labour and success herein, I required that my Prebend might have the addition of ten pounds per annum, above the fellows. We were busily treating of this happy match for that poor Church: Sir Walter Leveson was not only willing, but forward: the then Dean, Mr. Antonius de Dominis, Archbishop of Spalato, gave both way and furtherance to the dispatch all had been most happily ended, had not the scrupulousness of one or two. of the number deferred so advantageous a conclusion. In the meanwhile, Sir Walter Leveson dies; leaves his young orphan ward to the King: all our hopes were now blown up; an office was found of all those lands: the very wonted payments were denied, and I called into the Court of Wards, in fair likelihood, to forego my former hold and yielded possession. But there, it was justly awarded by the Lord Treasurer, then Master of the Wards, that the orphan could have no more, no other right than the father: I was, therefore, left in my former state: only, upon public complaint of the hard condition wherein the orphan was left, I suffered myself to be over-entreated, to abate somewhat of that evicted composition. Which work having once firmly settled, in a just pity of the mean provision, if not the destitution of so many thousand souls, and a desire and care to have them comfortably provided for in the future, I resigned up the said Prebend to a worthy preacher, Mr. Lee, who should constantly reside there, and painfully instruct that great and long neglected people: which he hath hitherto performed, with great mutual contentment and happy suc

cess.

Now during this twenty-two years which I spent at Waltham, thrice was I commanded and employed abroad by his Majesty in public service.

First, in the attendance of the Right Honourable Earl of Carlisle, then Lord Viscount Doncaster, who was sent upon a Noble Embassy, with a gallant retinue into

France whose entertainment there, the annals of that nation will tell to posterity. In the midst of that service, was I surprised with a miserable distemper of body; which ended in a Diarrhea Biliosa, not without some beginning, and further threats of a dysentery: wherewith I was brought so low, that there seemed small hope of my recovery. Mr. Peter Moulin, to whom I was beholden for his frequent visitations, being sent by my Lord Embassador to inform him of my estate, brought him so sad news thereof, as that he was much afflicted therewith; well supposing his welcome to Waltham could not but want much of the heart without me. Now the time of his return drew on, Dr. Moulin kindly offered to remove me, upon his Lordship's departure, to his own house; promising me all care ful tendance. I thanked him; but resolved, if I could but creep homewards, to put myself upon the journey. A litter was provided; but of so little ease, that Simeon's penitential lodging, or a malefactor's stocks, had been less penal. I crawled down from my close chamber into that carriage: In quá videbaris mihi efferri, tanquam in sandapila, as Mr. Moulin wrote to me afterward. That misery had I endured in all the long passage from Paris to Dieppe, being left alone to the surly muleteers, had not the providence of my good God brought me to St. Germains, upon the very minute of the setting out of those coaches, which had staid there upon that morning's entertainment of my Lord Ambassador. How glad was I; that I might change my seat and my company! In the way, beyond all expectation, I began to gather some strength. Whether the fresh air or the desires of my home revived me, so much and so sudden reparation ensued, as was sensible to my self, and seemed strange to others. Being shipped at Dieppe, the sea used us hardly and, after a night and a great part of the day following, sent us back well windbeaten, to that bleak haven whence we set forth, forcing us to a more pleasing land-passage, through the coasts of Normandy and Picardy: towards the end whereof, my former complaint returned upon me; and, landing with

me, accompanied me to and at my long-desired home. In this my absence, it pleased his Majesty graciously to confer upon me the Deanery of Worcester; which, being promised to me before my departure, was deeply hazarded while I was out of sight, by the importunity and underhand-working of some great ones. Dr. Field, the learned and worthy Dean of Gloucester, was by his potent friends put into such assurances of it, that I heard where he took care for the furnishing that ample house. But God fetched it about for me, in that absence and nescience of mine: and that reverend and better deserving Divine was well satisfied with greater hopes, and soon after exchanged this mortal estate for an immortal and glorious.

No

Before I could go down, through my continuing weakness, to take possession of that dignity, his Majesty pleased to design me to his attendance into Scotland: where the great love and respect that I found, both from the Ministers and People, wrought me no small envy from some of our own. Upon a commonly received supposition, that his Majesty would have no further use of his Chaplains, after his remove from Edinburgh, (forasmuch as the Divines of the country, whereof there is great store and worthy choice, were allotted to every station) I easily obtained, through the solicitation of my ever honoured Lord of Carlisle, to return with him before my fellows. sooner was I gone, than suggestions were made to his Majesty of my over plausible demeanour and doctrine to that already prejudicate people: for which his Majesty after a gracious acknowledgment of my good service there done, called me, upon his return, to a favourable and mild account; not more freely professing what informations had been given against me, than his own full satisfaction, with my sincere and just answer; as whose excellent wisdom well saw, that such winning carriage of mine could be no hinderance to those his great designs. At the same time, his Majesty, having secret notice that a letter was coming to me from Mr.. W. Struther, a reverend and learned Divine of Edinburgh, concerning the Five Points

then proposed and urged to the Church of Scotland; was pleased to impose upon me an earnest charge, to give him a full answer in satisfaction to those his modest doubts, and at large to declare my judgment concerning those required observations: which I speedily performed, with so great approbation of his Majesty, that it pleased him to command a transcript thereof, as I was informed, publicly read in their most famous University: the effect whereof his Majesty vouchsafed to signify afterwards, unto some of my best friends, with allowance beyond my hopes.

It was not long after, that his Majesty, finding the exigence of the affairs of the Netherlandish Churches to require it, both advised them to a Synodical Decision; and, by his incomparable wisdom, promoted the work. My unworthiness was named for one of the Assistants of that Honourable, Grave, and Reverend Meeting: where I failed not of my best service to that woefully distracted Church. By that time I had stayed some two months there, the unquietness of the nights in those garrison towns, working upon the tender disposition of my body, brought me to such weakness through want of rest, that it began to disable me from attending the Synod: which yet, as I might, I forced myself unto; as wishing that my zeal could have discountenanced my infirmity. Where, in the mean time, it is well worthy of my thankful remembrance, that, being in an afflicted and languishing condition for a fortnight together with that sleepless distemper, yet it pleased God, the very night before I was to preach the Latin Sermon to the Synod, to bestow upon me such a comfortable refreshing of sufficient sleep, as whereby my spirits were revived, and I was enabled with much vigour and vivacity to perform that service: which was no sooner done, than my former complaint renewed upon me, and prevailed against all the remedies that the counsel of physicians could advise me unto; so as, after long strife, I was compelled to yield unto a retirement, for the time, to the Hague; to see if change of place and more careful at

tendance, which I had in the house of our Right Honourable Ambassador, the Lord Carleton, now Viscount Dorchester, might recover me. But when, notwithstanding

all means, my weakness increased so far, as that there was small likelihood left of so much strength remaining, as might bring me back into England, it pleased his Gracious Majesty, by our Noble Ambassador's solicitation, to call me off; and to substitute a worthy Divine, Mr. Dr. Goade, in my unwillingly forsaken room. Returning by Dort, I sent in my sad farewell to that grave Assembly; who, by common vote, sent to me the President of the Synod and the Assistants, with a respective and gracious valediction. Neither did the Deputies of my Lords the States neglect, after a very respectful compliment sent from them to me by Daniel Heinsius, to visit me: and, after a noble acknowledgment of more good service from me than I durst own, dismissed me with an honourable retribution; and sent after me a rich medal of gold, the portraiture of the Synod, for a precious monument of their respects to my poor endeavours: who failed not, while I was at the Hague, to impart unto them my poor advice, concerning the proceeding of that Synodical Meeting. The difficulties of my return, in such weakness, were many and great: wherein, if ever, God manifested his special Providence to me, in overruling the cross accidents of that passage; and, after many dangers and despairs, contriving my safe arrival.

After not many years' settling at home, it grieved my soul, to see our own Church begin to sicken of the same disease, which we had endeavoured to cure in our neighbours. Mr. Montague's tart and vehement assertions of some positions, near of kin to the Remonstrants of Netherland, gave occasion of raising no small broil in the Church. Sides were taken: pulpits every where rang of these opinions: but parliaments took notice of the division, and questioned the occasioner. Now, as one that desired to do all good offices to our dear and common Mother, I set my thoughts on work, how so dangerous a