I have no design to dispute with the Lady of Sir Lumley Robinson, but the way of entreaty I desire to use; and it is for that end I beg the favour of you to use your interest in that family, that my forty pounds annuity may be continued to me,-a thing not to be felt in their large possessions, but which will be to me a very great help. If you please to give yourself so much trouble, you will do an act of great justice and singular kindness, to, Sir, your most obedient and, much against her will, troublesome serDOR. TOORE." vant. From the Rev. Mr. RICHARD OLD*. "SIR, Ch. Ch. Oxon, Jan. 13, 1686. "The Common-Prayer-Books, and Explications of the Church Catechism, which I bestowed as your gift on the children in St. Peter's parish, according to your orders transmitted to me by Dr. Hickman, were acknowledged by their parents with such affectionate expressions of gratitude towards you, for that addition to your greater bounty, annually dispensed to your Lecturer on their behalf, and for their benefit; that I esteemed myself obliged bound to return theirs, together with my own most humble thanks to you, for the continuance of your generous charity to them, and most obliging favours to myself. I have found so good effects of it on the children themselves, in an apparent forwardness, and ingenuous emulation who shall give the most perfect account of the Catechism before the Congregation, and in bringing their books with them to Church, and repeating distinctly the responses throughout the whole Divine Service, as emboldens me to solicit your farther charity to be bestowed on Bibles, or what other good practical books of Christianity you shall please particularly to appoint, for those who are more adult; and on Explications of the Church Catechism and Common-Prayer-Books, as before, for the younger sort who want them. If you shall be pleased by any hand to send me your commission for this purpose, I will faithfully and punctually observe your instructions. I will go on to do my best endeavour to establish that people in a sound belief of the Articles of the Christian Religion; and to prevail on them to shew the sincerity of their faith, by a sober, righteous, and godly conversation. "That God would be pleased long to continue you in health and prosperity, as a most eminent instrument of his glory, and great public good to this Church and Kingdom; and hereafter reward your labours and charity with eternal happiness in the life to come, shall ever be the hearty prayer of "Your faithful and most humble servant, RICHARD OLD." "SIR, Christ Church, Oxon, June 20, 1687. "I am lately returned to this place, from whence I have been absent for three months, being so long detained in Shropshire, my native country, in adjusting some matters in difference be* M. A. 1666; B. D. 1678. tween myself and a cousin-german, concerning the division of an estate, which has been depending between our respective fathers in vexatious expensive suits at Common-law and in Chancery for the space of more than forty years, but are now brought to a full and perfect end by a reference; and pursuant thereto such deeds of settlement drawn as I hope will establish a perpetual friendship and amity, such as ought to be between so near relations. I took care that this indispensable occasion to solicit 'my own private affairs should be as little prejudice as possibly might be, to the discharge of my duty at St. Peter's in the Baily, which hath in good measure been performed by the kind assistance of some worthy persons, who were willing, at my request, to do me that office of friendship in the time of my necessary absence. I will now reassume that employment, and faithfully discharge that trust you have been pleased to repose in me, according to my former solemn promises made to you, so as not to be in arrear for any part of that duty to which I am obliged. Together with my salary for the quarter ending at Christmas, transmitted to me by Dr. Hickman, I received forty shillings as your charity, to be bestowed in Explications of the Church Catechism as formerly, among such children as appeared to deserve encouragement. Since that I had by letter from Dr. Hickman an indefinite commission from you to bestow money in Bibles and Common-Prayer-books which I will speedily execute, according to my best discretion, of which, and also how your former charity hath been disposed of, you shall receive a punctual account from, Sir, your most humble and most obliged servant, R. OLD." From JAMES LANE, Viscount LANESBOROUGH*. "DEAREST MASTER, Dublin, Feb. 5, 1687-8. Having so honest a gentleman's hands to convey this by, I could not fail of letting you know, who commanded it, that my journey was very prosperous, for I left my wife safe and well * Eldest son and heir of Sir George Lane, of Tuske, in the county of Roscommon, Knight and Baronet, Principal Secretary of State in Ireland and Privy Counsellor to King Charles II. (who created him Viscount Lanesborough), Clerk of the Star-Chamber, Keeper of the Records in Bemingham's Tower, and Secretary at War; who married, first. in 1644, Dorcas, second daughter of Sir Anthony Brabazan; and (that Lady dying in 1673) secondly, Lady Frances Sackville, first daughter of Richard Earl of Dorset. Dying Dec. 14, 1683, he was succeeded by his son James (the scholar of Busby), who was born Dec. 7, 1646; and married, in 1676, Mary, daughter of Sir Henry Compton, and grand-daughter of Spencer second Earl of Northampon. This was the "sober Lanesborough," whom Pope celebrates as "dancing in the gout" at an advanced age, and long after his legs were disabled by that malady. At the death of Prince George of Denmark he demanded an audience of the Queen, to advise her to preserve her health, and dispel her grief, by Dancing.-Dying without issue in 1724, the title became extinct; but it was conferred in 1728 on Brindley Butler, second Baron of Newton Butler; whose son, Humphrey, was created Earl of Lanesborough in 1756. at at her aunt Cope's; and am, God be praised, got into this kingdom myself so likewise. I had a calm sea, and but 12 hours in passing it. I am sure 1 am beholden to your prayers, which no doubt attend me, and which God will hear for me if my sins prevent them not. My Saviour's touch could staunch the poor widow's issue, and may he, I beg, so touch my heart, that all loathsome issues that so naturally flow thence may immediately stop. He has said, and I believe, he will not leave one that desires his divine assistance comfortless, but find us a way to escape the snares of the devil; and magnify himself in our weakness, while he plucks us like brands out of the fire. I often reflect how that, under God, it is to your reiterated lessons I owe that I am really convinced that in reason I should, and therefore desire still to do what is pleasing to my Creator, let evil be never so present or tempting to me; but, dear Master, pray that I get the victory over my body, and spend the rest of my pilgrimage to the glory of the God into whose eternal kingdom I would be received. I can say nothing as to this Kingdom but what all sides own and lament, the extreme poverty which is come on it, and which daily threatens to increase. Where I myself have a 1000l. due, I cannot by any means get 100%. nor indeed is it in the power of the tenant, by any industry, to make money of what the country produces. It is a strange alteration since I was last in this country, which really I did not believe, nor can any one that does not see it; but that we are sure God, who feeds the ravens, will, if we first seek the kingdom of Heaven, take care of us. Many, that had very plentiful fortunes, might want bread, if this fall of traffic and deserting of traders proceed much farther, or do not mend. "Dearest Master, I cannot but remember, with all the grateful thoughts imaginable, the kind expressions you used to me at parting. While I live, I shall study to deserve your esteem, since without any previous merit, you have ever been more like a father than master, in a continued series of doing kindnesses, affectionately, frequently to me from my infancy, that I can safely say it is my own fault I excel not most; and owing to your instructions that I am not hurried by my passions to herd among the worst of men. I am sorry I have spent now above half the age of a man useless to myself and others. Dear Master, put me into any method of doing good; and sure for the rest of my days, with God's assistance, and for his sake, and yours, if any thing in heaven or earth can oblige, I will steadily and constantly pursue it, that I may not render all your care in my education useless, by losing that immortal crown to which you taught me early that I should steer, robbing yourself of your sleep often, to inform me for my own good; for which I shall ever love and obey you, dearest Master, who am, "Your most dutiful and affectionate scholar and servant, LANESBOROUGH." From From the Rev. THOMAS SEVERNE*. "MY EVER HONOURED MASTER, Worcester, Oct. 21, 1689. "Understanding by the Public Letters that you are chosen a Member of the Convocation, I thought it incumbent on me, in point of duty, to acquaint you that I have had the vanity to frame an Act of Parliament for reducing the two styles into one, by forbidding Leap-years till the year 1736, whereby in the year 1832 the styles will be the same. I showed it my cousin Sommers, and withal this inclosed paper, who seemed to approve of it. He is their Majesties' Solicitor, and pens the Acts. The first part of the paper belongs wholly to the Houses of Parliament, for regulating the year; the two latter is to pass the House of Convocation; and the latter of them most proper for yourself, it being a point of criticism in the Greek language; all which you may either neglect or approve. I thought it my duty to submit it to your judgment, and acquaint you therewith. "I have, ever since I left my Lord Bridgeman (being forced by my occasions here upon my father's death), and brought my dear pupil his son unto your care, never been at London, but 1 have waited upon you; and have had the ill luck to come when you were from home. I live here upon a small viaticum, delight myself in variety of studies, but left off penning Sermons, which I found was weariness of the flesh, and indeed did pine me away, although I ever came off with approbation, I thank God; and I had my Lord's promise of any thing that should fall in his gift; but my Lady was too near, and had a wife ready to pin upon me, which life I was ever much averse to. I intend to wait upon you whenever I come to London; and if you shall condescend so far as to be inclinable to know more particulars of so inferior a person, I shall gladly let you further know them. You may pardon me if I subscribe myself under the title which you once gave in one of the letters you vouchsafed to send me, and I have ever since been proud of, your first beloved scholar,' THOMAS SEVERNE. "Lord! how I tremble to send this to you! I see you have me in awe still, and ever will." * This venerable Divine, son of John Severne, of Bradway, Worcestershire, who had been one of Dr. Busby's earliest scholars, was elected from Westminster to Christ Church in 1638; where he took the degree of M. A.; and was some time Tutor. He died at Worcester, and was buried in the Cathedral, with the following epitaph: "Sacrum Manibus THOME SEVERNE, quem nascentem vidit Vigorniensis Regio, Primis Literarum Elementis Westmonasterium imbuit, Inter Alumnos et Ornamenta sua Ædes Christi recensuit, Jamque Artibus, et Artium Insignibus decorum, in lucem Literariam Oxonium protulit. Ingenium illi a naturâ varium, solidumque, omnium disciplinarum capax, omnibus excultum, sed, cum indole et eruditione, notitiâ et usu rerum, pronum illi ad honores pateret iter, privatus vivere et latere maluit. Sic demum in patriâ interque suos, erudito consenuit otio, prudens qui turbis studia, et usum vitæ, pompæ prætulit. Tandem cœlebs et pænè octogenarius lubens fato cessit sexto die Octobris, A. D. 1698." Rev. Rev. THOS. BROWNE to JAMES COMPTON, Esq. SIR, Great Parndon, Jan. 25, 1711-12. "You will be pleased to pardon the trouble of this letter, and give me leave to intreat a favour of you, if it stand with your convenience, in behalf of this gentleman, son of Sir Christopher Hatton, Bart. in Cambridgeshire, from whom he brought a letter lately to my Lord of London, recommending him to his Lordship's favour at the last Ordination, but his Lordship being then indisposed, directed him to wait upon the Bishop of Winchester, by whom he was ordained. Since the Ordination he has been with me at my house near Harlow, and has heard of the vacancy of a small benefice in my Lord of London's gift in this County, but within eight or nine miles of Cambridge, which might be a convenience to a Fellow of a College, as he is of ours, though not desirable to another person, the value of it being about 40l. per annum, and no more, as we understand. This encourages him to presume to offer himself to his Lordship's favour, if his Lordship has not yet disposed of it; and I hope his father's character and worth being so well known to his Lordship may effectually recommend him, and plead my excuse for this presumption in begging the favour of your interest with his Lordship to promote his success. His qualifications for such a charge, as a man of very good reputation for learning and virtue, I have so far known him in St. John's College to be a very competent witness of; and have no more but to request of you to present my own very humble duty to my Lord of London, and to give me leave to subscribe myself, Sir, "Your most obedient humble servant, THO. BROWNE." "DEAR SIR, "Your readiness to shew me a kindness in your favour to my nephew, encourages me, you see, to presume upon your friendship; and I must own that whatever interest I have in any friend in St. John's, I think myself obliged to use it in behalf of the honourable bearer of this letter, who has done our College the honour (in which I value myself for being instrumental) to make himself, as well as his son, a Member of it. I need not acquaint you with his character, which I doubt not you have from our good Master, to whom he has been so long known to be a steady and zealous promoter of the true interest of the Church and Religion. As Mr. Prior has been pleased to set the College at liberty from their engagements to him, I hope Mr. Annesley may be so happy as to have the accession of their votes, to complete the good interest he has in King's and other Colleges; and as I am obliged to wish his success for the Church's as well as the University's sake, I hope that will be a sufficient apology for the trouble you have of this letter from, dear Sir, &c. THO. BROWNE." The Rev. Thomas Browne was by purchase Lord of the Manor of Passemers, in Great Parndon, Essex. He was author of "Miracles above and contrary to Nature; being an answer to a Preface to a Translation of Spinoza's Tractatus Theologico-politicus;' and of two Latin Sermons, containing a Defence of the Ordinations of the Church of England; also of "The Nag's Head Fable confuted," &c. Dr. |