Living to the age of seventy-nine, Mrs. Ferrar "at her dying day had no infirmity and scarce any sign of old age upon her." "There were few women, as all that knew her can testify, that exceeded her in comeliness of body and excellent beauty; of fair, modest, and sober deportment, grave in her looks, humble in her carriage towards all people, superlative in discretion; of few words but when she spoke (as occasion offered itself) no woman passed her in eloquence, in judgement, and wisdom. Great was her devotion to God, and her love to God's word, constant her reading of the Scriptures, and her singing of the Psalms, when she sat at work with her children and maids about her." An inscription in the great parlour, written by her in the last year of her life, may well be given here as a fitting conclusion to this imperfect narrative:-- I. H. S. He who by reproof of And He who, by a cheerful our errors, and participation and remonstrance of that approbation of that which which is more perfect is good, confirms us in seeks to make us the same is welcome as a better, is welcome as Christian Friend. an Angel of God. But He who any ways goes And He who faults us in about to disturb us absence, for that which in that which is and in presence he made show ought to be amongst to approve of, doth by a Christians (tho' it double guilt of flattery be not usual in the and slander, violate the world) is a burden bands both of friendship whilst he stays, and and charity. shall bear his judgement, whosoever he be. Mary Ferrar, Widow, Mother of this family, and aged about fourscore years, who bids adieu to all fears and hopes of this world and only desires to serve God, set up this Table. PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES. Footnotes: {1} The details of the life at Little Gidding contained in the following pages are derived chiefly from "Two lives of Nicholas Ferrar, by his brother John, and by Dr. Jebb," Baker's MSS., edited by Dr. Mayor, of Cambridge, and from "Life of Nicholas Ferrar, by Dr. Turner," Bishop of Ely. Both these works are now out of print. The accounts of the various Harmonies or Concordances are derived entirely from personal examination of the separate volumes, or from direct communication with their owners. {20} Three of these volumes are now in the British Museum.