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cloathed from the fpoils of other creatures, and that the very gnat we tread upon feels as strong a pang in the agonies of death as a man. As he was never married, he reserved scarce any thing to himself, retiring to Ickman, near Uxbridge; where, with his own hands, he built himself a hut, and paid fifty fhillings a year for a rood of ground. In this manner he lived with a severity of thought and frugality beyond the conception of modern luxury. Every animal he saw in distress he flew to relieve. He frequently gave a halfpenny to release a poor bird from his captivity. But what moftly deferves attention was his diet; he refused every kind of flesh with horror. His food was gathered from the fpontaneous produce of the neighbouring fields, and the first spring afforded him drink. His dress was as mortifying as the reft of his manners; a fackloth-frock and a coarse pair of breeches open at the knees was all his covering. He carried œconomy and fimplicity to a criminal excefs, for he thereby fhortened his life. Three farthings a week was his ufual allowance, which he feldom exceeded; and when he did, it never was more than one farthing. He lived in this opinion longer than one might expect, an example of patience, refignation, and piety. It cannot now be ascertained how long he lived in this auftere manner. Seeing one day a young couple going to be married, he was much pleased. I had rather,' cried he, 'give one fingle being existence, than be the king of England; do you increase and multiply.' It was towards the latter end of his days that he publifhed the account of his life, under the title of The Hermit, wherein he attempts to prove, that what he practifed was right. This book, though the work of an enthusiast, at least displays fome fhew of learning. It foon after met with an answer; and while he meditated a reply, death took him off. Some thought he was starved, by being too weak to go in queft of his ufual diet, or that a fupply of bread which he received from the VOL. II. No. 13. 4 H

town

town weekly had miffed. One of his tracts ends in this

manner :

Hence would any one know the author,
Or afk, whose words are these?
I answer his, who drinks pure water,

And studies piety, health, and ease.
Who drinks, yet never can be drunk,
Who is not prone to swear;

From luft, from pride, from lewdness funk,
His bones are kept so bare.

Account of the celebrated DANIEL, OLIVER CROMWELL'S PORTER, who is faid to have foretold several remarkable Events, particularly the Fire of London.

THIS man, whofe chriftian name was Daniel, (his fur

name is not recorded) was porter to Oliver Cromwell, in whose service he learned much of the cant that prevailed at that time. He was remarkably tall, and was one of that clafs vulgarly termed giants: the measurement of his height is preserved by a large O on the back of the terrace at Windfor caftle. He was a great plodder in books of divinity, especially in thofe of the. myftical kind, which are fuppofed to have turned his brain. He was many years in Bedlam, where his library was, after fome tiine, allowed him; as there was not the least probability of his cure. The most confpicuous of his books was a large bible, given him by Nell Gwynn (a woman who appears to have pofsessed almost every virtue but that of chastity). He frequently preached, and fometimes prophefied; and was faid to have foretold several remarkable events, particularly the fire of London. One would think that Butler had this frantic enthusiast in view, where he says:

Had

[graphic]

Oliver Cromwell's Porter,

a remarkable Man, eminent for his Sanctity,and for prophecying many memorable events, particularly the Fire of London.

Pub by Alex Hoja dug Paternoster-row.

UN

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