XIV. His last Sickness and Death.
AND now we are arrived at the last scene of this great and good Mans life. In the later end of the year 1675. that year when Colds were so rife and so mortal, our Doctor going to his residence at Ely, fell into one of these Colds: which he complaining of was persuaded to eat a Red Herring, and to drink two or three glasses of Claret. The former he easily did, but the later he was more difficultly drawn to, having always used to drink nothing but small Beer or Water. This little Wine, according to the judgment of his Physician cast him into a Fever, or at least heightned it. The disease much af∣fected his head, so that he lay dozing and slumbering, saying but little: only when any asked him, how he did, he would devoutly say, In the Hands of a good God; which he repeated often. His behaviour all the time of his sickness was with exceeding much meekness, patience and silence, speaking much with God and himself, but little, as I said, to others. When Dr. Callamy, then a Fellow of Katharine Hall, went to Ely to Visit him, he found him in this condition, using very few words; when he asked him if he had made his Will, and settled his Secular affairs, he answered, He had, and told him where his Will was. His Physicians were Dr. Gosnald of Cambridge, and Dr. Hicks of Ely. Dr. Mapletoft, the Reverend Dean, and Dr. Womock, a Prebend there, now Lord Bishop of S. Davids, were his chief Visitants, who performed the Offices of the Church with him. Thus he lay near a fortnight, and then rendred up his Pious and Virtuous Soul into the Hands of his good God, in a good old age, being seventy four years old within some few months: and yet might have lived much longer, if one may gather con∣jectures of the length of Mens lives by their healthfulness, and vivacity. But besides his years, his Works, and the excellent service he did in his generation would have bespoke him an old Man indeed. In which regard none was freer from that which Seneca makes the great reproach of old age, viz. when there is nothing to compute age by, but years. Nihil turpius est, saith he, quam grandis natu senex, qui nullum aliud habet argumentum, quo se probet diu vixisse, praeter aetatem. His body was brought from Ely to his beloved Mun∣den, where he had been Minister near two and thirty years, and was there buried; Mr. Gervase Fulwood, formerly a Fellow of Katharine Hall, and who had long known him, preaching his Funeral Sermon. He was interred greatly beloved and greatly la∣mented by all that knew him, and especially his Parishioners, who took their last leave of him with many sighs and tears.