Historia ecclesiæ Dunelmensis.

Hollandi chymica.

De alchymiæ scriptoribus.

The black-book of the new law, collected by me, and digested

into alphabetical titles, written with my own hand, which is the original copy.

127

NOTES

OF THE

LIFE AND DEATH

OF

SIR MATTHEW HALE,

WRITTEN BY RICHARD BAXTER, AT THE REQUEST OF EDW. STEPHENS, ESQ.; PUBLISHER OF HIS CONTEMPLATIONS, AND HIS FAMILIAR FRIEND.

SINCE the history of judge Hale's life is published, written by Dr. Burnet very well, some men have thought, that, (because my familiarity with him was known, and the last time of a man's life is supposed to contain his maturest judgment, . . time, study, and experience correcting former oversights, . . and this great man, who was most diligently and thirstily learning to the last, was like to be still wiser,) the notice that I had of him, in the latter years of his life, should not be omitted.

I was never acquainted with him, till 1667.; and, therefore, have nothing to say of the former part of his life: nor of the latter, as to any public affairs; but only of what our familiar converse acquainted me: but the visible effects made me wonder, at the

Besides the four volumes against atheism and infidelity, in folio, (which I after mention,) when I was desired to borrow a manuscript of his law collections, he showed me, as I remember, about two and thirty folios, and told me, he had no other on that subject, collections out of the tower records, &c.; and that the amanuensis' work, that wrote them, cost him a thousand pounds. He was so set on study, that he resolvedly avoided all necessary diversions; and so little valued either grandeur, wealth, or any worldly vanity, that he avoided them to that notable degree, which incompetent judges took to be an excess. His habit was so coarse and plain, that I, who am thought guilty of a culpable neglect therein, have been bold to desire him to lay by some things, which seemed too homely. The house which I surrendered to him, and wherein he lived at Acton, was, indeed, well situate, but very small; and so far below the ordinary dwellings of men of his rank, as that divers farmers thereabouts had better: but it pleased him. Many censured him, for choosing his last wife below his quality: but the good man more regarded his own daily comfort, than men's thoughts and talk. As far as I could discern, he chose one very suitable to his ends; one of his own judgment and temper, prudent, and loving, and fit to please him; and that would not draw on him the trouble of much acquaintance and relations. His housekeeping was according to the rest; like his estate and mind, but not like his place and honour: for he resolved, never to grasp at riches, nor take great fees; but would refuse, what many others thought too little. I wondered, when he

told me how small his estate was, after such ways of getting as were before him: but, as he had little, and desired little, so he was content with little ; and suited his dwelling, table, and retinue thereto. He greatly shunned the visits of many, or great persons, that came not to him on necessary business; because all his hours were precious to him: and, therefore, he contrived the avoiding of them, and the free enjoyment of his beloved privacy.

I must, with a glad remembrance, acknowledge, that, while we were so unsuitable in places and worth, yet, some suitableness of judgment and disposition made our frequent converse pleasing to us both. The last time but one, that I was at his house, he made me lodge there; and, in the morning, inviting me to more frequent visits, said, no man shall be more welcome: and he was no dissembler. To signify his love, he put my name as a legatee in his will, bequeathing me forty shillings. Mr. Stephens gave me two manuscripts, as appointed by him for me, declaring his judgment of our church contentions, and their cure, after mentioned. Though they are imperfect, as written on the same question, at several times, I had a great mind to print them, to try whether the common reverence of the author would cool any of our contentious clergy: but, hearing that there was a restraint in his will, I took out part of a copy, in which I find these words, I do expressly declare, that I will have nothing of my writings printed after my death, but only such as I shall in my life-time deliver out to be printed.' And, not having re

ceived this in his life-time, nor to be printed in express terms, I am afraid of crossing the will of the dead, though he ordered them for me.

It showed his mean estate as to riches, that, in his will, he is put to distribute the profits of a book or two when printed, among his friends and servants. Alas! we that are great losers by printing, know that it must be a small gain, that must thus accrue to them. Doubtless, if the lord chief justice Hale had gathered money, as other lawyers do that had less advantage,.. as he wanted not will, so he would not have wanted power, to have left them far greater legacies. But the servants of a self-denying, mortified master, must be content to suffer by his virtues; which, yet, if they imitate him, will turn to their final gain.

God made him a public good; which is more than to get riches. His great judgment, and known integrity, commanded respect from those that knew him so that I verily think, that no one subject, since the days that history hath notified the affairs of England to us, went off the stage with greater and more universal love and honour; and what honour without love is, I understand not. I remember, when his successor, the lord chief justice Rainsford, falling into some melancholy, came, and sent to me, for some advice, he did it, as he said, because judge Hale desired him so to do; and expressed so great respect to his judgment and writings, as, I perceived, much prevailed with him. And many have profited by his contemplations, who would never have read them, had they been written by such a one as I. Yet, among all his