33

MATTHEW W R E N, D. D.

disused, and reeling forgotten Discipline. When therefore he was courtedhy the highest Preferments; and the Concerns of the Church could not wellbe manag’d by a less Wisdom and Authority than his, even then he wasvoid of all ambitious Thoughts ; he sought not Advancement but Restora-tion ; contented to recover, restrain, and die in his own former Dignity. Inthe greatest Affluence of Prosperity and Plenty, he gave no Way to Pleasure,but study’d and practis’d the highest Degrees of Temperance and Anxiety ; hedrank no Wine for almost twenty Years, (except that of the sacred Chalice,)and would eat on no other than a wooden Trencher; he persever’d to ma-cerate his Body with Abstinence and Fasting, indulgent enough to others,severe to none but himself, as if he had been weary of this Life, and madehaste to Eternity. Nor though his own Family was most dear to him, didhe ever exceed the Bounds of his usual Moderation in providing for it; hecaught not at other Mens Estates to augment his own, but many Times re-ceded from his lawful Rights; and particularly to his Successor, left notsome few Gleanings, but a large Harvest of Fines. The first Money he re-ceiv’d after his Restitution, he bestow’d on Pembroke-Hall, and to the Ho-nour of Almighty God, to whose Service he had wholly devoted himself; forthe Ornament of the University , which he always assessed with a fervent andpassionate Love ; and in a grateful Remembrance of his first Education, whichwas in that Place receiv’d, and thankfully acknowledge, he built that mostelegant Chapel there, at the Expcnce of above Jive 'Thousand Pounds, compleat-ly finish’d, and endow’d it with perpetual Revenues for Repairs. This, how-ever noble and magnificent, is the least of those Monuments he hath left toPosterity.

It is not to be forgotten, that the only bodily Exercise he could obtain,during his long Imprisonment, and which in some Degree might conduce tohis Health, was in walking on the Leads of the Tower, (by the Connivanceof his Warder) where, upon a just Computation, he walked round theWorld.

" The Earth is affirm’d by the best Writers to be 21,600 Miles in Com- Heyien’y“ pass, which is demonstrable enough: For being there are in every of the Geography," greater Circles 360 Degrees, every Degree being reckon'd at 60 Miles; let 2Z '

" 360 be multiplied by 60, and the Product will be 21600, as before is" laid. So that, if it were possible to make a Path round about the Earth ,

" an able Footman going constantly 24 Miles a Day, would compass it in« 900 Days; and so in Proportion of Time and Miles.”

A remarkable Instance (among the many) should not be passed over inSilence, of his Magnanimity, Resolution, and Contempt of Adversity;which may convey a further Idea of his Character. Some Space before theDecease of Oliver Cromwell, Mr. Christopher Wren, (only Son of Dr. Chri-stopher Wren, and Nephew of the Bishop of Ely,) became acquainted withMr. Claypole, who married the Usurper's favourite Daughter. This Gen-tleman being a Lover of Mathematicks, had conceiv’d a great Esteem for him,and took all Occasions to cultivate his Friendship, and to court his Conversa-tion, particularly by frequent Invitations to his House, and Table ; it hap-pened upon one of these Invitations, that Cromwell came into the Companyas they fat at Dinner, and without any Ceremony, (as his usual Way was inhis own Family) took his Place; after a little Time, fixing his Eyes on Mr.

Wren , " Tour Uncle (says he) has been long cousin d in the Tower.” —" Fie has" so, Sir, but bears his Afflictions with great Patience and Resignation.”—

" die may come out if he will." —Will your Highness (so he was called) per-

" nstt me to tell him this from your own Mouth ?”•-" Tes, you may.” As

K soon