The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons, Part 1 · Biography 1

The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons · Part 1 · Biography 1

p. 1D{us} HUGO BROUGHTON THEOLOGUS LITERARUM ET LINGUAR: SACRARUM CALLENTISS

E. H Van. Houe. Sculp:

The Life of Mr. Hugh Broughton who Died Anno Christi 1612.

HUgh Broughton was born in Shropshire, in a Town called Oldbury, an Antient Seat, His Birth.upon the very Edge of Wales, towards Mountgomery. The Family from whence he Descended was Antient, and of a very great Rank, Worth, and Estate, and at the same time bred this great Scholar, and a Brother of his, who afterwards was a Judge.

This Family gave for its Coat of Arms Two Owls, which is the rather mentioned, because His Parenta…this Hugh would sometimes say merrily, That it was a good Prognostick, that he should be a good Grecian, because his Coat did bear the Bird of Athens. And by this may p. 2duplicate page p. 3duplicate page p. 4duplicate page p. 5duplicate page p. 6duplicate page p. 7duplicate page p. 8duplicate page p. 9duplicate page p. 10duplicate page p. 11duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page p. 1duplicate page p. 2be unridled that, for which, it may be, every one is not, or hath not at hand an Oediput ready, which is this; In some Editions of the Genealogies, set before some Bibles, you may find Two Owls pictured, holding either of them a Burning Torch; intimating, That it was Mr. Broughton that gave Light to that Work.

In what School he was Educated and brought up, is uncertain, though certain it is, that He goes to Cambridge.he was a good Proficient therein, and from thence was sent to Cambridge, where also he was so diligent, and industrious, and his Progress in Learning so signal, that in time he was chosen Fellow in Christ-Colledge.

Here he laid the first Foundation of his Hebrew Studies, under a French-man, who Read, He Studies Hebrew.and Taught the Language in the University to divers Scholars. This himself mentioneth, but nameth not the man, in his Prefatory Speech to his Lectures, which he Read in St. Paul's Church, of which we shall hear afterwards. I (saith he) being requested to Read, thought no place fitter than this, because I was informed that a Learned Man of France, about 23 years ago, did Read here in the Hebrew Tongue. At my first coming to Cambridge, I laid under him my first Foundations of that Study: And after him, it hath pleased God that I should come hither to revive his Studies. He was a very Learned Man, and in Cambridge was accounted Second to none in the Realm. A rare Man he was in that Study; and in Hebrew he would draw such a Study, that Men might Learn more of him in a Month, than others could teach in Ten Years: He, being requested by his Country-men, to return, and Preach the Gospel amongst them; and having gotten Leave of Her Majesty, he went; but being come thither, he was so Persecuted by Wicked Men, that he was driven to fly into the Hills and Woods, and thereby got an Ague, whereof he Died.

Mr. Broughton's Parts and Learning here began to be taken notice of; and among others, His Friends.the Earl of Huntington especially cast a favourable Eye upon him, with a Noble Influence and Encouragement of all his Studies and Proceedings.

From the University he came to London, where he Preached in Publick, and thereby Comes to London.increased the number of his Friends, and those some of the highest Rank and Degree; and he followed his Studies so close, that when Diversions did not withdraw and interrupt him, he spent twelve, fourteen, nay, very commonly sixteen hours in the four and twenty every Day at his Book. The way of his Preaching was this: He would take a Text out of the Old Testament, and another Parallel in the New, and discourse largely upon them together, and knit up all in a short Application. And thus he went over very many, if not all the Sections in Moses, and conferred them, and the Prophets with the New Testament. And one Passage in one of these Sermons, which he had in his Application, may not be omitted: It was in Eighty Eight, when the Spanish Navy was upon the Sea: All the time of the A Prediction.danger, when mens Hearts were full of fears and doubts what the Event might be, he encouraged the People exceedingly, and once particularly thus: Now (saith he) the Papists knees Knock one against another, as the Knees of King Belshazzar did, and News will come that the Lord hath scattered that Invincible Navy. Fear ye not, nor be dismayed at these smoaking Firebrands.

But that which made him most known to the World indeed, was the Publishing of his Book called, A Consent of Scripture, which he put forth the same year 1588. himself being then Thirty nine Years Old. Mr. John Speed (a Man well known) was Overseer of Consent of Scripture.the Press for its Printing; a Taylor he was by Trade: But by acquaintance with Mr. Broughton, he was grown very Studious in the Scriptures, and by his Directions was grown very skilful in them.

In the time while the Consent was in Printing, he, by Mr. Broughton's Directions, gathered all the Genealogies of the Bible into one view, and at the last they were Published under Genealogies Printed.his name, in the form we had then before our Bibles. But it was Mr. Broughton that directed, and digested them, and there are yet fair Manuscripts of them to be shewed, some whereof have the Names in Hebrew and Greek, and some in the Latine Letter, and some of them Mr. Broughton's own hand: And one that attended him, Dorman, or Dalman, or such a like Name, had made such a Collection by the Direction of his Master, before Mr. Speed had collected his One View. And yet when the Genealogies came to be Published, because the Bishops would not endure to have Mr. Broughton's Name to be prefixed, Mr. Speed went away with all the credit and profit; so that he would confess, and it was no more than he had good reason to do; That Mr. Broughton was a means, under God, of great Blessings unto him and his Children for worldly Comforts. And therefore that act of his may be wondred at, which himself confessed to some of Mr. Broughton's Friends; namely, That he had as many Manuscripts of Mr. Broughton's as he could hold in his Arms, and he held his Arms encompassed: But, saith he, I have burnt them all; what reason moved him p. 3so to do, he best knew: But certainly standers by, will hardly be satisfied that it was done like a Friend.

No sooner was the Concent published, but it met with opposition by two eminent Men His Concent Opposed.in the two Universities, Dr. Reynolds in Oxford, and Mr. Lively in Cambridge, who being Professors in those Universities, both of them read publickly against it. The Author of it did usually call it; His Little Book of great pains. And so it was indeed; for it cost him many years study, and when he Published it, his Pains was not at an end, but to begin anew. For the Lectures of those two Learned Men against it, put him to writing again in justification of what he had published, and what they excepted against.

It was some honour to Mr. Broughton to have two Opponents of so great Name, worth, and Learning: But the greater their repute (& that most deservedly) the greater was his disadvantage that had to deal with them: And to this was added, that what he held, was Publick, and in every Mans hand: But what they read to the contrary, was only among their own Auditors, and nothing was published by them, whereby others might judge of the Controversy betwixt them, of a long time. Dr Reynolds indeed sent some Notes of his Readings, privately to Mr. Broughton; but printed nothing of them all his time, what was published of them, was done after Mr. Broughtons Death, by Dr. John Burges of Sutton-Cofield, in Warwickshire. Mr. Lively was answered privately by Mr. Thornton a Country Gentleman, and a Friend, and Follower of Mr. Broughton, as he could come to the knowledge of his exceptions. And so Mr. Broughton undertook them both himself, as he could come to understand what it was that they opposed, and spent much pains in confirming his own Tenets, and confuting theirs.

This opposition of his Concent, as also the intreaties of divers of his Friends, prevailed He explains it.with him to Read in private to them, his Explication of it, and he had Auditors to the number of eighty, ninty, or an hundred: sometimes more, sometimes less, and they kept their meetings weekly. At first indeed he Read in the East end of St. Pauls Church, where afterwards the Lord Mayor and his Brethren used to meet; and this he did with the allowance of the Queen and her Council, and some of the best Learned of the Bishops were his Friends. And the Council had the Names of those which were his Schollars, of what Calling they were, how Qualified, and where they dwelt. But others of the Bishops would Opposed by the Bishops.not endure this, calling them Dangerous Conventicles, and complaining of them, caused them some trouble: so that at last they could read in Pauls no longer.

Afterwards he Read in a large Chamber in Cheapside, but tarried not long there, but removed to Mark-lane, and into some other places. And this was his course when he taught in private. His Auditors had every one of them The Concent before him, and he went on still in the exposition of it all along with the Bible, and bad his Auditors diligently to read the Scriptures, and keep themselves to the Chronology of it: and shewed what and how much they should Read against their next meeting, to be prepared for his discourse then. And withal handled the Geneallogies, as the matters of those Scriptures called for Explication for that time of the Chronology; that they might understand what Scriptures were contained within such a space of time. And still he shewed the Doctrine of Faith, and love of Christ Jesus in every Age; how believed and practised by the Faithful, and who dispised them. And in his Application he would sum up all in a quarter of an hour, or more, as the matter required.

Of these his Lectures there are still extant the Notes of four and thirty, and the Notes of nine of his Sermons, in which he Collated, the Sections of Moses and the Prophets, with the New Testament; all which were taken from his Mouth as he delivered them. An Extract out of which (of what is not in his other Writings) had been Printed and Published with his other Works, had not he that had the perusing of them in hand for that purpose, been prevented by a very long, and dangerous Sickness, with which he was seized at the very first setting of the Press on work.

Thus he abode in London divers years from his first coming thither, and procured many Friends in the City, and made his residence for a long time, more especially among the Families of the Cottons, who tendered and respected him very much, during his abode in England, Bounty of the Cottons.and forgat him not when he was beyond the Seas, but sent him frequent and large tokens of their Love, even sometimes a hundred pounds at a time. There were four Brothers of them; John, Roger, William, and Allen, which Allen was afterward L. Mayor of London; and he it was whom he meaned in those words in his Epistle to the Vice-Chancellor, and Governors of Oxford, saying; A Master of Art of your breeding being at London, and upon the Thames, Anno 1590. in a Boat with Mr. A. Cot: and others, &c.

Mr. Roger Cotton, a Draper in Cannon-Street, was a true Schollar of this Master, and so p. 4constantly plyed the sacred Scriptures, according to the Admonitions and directions that he had received from Mr. Broughton, that he Read over the Bible twelve times in one year, and what proficiency he made therein, he gave a Specimen of it in that little Book which he Published, called, Directions to the Waters of Life.

In Mr. William Cottons House he made his most constant residence, who also was a Draper, and where his Lodging and Library were. In this Family he undertook the Education of Mr. Cottons eldest Son [Rowland, who was afterward Knighted] in the Hebrew Tongue; which he prosecuted with such good success, that there were few places in the Bible, which he was not able readily to Read, and to render into English when he was but seven or eight years old, and could very well and readily speak the Hebrew Language.

The way which he used to bring him on so forwardly was this. First, Himself spake in Hebrew to him constantly, and taught him by heart the passages and speeches, which were most usual in his ordinary converse: As to call for his Food, Cloths, and other necessaries: Also Phrases of salutations, and entertainments: Expressions of his Duty, and Affections to his Parents and Relations. Yea, the very passages which were most usual with Children at their Play. These he taught him to utter readily in that Language, and had a young Man, skilful in that Tongue, who was ever with him to interpret for him. This Noble Knight would oft relate that his Mother would sometimes be ready to weep, when he came to do his Duty to her, or to ask any thing of her, and might not speak it in English to her, that so she might have conferred with him, and talked to him again.

To this, Mr. Broughton drew up a Vocabulary in Hebrew and English for him, out of which he was dayly learning words. And he framed it, not in an Alphabetical way, as Dictionaries and Lexicons usually are; But he first pitched upon a place or thing more general, and then named all the particulars in it, or belonging to it: As Heaven Angels, Sun, Moon, Stars, Clouds, &c. So a House, Door, Window, a Parlor, a Celler, &c. A Field, Grass, a Flower, a Tree, Hedge, a Furrow, &c. This Book is yet to be had, and might easily be obtained to be Printed, if it should be judged meet to be done.

And to compleat all, he had him constantly with him in his Study, where he instilled into him, first the Grammer, and then Read the Bible to him. And this learned Knight would often speak of one Book that he had in his Study, with which his Childish affection was then much taken, and that only for the Covers-sake. It was an old Manuscript, the whole Cover whereof was of Brass, as ours commonly are of Pastboard and Leather. And when he was come to Judgment, he concluded, that it was very likely to be some Manuscript of great rarity, and would often bemoan, that after Mr. Broughtons death, he could never hear of it.

He would also often speak of another Book, which indeed, in the intention of his Master, he should have had. It was a very fair New Testament, either Greek, or Syriack, he remembred not which, noted throughout very largely with Mr. Broughtons own Hand, as to the unfolding of the Language, and Sense, and Collation with the Old Testament. This Book in his later time he would often shew him, and say: This I will leave to you for a Legacy, when I die; and see that you make much of it. But upon his Death it so vanished, that he could never see, nor hear of it more, although he used all the diligent enquiry after it, that possibly he could, and offered a Hundred pounds for it, if that would have purchased it.

Mr. Broughton having thus spent several years in London, An. Christi 1589. he went over He goes into Germany.into Germany, having before he went presented his Concent of Scripture to Queen Elizabeths Majesty, to whom he had dedicated it. So he saith in an Epistle to Her Majesty: My pains in opening and declaring the Concent, which the Scripture hath, I humbly present to Your Majesty this, Novemb. 17. 1598.

His Companion in his Travels was one Mr. Alexander Top, a young Country Gentleman, who put himself under his Tutorage, and travelled with him that he might be constantly under his Instructions. And afterwards Mr. Broughton married a Neece of his, one Mrs. Lingen, a Gentlewoman that brought a good estate to him. And Mr. Top would oft tell him, that he knew not how otherwise to requite him for all the Love, Pains, and Observance that he had shewed to him in his Journey, and he doubted not, but he would find her such a Wife, as that he would account it a good requital. To this Gentleman it was that he directed his Treatise of Mordecai his Age under this Inscription, To his good Friend Mr. A. T.

This Gentleman would oft speak of Mr. Broughtons exceeding great courage and boldness, His Courage.and freedom in inveighing against Popery and Jesuitism among the Papists, and Jesuits, and against Judaism among the Jews. As once more especially at the B. of Mentz his Table, where also divers Jesuits were present, with whom he discoursed so freely, and sharply against the Papacy, as Antichristìan, and against the blindness and wickedness of the Romanists, p. 5that the Protestants who were present with him, were afraid that he would have endangered both himself and them. At another time, being in one of the Jews Synagogues, at the time of their Service, where their Publick Minister Read, and Prayed in a strange and uncouth Tone, one of the Jews, as he came out, said unto him; Did not our Minister Sing like an Angel? No (saith he) he Barked like a Dog: And so called for a Dispute with him, where they had long and much tugging.

Also Anno Christi 1589. he had a Dispute with Rabbi Elias in Frankford Synagogue, as His Disputes.himself relateth in his Tract, A Require of Consent, &c. Some of the best Learned Jews, (saith he) have greatly desired to be taught our Gospel. One Rabbi Elias of Germany did it whole one and twenty years, with whom in Frankford Synagogue (in the year 1589.) I Disputed, and drew all the Law to Christ; so that he denied nothing, but still desired to hear that matter enlarged. We Disputed under this Oath; That God would strike him presently that should speak against his own Conscience; whereupon he never denied any thing that I spake, only requested leave to propound his Doubts, and departed with a Desire to be taught by Printing. This our Conference was reported by Jews as far as to Constantinople, and by farther Instigation, Rabbi Abraham Reuben, sent from thence his Epistle into England.

Anno Christi 1590. He was still in Germany; so himself saith in an Epistle to the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford. A Dr. (saith he) of yours told Dr. Reynolds, when I was in Germany, in the year 1590. thus; Inibis parvum gratiam à Christianis, qui conatus es hanc Prophetiam Danielis labefactare. Praeterea, qui istic mos est invehi in absentem? Ille cui contradicis, jam est in media Germania.

He also mentioneth his being at Worms this year in his Treatise of Melchizedeck. And this same year he wrote his little Tract of Mordecai his Age to Mr. Top, who was then with him in Germany, the young Gentleman desiring satisfaction in that point. Probably they had heard what Dr. Reynolds had said upon it.

Anno Christi 1591. He was again in England. Probably he came over, that he might His Return to England.make something of the Controversie betwixt that Dr. and him. They met at London, and referred the Umpirage of their Contest to the A. B. of Canterbury, and to Dr. Elmer, B. B. of London. See his Epistle to them, Dated in London Novemb. 4. 1591. But it seems that Reference came to nothing.

Anno Christi 1592. He was again in Germany, and (as it's likely) he continued there Then into Germany.after the Death of Queen Elizabeth. He had some potent Adversary in her Court, who was a means to hinder him from the Preferment which the Queen intended him, and to obstruct her favour to him, and that bred danger and unsettledness to him in England, and this caused him to spend so much of his time in a strange Country. It may easily be gathered out of his Epistle to Queen Elizabeth, (pag. 727. of his Works) that his great Antagonist was the then A. B. of Canterbury, who also had laid wait to apprehend him, and offered a Sum of Money to him who would discover where he was.

This year he published the Sinai-sight, which he Dedicated to the Earl of Essex, causing His Sinai's-sight.it wholly to be Engraven in Brass, which cost him about an hundred marks. The Plates are yet to be had in England.

In his Travels beyond Sea he was familiarly acquainted with Scaliger, Rephelengius, Junius, His Acquaintance.Beza, and others the most Eminent for Learning in those Times. His Transactions with Pistorius, Nic. Serrarius, and other Jesuites, from whom he found more respect, than he did from some Protestants, especially from the Scholars of Geneva. His favour with the A. B. of Mentz, to whom he Dedicated his Translation of the Prophets into Greek. His having the offer of a Cardinals Cap in Rome; and his many Disputes with several Rabbins. His Discourse before the Duke of Bovillion about the Descent into Hell, in the Commencement at Mentz, and divers other things, of which it were but superfluous to discourse here at large, and would but anticipate him that hath, or will Read his Works; and our chief intent here, is not to speak of those things which are obvious in his Works, but of those which are known only unto few, the whole stock of his Disciples, being now wholly worn out.

Mr. Broughton in his Explication of the Apocalypse, speaketh of some Passages betwixt He is proffered a Cardinalship.himself, and some Jesuits at the Towns end of Mentz; and, among other things, saith thus; Upon this we turned to Read the Proselytes Letter; for whose Testimony, I might have had a Cardinalship Principal of Rome, one Mr. Murton of Yorkshire, desired me to go to Mentz with him, to hear what they said of it; where one of them took occasion (as they were speaking about Cardinals) to ask, what mine would have been worth? The other answered, About Eighteen thousand French Crowns. This Mr. Murton, however then written, was no other p. 6than he who afterwards was B. B. Moreton, first of Chester, then of Coventry and Litchfied, and lastly of Durham. He would tell how he was with Mr. Broughton in Germany, and was continually proposing some thing or other to him, wherein he desired to be resolved: And when he understood not some of his Answers, but required farther Explication, Mr. Broughton would be angry, and call him Dullard, and Unlearned, and such like Names; whereupon Dr. Moreton took up this Custom, that, when he came to propose any Doubt to him, he would pleasantly say; I pray you, whatsoever Dolts and Dullards I am to be called, call me so before we begin, that your Discourse, and mine Attention be not interrupted thereby. And Mr. Broughton took it as pleasantly from him.

Mr. Broughton speaks oft of his Disputations with Rabbi Farrar, and to that which he writeth of it, thus much more may be added: That the same Rabbin wrote a Tract in Latine, to have confuted Mr. Brougbton's Opinion about the Fourth Monarchy, which yet Mr. Broughton never answered, either conceiving that he had already said enough upon that Subject in his former Writings, or else because he wanted either health, or leisure.

Anno Christi 1596. came the Epistle of Rabbi Abraham Reuben from Constantinople, directed …istle …to him in London; but he was then in Germany. It was written in so harsh and st…ange an Hebrew Character, that, though it went through the Hands of divers Scholars in London, yet none could so much as Read the Endorsement, till at last it came to Mr. Top, who, as afterwards he confessed, could not at first know one Letter of it: But at last, with very much pains he found out the Character, and made a shift to Read it, and so sent it over to him in Germany.

At this time of his abode there, Mr. Isaac Genius became his Scholar, who afterwards turned his Concent of Scripture into Latine, which he published Anno Christi 1602. Mr. Broughton himself overseeing the Work all along: And thus much may be observed from those words of his in the Epistle to the Reader, where he writes thus; Translatione hac meâ, meâ inquam, majore ex parte; nam ei plurima Author stilo suo addit.

Mr. John Boreel had turned his Exposition upon Daniel into Latine some three years before.

Upon the Death of Queen Elizabeth, or shortly after, he returned into England, and was His Return to England.in London at the time when the Plague raged sore there; and Mr. Broughton going to visit Mr. Speed in that sad time, he was astonished to see him there in a time of so much danger. But Mr. Broughton was very chearful, and spake much to his Edification and Comfort concerning God's afflicting hand upon the City.

Anno Christi 1603. he Preached at Oatlands before Prince Henry, upon the Lord's Bible translated.Prayer. Anno Christi 1607. the Translation of the Bible was begun: From which work, how he came to be secluded, whose Abilities that way were known so well, may rather be wondred at than resolved. He had spoken much concerning that Translation, for which he heareth ill of some, as if he shewed Indignation, because he was excluded; whereas Charity and Candour would construe, that what he had written, was in Zeal, and Vindication of the Truth. And doubtless if his Advertisements concerning some particular Texts had been taken, they had not been useless.

He again made another Journey beyond the Seas, and made his abode there for a while, and was for some time a Preacher to the English in Middlebourg: And thither two of his He goes again into Germany.Followers in London [Mr. Ayre and Mr. Perry] went purposely to give him a visit; whom at first meeting he did a little chide, for taking so long, dangerous, chargeable, and needless a Journey. What? said they pleasantly; Is this the Entertainment you give us for our pains and visit? Then did he as pleasantly and lovingly embrace them, and entertained them heartily and affectionately during all the time of their abode with him.

Whilst he was now beyond the Seas, he wrote that very sharp and smart Discourse against A. B. Bancroft, and sent the whole Impression over to Mr. William Cotton (Younger Brother to Sir Rowland Cotton) then living in London; withal, intreating him, that if he durst adventure, he should deliver one of the said Books into the A. Bishop's own Hands. The Gentleman, though he foresaw the undertaking to be dangerous, because he could deny nothing to Mr. Broughton, undertook it, and made his Apology to the A. B. and told him that Mr. Broughton had engaged him to do it, and therefore he begged his Lordships Pardon and Excuse, which also he obtained, and was fairly dismissed.

But some Officers were immediately sent to his Lodging, to seize upon the Impression, which they did accordingly: But Mr. Cotton foreseeing what would come to pass, had conveyed a Trunk-full of them out of the way, whereby he escaped.

Mr. Broughton having thus spent much of his time in Travels, at last he fell into a Cough His Sickness and Return to England.of the Lungs, which encreasing upon him, caused his Return into England, as being desirous p. 7to die in his own Country; and accordingly in the Month of November, Anno 1611. he came to Graves-end; which being speedily made known to his Friends in London, divers of them went down to him thither, and brought him to the City. He told them, that he was come to die in his own Native Country; and his desire also was, if the Lord had permitted, to die in his own Native County [Shropshire] and so had he oft told Sir Rowland Cotton afore this, that he intended to end his Days with him, if the Lord should permit, and so he told him now again at their meeting in London, that if his strength would give him leave, he would come down to him into Shropshire, and the noble Knight did accordingly accommodate Lodgings for him against his coming, suitable to his weak and sickly condition. But it pleased the Lord to prevent his Journey.

He lodged in London, and kept all Winter with an old Friend, Mr. Hill in Cannon-Street, and in the Spring he was removed for fresh air to Totnam-High-Cross, to the House of one Mr. Benet, a Linnen-Draper in Cheapside.

Although he had so tedious an infirmity, yet he spake, as he could, at times to his Friends His Speeches.about many things, giving them many pious, and godly exhortations. He used these short Speeches to them very much: Study the Bible. Labour to save one another. Be peaceable. Meddle with your own matters. Some great Judgment will come upon this Kingdom. Never fear Popery: It shall never overflow again: But the course, which the Bishops take, will fill the Land with Atheism. Meddle not with the quarreling. Teach not the unwilling: many other such speeches he used. He went over all the Books of the Old Testament in a brief discourse of the sum of every one of them: But he was now so weak, being near his end, that his strength served him not to do the like by those of the New.

When he drew near to Death, he told them that stood by him, that Satan had assaulted His Death.him: But (said he) the Son of God hath rebuked him, and hath spoken comfortable words to my Soul. A little before his Death two Friends came from London to visit him, and he could then speak to them, though very faintly. And after some stay with him, they took their leaves of him, not thinking that his end had been so near. But e're they came half way to London, a Messenger overtook them, and told them that Mr. Broughton was speechless, hereupon they hasted back again, and found it so; for they could get no words from him, yet when they asked him; Shall one of us pray by you? He, by lifting up his Hands, gave an evident sign of his consent, and fervent desire after it. And so they stayed with him till he Dyed: which was August the 4th, An. Ch. 1612. He being then in his Climacterical year, viz. 63.

His Corps was brought to London, accompanied with a great multitude of People, of whom many had put themselves into mourning for his sake. He was interred in St. Antholines Church, August the 7th, Mr. Speght, Minister of the Church in Milk Street, Preached his Funeral Sermon upon those words, John 11. 8. Lord, Behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. It was said that the Bishops would not suffer his Sermon to be Printed.

Of Personage he was graceful and comely: of a countenance that spake much studiousness, His Character.and gravity, and the Picture of him prefixed before his Works, doth much resemble him, as such say who best knew him. He was indefatigably studious, which swayed his temper a little to austerity: and yet among his Friends, he was of a very sweet, affable, and loving carriage; sharp, and severe, and exceeding bold against Error, and Impiety, and would sharply reprove it, whatever it cost him. He was once travelling here in England, and being in his Inn, a Royster, in the room next to him, was swearing horribly, and at no measure: In went he boldly to him, and who art thou (saith he) thou Wretch, who darest His Boldness.thus to Blaspheme, and profane the glorious Name of the Great God? And some other like words, which he set on with so great an awe, and boldness, that the Roarer became calm, and took his sharp reproofs (especially when he came to understand who he was) in very good part.

He was free and communicative to any that desired to learn of him: But would withall be very angry with Scholars, if they did not readily understand him in his discourse, as thinking it a shame to them to be ignorant of such things. Among his Friends he would be very pleasant, especially at his Meals, at which time, if any at the Table proposed any serious Question to him, to be resolved on, he would commonly divert it with some other Questions, and that ordinarily, a pleasant one, to find the Table imployment in the discussion of it, till he had Dined, or Sup't, and then he would say: Now come and ask what Question you please: for now I am ready for you: and so would return to his serious discourse again.

His stile of writing was curt, and something harsh, and obscure, because he affected p. 8His Stile.to speak much in few words: and besides that his natural Genius inclined him to such a stile, it's probable, that his much conversing with the Judaick Learning, did something mould, and habituate him that way. His rehearsing the same things often over, was occasioned by the writing of his Treatises in several places, and having his discourses with several Persons, where the same things did almost inevitably occur and fall in: It were to be wished, that he had been more sparing in his own Praises, and less bitter in his invectives against his Antagonists: But if it be impartially considered how he was trampled under foot by some of the Bishops, and vilified by others upon their example, how he was by them kept from deserved Preferment, tossed up and down, troubled, disgraced, and endangered, you may very well allow some Grains of transportment, and liberty to so great a Scholar as he was, somewhat to forget himself. Those that read his Writings, which desire to profit by them, will pass over such things without offence, and cover such weaknesses with the Mantle of Charity, the rather because himself took notice of them, and upon his Death-Bed confessed, and acknowledged them to be his infirmities, whereof he repented. And withal he protested then, as he had often before, that they were rather strained from him by his Adversaries provocations, then flowing from his own disposition.

In his Writings the serious and impartial Reader will find these two things. First, as much Light given to the Scriptures, especially into the most difficult passages of it, as is to be found in any one Author whatsoever: Nay, it may be, in all Authors together. Secondly, a winning, and inticing enforcement to the reading of the Scriptures, with a greater seriousness, and more then ordinary searching into them. Among those that have studied his Books, many might be named, that have grown to be Proficients, so far as that they have attained to a most singular, and almost incredible skill, and readiness in his way, in the understanding of the Bible, though otherwise unlearned Men. Yea, some such their were, that being excited, and stirred up by his Books, applyed themselves to the study of the Hebrew Tongue, and attained to a great measure of skill and knowledge therein. Nay, a Woman might be named that did it.

Mr. Broughtons Writings do carry in them a kind of holy and happy Fascination, that the serious Reader of them, is won by a sweet violence, to look into the sacred Scriptures His Writings.with the greatest diligence and seriousness that is possible, and cannot chuse but do it. Let any one but set himself to read his Books in good earnest, and if he find not, that he sees much more in the Scriptures, then ever formerly he did, and that he is stirred up to search much more narrowly into them then ever he was before, he misseth of that, which was never missed of before, by any that took that course, if multitude of Experiences may have any Credit.