Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 24.djvu/258

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Clapham in Bedfordshire, where he was to be kept under light restraint. Warwick had been gentleman-attendant upon the king, and with Hammond in the Isle of Wight. He was an old friend and contemporary at Eton and Oxford. As a churchman he gave Hammond free permission to exercise his ministerial functions. Hammond spent much time at Clapham in literary work. Before the trial of the king Hammond addressed a letter to Fairfax and the council of officers on behalf of his majesty, and the death of his master caused him deep anguish. In 1649 or early in the subsequent year Hammond left Warwick's friendly surveillance, and removed to Westwood in Worcestershire, the seat of the loyal Sir John Pakington. He met with a sad trial in the loss of his mother, who died in London. As a loyal clergyman he could not go within twenty miles of London, and was thus unable to attend her deathbed. Thurloe (State Papers, v. 407) doubtfully asserts that Hammond went about this time under the name of Westenbergh.

At Westwood Hammond found a happy asylum during the remainder of his life. In August 1651 he attended Pakington to the royal camp at Worcester, and had an interview with the king. Pakington was taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester, 3 Sept., but soon returned home uninjured. In 1655 an ordinance was issued forbidding the ejected clergy to act as schoolmasters or private chaplains, or perform any clerical functions thus depriving them of all means of subsistence. Hammond and other influential clergy did what they could to devise means for the support of their suffering brethren and to meet the spiritual wants of the laity (cf. Perry, Life). Hammond's personal character and writings gave him great influence, and he not only had considerable private means, but, according to Fell, 'had the disposal of great charities reposed in his hands, as being the most zealous promoter of almsgiving that lived in England since the change of religion.' In the last six years of his life his health began to fail. He died of an attack of stone on 25 April 1660, the day that the parliament voted that the king should be brought back. Had he lived he would have been made bishop of Worcester. Fell gives us an affecting account of his last moments. He was buried in the family vault of the Pakingtons, in the chancel of Hampton Church. There is a Latin inscription on his monument by Humphrey Henchman, bishop of Salisbury, and afterwards of London. Hammond left his books to his friend Richard Allestree [q. v.] Hammond's death, says Burnet, was an unspeakable loss to the church; and Richard Baxter mentions him in the highest terms. Hammond is fortunate in his first biographer, John Fell, bishop of Oxford [q. v.], whose memoir, first published in 1661, is one of the most charming pieces of biography in the language. Some beautiful lines by Keble, written in 1819 on a visit to Hammond's tomb, are reprinted in Bloxam's * Register of Magdalen College.'

Hammond was a handsome man, as his portrait in the hall of Magdalen College shows, with a fine figure, a quick eye, and a countenance which combined sweetness with dignity. Charles I said he was the most natural orator he ever heard. He was of a kind, social, and benevolent disposition. From his youth he spent much of his time in secret devotion. His self-denial amounted almost to asceticism, and his studious industry was unceasing. As a writer he is chiefly known by his 'Practical Catechism' and his 'Paraphrase and Annotations on the New Testament,' published in 1653. The latter is a great work, though largely superseded now, and gives Hammond a claim to the title of father of English biblical criticism. Most of his works were collected and published by his amanuensis, William Fulman [q. v.], in four volumes, folio, 1674-84; and his 'Miscellaneous Theological Works' were edited in four volumes, 8vo, for the 'Anglo-Catholic Library,' 1847-50, with Bishop Fell's 'Life' prefixed, and valuable prefaces by the Rev. Nicholas Pocock.

Hammond assisted Brian Walton in the 'London Polyglott,' 1657, and prefixed a prefatory letter to the 'Whole Duty of Man,' 1659. Hammond was undoubtedly familiar with the author of the latter work, whose identity is disputed. Hearne suggested that it was produced by 'a club of learned and pious persons, such as ye Br [i.e. Fell], Dr. Hammond, ye Lady Packington [i.e. Hammond's friend and patroness], &c.' (Hearne, Coll., ed. Doble, i. 28). The following is a list of Hammond's separate publications: 1.'Practical Catechism,' Oxford, 1644; 2nd edit., with author's name, Oxford, 1646; London, 1646; reissued, with 'severall treatises,' London, 1648; 12th edition, 1683. 2. 'Of Scandall,' Oxford, 1644, 1646. 3. 'Of Conscience,' &c., 4to, Oxford, 1644; London, 1645. 4. 'Of Resisting the Lawful Magistrate under Colour of Religion,' 4to, Oxford, 1644; London, 1647. 5. 'Of Will Worship,' 4to, Oxford, 1644. 6. 'Of Superstition,' 4to, Oxford, 1645, London, 1650. 7. 'Of Sins of Weakness and Wilfulness; and an Explication of two difficult texts in Heb. vi. and Heb. x.,' 4to, Oxford, 1645, 1650. 8. 'Of a Late and Death-bed Repentance,' 4to, Oxford, 1645. The last