faln into want) many years at his own table; and maintain∣ed,
for the most part, a son of either of them at the Univer∣sity;
and though his many children might have restrained his
bounty; yet he was of Cyprian's mind, The more children, the
more charitie. He gave a dole of bread to the poor, on the Co∣ronation
and Powder-treason daies: At Christmass he gave
Corn to some, money to others, and to the rest of his neigh∣bours
liberal and loving entertainment. In the Harvest he
would say to the poor, as Boaz did to Ruth, Go not to glean in
another field, &c. And when at any time himself came into the
field, he would scatter of his heaps with a ful hand; so that
the poor would be ready to leap for joy at his coming.
When he set any on work, he payd freely, and speedily:
When the poor bought corn of him, they were sure to gain
both in price and measure; and yet as Wels drawn spring
more freely, so his substance encreased with his bounty. Hee
took much pains in composing the differences amongst his
neighbours. He was especially carefull to doe good to poor
Ministers, his fellow-labourers. Some that lived near him
tasted of his bounty oft, to whom he sent Wheat, or Malt, in
no scant proportion.
He was much given to Hospitality, and Strangers out of
other Nations, hearing his fame, resorted to him for his ac∣quaintance.
About December, Anno Christi 1621, having been at London,
as he was returning home, his horse by the way stumbling,
threw him down, & in the fal brake his leg, but being holpen
up, he rode to a town called Hodsdon, where in an Inn, hee
sent for a Bonesetter, by whom, after his leg was set, he was
directed to keep his bed ten dayes, which he willingly sub∣mitted
to. As he lay he imployed one of his sons who wait∣ed
on him, to write from his mouth some heavenly medita∣tions
upon the song of Hezekiah, when he had been sick, and
recovered of his sicknesse, Isaiah, 38, especially upon the 9,
10, 13, and 15 verses. Thus he continued to the tenth of De∣cember,
when early in the morning, being awakened by the
tolling of a passing bell (which probably occasioned in him a
strong apprehension of his own approaching death) he fell
into a discourse with his wife (who lay in the chamber by