"tion which can proceed from the greatest af"fections and obligations; such as are those of, "Honoured Sir, n "Your most obliged, " and affectionate servant, "J. T." a This address is followed by the copy of verses already mentioned in a preceding note. They are superscribed, "In Grammaticam Reverendi viri domini Jer. Taylori, S. Theologiæ Doctoris recens editam. En ut sacerdos, en ut orator potens, Quem santioris areæ certamina, Duros labores pulvere ingrato locat, Inglorio in Circo pugil. Cur se redire patitur hæc in Tædia, Primasq. cunas artium ? An quod sacerdos sit Deo, in numerum gregis Adsciscit infantes sui ? Et dum puerulis format animos, sanctius Agit Theologium nullibi ? An quod sacerdos sit camænis, infimas Musarum ad aras excubat? An quod prolixa turgeant volumina, Nimiusq. grammatices labor, Dedit hanc synopsin et cathechesin brevem, Ceu januam Encyclopædia? Quam, quò faciliùs quilibet succum puer Teneris labellis exprimat, Latium revellens corticem, vernaculo Sermone prudens editit. Sic literatæ gentis antistes sacer, Patronus et stator togæ. The eminence of his learning and integrity of his principles procured him scholars; who having, as it were, received instruction from this prophet in the wilderness, were transplanted to the universities.P Quascunque vulgi inertis insanus furor Restaurat, ausus ferre censuram, et pati Hoc omne nostrum fundit in gremium, sui Cœtus Theologus Christianos instruit, Nullisq. clausus terminis, nec unius Totum per orbem docta pervulgat sacra, e Schola Regia Westmonast. Imprimatur, F. GREGORY. Jo. LANGLEY." See Wood's Athen. Oxon. vol. 2. p. 282. P The tradition of the neighbourhood of Llanfihangel Aberbythick is, that Taylor instructed his pupils in any building or cottage he could hire for the purpose. But this does not correspond with Wood's account. For if so, it cannot be easily imagined how he could procure pupils of sufficient substance to proceed to the universities. In this banishment from his home, he experienced the mercy of Providence in the generous patronage of Richard Vaughan, earl of Carbery, who resided at Golden Grove', the १ 'Richard, was the son of John Earl of Carbery, by Margaret daughter of Sir Gilly-Merrick, Kt. Being a firm friend to the royalists, he used all his interest in South Wales (which was great) in raising forces for the security of that quarter. And as a reward, was successively made lieutenant-general for the counties of Caermarthen, Pembroke, and Cardigan; and by letters patent at Oxford, 25th Oct. 19 Cha. I. created Lord Vaughan of Emlyn. At the restoration he was constituted Lord President of Wales, and sworn of the Privy Council. r Golden Grove is seated in one of the finest parts of the celebrated vale "Of winding Towy, Merlin's fabled haunt," and near the banks of that beautiful river, which runs through the grounds. The surrounding country is highly picturesque. It is well wooded: but was much more so in the days of Taylor. Dynevor Castle, the seat of the ancient Princes of South Wales, with its fine hanging groves of venerable oaks, stands about a mile and a half to the north of Golden Grove; Dryslwyn Castle, on a rocky hill in the middle of the vale is about three miles to the west, in full view of the principal front of the house; and Grongar Hill forms a striking feature in the prospect, about a mile and a half to the north-west. It would be unpardonable not to bring to the reader's memory the highly poetical description of this vale given by Pyer. "Now, I gain the mountain's brow, What a landscape lies below! No clouds, no vapours intervene, gay, the open scene seat of his ancestors, in the parish of Llanfihangel Aberbythick, near Llandilo Fawr, in Caermarthenshire. Does the face of nature show, The gloomy pine, the poplar blue, Lies a long and level lawn, On which a dark hill, steep and high, Deep are his feet in Towy's flood, That cast an awful look below, &c." GRONGAR HILL. The natural beauties of Golden Grove are scarcely exceeded in any country. In the edition of 1657, of the Under the shadow of this fostering tree, Taylor found a shelter from the heat, and a covert from the storm. He was received into the family and allowed to minister to the household, having a stipend allotted him, as he himself intimates3. Though like the great apostle he had a profession, by which he rendered himself useful to others, and less burthensome to his noble Συμβολον Ηθικο-Πολεμικον οι a collection of Polemical Discourses," is a vignette, containing a view of Golden Grove, embosomed in woods, with the romantic hills in the back ground to the north-east, not ill delineated. The present house is by no means suitable to the princely property attached to it. It stands on part of the ruins of the ancient mansion; and some of the old walls remain, but not enough to convey any idea of the former place, which has been represented as approaching to magnificence. In the year 1729, the old manor house was burnt down, together with all the furniture, library, (excepting two or three hundred volumes that the Duchess of Bolton, then proprietor, had in the house in London,) grants, deeds, valuable writings, and family memorials. The name of Taylor is still held in great veneration in that neighbourhood; and there is a walk or avenue near the house, which to this day is called Taylor's walk. In his Dedication to this nobleman, prefixed to his ENUTOS or Course of Sermons. |