Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/618

 614 USHER. niture in his house at Drogheda, whence the library was conveyed to England. On this misfortune, the king con ferred on him the bishopric of Carlisle, in commendam; the revenues of which, however, were reduced almost to nothing by the Scotch and English armies quartering upon it; and when a l l the lands belonging t o the English bishoprics were seized b y the parliament, they voted him a pension o f 400l. which was only paid t o him once o r twice. I t i s said, that h e refused a t this time a n invita tion into France b y Cardinal Richelieu, with a promise o f the free exercise o f his religion, and a considerable pen sion; and likewise b y the States o f Holland, who offered him the honorary professorship a t Leyden. On the invitation o f the Countess o f Peterborough, h e fixed his residence a t her house i n London, i n 1646, and i n 1647, was chosen preacher o f Lincoln's Inn; the So ciety providing him with handsome lodgings, and several rooms for his library, which was about this time brought u p from Chester. Here h e constantly preached i n term time for almost eight years, till a t last, his eye-sight and teeth beginning t o fail him, h e could not well b e heard i n s o large a congregation, and was forced t o quit this place about a year and a half before his death, t o the great regret o f the Society. On March 20, 1655-6, h e was taken ill, and died o n the following day, a t the Countess o f Peterborough's house, a t Ryegate, i n Surrey. Prepa rations were made for a private funeral; but Cromwell ordered him t o b e interred with great magnificence i n Erasmus's chapel, i n Westminster Abbey; the funeral ser vice, which must b e considered a s a very particular indul gence, being performed according t o the liturgy o f the church o f England. His funeral sermon, which contains many particulars o f his life, was preached b y Dr. Nicholas Bernard, who had formerly been his chaplain, and was then preacher o f Gray's Inn. His library, being the only part o f his property which remained t o him, h e bequeathed t o his daughter; from whom i t was purchased b y the officers and soldiers o f the Irish