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
