It happened that a Visitation was kept at S’t Peters in Corn-hill, for the Clergy of London.  The Preacher discoursing of the painfulness of the Ministerial Function, proved it from the Greek deduction of [Greek:  Diakonos] or Deacon, so called from [Greek:  konis] dust, because he must laborare in arena in pulvere, work in the dust, doe hard service in hot weather.  Sermon ended, Bishop Laud proceeded to his charge to the Clergy, and observing the Church ill repaired without, and slovenly kept within, I am sorry (said He) to meet here with so true an Etymologie of Diaconus, for here is both dust and dirt too, for a Deacon (or Priest either) to work in.  Yea it is dust of the worst kind, caused from the mines of this ancient house of God, so that it pittieth his[1] servants to see her in the dust.  Hence he took occasion to press the repairing of that, and other decaied places of divine worship, so that from this day we may date the general mending, beautifying and adorning of all English Churches, some to decency, some to magnificence, and some (if all complaints were true) to superstition.

[Sidenote:  Principally of S. Pauls]

But the Church of S’t Pauls, (the only Cathedral in Christendom dedicated to that Apostle) was the master:  piece of his performances.  We know what[2] one Satyrically said of him, that he pluckt down Puritans, and Property, to build up Pauls and Prerogative.  But let unpartial Judges behold how he left, and remember how he found that ruinous fabrick, and they must conclude that (though intending more) he effected much in that great designe.  He communicated his project to some private persons, of taking down the great Tower in the middle, to the Spurrs, and rebuild it in the same fashion, (but some yards higher) as before.  He meant to hang as great and tuneable a ring of Bels, as any in the world, whose sound advantaged with their height and vicinity of the Thames, must needs be loud and melodious.  But now he is turned to his dust, and all his thoughts have perished, yea that Church, formerly approached with due reverence, is now entred with just fear, of falling on those under it, and is so far from having its old decays repaired, that it is daily decayed in its new reparations.

He was low of Stature, little in bulk, chearful in countenance, (wherein gravity and quickness were well compounded) of a sharp and piercing eye, clear judgement, and (abating the influence of age) firme memory.  He wore his hair very close, and though in the beginning of his greatness, many measured the length of mens stricktness by the shortness of their hair, yet some will say, that since out of Antipathy to conform to his example, his opposites have therein indulged more liberty to themselves.  And thus we take our leave of him.

[Footnote 1:  Psal. 102. 14]

[Footnote 2:  Lord F.]