Bourne Archive: Bourne People: Job Hartop

http://boar.org.uk/abiwxo3Fuller’sHarwood.htm                     Latest edit 23 Jul 2010

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The Bourne Archive.

Fuller’s Biographies: Sir Edward Harwood.

Nuttall’s edition of 1840, of Thomas Fuller’s, Worthies of England . Volume Two (p. 284): Worthies of Lincolnshire: Soldiers, may be found in Google Books.

Transcript

Sir Edward Harwood was bourn nigh Bourn in this county [Lincolnshire], a valiant soldier and a gracious man. Such who object that he was extremely wild in his youth 1, put me in mind of the return which one made to an ill-natured man in a company, who with much bitterness had aggravated 2 the debauched youth of an aged and right godly divine: “You have proved,” said he, “with much pains what all knew before, that Paul was a great persecutor before he was converted.” 3

I have read of a bird, which hath a face like, and yet will prey upon, a man; who coming to the water to drink, and finding there by reflection that he had killed one like himself, pineth away by degrees, and never afterwards enjoyeth itself. Such in some sort the condition of Sir Edward. This accident, that he had killed one in a private quarrel, put a period to his carnal mirth, and was a covering to his eyes all the days of his life. No possible provocations could afterwards tempt him to a duel: and no wonder if one’s conscience loathed that whereof he had surfeited. He refused all challenges with more honour than others accepted them; it being well known, that he would set his foot as far in the face of an enemy as any man alive. He was one of four standing colonels in the Low Countries, and was shot at the siege of Maestricht, anno domini 1632 4. Death was so civil to him as to allow him leave to rise up on his knees, and to cry “Lord have mercy upon me.” Thus a long death-prayer after short piety is not so good, as a short prayer after a long pious conversation.

RJP’s Footnotes

1. ^     Shades of the Hereward story, Chapter II.

2.        Made to appear worse.

3.        New Testament: principally, Acts of the Appostles.

4.        Maastricht was besieged more than once. For example, it happened in 1579, before Sir Edward was born and again in 1673, after he had died. The siege of 1632 arose during the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule (1568-1648). With French, Welsh, English and Scottish support, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange Nassau took the town from Spanish Habsburg forces under Don Gonzalez de Córdoba. An account of the action.

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