44 LIFE OF WALTON. 



It is needless to add what was the subsequent fate of 

 this harmless society. Mr. Farrar died : the rebellion 

 broke out : and when " Popery and superstition" was 

 the cry, alas ! how could Little Giclding hope to escape 

 the calamities of the times ? in short it was plundered 

 and desolated ! 



All that the Farrars had restored to the [parochial] 

 church, all that they had bestowed in sacred come- 

 liness, was seized upon as lawful prey taken from 

 superstitious persons : and finally, the owners them- 

 selves were compelled to flee away and disperse: in 

 all which persecutions, we are told that, applying to 

 their wretched circumstances the words of the apostle, 

 ** they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods *." 



SANDERSON was a man of very acute parts, and 

 famous for his deep skill in casuistry : that sort of 

 learning was formerly much cultivated among the Romish 

 divines, with a view to qualify <he younger clergy for 

 the office of confession ; and it continued in fashion 

 here, longer after the reformation than it was useful. 

 In the year 1647 he drew up the famous Oxford Rea- 

 sons against the Covenant; which discover amazing 

 penetration and sagacity, and so distinguished him, 

 that at the restoration, he was promoted to the bishop- 

 rick of Lincoln. In 1671 he, by virtue of a commission 

 from king Charles the Second, assisted at a conference 

 at the Savoy, between the episcopal clergy and non- 

 conforming divines, for settling a Liturgy ; and, upon 

 a review of the book of Common Prayer that followed 

 it, composed sundry of the new Collects and additional 

 offices, it is said that the form of general thanksgiving 

 is in the number of the former: and drew up the Pre- 

 face, " It hath been the wisdom of the Church," #c. 



" should intervene." The reflection on which is supposed to have moved 

 the emperor to resign his dignities, and betake himself to an ascetic life. 

 In his retirement, which was to the city of Naples, Valdesso wrote the. 

 book above- mentioned in the Castilian language; and the same bein.g 

 translated into Italian by Cselius Secundus Curio of Basil, was out of that 

 language translated into English by Mr. Farrar. It was printed in 4to, at 

 Oxford, 1638, and is often enough to be met with. 

 * Efistleto the Hebrews^ chap. x. verse 34. 



