A third volume was also sent to the British Museum by George II., as being a Little Gidding
work; but it is not, strictly speaking, a Concordance, being in many ways different to all the other Gidding works.
It contains merely the Acts of the Apostles and the Revelations of St. John. The title-page is very fully and curiously decorated; there is no date, and the form of title which occurs with very little alteration in every other specimen is also absent.
As the King took so much interest in these works, and valued them so highly, it followed as a very natural result that the young Princes should demand similar volumes for themselves; though it is perhaps doubtful if they would have appreciated a Concordance without any pictures.
Prince Charles asked the King to give him the first Harmony, but was met with the reply “that he might not part with it, as he used it daily.” A request was therefore sent to Gidding that a Harmony might be prepared for the Prince, and Mr. Ferrar being dead, the Miss Colletts and their cousin, Nicholas Ferrar (junior), decided to complete a Concordance similar to the first, but in four languages, English, Latin, French, and Italian. The book was ready and taken to London by young Ferrar just before Easter, 1640,
which date is affixed to the title-page. It was first submitted for the King’s approval, and, being greatly admired, was then taken to Prince Charles at Richmond, who was intensely delighted with his new acquisition. It is, indeed, a splendid volume, containing over 200 pages, bound in green velvet, with designs of fleurs de lis and sprigs of oak stamped in gold. The book measured 2 feet by 1 foot 5 inches, and has “a store of rare pictures to delight the eye.” The four languages are arranged in four parallel columns in each page.
It is now in Lord Normanton’s library at Somerley. The name by which it is commonly known is “Monotessaron,” which word, in Greek characters, stands at the head of the title-page.
One work led on to another; and no sooner had Prince Charles become the happy owner of an illustrated Harmony, than the young Duke of York, who was with his brother at Richmond, must needs want one for himself. Nicholas Ferrar assured him that he should have one “with all good speed.” “But how long will that be?” said the Prince. “I pray you tell the gentlewomen at Gidding I will heartily thank them if they will dispatch it.”
And, in accordance with the promise, another work was no doubt taken in hand; but young Ferrar did not live to see it completed, dying (as he did) at the early age of 21, within a very few weeks of his visit to Richmond, and it is almost certain that the Duke of York never had it given to him. But the Marquis of Salisbury has at Hatfield a Harmony of the Four Gospels, there being no record of the person for whom it was made. Now the appearance of the binding and the evidence of considerable care being taken in its preparation would lead to the conclusion that it was originally intended for a member of the Royal family. It is bound in purple velvet, sprigs of oak and fleurs de lis being prominent in the decoration of the outside. There is no date on the title-page, and the earliest authority as to the owner is the book-plate of “the Right Hon James Cecill, 1704.” In all essential points it is identical with the copy made for Charles I., and may be considered as the book intended for the Duke of York.
The King and his suite visited Gidding in the year 1642, and while there was shown another splendid Concordance, which he had heard was being made for Prince Charles’ use, but which