did often come to Gidden Hall, and make themselves a
part of that happy society, and stay a week or more, and then join
with Mr. Farrer and the family in these devotions, and assist and ease
him or them in their watch by night. And these various devotions had
never less than two of the domestic family in the night; and the
watch was always kept in the Church or Oratory, unless in extreme cold
winter nights, and then it was maintained in a parlour, which had
a fire in it; and the parlour was fitted for that purpose. And this
course of piety, and great liberality to his poor neighbours, Mr.
Farrer maintained till his death, which was in the year 1639.[24]

[Sidenote: "Valdesso's Considerations"]

Mr. Farrer's and Mr. Herbert's devout lives were both so noted, that
the general report of their sanctity gave them occasion to renew that
slight acquaintance which was begun at their being contemporaries in
Cambridge; and this new holy friendship was long maintained without
any interview, but only by loving and endearing letters. And one
testimony of their friendship and pious designs, may appear by Mr.
Farrer's commending the "Considerations of John Valdesso"--a book
which he had met with in his travels, and translated out of Spanish
into English,--to be examined and censured by Mr. Herbert before it
was made public: which excellent book Mr. Herbert did read, and return
back with many marginal notes, as they be now printed with it; and
with them, Mr. Herbert's affectionate letter to Mr. Farrer.

[Sidenote: Valdesso himself]

This John Valdesso was a Spaniard, and was for his learning and virtue
much valued and loved by the great Emperor Charles the Fifth, whom
Valdesso had followed as a Cavalier all the time of his long and
dangerous wars: and when Valdesso grew old, and grew weary both of war
and the world, he took his fair opportunity to declare to the Emperor,
that his resolution was to decline his Majesty's service, and betake
himself to a quiet and contemplative life, "because there ought to
be a vacancy of time betwixt fighting and dying." The Emperor
had himself, for the same, or other like reasons, put on the same
resolution: but God and himself did, till then, only know them; and
he did therefore desire Valdesso to consider well of what he had said,
and to keep his purpose within his own breast, till they two might
have a second opportunity of a friendly discourse; which Valdesso
promised to do.

In the mean tim