Prestwich.
[This work has already been incidentally noticed in our Second Volume,
pp. 140. 220. and 476.; and in Vol. iii., p. 157. Two editions of
Herbert's Memoirs have been published; the first in 1702, and the
second in 1813. The edition of 1702 is the best, as it contains an
"Advertisement to the Reader," and several documents omitted in the
edition published by G. and W. Nicol of Pall Mall in 1813. The
following is the title to it:--
"Memoirs of the Two last Years of the Reign of that unparallel'd
Prince, of ever-blessed Memory, King Charles I. By Sir Tho. Herbert,
Major Huntington, {588} Col. Edw. Coke, and Mr. Hen. Firebrace. With
the Character of that Blessed Martyr, by the Reverend Mr. John Diodati,
Mr. Alexander Henderson, and the Author of the _Princely Pelican_. To
which is added, the Death-Bed Repentance of Mr. Lenthal, Speaker of the
Long Parliament; extracted out of a Letter written from Oxford, Sept.
1662. London: printed for Robert Clavell, at the Peacock, at the
West-end of St. Paul's, 1702,"
The "Advertisement to the Reader" states that, "there having been of
late years several Memoirs printed and published relating to the life
and actions of the Royal Martyr, King Charles I., of ever-blessed
memory, it was judged a proper and seasonable time to publish Sir
Thomas Herbert's _Carolina Threnodia_, under the title of his
_Memoirs_, there being contained in this book the most material
passages of the two last years of the life of that excellent and
unparallel'd prince, which were carefully observ'd and related by the
author in a large answer of a letter wrote to him by Sir William
Dugdale. In the same book is printed Major Huntington's relation made
to Sir William of sundry particulars relating to the King; as also
Colonel Edw. Coke's and Mr. Henry Firebrace's narratives of several
memorable passages observed by them during their attendance on him at
Newport, in the Isle of Wight, anno '48. All these were copied from a
MS. of the Right Reverend the Bishop of Ely, lately deceased; and, as I
am credibly informed, a copy of the several originals is now to be seen
amongst the Dugdale MSS. in Oxford library. To these Memoirs are added
two or three small tracts, which give some account of the affairs of
those times, of the character of K. Charles I., and of his just claim
and title to his _Divine Meditations_. These having been printed anno
1646, 48, 49, and very scarce and difficult to procure, were thought
fit to be reprinted for publick service. As to the letter which gives
an account of Mr. Lenthal's carriage and behaviour on his death-bed, it
was printed anno 1662, and the truth of it attested by the learned Dr.
Dickenson, now living in St. Martin's Lane.... This I thought fit to
advertise the reader of, by way of introduction, that he might be
satisfied of the genuineness of the respective pieces, and thereby be
encouraged to peruse them with confidence and assurance."]
"_Liturgy of the Ancients._"--Who was the author of a thin 4to. book
entitled _The Liturgy of the Ancients represented, as near as may be, in
English Forms, &c._, "London, printed for the Authour, 1696." He added to
it "A Proposal of a compleat work of Charity."