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light which God is pleased to present to our view under several shapes, yet is but one and the same being, scil. light and truth.

2. Lord Brook also wrote "A Discourse against Episcopacy," published in 1641, 4to.

FULLER.

THOMAS FULLER, historian and divine, was born at Akle, Northamptonshire, in 1608. After being initiated in grammar-learning by his father, he was sent at the early age of twelve years to Queen's College, in Cambridge, where he took his degrees in arts. He afterwards removed to Sidney College, of which he became a fellow in 1631; and at the same time obtained a prebend in the church of Salisbury. In 1641, he was chosen lecturer at the Savoy; and to shew his fidelity to the royal cause, he procured, in 1643, à nomination as chaplain to the royal army. Prior to this, however, he had been deprived of all his benefices. While with the army, he employed his leisure chiefly in making histori

cal collections; particularly in collecting materials for his Worthies of England.

Towards the close of the war, part of the royal army, under lord Hopton, being driven into Cornwall, Fuller, by permission, took refuge at Exeter, where he resumed his studies, and was moreover appointed chaplain to the princess Henrietta Maria, who was born at Exeter in June 1643. He soon after obtained a patent from the king for his presentation to the living of Dorchester, which however he did not receive. He continued his attendance on the princess, till the surrender of Exeter to the parliament, in April 1646.

On his return to London he was chosen lecturer at St. Clement's Lane, near Lombardstreet, and soon after removed to St. Bride's in Fleet-street. About 1648, he became chaplain to the earl of Carlisle, by whom he was presented with the rectory of Waltham, in Essex.

After the restoration, he also was restored to his preferments; he was moreover chosen chap ain extraordinary to the king; and in 1660, created doctor of divinity, at Cambridge, by Mandamus. He died in August of the year 1661.

The works of Fuller are numerous; of which the first was:

1. "The History of the Holy War." Cambridge, folio, 1640.

2. "The Holy State." Cambridge, folio, 1642. 3. " Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, and the Confines thereof, with the History of the Old and New Testament acted thereon," 1650, folio, embellished with a frontispiece, and many other copper-plates. It is divided into five books.

4. "Abel Redivivus," 4to. 1651. This consists of some particular lives of religious reformers, martyrs, confessors, bishops, doctors, and other learned divines, foreign and domestic.

5. "The Church History of Britain, from the Birth of Jesus Christ to the Year 1648;” to which work are subjoined, "The History of the University of Cambridge since the Conquest; and the History of Waltham Abbey, Essex, founded by King Harold."

On the Prodigious Number of Monasteries, Ann. 977.

Another humour of the former age (to make one digression for all) still continued and increased, vent

ing itself in the fair foundations and stately structures of so many monasteries. So that one beholding their greatness (being co-rivals with some towns in receipt and extent) would admire that they could be so neat; and considering their neatness, must wonder they could be so great; and lastly, accounting their number will make all three the object of his amazement. Especially, seeing many of these were founded in the Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect. So that it may seem a miracle, what invisible Indies those petty princes were masters of, building such structures which impoverish posterity to repair them. For although some of these monasteries were the fruit of many ages, long in ripening, at several times, by sundry persons, all whose parcels and additions met at last in some tolerable uniformity; yet most of them were begun and finished, absolute and entire, by one founder alone. And although we allow that in those days artificers were procured and materials purchased at easy rates; yet there being then scarceness of corn (as a little money would then buy much ware, so much ware must first in exchange be given to provide that little money) all things being audited proportionably, the wonder still remains as great as before. But here we see with what eagerness those designs are undertaken and pursued, which proceed from blind zeal; every finger being more than a

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