It is not known how long the business of making Concordances was continued at Gidding. There is a letter from John Ferrar printed, in which occurs a remark that perhaps if “noble or learned personages knew of them, they would desire to have some made for their own use, or for some library, as rarities in their kind.” He also says that this work, “which costs much time and labour, might be an answer to the libel that no work was done at Gidding, but all the time spent in contemplation, as it would make the world believe.” There is also a request to a Dr. Basire for two copies each of various editions and translations of the New Testament in many different languages, so it is certain that the work was to be carried on and developed as far as possible; and in all probability it only ceased when the “handy workwomen” went away from their united home to marry, and devote themselves to more serious, and perhaps less pleasant, occupations.
In the library of Magdalen College, Cambridge,may be seen all the materials for a Concordance similar to that at St. John’s, Oxford, viz. “The Five Books of Moses.” There are two big bundles of folio sheets, designed and plotted out for engravings and letterpress; but no progress had been made with the work, except (curiously enough) the title-page, which was completed, and finishes with the words, “Done at Little Gidding,a.d.1641.”
This method of bookmaking is not exactly in accordance with modern ideas, but it may throw a little light on the fact that although we know the King’s Concordance took a whole year to complete, there are no less than four volumes dated 1640, and one of these is the great Harmony in four languages. Until this unfinished Concordance was brought to light, it was always difficult to explain why four works were dated the same year.
Before we leave this subject, a few words must be said on some wonderful productions of the younger Nicholas Ferrar, which are reported to have been shown to the King when “the Monotessaron” was presented to Prince Charles; but they were afterwards taken back to Gidding.
There was, first, “The Gospel according to the holy Evangelists in eight languages, viz. Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, High Dutch, Saxon, and Welsh, interpreted with Latin or English, word for word, and at one view to be seen and read.”
Second: “The New Testament in twenty-four languages,” each language written in its proper characters;
Third: “The Gospel of St. John in as many languages as there are chapters (i.e.each chapter in a different language), and interpreted word for word into Latin or English.”
These were not printed books, but all in the handwriting of young Ferrar, who at the early age of twenty-one had apparently mastered twenty-four languages.
This brief sketch must now be brought to a close, with the hope that it may prove interesting to some who are unable to peruse the longer narratives on the same subject, and which are, indeed, very scarce at the present time. Should the writer’s hopes be fulfilled, it will surely be to them, as it is to him, a matter of great satisfaction that at least a part of the work carried on at Little Gidding should have been of such a permanentnature that, after 250 years, the result can still be seen and enjoyed almost in its original freshness, and can, indeed, be actually used for its original purpose.
The workmanship of the Concordances was so excellent in every detail, even to the paste used for their construction, that the volumes may well last for another period of 250 years. And as we turn over their pages and admire the method, the neatness, and the skilful design therein exhibited, our thoughts are carried back to the days and the scenes of their creation, and we picture to ourselves more vividly the happy and religious family which day by day met in the great Concordance room, the well-ordered procession wending its way to the little church at their gate, the meals in the great hall, enlivened only by the “historical anecdote, easy and delightful,” the daily repetition of David’s Psalms, and the frequent singing to the organ, which was tuned so low as to be a disturbance to no one, and the words of the hymn which was frequently sung every day—
“So angels sing, and so sing we,To God on high all glory be,Let Him on earth His peace bestow,And unto men His favour show.”
“So angels sing, and so sing we,To God on high all glory be,Let Him on earth His peace bestow,And unto men His favour show.”
But though our fancy naturally dwells on the younger and more active members, we must by no means forget the mother of the family, the source of all the virtues exhibited in her children and grandchildren.
Living to the age of seventy-nine, Mrs. Ferrar “at her dying day had no infirmity and scarce any sign of old age upon her.” “There were few women, as all that knew her can testify, that exceeded her in comeliness of body and excellent beauty; of fair, modest, and sober deportment, grave in her looks, humble in her carriage towards all people, superlative in discretion; of few words but when she spoke (as occasion offered itself) no woman passed her in eloquence, in judgement, and wisdom. Great was her devotion to God, and her love to God’s word, constant her reading of the Scriptures, and her singing of the Psalms, when she sat at work with her children and maids about her.”
An inscription in the great parlour, written by her in the last year of her life, may well be given here as a fitting conclusion to this imperfect narrative:—
I. H. S.
He who by reproof of our errors, and remonstrance of that which is more perfect seeks to make us better, is welcome as an Angel of God.
And
He who, by a cheerful participation and approbation of that which is good, confirms us in the same is welcome as a Christian Friend.
But
He who any ways goes about to disturb us in that which is and ought to be amongst Christians (tho’ it be not usual in the world) is a burden whilst he stays, and shall bear his judgement, whosoever he be.
And
He who faults us in absence, for that which in presence he made show to approve of, doth by a double guilt of flattery and slander, violate the bands both of friendship and charity.
Mary Ferrar, Widow,Mother of this family,and aged about fourscore years,who bids adieu to all fears and hopes of this worldand only desires to serve God,set up this Table.
printed by william clowes and sons,limited,london and beccles.
[1]The details of the life at Little Gidding contained in the following pages are derived chiefly from “Two lives of Nicholas Ferrar, by his brother John, and by Dr. Jebb,” Baker’s MSS., edited by Dr. Mayor, of Cambridge, and from “Life of Nicholas Ferrar, by Dr. Turner,” Bishop of Ely. Both these works are now out of print. The accounts of the various Harmonies or Concordances are derived entirely from personal examination of the separate volumes, or from direct communication with their owners.
[20]Three of these volumes are now in the British Museum.
[35]The most accurate accounts are those in “Nicholas Ferrar,” edited by Canon Carter, published 1892, and in a paper by the present Author, prepared for the Society of Antiquaries, and printed inArchæologiafor 1888. Even these accounts are not quite accurate at the present time, some of the volumes having changed hands in the last few years.—J. E. A.