to the last moment.

His bodily faculties remained so too to a singular degree. A very short time before he breathed his last, he called for a common prayer-book, and, though one was brought to him of the smallest print, he himself turned to the commendatory prayer, and ordered it to be read. That being performed, he composed himself more solemnly for his departure. He put his hands and arms down to both his sides, and desired his head to be placed lower, thus in a manner laying himself out to receive the stroke of death. In this posture, with the utmost cheerfulness and resignation of spirit, he breathed his last a little after midnight, on the morning of Friday, November the 24th, 1693.

His remains were committed to the earth on the night of Monday, November the 27th. He had marked out the spot where he desired to be laid, in the church-yard of Fresingfield, in the angle between the eastern wall of the church porch, and the southern wall of the church. He had chosen this place for his interment sixteen years before, in case he should die in that country. On his tomb the following inscription, prepared by his own hand, with directions for the manner in which it should be put up, is a lasting document to posterity, if such docu

ment can be wanting, in addition to the many proofs afforded by all that he did and said, of the real sincerity of heart which influenced his conduct.

(On the right side.)

P. M. S.

LECTOR, WILHelmi, nuper ARCHIPRASULIS,
(QUI NATUS IN VICINIA)

QUOD MORTI CECIDIT, PROPTER HUNC

MURUM JACET; ATQUI Resurget: TU
INTERIM SEMPER PARATUS ESTO, NAM HORA QUA
NON PUTAS DOMINUS VENTturus est.
OBIIT 24° NOV. ANNO DOMINI, 1693;
ETATIS SUE 77.

(On the left side.)

P. M. S.

William Sancroft was born in this parish. Afterwards, by the providence of God, Archbishop of Canterbury; who, after he had lost all which he could not keep with a good conscience, returned hither to end his life, where he begun it, and professeth here, at the foot of his tomb, that, as naked he came forth, so naked he must return; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; as the Lord pleaseth, so come things to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord.

(Over his head the following verse.)

ST. MATT. 24. 27.

As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.

CHAPTER XII.

HIS CHARACTER, &c.

His personal Appearance-Familiar Habits-Talents and Literary Pursuits-Public Character-Steadiness and Uprightness of Principle-Conduct at the Period of the Revolution considered-Piety-Liberality-Patronage of eminent Men

Conclusion.

ARCHBISHOP Sancroft appears to have been of a slender person, and spare habit of body. His features, as we may judge from the portraits of him which remain, were well turned, and his countenance in its general cast expressive of placidity and meekness, together with much shrewdness and sagacity. His constitution seems to have been never strong: we have found him frequently, at different periods of his life, alluding to his invalid state of health; and his constitutional maladies appear to have gained upon him, as he advanced in years.

Respecting the private habits of his life, the materials which are supplied to us from those who conversed familiarly with him are unfortunately scanty. Mr. Needham, who resided

with him as one of his chaplains during the last six years of his occupying Lambeth Palace, from the year 1685 to 1691, has mentioned a few particulars which describe his great abstemiousness as to diet, the simplicity of his general mode of living, and the regularity with which he divided his hours for devotional exercises and for other employments.

"He was," he states, "the most pious humble good Christian I ever knew in all my life. His hours for chapel were at six in the morning, twelve before dinner, three in the afternoon, and nine at night, at which times he was constantly present, and always dressed.

"His usual diet, when it was not fast day, was two small dishes of coffee, and a pipe of tobacco, for breakfast; at noon, chicken or mutton; at night, a glass of mum,* and a bit of bread, if any thing."†

Of Archbishop Sancroft's talents and acquirements, the fruits that remain are fewer than might be desired. It is stated that he always aimed at great privacy in his thoughts and writings, being unwilling to appear in print,

* Mum is ale brewed from wheat.

† See Cole's MSS. in the British Museum. Cole remarks that the account which Mr. Needham here gives of his patron is extremely meagre, and that much more ought to have been said by one who had access to his familiar habits.

See Preface to Miscellan. Curiosa, p. xxxii.