George Herbert and his times . abode ofthe household. Mrs. Ferrar and other membersof the family had found shelter at Bourne inCambridgeshire, in the house of her son-in-law, acountry gentleman by the name of Collett ; but,longing to see her son Nicholas, who had remainedbehind in the city to arrange their affairs, she re-fused to wait till the danger of possible infectionhad passed, and came on to Little Gidding to seehim. Their greeting was like that of old Jacoband his son Joseph, after his father had given himover for lost. Her son prayed her to enter therude house and to repose herself af
George Herbert and his times . abode ofthe household. Mrs. Ferrar and other membersof the family had found shelter at Bourne inCambridgeshire, in the house of her son-in-law, acountry gentleman by the name of Collett ; but,longing to see her son Nicholas, who had remainedbehind in the city to arrange their affairs, she re-fused to wait till the danger of possible infectionhad passed, and came on to Little Gidding to seehim. Their greeting was like that of old Jacoband his son Joseph, after his father had given himover for lost. Her son prayed her to enter therude house and to repose herself after her journey: Not so, said she, yonder I see the Church ; letus first go thither, to give God thanks that Hehas brought me to this good place and has restoredme to my son. It was told her there was nogetting into it, for as yet there had not been timeto empty the hay that was in it, which was in-tended shortly to be done. The Church, itshould be said, had been, turned into a hay-barn and a hog-sty : But this good woman had. JTTLE GIDDING CHURCH PRESENT TIME KXTKRIOR NICHOLAS FERRAR AND LITTLE GIDDING 207 somewhat of Augustines mother Monnica in herdevotion, of whom that Father affirms that if adragon stood between her and the altar, she wouldhave stepped through him to advance thrust herself a little way into the defiledsanctuary, and kneeled and prayed and weptthere about a quarter of an hour : then, chargingher son to send instantly for all the workmenabout the house, she commanded them to flingout all the hay at the Church windows, and tocleanse it as well as they could for the was done ; and on the following day orderswere given for the Church to be well washed andswept, and workmen were presently employed inits reparations. Thus, in a time of stress and sorrow, thefoundations of the Protestant Nunnery ofLittle Gidding were laid. Evidently Mrs. Ferrarhad no small share in its establishment. Amonth being overpast, and no danger appearing ofinfecti
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