The first meeting of the “Little Academy” was on Ash Wednesday, 1630, when the subject was “The Folly of Delaying Repentance.” The next meeting was on Easter Monday, a speech being made on “Happiness,” illustrated by stories of King Philip of Spain, King Henry IV. of France, and Popes Marcellus and Adrian. On other occasions the following subjects were selected: “Humility towards God, and moderation to equals and enemies is most beneficial,” illustrated by stories of Charles V.; “We must overcome evil with good,” illustration, John of Alexandria, etc., etc.
At first it seems that the recitations were given on five festivals, which days naturally provided
suitable subjects, and afterwards it was decided to increase the number to twelve days, and they pass the following resolution: “Every day must handle a new matter, that’s the injunction; and because the days afford not any special occasion, the particular names imposed on us shall be the subjects successively of our several exercises.” The titles were (1) “The Chief” (who chose for her subject “Humility”); (2) The Patient; (3) The Affectionate; (4) The Cheerful; (5) The Submiss; (6) The Obedient; (7) The Moderate. Generally the conversations were enlivened by music and singing, but when the subject was “Patience” this was omitted, and there was much less anecdote. The discourse was also somewhat longer, so that the virtue which was being illustrated was at the same time practically enforced. It is not quite clear how long the exercises were continued, but in the second volume of the manuscripts it is stated that many home troubles had helped to break up the “Little Academy,” especially old Mrs. Ferrar’s death, which was in the year 1634, and that the actors were reduced to three, when their cousin, young Nicholas Ferrar, “took upon himself to revive their antient practises.” But after this the actors all appear with fresh names.
Not content with the most careful and minute regulations for the employment of every hour of the day in some secular or religious matter, (for we read that “every hour had its company for the performance of some special duty,”) Nicholas Ferrar further arranged that those so inclined should pursue their devotional exercises also at night. Two were to watch together in a room set apart for the purpose; the womankind had a room at one side of the house, and the men had one on the other side. The watching lasted from 9 p.m. till 1 a.m., and during those four hours the whole of the Book of Psalms was said over carefully, verse by verse, alternately.
Mr. Ferrar himself generally watched twice in the week, the others never more than once; and in the winter special precautions were taken to prevent them suffering from cold.
At one o’clock, when the watch was finished, they lay down till six o’clock, but did not actually go to bed at all, as on other nights.
It was apparently some account of the “Harmonies of the Four Evangelists” which first attracted King Charles’ attention to the family living at Gidding, and about the year 1631, being not far off with his Court, he sent a gentleman to
ask for the loan of the book. This was conceded with some hesitation, and the King, having once got it into his hands, would not part with it again, until he had obtained a promise that another similar volume should be made for him. The work was promptly executed, and may now be seen in the British Museum.
The careful study of the Harmonies or Concordances is most interesting, and even in these modern times one at least is used daily as a means of instruction for the children of the family where the book has an honoured home, in much the same manner as the children at Little Gidding used it two hundred and fifty years ago.
No more need be said about the Harmonies here, as a full account of the manner of their construction and the history and resting-place of all the specimens that can be heard of at the present time will be related in another chapter.