It is certainly a curious fact that this Dr. Mapletoft should have thought that there were only three Concordances made; and the same mistaken idea was entertained by the owner of Colonel Garratt’s copy, words almost identical being written in that work by another Dr. Mapletoft in the year 1764. The John Ferrar referred to as giving the Concordance to Charles II. must
have been the son of John Ferrar, brother of Nicholas; so it is evident that the estates of Gidding were enjoyed by the family for many years after their return from the flight caused by the Parliamentary soldiers.
It is not known how long the business of making Concordances was continued at Gidding. There is a letter from John Ferrar printed, in which occurs a remark that perhaps if “noble or learned personages knew of them, they would desire to have some made for their own use, or for some library, as rarities in their kind.” He also says that this work, “which costs much time and labour, might be an answer to the libel that no work was done at Gidding, but all the time spent in contemplation, as it would make the world believe.” There is also a request to a Dr. Basire for two copies each of various editions and translations of the New Testament in many different languages, so it is certain that the work was to be carried on and developed as far as possible; and in all probability it only ceased when the “handy workwomen” went away from their united home to marry, and devote themselves to more serious, and perhaps less pleasant, occupations.
In the library of Magdalen College, Cambridge,
may be seen all the materials for a Concordance similar to that at St. John’s, Oxford, viz. “The Five Books of Moses.” There are two big bundles of folio sheets, designed and plotted out for engravings and letterpress; but no progress had been made with the work, except (curiously enough) the title-page, which was completed, and finishes with the words, “Done at Little Gidding, a.d. 1641.”
This method of bookmaking is not exactly in accordance with modern ideas, but it may throw a little light on the fact that although we know the King’s Concordance took a whole year to complete, there are no less than four volumes dated 1640, and one of these is the great Harmony in four languages. Until this unfinished Concordance was brought to light, it was always difficult to explain why four works were dated the same year.
Before we leave this subject, a few words must be said on some wonderful productions of the younger Nicholas Ferrar, which are reported to have been shown to the King when “the Monotessaron” was presented to Prince Charles; but they were afterwards taken back to Gidding.
There was, first, “The Gospel according to the holy Evangelists in eight languages, viz. Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, High Dutch, Saxon, and Welsh, interpreted with Latin or English, word for word, and at one view to be seen and read.”
Second: “The New Testament in twenty-four languages,” each language written in its proper characters;
Third: “The Gospel of St. John in as many languages as there are chapters (i.e. each chapter in a different language), and interpreted word for word into Latin or English.”