The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

XII. His Patrons and Friends.

HIS great Learning and excellent Qualities reconciled him Friends and admirers among those of his own Rank and Degree, and made him a favourite to Men of Eminency and Honour. Besides those I have already mentioned he was dear to, and highly valued by, his Grace, the most Reverend Father in God Gilbert late Lord Arch∣bishop of Canterbury: through whose mediation, his Parsonage of Great Munden, and his Mastership of Katharine Hall were confirmed to him by the King. Which he acknow∣ledged in two Epistles before two of his Hebrew and Talmudick Exercitations. The Right Honorable, Sir Orlando Bridgman, sometime Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, a Learned and Good Man, took a pleasure in his Learning; and when he was Judge, and went the Circuits, he always desired, and frequently procured Dr. Lightfoot to preach at the Assises at Hertford, whom for his Learned and unusual Notions he delighted to hear. He was one of his great Encouragers to proceed in his Hebrew and Talmudical Explana∣tions of the New Testament; Consilio, auxilio, Patrocinio, Munificentia, by his Counsil, aid, Patronage, and Bounty, as he speaks himself in his Epistle Dedicatory before the Horae upon S. John. The Right Honorable and Right Learned Sir William Morice Kt. one of the Principal Secretaries of State, deserves to be mentioned in the next place; who, unasked, unsought to, was very serviceable to our Author in procuring the Kings favour and his Letters Patents for him: The sense of which (for none so sensible of kindnesses) made him think himself obliged to put his Name before one of his Books. He was also endeared to two Personages of Hertfordshire, of great Honour and Integrity, viz. Sir Tho. Brograve Baronet, and Sir Henry Cesar Knight.

The former of these was doubly related to the Doctor, viz. in affinity, and in the course of his Studies, being Learned in the Jewish literature. As appears by a design he and the Doctor had of going to Dr. Castels Library to peruse some Books of his of that nature. To which Dr. Castel in a Letter gives them free leave, telling them, That his Cabbalistic and Rabbinic Books were most of them at Higham Gobyon: where his Study doors should stand wide open to give Sir Thomas and him entrance, every Book they found there most truly at the service of them both, to take and use at their pleasure. The entercourse between Sir Thomas and the Doctor was very frequent both by Letters and Visits, the distance not being so great, (only two miles) but that they might walk the one to the other on foot: which they often did, out of that great endearedness that was between them, and for conferring together in the things of their Studies. A Friend of mine has heard the Doctor tell more than once, how upon occasion of some discourse between them about such a Subject, Sir Thomas departed from him, and presently penned a Discourse about

the University of Athens, and brought it to him; which the Doctor after lent out to some one, that had desired it, but could not call to mind to whom; so that that Lear∣ned piece was stifled, and irrecoverably gone. And I have great cause to suspect, that this which happened to the Writing of the Doctors friend, happened also otherwhiles to himself. In whose hands soever any of his Books or Writings lie concealed, to say no worse of them, they deserved not the Friendship of so worthy a Man.

His friendship to Sir Henry Cesar appeared in the several Visits he gave him in his sick∣ness, the small Pox, which I think was mortal to him. Though he was very fearful for his own Family; yet his singular love and respect to Sir Henry made him not to prefer that consideration to his service in such a time. Whose early death he very much la∣mented.

But his first and antient Friend, Chaplain and Patron (as he used to call him, and that in many just regards) we must not, we cannot forget: for he never forgat him to his dy∣ing day, and scarcely ever spake of him but with a transport of affection. I mean Sir Rowland Cotton of Shropshire. Who gave him the Presentation of Ashley in Stafford∣shire, and was the great instrument of putting him upon the study of the Rabbins, and being himself very Learned in them was his Tutor, as well as his Patron. With much care, tenderness and condescension did he guide and lead on my Studies (as he publickly de∣clares in an Epistle to Mr. William Cotton his Nephew and his Heir) in the same way, that he himself had been trained by that choice and incomparable Oracle of Learning, Mr. Hugh Broughton. And in the same Epistle, He professeth, he always esteemed it one of the choi∣sest advantages that ever accrued to him, that it was his hap and happiness at his first setting out into the Study of Scriptures and Divinity, to be settled in his House, and to come under his Tutorage and Instruction. Undoubtedly Sir Rowland had perceived a good Spirit, and an excellent genius in young Mr. Lightfoot: and that he wanted nothing but counsil and direction, and some body to recommend a good method of study to him, to make him a great Scholar; and this made that worthy Person undertake him himself; as foreseeing what he would afterwards prove, in case his Studies were well regulated at first. This kindness he ever remembred: which let him speak for himself. He (meaning Sir Row∣land) laid such doubled and redoubled obligations upon me by the tender affection, respect and favour that he shewed towards me, as have left so indelible an impression upon my heart, of Honour to his dear Name and observance to his House of Bellaport, that length of time may not were it out, nor distance of place ever cause me to forget it. As a Commentary upon which words, I might mention the care and regard he ever had to the family of the Cot∣tons. And I do remember, that when I was a Student of Katharine Hall, there was one who was a Cotton, and an heir of that Family, was likewise a Student, and admitted there by the Doctors means: over whom he had a more especial Eye; and frequently had him sent for into his Lodgings, to eat with him, and confer with him, and to shew kindness to him for Jonathans (I mean his Great Uncles) sake. And out of respect to that dear name he caused one of his sons to be called, Cottonus. Nay he loved the very name of Bellaport, the seat of Sir Rowland. And I have a Letter, which Sir Rowland wrote Anno 1629. in answer to his Epistle Dedicatory to him before his first Book, that he published; this beloved Letter the Doctor preserved unto his dying day, as a kind of Sacred Relique: upon which was wrote with his own hand, Sir Rowland Cottons Letter.

And for a conclusion of our Discourse of Sir Rowland Cotton, whom we have spoke so largely of (and of whom Dr. Lightfoot could never talk enough) hear the Conclusion of his Funeral Sermon upon him, prepared, though not Preached, upon what occasion I know not.

That blessed Soul, that is now with God, in the night of its departure, laid the burthen of this present Work upon me, in these words, You are my old ac∣quaintance, do me the last Office of a Friend, make my funeral Sermon, but praise me not. A hard task, Fathers and Brethren, is laid upon me; when I, who of all Men this day have the greatest cause to mourn for his loss that is departed, should of all Men this day be allowed the least liberty of mourning, because of this present work. And a strange task, Fathers and Brethren, is laid upon me, when I must make to you all a Funeral Sermon, and yet must tell to none of you for whom tis made. For if I do but call him Sir Rowland Cotton, I commend him. It was not a time to say so then, but now I dare say it over again; a hard task, Fathers and Brethren, is laid upon me, when I must have much cause of tears for his death, and yet not be allowed to weep; and such reason of remembrance of his life, and yet be denyed to praise. I obey, Blest Soul, I obey: but I am full, I cannot hold: Dispence with me something, for I cannot hold. It is for your sake, Worthy Audience, that I must hold tears, lest they should hinder my speech. Be pleased to give me liberty of speech, in recompence of my re∣strained tears. And it is for thy sake, Blest Soul, that I must withhold commendation, lest I should break thy command: give me liberty of indignation against that command

in recompence of my restraint from thy Commendation. Meus, Tuus, noster, imo Christi, as Hierom of Nepotianus: so we of him, whose departure we may commemo∣rate: My, Sir Rowland Cotton, Yours, the Countries, nay Christs, hath forsaken us: and because Christs, therefore he hath forsaken us, to go to him, whose he wholly was.

Oh! that my head were waters, or rather words, for only that manner of mourn∣ing; and my Tongue a fountain of tears, for only that instrument of weeping is al∣lowed me now: that I might weep day and night, not for him that is gone; for he is gone where he always was, and where he would be: but for my self, but for you, but for the Country. It is not my ambition, but my sorrow, that I claim the first place, and to be first served in this heavy dole of lamentation. For I have lost, I cannot tell you what: My Noble Patron, my best Friend, my Father, my—my Self. I should lose, if I should but begin to tell what he was to me. Why should I speak more? For should I speak my self away, I could never speak enough. Oh! my Father, my Father, the Chariot of Israel, and the Horseman thereof; How thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of Women! And is it nothing to you, O ye that s•••• by? Behold and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. He it was, that first laid the foundation of my poor Studies, and always watered them with his discourse, and encouragement: and now the Lord hath taken my Master from my head. He it was under whose branches I sheltred, when any storm was up; and now my Tree of defence is cut down. He it was, that was my Oracle, both for things of this life, and of a better: and now my Prophet is not any more. He it was, that was all things to me, that man could be; but now can be nothing to me, but sorrow. And is this no∣thing to you, O all ye that sit by? Yes, the Cup is gone among you also, and a great Man is fallen in your Israel. Hath not the Magistracy, hath not the Gentry, hath not the Country, lost such a Man, as was—But you must speak out the rest: for his Command stops my mouth. You of the Magistracy know how he had Wisdom in an high degree, as was his calling, and withal care and conscience answerable to his Wis∣dom, to discharge his calling. And you may commend this rarity in him, I dare not. You of the Gentry know, that he was a prime Flower in your Garland, that he spake a true Gentleman in all his actions, in his comportment, in his attendance, in his talk, once for all, in his hospitality, even to admiration: and you may commend him, I dare not, &c.

A sensible strain of Rhetorick! which passion and inward sorrow had as large a share in dictating, as Art.