CHRISTIAN LESSON, HOW TO DIE! And we can have little doubt but that, had Morley, like Laud, been called to suffer the great agony himself, he would have shown how well he could have practised the lessons he taught. Morley had lived, as we have related, from the time of his expulsion from Oxford, at the lonely cottage of poor Isaak Walton. He had now sojourned in that peaceful but humble abode twelve whole months, and to that cottage of affectionate friendship he returned after the execution of Lord Capel, for a few weeks, we may imagine, till he left England, to partake exile and adversity with his new master, the Son of the murdered Charles. From the time of his leaving the household of Lord Carnarvon, the life of Morley was that of peculiar sorrow. Both his friends, Carnarvon and Falkland immaturely perished the King was no more Lord Capel no more - his Oxford friends scattered his portion penury. Every one knows the circumstances of the Papal visitation at Oxford, but the Puritanic visitation, though important in many respects, and involving the fate of so many ornaments of the Church, has been less considered, chiefly because the Clergy, under all their wrongs, suffered in dignified silence. They appealed not even to compassion, if we except Hall's "Hard Fare!" and a few other narratives. The ejected Non-conformists preached and published their "Farewell Sermons." It was not till after Calamy had written his account of the number of the sufferers under the Act of Uniformity that Walker, as late as the reign of Queen Anne, published the names of those ejected in 1647, and by Cromwell's "tryers." He has given the names and residences of two thousand clergymen, ejected from their livings, and turned into the world to beg their bread, without any complaint, except in a very few instances. Walker, in his "History of the Sufferings of the Clergy," has detailed the residences and names. As to the Oxford Puritanical visitation, the particulars may be seen in Wood's History of the University. Walker has quoted a curious book written at the time, now in the Bodleian Library, called "Pegasus." This publication gives a ludicrous description of Lord Pembroke, and his godly train, whom the Parliament sent down to Oxford, with full powers to reform and purify it. The entrance of the solemn cavalcade into Oxford is described with some humour and pleasantry. Francis Cheynell, "damned to everlasting fame" for his insults on the dying and dead Chillingworth, was a principal actor, and as delighted as Hugh Peters is described, when he rode before the miserable Charles, "triumphing!" Lord Pembroke, the fifth Earl of Pembroke, who having voted against the Bishops, was himself dis * A few, and those very few, are duplicates. missed, when the House of Peers was voted "useless and dangerous," was afterwards one of the three inglorious Lords who sat in the House of Commons, being returned for Berkshire. He was very tall, and in this pious expedition he appeared in front, with lofty figure and puritanic visage, as the "knight of the woeful countenance," sallying forth to purify "ALMA MATER" of all such "scandalous and malignant" members as Chillingworth, Hammond, Morley, Jeremy Taylor, with commission to fill their places with the "really pious," such as Francis Cheynell and his solemn brethren! The next morning, the Heads of Houses, Doctors, &c. were summoned: some attended, but the far greater number refused to appear, who were then condemned as contumacious. I have spoken only of admitted facts. In the Bodleian Library are some other pamphlets, relating to these times, bound together with "Pegasus;" among others, a list of the Members of Parliament (House of Commons) when Lenthall was Speaker, with an account of their salaries and offices. JOHN SELDEN* is noted as an honourable exception, who refused to partake of the wages, and often voted against the measures of the House. In the List of Impropriations purchased by the * CHILLINGWORTH, SELDEN, SOMMERS, and CHATHAM,were all educated at Trinity. Commissioners, &c. printed in 1648, is 50l. per annum settled upon the CHURCH OF FROME for ever, to be paid by Sir James Thynne, of Longleat, knt. for which his fine (as a delinquent) was reduced to 30861. I mention these things as connected with the subject of this chapter. There is one pamphlet of considerable interest, though short, detailing some of the occurrences in the Isle of Wight, of which we have spoken, and particularly at Carisbrook Castle, with a wood-cut representing the interview in the presence-chamber in Carisbrook Castle, between Charles I. and Sir Peter Killegrew, who conveyed his "Last Propositions to both Houses of Parliament, Sept. 1648. 99 Cheynell, who makes such a distinguished figure in these times at Oxford, was of Merton College, at whose gates the Parliamentary Visitors were received by him in form! His taste, piety, and gratitude to the founder of the College to which he owed the education he disgraced, the following inscription, now to be seen over the grave of the founder of Merton, will attest, as well as the spirit of the academical iconoclasts of this period: Hunc tumulum, FANATICORUM RABIE, quæ durante pro suâ erga Fundatorem pietate Custode, Thomâ Clayton, equite. memora This monument, sacred to every feeling of piety and gratitude, the memorable Cheynell ble from his own account of what took place at the funeral of Chillingworth - might have preserved; but piety and gratitude did not distinguish his class, and his feelings respecting any venerable monument of ancient piety, we may suppose, were of the nature of a Bishop of Winchester, Robert Horne, 1570, who writes thus to the President and Fellows of Trinity: "I am informed that certain monuments, tending to idolatize, and POPISH or DEVIL's service, as crosses, and such like FILTHY STUFFE, remain in your College UNDEFACED," &c.* *Thanks to Mr. Britton, Skelton, &c. these monuments are appreciated by every man of feeling, sense, and taste; though the same destruction may again take place when the leaders have confidence enough to cry havoc, in the spirit of Martin, who, crazed by his creed,—as millions tremble, in the present day, on the verge of religious lunacy-was fully persuaded he was doing the "Lord's work," when he set fire to York Cathedral! The letter, on this occasion, from some Ministers in the connection of John Wesley, does them the highest honour. We have lived to see a Cathedral set on fire, and witnessed what was never exhibited in Cromwell's days a fellow keeping a BROTHEL, domineering over his "young Corinthian laity" all the week, and regularly "preaching the Gospel" on Sundays." Police Reports at Bow-street. |