The Autobiography and Correspondence of Sir Simonds D'Ewes, During the Reigns of James I. and Charles I. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1845 Excerpt: ...being now in my custody. My father hath often told me that the said Adrian, his grandfather dying, did bequeath this very seal to remain as an hereditary monument to his posterity, and therefore, awhile after this lamentable fire had happened, he bestowed it upon me. But by reason of that paternal distance he kept with me, never vouchsafed to show me that precious testimonial in parchment which had lain by him for so many years, before it was at this present consumed and burnt, although he had afforded that courtesy on a mere stranger skilful in those notions very fortunately, because, by his help and my father's together, I got the substance of that writing and the descent contained in it to be inserted into parchment and the coats to be exactly depicted after the pattern and form of the same original; which being testified under both their hands, I do still preserve by me, with the aforesaid seal of silver, very preciously and carefully. This I am the rather induced into because the mean condition of my great-grandfather, being a voluntary exile from his own country, together with that of his son, whom divers yet living did know, being accounted the original of my family by such as were ignorant that it was but the interruption, occasioned me many hours of search to vindicate the truth, which I only aimed at as well in this particular, as in all other my studies, either divine or human. Touching the causes why God, in his wisdom, sent this fire, they were best known to himself, who most wisely and justly ordered this, as he doth all other his chastisements and punishments; which notwithstanding, it is lawful for men under their pressures to search out what particular sins might occasion their present calamities; nay, it is the duty of every Vol. I. p man ...