A sammelband volume of fifteen 17th-century funeral sermons.

1. FREEMAN (Samuel). A sermon preach’d at the funeral of Sir Tho. Bludworth, Kt. Late alderman of the city of London. On Wednesday, May 24th 1682. By Sam. Freeman, M.A. and rector of St. Ann’s Aldersgate, London. London : printed for Edward Gellibrand at the Golden Ball in St. Paul’s Church-yard, 1682. 4to. [4], 31, [1] pp. Wing F2143. NOTE: The funeral of Thomas Bludworth (1624-1682).

 

Bludworth was Lord Mayor of London during the Great Fire and famously responsded to the emergency with the suggestion that "a woman could piss it out". His actions during the fire were widely condemned in the years after. Carol Hartley notes in the ODNB that Bludworth had requested a quiet evening funeral but his wishes were cast aside and an elaborate funeral proccession instead made its way through the City. Hartley describes the funeral sermon as "tedious" but notes the cryptic reference by Freeman to the "more controversial aspects" of Bludworth's life. Bludworth was also master of the Vintner's company (1641-2). 

 

2. WILLES (Samuel). A sermon preach’d at the funeral of the Right Honble the Lady Mary, daughter to Ferdinando late Earl of Huntingdon, and wife to William Jolife of Caverswell-Castle in the county of Stafford, Esq; at Ashby-De-la-Zouch, Decemb. xii. 1678. By Samuel Willes, M.A. and preacher a All-hallows in Derby. Imprimatur. April 12. 1679. Guil. Sill. London : printed by J.D. for John Baker, at the three Pigeons in St. Paul’s Church-yard, 1679. 4to. 36 pp. Wing W2305 Top edge shaved, affecting a few page numbers. NOTE: The funeral of Mary Jolliffe (d. 1678).    

 

Lady Mary Joliffe was the second wife William Joliffe (c.1622-1712) and the daughter of Ferdinando, sixth Earl of Huntingdon. Joliffe was a prominent London merchant who made a great deal of money both through his business interests and his fortuitous marriages.

 

3. WARING, Robert (1614-1658). A Sermon Preached at St. Margaret's in Westminster at the Funeral of Mrs Susanna Gray, Daughter of Henry Gray of Enfield… who on 29th October 1654, began her Eternal Sabbath. London, Printed inthe year 1672. 4to. [2], 95, [1] pp., with an elaborate mento-mori woodcut border on the title-page (lacking pp. 45-86, a series of verse elegies). Title-page heavily cropped at the fore and lower margin. Second edition (first printed 1657 but without the elaborate woodcut border). Wing W870 (+; Folger, Princeton, Clark and Yale only in the USA). NOTE: The funeral of Susanna Gray (d. 1654).  

 

4. BLAKE (Nicholas). Baruch's Work Finished. A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of that painful Labourer in the Lord's Vineyard, Mr James Sharp. London, Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's Arms, 1681. 4to. [2], 5-36 pp.Wing B3135 NOTE: The funeral of James Sharpe (1613-1679).

 

5. FREEMAN (Samuel). The Israelite Indeed. A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Mark Cottle Esq. late Register of the Prerogative-Office on Thursday, Jan. 5, 1681. By Sam. Freeman, M.A. and rector of St. Ann’s Aldersgate, London. London, Printed for Edward Gellibrand at the Golden Ball in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1682. 4to. [4], 31, [1] pp. Wing F2141; NOTE: The funeral of Mark Cottle (d. 1681 or 1682).  

 

6. BURNETT (Gilbert). A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Mr. James Houblon who was buried at St. Mary Wolnoth Church in Lombard-Street June 28 1682. London, Printed for RichardChiswel at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard 1682. 4to. [8], 38, [2] pp., including firstblank leaf and final advertisement leaf. Wing B5878 NOTE: The funeral of James Houblon (d. 1682).

 

7. ROGERS (Timothy). Early Religion: Or, The Way for a Young Man to remember his Creator. Proposed in a Sermon Preached on the Death of Mr. Robert Linager, A young gentleman who left this world October 26 1682. London, Printed for J Robinson at the GoldenLion in St. Paul's Church-yard, and J Dunton at the Black Raven in the Poultrey 1683. 4to. [12], 51,[1] pp. Wing R184 NOTE: The funeral of Robert Linager (d. 1682).  

 

8. ALGOOD (Major). (1641-1696). A sermon preached, at the funeral of the Reverend and Learned Mr. George Ritschel, Late Minister of Hexham in Northumberland: by Mr. Major Algood, Rector of Symon-burn in the same county: with an elegie on his Death. London : printed for Joseph Hall, bookseller and bookbinder on tyne Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne, 1684. 4to. 24 pp. Wing A925. NOTE: The funeral of George Ritschel (1616-1683).

 

9. THORNE (Edmund). A Funeral Sermon upon the much lamented Death of Col. Edward Cook; Who died in London upon January the 29th and was buried in the Chapple at Highnam near Gloucester, on February the 2d. 1683/4. London: Printed by T.B. for Walter Davies in Amen-Corner 1684. 4to. 39, [1] pp. (page numbers shaved). Wing T1057aA (+; Folger and Yale only in the USA). NOTE: The funeral of Edward Cooke (d. 1684).

 

10. KETTLEWORTH (John). A Funeral Sermon for the Right Honourable The Lady Frances Digby, who deceased at Coles-Hall in Warwickshire on 29 September 1684. London, Printed for Robert Kettleworth at the Hand and Scepter over against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet 1684. 4to. [6], 33 pp. Wing K368 NOTE: The funeral of Francis Noel Digby, of Geashill (1660 or 1661-1684).  

 

11. CAWDREY (Zachary). The Certainty of Salvation to them who Dye in the Lord. A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of the Right Honourable George Lord Delamer; at Boden [...] September 9th 1684. London: Printed for Peter Gillworth, Bookseller […],1684. 4to. [4], 32 pp. Wing C1645. NOTE: The funeral of George BoothDelamer (1622-1684).

 

12. HAMMAT (John). A Burning and Shining Light: A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of the late Reverend Mr. James Wrexham. London: printed for Nath. Ponder...and Thomas Watson, Bookseller in Newport-Pagnell, 1685. 4to. [8], 32 pp. (heavily cropped). Wing H490 (+; Duke University, Folger, Huntington and Union Theological Seminary only in the USA). NOTE: The funeral of James Wrexham (d. 1685?).

 

13. SCOTT (John). A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Dr. William Croun on 23 October 1684. London, Printed for Robert Horne at the south entrance of the Royal Exchange, 1685. 4to. [4], 30 pp. + 1 f. (advertisement). Wing S2068 (+; Duke University, Folger, Huntington, Union Theological Seminary and Clark Library in the USA).  

 

14. CAVE (John). Christian Tranquility, or The Government of the Passions of Joy and Grief. In a Sermon Preached at Shenton.... upon the occasion of the much lamented Death of that hopeful young gentleman Mr. Francis Wollatson, an only son and heir to a very fair estate. London, Printed for K. Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1685. 4to. [2], 29, [1] pp. without the advertisement leaf (E4). Wing (2nd ed.) C1580 (+; Harvard, Huntington and Yale only in the USA). NOTE: Funeral of Francis Wollaston (d. 1685).    

 

15. SOUTHCOMB (Lewis). A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Mr. John Culme. London, Printed for H. Bonwicke at the Red Lyon in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1692. [4], 30 pp. + 1 f. (advertisement). Wing S4752. NOTE: Funeral of John Culme (d. 1692).  

This collection of sermons was compiled by Rowland Borrow who signs his name, in various different forms, on the title-page of most of the sermons, along with the price paid, and has had his initials and the date "R.B.1695" stamped on the upper board. Borrow has also written a manuscript index to the volume on the front blank leaves and made notes to a number of the sermons including additional biblical verses at the end and some underlining in the text. Rowland Borrow was rector of Browhame and Clifton and Chaplain to the Earl of Thanet. He was educated at Sedberg Grammar School and later St John’s, Cambridge.

Stock Code: 216187