King by whose Special Command he undertook it in a less space of time than four months and had a second Edition within three months after and notwithstanding the polemical Debates upon that Argument there was never any one yet that had the courage to return an Answer to that History And whoever peruses it with serious and unprejudiced thoughts will find that its Author principally designed to withdraw his Country-men from a Iudaical Observation of the Lords day i. e. from Dedicaâ—ing the whole of that time to the services and offices of Religion and refusing to engage in any business which our own or our Neighbors Conveniences or Necessities might exact from us And when all that our voluminous Writers have said upon this Argument is summ'd up together there are none of them but will subscribe to the truth of these two Propositions 1. That worldly cares and bodily Recreations tend very much to discompose and rarifie menâ— spirits and to fill them full of froth and worldliness of gaiety and wantonness so that they cannot fix their thoughts upon Christian Duties with any serious or continued Attention 2. That 't is impossible for the minds of the generality of Christians who are not used to Contemplation to be for a whole Lords day or the greatest part of it intent upon Religious Exercises And besides if all Refreshments and Recreations were absolutely unlawful upon that day poor Servants and the laborious part of mankind would be highly prejudiced for whose benefit the Sabbath was first instituted and appointed No sooner had the Doctor perfected this History but the Dean of Peterborough engages him to answer the Bishop of Lincloln's Letter to the Vicar of Grantham He received it upon Good-Friday and by Thursday night following discovered the Sophistry Mistakes and Falshoods of it and yet did not for all that intermit any of the publick Religious Exercises of the holy Feast of Easter It was approved by the King by him given to the Bishop of London to be Licensed and Published under the Title of A Coal from the Altar In less time then aâ— twelve-month the Bishop of Lincoln writ an Answer to it entituled The Holy Table Name and Thing but pretended it was writ long before by a Minister in Lincolnshire against Dr. Cole a Divine in the days of Queen Mary Our Reverend Doctor received a Massage from his Majesty to return a Reply to it and not in the least to spare the Author April 1. 1637. And he obeyed the Royal Command in the space of seven weeks presenting it ready Printed to the King the 20th of May following and called it Antidotum Lincolniense And although the Bishops Book was from the dissatisfaction of the times the subject-matter of the Book it self and the Religious esteem of the Author who was held in high Veneration looked upon to be unanswerable and sold for no less than 4 s. yet upon the coming out of the answer it was brought to less than one But before this he answered Burtons Seditious Sermon being thereunto also appointed by the King which Book although he dispatch'd in a fortnight yet it was not published till Iune 26. 1637. being kept in readiness till the Execution of the Star-Chamber Sentence upon the Triumviri that so people might be satisfied as well in the greatness of the Crimes as the necessity and justice of the punishment inflicted upon those Offenders In Iuly 1637. the Bishop of Lincoln was Censured in the Star-Chamber for tampering with Witnesses in the Kings Cause being suspended à Beneficio Officio and sent to the Tower where he continued three years and did not in all that space of time hear either Sermon or Publick Prayers Not long after this Dr. Heylyn was chosen Treasurer for the Church of Westminster and continued in that Office all the while of the Bishops Imprisonment and Suspension And he made use of the power with which that place invested him to the best advantage of that Foundation For first he reguâ—ated the Disorders of the Iury by exacting the Sconces or Perdition-money and dividing it amongst those that were most diligent and devout Then he proceeded to repair the Timber-work of the great West Isle which was ready to fall down caused the new Arch over the Preaching-place to be new Valuted and the Roof thereof to be raised to the same heighth with the rest of the Church the Charge whereof amounted to 434 l. 18 s. 10 d. and lastly made the South-side of the lower West-Isle to be new Timbred Boarded and Leaded being fallen into great decay Thrice he assisted in the Election at Westminster-School and every time had an opportunity of bringing in a Scholar into that Royal Foundation for two of which he was never spoke unto and for his kindness unto all three he never had the value of one pint of Wine nor any thing of less moment Whilst he continued Treasurer the Parsonage of Islip became vacant by the Death of Dr. King unto which he was presented by the Chapter But he deferr'd receiving Institution by reason of its great distance from Alresford being advised to exchange it for some other that was more near and convenient After many offers he at last exchanged with Mr. Atkinson of St. Iohns College in Oxon for South-Warnborough which was eight miles distant from his other Living and the perpetual Patronage of which Archbishop Laud had bestowed upon that fore-mentioned Society But that Gentleman enjoyed Islip but a few weeks and those of his College conceiving themselves prejudiced by the change our Doctor was so generous as to obtain for one of the Fellows a second Presentation to Islip for which he never received so much as the least civil Acknowledgment But he had other things to afflict his spirit at that time his whole Family being visited with a contagious Fever and no person in it except one Servant but were all sick at one and the same time The Doctor did as narrowly escape death as St. Paul and his Companions did Shipwrack when they went to Rome The Fever had so seized upon his spirits that after the abatement of its Paroxisms he had many dull and sleepless nights and returning upon him with greater violence a twelve-month after he was reduced to so extreme a weakness that all his Friends together with himself supposed him fallen into a deep Consumption And yet even at this time his mind was not idle or unactive For now it was that he first meditated of a project of Writing a History of the Church of England since the Reformation And no sooner had he recovered some measure and degrees of strength but he prepared materials for it and upon his return to London obtained the freedom of Sir Robert Cotton's Library and by the recommendation of Archbishop Laud had liberty granted him to carry home some of the Books leaving 200 l. apiece as a pawn behind him About this time it was that the Commotions began to be hot
Sermon had as kindly an effect upon the Committee as his Visit had upon the Bishop For he found those fierce Gentlemen after the perusal of his Notes much more favourable and respective than before They demanded a Copy of the Charge which he drew up against Mr. Pryn which being delivered Mr. Pryn accused him of Libelling and Preaching against him for proof of which he produced in Court some of the Doctor 's Books urging many passages out of them but all concluded nothing That which was at last most insisted on was a Sermon Preach'd some years before Mr. Pryn's Censure in the Star-Chamber before his Majesty but the sense of his past dangers before the Committee was in some measure recompenc'd by this days mirth and jollity For Mr. Pryn resolving effectually to damnifie the Doctor produced a company of Butchers to bring in Evidence against him about a Sermon formerly Preach'd by him And after the Testimony of these great Criticks had been mannag'd to the best advantage of Raillery and Mirth the Criminal was favourably dismissed and never more called before them 'T is true many attempts were made to create him new Disturbances some being employed to make a severe inquisition into his Life and Manners which they found too spotless for their spleen and malice Others engaged his Neighbours at Alresford to draw up Articles against him which was accordingly done by two of them and few others of the most inconsiderable Inhabitants who were prevailed on to make their Marks for Write they could not by telling them it was a business in which the Town were very much concerned But when the Articles were produced before the Committee they appeared so foolish and frivolous as not to be deemed worthy of consideration and upon that were returned to be amended upon a Melius Inquirendum and this being done in a more correct and enlarg'd Edition they were again return'd to the Committee and a set day was appointed for a Hearing And that being come the Complaint was put off sine die and a Copy of the Articles delivered to the person accused together with those newly put in against him by Mr. Pryn collected out of his Printed Books But the poor Doctor being quite tir'd with Business and Attendance obtained leave of the Chair-man to retire into the Country who freely promised to send a private Messenger to him if there were any occasion for his return Upon which he removed his Study to Alresford setting his House for no more than 3 l. a year with a purpose never more to come back to Westminster whilst those two incomparable Friends remained in it viz. the House of Commons and Bishop of Lincoln At his coming to Alresford the people were amazed to see him having been persuaded that they should never more fix eye on him unless they took a journey to a Goal or a Gallows About this time it was that Doctor Hacwel taking advantage of the innumerable troubles and enemies of this learned man publish'd a book against him concerning the Sacrifice of the Eucharist It was not without some difficulty that he obtained one of them to be sent to him in the Country where he wrote a speedy Answer to it But Dr. Hackwel's Friends thought fit to call in the Book so soon as it first came into light and then our Doctor was easily persuaded to suppress his Answer diverting his Studies to more pleasing and no less necessary subjects viz. The History of Episcopacy and the History of Liturgies The first was Printed presently after it was written and Presented to the King by Mr. Secretary Nicholas and Published under the name of Theophilus Churchman but the other although sent to London and received by the Bookseller was not Printed till some years after For now there was more employment found out for the Sword than the Pen the noise of Bellona and Mars silencing the Laws of God and Men and Christians conceiving it their duty rathâ—r to spill the Blood of their Country-men for Religion than to part with one drop out of their own veins and to plunder the Goods of their Neighbours than to endure the spoiling of their own Sir Will. Waller sent eighty of his Soldiers to be quartered at the Doctors house with full Commission to strip him naked of all he had But his fair and affable carriage towards them did so mollifie the Austerity of their natures that they quite dismissed all thoughts of violence and revenge So were Esau's bloody resolutions quite converted into kindness and respect by the humble deportment as well as noble presents that were made to him by his Brother Iacob But notwithstanding the Diversion of this storm the Reverend man was early the next morning brought before Sir William by his Provost-Marshal by whom he was told that he had received Commands from the Parliament to seize upon him and send him Prisoner unto Portsmouth The Doctor had the like privilege with St. Paul being permitted to plead for himself and by his powerful reasoning did so far prevail upon the General as to be dismissed back to his house in safety But prudently fore-seeing that this would only be a Reprieve till a further mischief within a few days he left Hampshire and went to Oxon where he no sooner arrived but he received his Majesties Commands by the Clerk of his Closet to address himself to Mr. Secretary Nicholas from whom he was to take directions for some special and important Service which was at last signified to Dr. Heylyn under the Kings own hand viz. to write the Weekly Occurrences which befel his Majesties Government and Armies in the unnatural War that was raised against him The Reverend Man was hugely unwilling to undertake the employment conceiving it not only somewhat disagreeable to the Dignity and Profession that he had in the Church and directly thwarting his former Studies and Contemplations but that by a faithful discharge of his Duty in that Service he should expose both his Family and himself to the implacable malice of those persons whose very mercies were Cruelty and Blood But no Arguments or Intercessions could prevail to have him excused from that Employment at least for some time till he had made it facile by his own diligence and example Neither were dangers or difficulties of any moment with him when the Service of his Prince and Master required his Labours and Assistance Discere à peritis sequi optimos nihil appetere ob jactationem nihil ob formidinem recusare simulque anxius intentus agere is a Character as truly applicable to Dr. Heylyn as to the brave Roman of whom it was first written For he desired no employment out of vain-glory and refused none out of fear but equally was careful and intent in whatever he undertook and at that time too when he was denied the poor Deanery of Chichester for which his Majesty was earnestly importuned in his behalf by Mr. Secretary Nicholas The Weekly Occurrences that were
and the penalties thereunto annexed might be wholly abrogated and annulled But the most remarkable Effort of his zeal for the Church after the Kings Restauration was the Application made by him to the great Minister of State in those days that there might be a Convocation called with the Parliament What good effects were produced by his endeavours in that particular let the Reader judg when he has perused the following Letter with which the Reverend Doctor saluted that powerful Statesman Right Honorable and my very good Lord I Cannot tell how welcome or unwelcome this Address may prove in regard of the greatness of the Cause and the low condition of the Party who negotiates in it But I am apt enough to persuade my self that the honest zeal which moves me to it not only will excuse but endear the boldness There is my Lord a general Speech but a more general Fear withal amongst some of the Clergy that there will be no Convocation called with the following Parliament which if it should be so resolved on cannot but raise sad thoughts in the hearts of those who wish the peace and happiness of our English Sion But being the Bishops are excluded from their Votes in Parliament there is no other way to keep up their Honor and Esteem in the eyes of the people but the retaining of their places in the Convocation Nor have the lower Clergy any other means to shew their duty to the King and keep that little freedom which is left unto them then by assembling in such Meetings where they may exercise the Power of a Convocation in granting Subsidies to his Majesty tho in nothing else And should that Power be taken from them according to the constant but unprecedented practice of the late Long Parliament and that they must be taxed and rated with the rest of the Subjects without their liking and consent I cannot see what will become of the first Article of Magna Charta so solemnly so frequently confirmed in Parliament or what can possibly be left unto them of either of the Rights or Liberties belonging to an English Subject I know 't is conceived by some that the distrust which his Majesty hath in some of the Clergy and the Diffidence which the Clergy have of one another is looked on as the principal cause of the Innovation For I must needs behold it as an Innovation that any Parliament should be called without a meeting of the Clergy at the same time with it The first year of King Edward VI. Qu. Mary and Qu. Elizabeth were times of greater diffidence and distraction than this present Conjuncture And yet no Parliament was called in the beginning of their several Reigns without the company and attendance of the Convocation tho the intendments of the State aimed then at greater alterations in the face of the Church than are now pretended or desired And to say the truth there was no â—anger to be feared from a Convocation tho the times were ticklish and unsettled and the Clergy was divided into Sides and Factions as the case then stood and so stands with us at this present time For since the Clergy in their Coâ—vocations are in no Authothority to propound treat or conclude any thing more than the passing of a Bill of Subsides for his Majesties use until they are impowred by the Kings Commission the King may tie them up for what time he pleases and give them nothing but the opportunity of entertaining one another with the news of the day But if it be objected that the Commission now on foot for altering and explaining certain passages in the Publick Liturgy that either pass instead of a Convocation or else is thought to be neither competable nor consistent with it I hope far better in the one and must profess that I can see no reason in the other For first I hope that the selecting of some few Bishops and other learned men of the lower Clergy to debate on certain Points contained in the Common-Prayer-Book is not intended for a Representation of the Church of England which is a Body more diffused and cannot legally stand bound by their Acts and Counsets And if this Conference be for no other purpose but only to prepare matter for a Convocation as some say it is not why may not such a Conference and Convocation be held both at once For neither the selecting of some learned men out of both the Orders for the composing and reviewing of the two Liturgies digested in the Reign of King Edward VI. proved any hindrance in the calling of those Convocations which were held both in the second and third and in the fifth and sixth of the said Kings Reign Nor was it found that the holding of a Convocation together with the first Parliament under Queen Elizabeth proved any hindrance to that Conference or Disputation which was designed between the Bishops and some learned men of the opposite parties All which considered I do most humbly beg your Lordship to put his Majesty in mind of sending out his Maâ—dates to the two Archâ— Bishops for summoning a Convocation according to the usual Form in their several Provinces that this poor Church may be held with some degree of Veneration both at home and abroad And in the next place I do no less humbly beseech your Lordship to excuse this freedom which nothing but my zeal for Gods glory and my affection to this Church could have forced from me I know how ill this present office does become me and how much fitter it had been for such as shine in a more eminent Sphere in the holy Hiâ—rarchy to have tendered these Particulars to consideration Which since they either have not done or that no visible effect hath appeared thereof I could not chuse but cast my poor Mite into the Treasury which if it may conduce to the Churches good I shall have my wish and howsoever shall be satisfied in point of Conscience that I have not failed of doing my duty to this Church according to the light of my understanding and then what happens unto me shall not be material And thus again most humbly craving pardon for this presumption I kiss your Lordships hands and subscribe my self My Lord Your Lordships most humble Servant to be commanded Peter Heylyn Having thus surveyed the most important Occurrences of Dr. Heylyn's Life I doubt not but every judicious and impartial Reader will be convinced at once of his vast Abilities and Acquirements in the large Circle of Learning and Sciences of his immovable Integrity in the Protestant Religion and of his indefatigable Industry and Service to the just Interests both of the Crown and Mitre For tho I will not say as St. Paul does of his Son Timothy that there was no man like-minded yet no one had more hearty and unbiassed affections no man did more naturally care for this Church and Kingdom than Dr. Heylyn and at that time too when he expected nothing for his