plotting, and that the majority of any party are not equal to a
sustained and concealed effort. The Jesuit, Mr. Inglesant, and the
other astute members of their party perceived with sorrow the course
things were taking without being able to remedy it. The former desisted
from all active efforts, contenting himself with assisting the Queen in
her attempts to win over members of the Parliament to her interest, and
in opposing and counteracting the intrigues of a small and fanatical
section of the Papists who were attempting a wild and insane plot
against the King and the Archbishop, which was said to extend to even
the attempting their death. As neither of these occupations was very
arduous, he had little need of Johnny's assistance, and left him very
much to himself. Inglesant, therefore, continued the cultivation of his
acquaintance with both parties pretty much in his own way. He had
several friends whose society he much valued among the Papists, and he
frequently attended mass when not obliged to by his attendance upon the
Queen; but he was rather more inclined to attach himself to the members
of the Laudian and High Church party, who presented many qualities which
interested and attracted him. He read with delight the books of this
party, Dr. Donne's and Herbert's Poems, and the writings of Andrews and
Bishop Cosin's Devotions, which last was much disliked by the Puritans,
and, indeed, the course he took could not have been more in accordance
with the Jesuit's plan of preparing him for future service, should the
time ever arrive when such usefulness should be required. In his mind
he was still devoted, though in a halting and imperfect manner, to that
pursuit of the spiritual life and purity which had attracted him when so
young, and he lost no opportunity of consulting any on these mysterious
subjects who he thought would sympathise with his ideas. In this he had
no assistance from his brother, who was devoted to the pursuit of
pleasure--of worldly pleasure, it is true, in its most refined
aspect--but still of such pleasures as are entirely apart from those of
the soul.
One of his friends had presented Inglesant with a little book, "Divine
Considerations of those things most profitable in our Christian
profession," written in Spanish by John Valdesso, a Papist, and
translated by a gentleman of whom Johnny heard a great deal, and was
exceedingly interested in what he heard. In this book the author says
several very high and beautiful things concerning the Spiritual life,
and of the gradual illumination of the Divine Light shed upon the mind,
as the sun breaks by degrees upon the eyes of a traveller in the dark.
But though Johnny was attracted to the book itself, he was principally
interested in it by what he heard of the translator. This was Mr.
Nicholas Ferrar, who had founded a religious house at Little Gidding, in
Huntingdonshire, or, as it was called in the world, the "Protestant
Nunnery," in which he lived with his mother and several nephews and
nieces, in the practice of good works and the worship of God.
Extraordinary attention had been attracted to this establishment by the
accounts of the strange and holy life of its inmates; and still more by
the notice which the King had condescended to take of it, not only
visiting it on his journey to Scotland, in 1633, but also requesting and
accepting presents of devotional books, which it was part of the
occupation of the family to prepare.
The accounts of this religious house, and of the family within it, so
excited Johnny's imagination that he became exceedingly desirous to see
it, especially as it was said that Mr. Ferrar was very infirm, and was
not expected to survive very long.
It was late in the autumn when he made this visit, about two months
before Mr. Ferrar's death. The rich autumn foliage was lighted by the
low sun as he rode through the woods and meadows, and across the
sluggish streams of Bedford and Huntingdon. He slept at a village a few
miles south of Little Gidding, and reached that place early in the day.
It was a solitary, wooded place, with a large manor house, and a little
Church close by. It had been for some time depopulated, and there were
no cottages nor houses near. The manor house and Church had been
restored to perfect order by Mr. Ferrar, and Inglesant reached it
through a grove of trees planted in walks, with latticed paths and
gardens on both sides. A brook crossed the road at the foot of the
gentle ascent on which the house was built. He asked to see Mr. Ferrar,
and was shown by a man-servant into a fair spacious parlour, where Mr.
Ferrar presently came to him. Inglesant was disappointed at his
appearance, which was plain and not striking in any way, but his speech
was able and attractive. Johnny apologised for his bold visit, telling
him how much taken he had been by his book, and by what he had heard of
him and his family; and that what he had heard did not interest him
merely out of curiosity, as he feared it might have done many, but out
of sincere desire to learn something of the holy life which doubtless
that family led. To this Mr. Ferrar replied that he was thankful to see
any one who came in such a spirit, and that several, not only of his own
friends, as Mr. Crashaw the poet, but many young students from the
University at Cambridge came to see him in a like spirit, to the
benefit, he hoped, of both themselves and of him. He said with great
humility, that although on the one hand very much evil had been spoken
of him which was not true, he had no doubt that, on the other, many
things had been said about their holiness and the good that they did
which went far beyond the truth. For his own part, he said he had
adopted that manner of life through having long seen enough of the
manners and vanities of the world; and holding them in low esteem, was
resolved to spend the best of his life in mortifications and devotion,
in charity, and in constant preparation for death. That his mother, his
elder brother, his sisters, his nephews and nieces, being content to
lead this mortified life, they spent their time in acts of devotion and
by doing such good works as were within their power, such as keeping a
school for the children of the next parishes, for teaching of whom he
provided three masters who lived constantly in the house. That for ten
years they had lived this harmless life, under the care of his mother,
who had trained her daughters and grand-daughters to every good work;
but two years ago they had lost her by death, and as his health was very
feeble he did not expect long to be separated from her, but looked
forward to his departure with joy, being afraid of the evil times he saw
approaching.
When he had said this, he led Inglesant into a large handsome room
upstairs, where he introduced him to his sister, Mrs. Collet, and her
daughters, who were engaged in making those curious books of Scripture
Harmonies which had so pleased King Charles. These seven young ladies,
who formed the junior part of the Society of the house, and were called
by the names of the chief virtues, the Patient, the Cheerful, the
Affectionate, the Submiss, the Obedient, the Moderate, the Charitable,
were engaged at that moment in cutting out passages from two Testaments,
which they pasted together so neatly as to seem one book, and in such a
manner as to enable the reader to follow the narrative in all its
particulars from beginning to end without a break, and also to see which
of the sacred authors had contributed any particular part.
Inglesant told the ladies what fame reported of the nuns of Gidding, of
two watching and praying all night, of their canonical hours, of their
crosses on the outside and inside of their Chapel, of an altar there
richly decked with plate, tapestry, and tapers, of their adoration and
genuflexions at their entering. He told Mr. Ferrar that his object in
visiting him was chiefly to know his opinion of the Papists and their
religion, as, having been bred among them himself, and being very nearly
one of them, he was anxious to know the opinions of one who was said to
hold many of their doctrines without joining them or approving them.
Mr. Ferrar appeared at first shy of speaking, but being apparently
convinced of the young man's sincerity, and that he was not an enemy in
disguise, he conversed very freely with him for some time, speaking much
of the love of God, and of the vanity of worldly things; of his dear
friend Mr. George Herbert, and of his saintly life; of the confused and
troublesome life he had formerly led, and of the great peace and
satisfaction which he had found since he had left the world and betaken
himself to that retired and religious life. That, as regards the
Papists, his translating Valdessa's book was a proof that he knew that
among them, as among all people, there were many true worshippers of
Jesus, being drawn by the blessed Sacrament to follow Him in the
spiritual and divine life, and that there were many things in that book
similar to the mystical religion of which Inglesant spoke, which his
dear friend Mr. George Herbert had disapproved, as exalting the inward
spiritual life above the foundation of holy Scripture: that it was not
for him, who was only a deacon in the Church, to pronounce any opinion
on so difficult a point, and that he had printed all Mr. Herbert's notes
in his book, without comment of his own: that though he was thus
unwilling to give his own judgment, he certainly believed that this
inward spiritual life was open to all men, and recommended Inglesant to
continue his endeavours after it, seeking it chiefly in the holy
Sacrament accompanied with mortification and confession.
While they were thus talking, the hour of evening prayer arrived, and
Mr. Ferrar invited Johnny to accompany him to the Church; which he
gladly did, being very much attracted by the evident holiness which
pervaded Mr. Ferrar's talk and manner. The family proceeded to Church
in procession, Mr. Ferrar and Inglesant walking first. The Church was
kept in great order, the altar being placed upon a raised platform at
the east end, and covered with tapestry stretching over the floor all
round it, and adorned with plate and tapers. Mr. Ferrar bowed with great
reverence several times on approaching the altar, and directed Inglesant
to sit in a stalled seat opposite the reading pew, from which he said
the evening prayer. The men of the family knelt on the raised step
before the altar, the ladies and servants sitting in the body of the
Church. The Church was very sweet, being decked with flowers and herbs;
and the soft autumn light rested over it. From the seat where Inglesant
knelt, he could see the faces of the girls as they bent over their books
at prayers. They were all in black, except one, who wore a friar's grey
gown; this was the one who was called the Patient, as Inglesant had been
told in the house, and the singularity of her dress attracted his eye
towards her during the prayers. The whole scene, strange and romantic
as it appeared to him, the devout and serious manner of the
worshippers--very different from much that was common in churches at
that day--and the abstracted and devout look upon the faces of the
girls, struck his fancy, so liable to such influences, and so long
trained to welcome them; and he could not keep his eyes from this one
face from which the grey hood was partly thrown back. It was a passive
face, with well-cut delicate features, and large and quiet eyes.
Prayers being over, the ladies saluted Inglesant from a distance, and
left the Church with the rest, in the same order as they had come,
leaving Mr. Ferrar and Johnny alone. They remained some time discoursing
on worship and Church ceremonies, and then returned to the house. It
was now late, and Mr. Ferrar, who was evidently much pleased with his
guest, invited him to stay the night, and even extended his hospitality
by asking him to stay over the next, which was Saturday, and the Sunday,
upon which, as it was the first Sunday in the month, the holy Sacrament
would be administered, and several of Mr. Ferrar's friends from
Cambridge would come over and partake of it, and to pass the night and
day in prayer and acts of devotion. To this proposition Inglesant
gladly consented, the whole proceeding appearing to him full of interest
and attraction. Soon after they returned to the house supper was
served, all the family sitting down together at a long table in the
hall. During supper some portion of the book of the Martyrs was read
aloud. Afterwards two hours were permitted for diversion, during which
all were allowed to do as they pleased.
The young ladies having found out that Inglesant was a Queen's page,
were very curious to hear of the Court and royal family from him, which
innocent request Mr. Ferrar encouraged, and joined in himself. One
reason of the success with which his mother and he had ruled this
household appears to have been his skill in interesting and attracting
all its inmates by the variety and pleasant character of their
occupations. He was also much interested himself in what Johnny told
him, for in this secluded family, themselves accustomed to prudence,
Inglesant felt he might safely speak of many things upon which he was
generally silent; and after prayers, when the family were retired to
their several rooms, Mr. Ferrar remained with him some time, while
Johnny related to him the aspect of religious parties at the moment, and
particularly all that he could tell, without violating confidence, of
the Papists and of his friend the Jesuit.
The next morning they rose at four, though two of the family had been at
prayer all night, and did not go to rest till the others rose. They
went into the oratory in the house itself to prayers, for they kept six
times of prayer during the day. At six they said the psalms of the hour,
for every hour had its appropriate psalms, and at half-past six went to
Church for matins. When they returned at seven o'clock they said the
psalms of the hour, sang a short hymn, and went to breakfast. After
breakfast, when the younger members of the family were at their studies,
Mr. Ferrar took Inglesant to the school, where all the children in the
neighbourhood were permitted to come. At eleven they went to dinner, and
after dinner there was no settled occupation till one, every one being
allowed to amuse himself as he chose. The young ladies had been trained
not only to superintend the house, but to wait on any sick persons in
the neighbourhood who came to the house at certain times for assistance,
and to dress the wounds of those who were hurt, in order to give them
readiness and skill in this employment, and to habituate them to the
virtues of humility and tenderness of heart. A large room was set apart
for this purpose, where Mr. Ferrar had instructed them in the necessary
skill, having been himself Physic Fellow at Clare Hall, in Cambridge,
and under the celebrated Professors at Padua, in Italy. This room
Inglesant requested to see, thinking that he should in this way also see
something of and be able to speak to the young ladies whose acquaintance
he had hitherto not had much opportunity of cultivating. Mr. Ferrar
told his nephew to show it him--young Nicholas Ferrar, a young man of
extraordinary skill in languages, who was afterwards introduced to the
King and Prince Charles, some time before his early death. When they
entered the room Inglesant was delighted to find that the only member of
the family there was the young lady in the Grey Friar's habit, whose
face had attracted him so much in Church. She was listening to the long
tiresome tale of an old woman, following the example of George Herbert,
who thought on a similar occasion, that "it was some relief to a poor
body to be heard with patience."
Johnny, who in spite of his Jesuitical and Court training was naturally
modest, and whose sense of religion made him perfectly well-bred,
accosted the young lady very seriously, and expressed his gratitude at
having been permitted to stay and see so many excellent and improving
things as that family had to show. The liking which the head of the
house had evidently taken for Inglesant disposed the younger members in
his favour, and the young lady answered him simply and unaffectedly, but
with manifest pleasure.
Inglesant inquired concerning the assumed names of the sisters and how
they sustained their respective qualities, and what exercises suited to
these qualities they had to perform. She replied that they had
exercises, or discourses, which they performed at the great festivals of
the year, Christmas and Easter; and which were composed with reference
to their several qualities. All of these, except her own, were
enlivened by hymns and odes composed by Mr. Ferrar, and set to music by
the music master of the family, who accompanied the voices with the viol
or the lute. But her own, she said, had never any music or poetry
connected with it; it was always of a very serious turn, and much longer
than any other, and had not any historical anecdote or fable interwoven
with it, the contrivance being to exercise that virtue to which she was
devoted. Inglesant asked her with pity if this was not very hard
treatment, and she only replied, with a smile, that she had the
enjoyment of all the lively performances of the others. He asked her
whether they looked forward to passing all their lives in this manner,
or whether they allowed the possibility of any change, and if she had
entirely lost her own name in her assumed one, or whether he might
presume to ask it, that he might have wherewithal to remember her by, as
he surely should as long as he had life. She said her name was Mary
Collet; and that as to his former question, two of her sisters had had,
at one time, a great desire to become veiled virgins, to take upon them
a vow of perpetual chastity, with the solemnity of a Bishop's blessing
and ratification, but on going to Bishop Williams he had discouraged,
and at last, dissuaded them from it.
Inglesant and the young lady remained talking in this way for some time,
young Nicholas Ferrar having left them; but at last she excused herself
from staying any longer, and he was obliged to let her go. He ventured
to say that he hoped they would remember him, that he was utterly
ignorant of the future that lay before him, but that whatever fate
awaited him, he should never forget the "Nuns of Gidding" and their
religious life. She replied that they would certainly remember him, as
they did all their acquaintance, in their daily prayer, especially as
she had seldom seen her uncle so pleased with a stranger as he had been
with him. With these compliments they parted, and Inglesant returned to
the drawing-room, where more visitors had arrived.
In the afternoon there came from Cambridge Mr. Crashaw the poet, of
Peterhouse, who afterwards went over to the Papists and died Canon of
Loretto, and several gentlemen, undergraduates of Cambridge, to spend
the Sunday at Gidding, being the first Sunday of the month. Mr.
Crashaw, when Inglesant was introduced to him as one of the Queen's
pages, finding that he was acquainted with many Roman Catholics, was
very friendly and conversed with him apart. He said he conceived a
great admiration for the devout lives of the Catholic saints, and of the
government and discipline of the Catholic Church, and that he feared
that the English Church had not sufficient authority to resist the
spread of Presbyterianism, in which case he saw no safety except in
returning to the communion of Rome. Walking up and down the garden
paths, after evening prayers in Church, he spoke a great deal on this
subject, and on the beauty of a retired religious life, saying that here
at Little Gidding and at Little St. Marie's Church, near to Peterhouse,
he had passed the most blissful moments of his life, watching at
midnight in prayer and meditation.
That night Mr. Crashaw, Inglesant, and one or two others remained in the
Church from nine till twelve, during which time they said over the whole
Book of Psalms in the way of antiphony, one repeating one verse and the
rest the other. The time of their watch being ended they returned to the
house, went to Mr. Ferrar's door and bade him good-morrow, leaving a
lighted candle for him. They then went to bed, but Mr. Ferrar arose
according to the passage of Scripture "at midnight I will arise and give
thanks," and went into the Church, where he betook himself to religious
meditation.
Early on the Sunday morning the family were astir and said prayers in
the oratory. After breakfast many people from the country around and
more than a hundred children came in. These children were called the
Psalm children, and were regularly trained to repeat the Psalter, and
the best voices among them to assist in the service on Sundays. They
came in every Sunday, and according to the proficiency of each were
presented with a small piece of money, and the whole number entertained
with a dinner after Church. The Church was crowded at the morning
service before the Sacrament. The service was beautifully sung, the
whole family taking the greatest delight in Church music, and many of
the gentlemen from Cambridge being amateurs. The Sacrament was
administered with the greatest devotion and solemnity. Impressed as he
had been with the occupation of the preceding day and night, and his
mind excited with watching and want of sleep and with the exquisite
strains of the music, the effect upon Inglesant's imaginative nature was
excessive. Above the altar, which was profusely bedecked with flowers,
the antique glass of the East window, which had been carefully repaired,
contained a figure of the Saviour of an early and severe type. The form
was gracious and yet commanding, having a brilliant halo round the head,
and being clothed in a long and apparently seamless coat; the two
fore-fingers of the right hand were held up to bless. Kneeling upon the
half-pace, as he received the sacred bread and tasted the holy wine,
this gracious figure entered into Inglesant's soul, and stillness and
peace unspeakable, and life, and light, and sweetness, filled his mind.
He was lost in a sense of rapture, and earth and all that surrounded him
faded away. When he returned a little to himself, kneeling in his seat
in the Church, he thought that at no period of his life, however
extended, should he ever forget that morning or lose the sense and
feeling of that touching scene, of that gracious figure over the altar,
of the bowed and kneeling figures, of the misty autumn sunlight and the
sweeping autumn wind. Heaven itself seemed to have opened to him and
one fairer than the fairest of the angelic hosts to have come down to
earth.
After the service, the family and all the visitors returned to the
mansion house in the order in which they had come, and the Psalm
children were entertained with a dinner in the great hall; all the
family and visitors came in to see them served, and Mrs. Collet, as her
mother had always done, placed the first dish on the table herself to
give an example of humility. Grace having been said, the bell rang for
the dinner of the family, who, together with the visitors, repaired to
the great dining-room, and stood in order round the table. While the
dinner was being served they sang a hymn to the organ at the upper end
of the room. Then grace was said by the Priest who had celebrated the
communion, and they sat down. All the servants who had received the
Sacrament that day sat at table with the rest. During dinner one of the
young people whose turn it was, read a chapter from the Bible, and when
that was finished conversation was allowed; Mr. Ferrar and some of the
other gentlemen endeavouring to make it of a character suitable to the
day, and to the service they had just taken part in. After dinner they
went to Church again for evening prayer; between which service and
supper Inglesant had some talk with Mr. Ferrar concerning the Papists
and Mr. Crashaw's opinion of them.