gether with that knowledge which the King's Court had taken of him, could make relation far above ordinary: quitting both his deserts and all the opportunities that he had for worldly preferment, he betook himself to the Sanctuary and Temple of God, choosing rather to serve at God's Altar than to seek the honour of state employments. As for those inward enforcements to this course (for outward there was none), which many of these ensuing verses bear witness of, they detract not from the freedom, but add to the honor of this resolution in him. As God had enabled him, so He accounted him meet not only to be called, but to be compelled to this service; wherein his faithful discharge was such as may make him justly a companion to the primitive Saints, and a pattern or more for the age he lived in.

To testify his independency upon all others, and to quicken his diligence in this kind, he used in his ordinary speech, when he made mention of the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to add, My Master.

Next God, he loved that which God Himself hath magnified above all things-that is, His Word: so as he hath been heard to make solemn protestation, that he would not part with one leaf thereof for the whole world, if it were offered him in exchange.

His obedience and conformity to the Church and the discipline thereof was singularly remarkable. Though he abounded in private devotions, yet went he every morning and evening with his family to the church; and by his example, exhortations, and encouragements, drew the greater part of his parishioners

to accompany him daily in the public celebration of Divine Service.

As for worldly matters, his love and esteem to them was so little, as no man can more ambitiously seek than he did earnestly endeavor the resignation of an ecclesiastical dignity, which he was possessor of. But God permitted not the accomplishment of this desire, having ordained him His instrument for reedifying of the church belonging thereunto, that had lain ruinated almost twenty years. * The reparation whereof, having been uneffectually attempted by public collections, was in the end by his own and some few others' private free-will offerings successfully effected. With the remembrance whereof, as of an especial good work, when a friend went about to comfort him on his death-bed, he made answer, "It is a good work, if it be sprinkled with the blood of Christ;" otherwise than in this respect he could find nothing to glory or comfort himself with, neither in this nor in any other thing.

And these are but a few of many that might be said, which we have chosen to premise as a glance to some parts of the ensuing book, and for an example to the reader.

We conclude all with his own motto, with which

* Layton Ecclesia, now Leighton Bromswold, near Spaldwich, in the county of Huntingdon. Walton says it was "a costly mosaic, for the form an exact cross, and for the decency and beauty the most remarkable parish church that this nation affords. He lived to see it so wainscotted as to be exceeded by none, and by his order the reading pew and pulpit were a little distant from each other, and both of an equal height; for he would often say "they should neither have a precedency or priority of the other, but that Prayer and Preaching, being equally useful, might agree like brethren, and have an equal honour and estimation."

he used to conclude all things that might seem to tend in any way to his own honour:

Less than the least of God's mercies.

NICHOLAS FERRAR.*

*This celebrated member of the Church of England was the founder of the semi-monastic establishment of Little Gidding. He was born in London in 1593. He was in Parliament; but, giving up the world, established himself with his mother and family at Little Gidding, a village in Huntingdonshire, where, at that time, the church was used as a barn. He restored it, and estab lished in his house a round of prayers, watchings, and repetitions of Scripture for every hour of the day and night. Young women also were trained in the house for nursing the poor. King Charles the First twice visited Little Gidding. Ferrar died in 1637, five years after his friend Herbert.

THE

Life of Mr. George Herbert.

BY IZAAK WALTON.

EORGE HERBERT was born the third day of April, in the year of our Redemption 1593. The place of his birth was near to the town of Montgomery, and in that castle that did then bear the name of that town and county. That castle was then a place of state and strength, and had been successively happy in the family of the Herberts, who had long possessed it; and with it a plentiful estate, and hearts as liberal to their poor neighbors: a family that had been blessed with men of remarkable wisdom, and a willingness to serve their country, and indeed, to do good to all mankind; for which they were eminent. But, alas! this family did in the late rebellion suffer extremely in their estates; and the heirs of that castle saw it laid level with that earth that was too good to bury those wretches that were the cause of it.

The father of our George was Richard Herbert,* the son of Edward Herbert, Knight, the son of Richard

* Of Blakehall, in Montgomery.

Herbert, Knight, the son of the famous Sir Richard Herbert, of Colebrook, in the county of Monmouth, Banneret, who was the youngest brother of that memorable William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, that lived in the reign of our King Edward IV.

His mother was Magdalen Newport, the youngest daughter of Sir Richard, and sister to Sir Francis Newport, of High Arkall, in the county of Salop, Knight, and grandfather of Francis, Lord Newport, now Comptroller of His Majesty's Household; a family that for their loyalty have suffered much in their estates, and seen the ruin of that excellent structure where their ancestors have long lived and been memorable for their hospitality.

This mother of George Herbert (of whose person, wisdom, and virtue I intend to give a true account in a seasonable place) was the happy mother of seven sons and three daughters, which she would often say was Job's number and Job's distribution; and as often bless God that they were neither defective in their shapes or in their reason, and very often reprove them that did not praise God for so great blessing. I shall give the reader a short account of their names, and not say much of their fortunes. .

Edward, the eldest, was first made Knight of the Bath at that glorious time of our late Prince Henry's* being installed Knight of the Garter, and after many years' useful travel, and the attainment of many languages, he was by King James sent Ambassador resident to the then French King Louis XIII. There he continued about two years; but he could not subject Son of James I.