Abrahams Interment, Biography – Letter
A Short Narrative of the Life and Death OF JOHN LAMOTTE Esq
JOhn Lamotte Esq sometimes Alderman of the City of London, was born at Colchester in Essex, May 1. 1577. his Father was Francis Lamotte (Son of Baldwin Lamotte of Ypres in Flanders) who, in the time of the great Persecution in the Low Countries, under Duke D' Alva, was driven out of his Native Country, and came, together with his Wife Mary, to shelter themselves, and to enjoy the free profession of the true Religion (for which they had abandoned all their Temporal (very considerable) goods, and enjoyments) under the protection of that famous Nursing-mother of Gods afflicted Children in those bloudy times, Queen Elizabeth ▪ here in England, in the fourth year of her Reign; taking up their residence at Colchester, where he lived many years in very good esteem, and was very forward and industrious for the setting up, and promoting of the great Manufacture there for the Publick good, and God blessed him in the same, and in a hopeful Issue, untill he dyed in a good age at London. Now as both these Parents had made Piety their greatest interest, and the Freedome of Religion their best Purchase, so they were ever exceeding sollicitous, and diligent to season their Children, and this their Son especially, from the very Cradle with the fear and nurture of the Lord, and that with such blessed success on him, that having Piety instilled into him by their means, and publick Ordinances, through Gods Grace, he never departed from it to his dying day, but proved most exemplary therein, through all the course and relations of his life; so that even in his younger years he never was given to, nor delighted with those vain and sinful Sports and Pastimes, to which youth is ordinarily so prone to, and so hard to be weaned from. His Recreation was commonly to turn from one honest or pious employment unto another, as from that of his Calling, (being brought up timely to Trade and Merchandize and in which he was always very careful, and industrious) to the reading of the Bible, and other good Books, Meditation, and learning of Languages, acquainting himself with several of the best Histories, especially such as treated of the Persecutions, and Deliverances of the Church of God, and the Propagation of the Gospel, all which he made in a manner his own, such delight he took both in the perusal, and rehearsal of the same on all occasions, and yet omitting no publick opportunities, whereby he might nourish communion with God at any time.
He would often bless God, that according to his earnest prayers (when he came first up to London) hee had kept him from bad company, and from all allurements and engaging occasions of haunting Taverns, and the like places, whereby so many hopeful young men come to be undone. Being grown up to some greater maturity of years and Grace, and acquaintance with God, and beginning to Trade for himself, his singular care and exactness, industry, and discretion, was soon taken notice of, and he had more credit when he began, than divers that had lived in pretty good repute before him, every one was ready and even desirous to trust him, and deal with him; which great advantage he nevertheless used very soberly, undertaking no more than he was well able to manage, and minding what once he had undertaken with all the vigilancy and attendance such employments, and the duty of his Calling did require; and the blessing of God was evidently upon all his ways and affairs, yet so that as he was not hasty to be rich, he would often say, hee was not hastily rich.
By Gods good providence and direction, he was afterwards guided to Marry a party of like good and pious education, and disposition, and of a Stock likewise tried, and grown up under Persecution, Mistris Anne Tivelin, whose Parents had sheltered themselves at Canterbury: she was then the Widdow of Mr. David King Merchant, of whom she had Mr. Ezekias King, yet living, the pious and learned Minister of Fulmore in Cambridgeshire; with this Consort Mr. Lamotte lived well and comfortably many years, and they had together several gracious Children, eight in all, whereof six, two Sons and four Daughters, dyed in their yonger years, and only two Daughters (most piously and vertuously educated) lived to married estate; the elder Hester, being wedded first to John Manning Esq an eminent Merchant of this City, by whom she had three Children, but none surviving him, and after his decease to Sir Thomas Honywood Knight, of Markshall in Essex, both living yet happily together, beloved and honoured of all that know them farre and near, together with their hopeful Issue, two Sons and one Daughter, the remainder of seven Children they have had together; the younger Daughter Elizabeth was married to that worthy Gentleman Master Maurice Abbot, (Son to Sir Maurice Abbot, once an Honourable Alderman, and Lord Mayor of this City, and Brother to those two famous Abbots, George, sometimes Arch bishop of Canterbury, and learned Robert, Bishop of Salisbury) and by him she had that hopeful Son and studious Gentleman Mr. Maurice Abbot, the present Coheir with his Aunt, besides three others dying young, as she also her self was not long enjoyed, and dyed exceedingly bewailed for her singular parts, piety, and goodness: Thus, though Mr. Lamotte left but one only Daughter surviving, and four Grand-children, yet he saw 22 of his of-spring.
His first wife deceasing about the year 1626. he married again the year after M…is. Elizabeth Monk, the widdow of Levinus Monk Esquire, one of the six Clerks, a Gentleman of rare parts, trust and experience in stare-affaires in King James his time; with her he lived eighteen years, but had no issue by her.
During all this time, as he advanced still in years, piety, experience and estate, so he was (through the mercy of God) accordingly respected, passing through, and bearing all the eminent offices in his Parish, Company, and elsewhere in the City and Commonwealth, until he was chosen Alderman; besides the Eldership of the Dutch Church here, wherein he served that Congregation, neer thirty years together, with that exemplarie integrity of zeal, as will not easily be forgotten; as also in all the rest, he still demeaned himself unblameably, equally desirous and zealous still to furher and advance godlinesse and honesty, and to withstand and reform abuses and iniquity of all kinds.
The Love unto, and constant attendance upon the Word of God in publick and private, for the upholding and cherishing communion with God, by hearing and reading the Scriptures, and meditating therein, had so possest and filled his soul, that most of his discourses and Letters were most savourly seasoned with it, and he would often expresse a great deal of heart-grief and astonishment, at most mens heedlessenesse in duties so highly and neerly concerning their everlasting Welfare. And how real his piety and acquaintance with God was, appeared sufficiently, as by many other discoveries, so also by those streams of true Christian charity, which uncessantly issued from him and which made him not only willing and ready to impart and communicate liberally in that kind himself, but also to sollicite and stir up others perpetually, setting all (as it were) on fire of compassion, that came neer him, especially where and whensoever any publick calamity befell the people and Church of God: No care, … pains, no cost, charge, or trouble was too much then unto him to testify his sympathizing bowells, in and for their sorrows and afflictions, whether at home or abroad; whereof, especially, since the year 1620. the respective Persecutions and Troubles in France, at Rochel, in the Valtelin, in Bohemia, in Germany, and more particularly in the lower and upper Palatinate, and therein above other places, the long continued distresses of the City of Frankendale, besides many other cases nearer home, in England, Scotland, Ireland, all along, even to the late cruell and barbarous massacre of the poor Waldenses in Piedmont, could make up and shew forth in this One Member, such a living Character and pattern of real Charity, as alasse, we see but few now a dayes, to the no small discredit of our profession.
And God having given him such largenesse of heart, and freenesse of hand, he gave also unto him understanding to manage all his affaires with order and discretion, that he knew both where and when to spare and to spend, whereby he was enabled still to do the more good, finding and acknowledging alwaies both the temporal and spirituall returns and comforts of doing the same; and that made him alwaies as God blessed him to lay aside a proportion for charitable uses, which he as carefully distributed afterward.
But if God was pleased at any time to exercise him with losses or crosses of any kind, whereof he had his share too (among other of Gods Children) as well in his Trade and Estate now and then, by severall casualties by Sea and Land, at home and abroad, in his severall functions and relations, and especially in his body by diverse great infirmities and sicknesses, principally toward and in the latter part of his life, yet he alwaies shewed abundance of patience and quiet submission, to the ever-good hand and pleasure of his heavenly Father, and faithfull Redeemer, comforting himself very much with the examples of Jacob, Joseph, Job, David, and others of Gods Saints and servants, in all ages, with whose histories he was exactly acquainted; praysing God still, that in respect of his outward man, he so long vouchsafed him the benefit of his sight and hearing in that comfortable measure, whereby he could partake still of his holy Ordinances, both in publick and private; and for his inner man, that in all his troubles and afflictions, God never long with-held his gracious and Fatherly countenance from him, in Jesus Christ, wherein he found comfort sufficient to allay all his grief, and prevent all murmuring in his troubles; he did not much vent himself by discourses, but retired himself▪ and unbosomed his heart, and spread his condition before the Lord in prayer. When but three weeks before his decease, he was sore afflicted with extremity of head-ake and Colick, that he began to find some impatience to seize on him, he soon recollected and chekt himself, saying, How often and fervently have I besought the Lord, that he would be pleased to fit and prepare mee for himself, and his everlasting Kingdome, and why then should I find fault and repine, now when he thus really and effectually doth prepare me, making mee by these very pains and torments, loathe this wretched World so much the more, and long for my happy change, and dissolution, and to be with my Redeemer; and thus he continued for the most part, even to his last hour, which was July 13. 1655. in the seventy ninth year of his age; looking death cheerfully in the face, as of whom he was not afraid, being implanted into Christ, and thereby freed from the imbondaging fear of death, alwaies almost speaking of the same, and setting the remembrance of our latter end, both before himself, and others, upon all occasions, knowing there was no such effectuall means to make us apply our hearts to wisdome, that is to say, to the fear of God, the only Antidote against all other fear.
And as in Troubles and Affliction hee shewed a great deal of filial submission and resignation to God, so it was a comfort to all that conversed with him to see and observe his continuall thankfull remembrances of and chearfull rejoycing in Gods mercies and goodnesse, both to the Church in generall and particular, and to the Land and Nation wherein he lived; as also to any of his dear friends and relations; as well as to his own person, loving both to hear and speak much of that Argument, and ever and anon most feelingly exclaiming, O what cause have wee to praise our good and mercifull God, that yet preserveth, yet affecteth, yet delivers and favours us, and passeth by, and forgiveth our manifold infirmities, transgressions and provocations aggravated with so much unthankfullness, if yet we would love him and beleeve in him, and yet walk in his fear obediently before him, to our everlasting happinesse. On Queen Elizabeths anniversarie Coronation day, he would usually bid some friends, and put them in mind of the great Mercy of God shewed to England on that day, by quenching the fires in Smith field, and continuing the Gospel ever since, for so many years among us, even beyond the number of years recorded in Scripture, of an uninterrupted prosperous estate of the Church; and then, as also on his Birth-day, and other joyfull occasions of friends, meeting at his house he would often say▪ he had desired their company, to eat bread with him before the Lord (as Jethro and Moses did) in remembrance of such and such signal Mercies and Deliverances, whereof his memory was a living Chronicle, especially of those grand Deliverances, both before and since the Reformation, from under the great sufferings and bloody Persecutions in France, and the low-Countries, whereof he would often discourse in so punctuall and feeling a manner, as if he had been an eye-witness, yea a sharer in them, taking many arguments thence of encouraging both himself and others, to be still mindfull of them in bonds and miseries, as being themselves in the body; saying, why, their case might have been ours, or may be yet, who knows?
And instancing often in this particular with holy admiration and thankfullnesse, that when his own Father (for Religion sake being fain to flee for his life) stood doubtfull, whether, like as many others did, he should repair for shelter to the Palatinate and Frankendale, or to England, that yet God inclined his heart to chuse England for his place of refuge, whereupon he would frequently inferre, hee had great cause, especially since their late sad condition in that place and Country (in acknowledgement of that preserving merciemercy) to have a fellow feeling of their Miseries, wherein himself and his might have been involved together with them, since God had not only kept and safeguarded him and his from the same, but likewise abundantly blessed and protected him and them hitherto. And therefore he was very mindfull to send relief to many of them from time to time.
Together with all these eminent graces, God had likewise endued him with a large portion of Wisdome, Judgement, and Understanding, in many things of moment and importance, grounded on much experience, observation and practise of his own, for which he was deservedly much esteemed by men of no small place and account. Hee brought still forth out of his Treasure old and new, and knew so pertinently to produce, compare and apply the same, that it was great pleasure and no lesse profit and instruction to hear him.
The pious and indefatigable care and pains hee took in bringing up of his Children, and governing his family, in the fear and admonition of the Lord, is hinted partly already. His perpetual indeavour was to bring them into acquaintance and communion with God, and to make them stand in filial awe and fear of him, to read and meditate, and take delight in the Word of God, to be well grounded and setled in Religion, and not shaken by every wind of Doctrin; to avoid and flee all vain and idle courses, companies and dalliances; to be painfull, carefull and diligent, every one in his peculiar calling and imployment, orderly and exact in all their affaires, sober and frugal in the use of Gods good creatures, full of bowels of compassion to the afflicted and distressed Members of Christ, and to all that were in need, and chearfully ready to communicate unto such; loving and helpfull one to another, obedient to all good orders, submissive to the Magistrate, respectfull to the Ministry, Civil and upright towards all, and watchful at all times, to be in readiness when the Lord should call them hence, to give an account of their Stewardship, &c. in all which he would say and exhort them to no more than himself continually endeavoured to practise before their eyes; and that this his tender care towards them might yet extend beyond his life, and he still speak to them, and minde them of these sayings, he left for them in writing, by abundance of Letters to his nearest and dearest Relations from time to time, especially in one of his last Papers, written, as it seems, when he had set his House in order, to be ready for the Lord (a Copy whereof followeth after this Narrative) such excellent instructions, and admonitions, as sheweth plainly, as he took pains and care to leave them a comfortable Temporal estate, so their Spiritual good estate was that he mainly wished their whole hearts possest of, as his was, for to enjoy communion with God, and the abiding comfort thereof both in this life, and that to come together with him.
A Letter of John Lamotte Esq to his Daughter and Grand-children, written not long before his death.
BEloved Daughter, Dame Hester Honywood, and beloved Grand-children, Maurice Abbot, and Elizabeth, Thomas, John Honywood, I do wish you all the blessing and peace of God the Father, and of our Lord Jesus Christ his dear Son, our Saviour and Redeemer, and that his fear and love may be so rooted and grounded in you, that it may knit and bind your hearts together in love and amity, as my heart has been to every one of you, ever praying for you all, that God of his mercy would bless you all, and plant his fear in your hearts, and unfeigned faith in Christ Jesus in your souls. I desire that no strife, nor envie, nor grudging arise about the dividing of the Estate which the Lord of his mercy hath lent me, for I setled the Land after Prayer by the best counsels and advice I could; and my personal estate I have by Will (after Prayer) to the best of my skill in all good Conscience, as equally drawn it as I could; so I would after I am dead have you receive it from God with a thankful and contented mind, and pray to the Lord to bless it to you, and every one of you to his own posterity. I having been by Trade a Merchant, and what by Gods blessing I have advanced, I have endeavoured, and laboured to gain it honestly, and to keep faith & a good Conscience always, ever acknowledging that these following Parties had a share in my estate, as in all other mens, The Common-wealth, the Service of God, the Ministers, and the poor Members of Christ, of whom, as I have endeavoured to be careful; so would I have every one of you to be zealous for the Service of God, heartily affectionate to the poor members of Christ, and to give, with the releef, a comfortable word when occasion permits.
John Lamotte.
Errataes marring the sense.
PAge 3. l. 10 r. peece, p. 4. in the margin r. excindi. p. 7. l. last but one, r. him, p. 10. l. 10 r. an, p. 11. l. 36. r. mire. p. 14. l. v 9, r. the heart, p. 15. l. 30. r. thou, p. 25. l. 34. r. our, p. 19. l. 36. r. naught, p. 27. l. 1. r. through. Omissions p. 4. l. 1. r. or adversitively, but, &c. p. 25. l. 33. r. like as a shock.
End of the text · Fulk Bellers, Abrahams Interment (1656)