precedency to the French First because France was the great and more famous Kingdom 2. That the French c. These reasons are to be referred to the time of that King by whom the Arms were first quartered with the Arms of England and who desired by honour done unto their Arms to gain upon the good Opinion of that Nation for the Crown and Love thereof he was then a Sutor For at this time besides it may seem incongruous to use a Verb of the Present-Tense in a matter done so long agoe that reason is not of the least force or consequence the French King having so long since forgot the Rights of England and our late Princes claiming nothing but the Title only The Place and Passage so corrected I hope I may without detraction from the Glory of this Nation affirm That France was at that time the more famous Kingdom our English Swords for more than half the time since the Norman Conquest had been turned against our own Bosomes and the Wars we then made except some fortunate Excursions of King Edward the First in France and King Richard in the Holy Land in my Opinion were fuller of Piety than of Honour For what was our Kingdom under the Reigns of Edward the Second Henry the Third John Stephen and Rufus but a publick Theater on which the Tragedies of Blood and civil Dissentions had been continually acted On the other side the French had exercised their Arms with Credit and Renown both in Syria Palestine and Egypt and had much added to the Glory of their Name and Nation by conquering the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicilia and driving the English themselves out of France Guyen only excepted If we look higher we shall find France to be the first Seat of the Western Empire and the forces of it to be known and felt by the Saracens in Spain the Saxons in Germany and the Lombards in Italy At which time the Valour of the English was imprisoned in the same Seas with their Island And therefore France was at that time when first the Arms were quartered the more famous Kingdom 'T is true indeed that since the time of those victorious Princes those duo fulmina belli Edward the Third and the Black Prince his Son the Arms of England have been exercised in most parts of Europe Nor am I ignorant how high we stand above France and all other Nations in true fame of our Atcheivements France it self diverse times over run and once conquered The House of Bâ—…rgundie upheld from Ruin The Hollanders supported Spain awed The Ocean commanded are sufficient Testimonies that in pursuit of Fame and Honour we had no Equals That I always was of this opinion my Book speaks for me and indeed so unworthy a Person needs no better Advocate in which I have been no where wanting to commit to Memory the honourable performances of my Country The great Annalist Baronius pretending only a true and sincere History of the Church yet tells the Pope in his Epistle Dedicatory that he principally did intend that Work Pro Sacrarum Traditionum Antiquitate Authoritate Romanae Ecclesiae The like may I say of my self though not with like imputation of imposture I promised a Description of all the World and have according to the measure of my poor Ability fully performed it yet have I apprehended withal every modest occasion of enobling and extolling the Souldiers and Kings of England Concerning the other place at which his most sacred Majesty is offended viz. The precedency of France before England besides that I do not speak of England as it now stands augmented by the happy Addition of Scotland I had it from an Author whom in my poverty of reading I conceived above all Exception Cambdeâ—… Clarenceux that general and accomplish'd Scholar in the fifth page of his Remains had so informed me If there be Error in it 't is not mine but my Authors The Precedency which he there speaks of is in general Councils And I do heartily wish it would please the Lord to give such a sudden blessing to his Church that I might live to see Mr. Cambden confuted by so good an Argument as the sitting of a general Council Thus Mr. Heylyn apologized for himself in his Letter written to the Dean of Winton who shewed the whole Apology to the King with which his Majesty was fully satisfied as to the sincere intention and innocent meaning of Author yet to avoid all further scruples and misconstructions that might arise hereafter Mr. Heylyn by the advise of his good Friend the wise and most worthy Dean took order that whole Clause which gave so much offence should be left out of all his Books It a plerique ingenio sumus omnes nostri nosmet paenitet as once the Comedian said Having undergone such troubles about France he was resolved upon a further Adventure to take a Voyage thither with his faithful Friend Mr. Leuet of Lincolns Inn who afterward poor Gentleman through misfortune of the Times lived and dyed Prisoner in the Fleet. They both set out An. Dom. 1625. and after their safe arrival in France took a singular interview of the chief Cities and most eminent Places in the Realm of which Mr. Heylyn gives a more accurate account and description though his stay was not there above five Weeks than Lassel the Priest doth of his five years Voyage into Italy And now Mr. Heylyn was sufficiently convinced with his own Eyes which was the more famous Kingdom that after his return home he composed a History of his Travels into France and being put into the Hands of several Friends was at first printed by a false Copy full of gross Errors and insufferable mistakes that he caused his own true Copy to be printed one of the most delightful Histories of that nature that hath been ever heretofore published wherein is set out to the Life the Monsieurs and the Madams the Nobility and the Pezantry the Court and Country their ridiculous Customs fantastical Gate Apparel and Fashions foolish common Talk so given to levity that without singing and dancing they cannot walk the open Streets in the Church serious and superstitious the better sort horridly Atheistical Besides all he hath written in that ingenious Book I think he hath in short most excellently deciphered them in his Cosmography where he maketh a second review of their pretty Qualities and Conditions as thus if the Reader has a mind to read them They are very quick witted of a sudden and nimble apprehension but withal rash and hair-brain'd precipitate in all their actions as well military as civil falling on like a clap of Thunder and presently going off in Smoke full of Law-suits and Contentions that their Lawyers never want work so litigious that there are more Law-suits tryed among them in seven years than have been in England from the Conquest Their Women witty but Apish sluttish wanton and incontinent generally at the first fight as
in this Case that most Writers are in love with their Paper-works but the World should first judge whether there is any excellency or real worth in them otherwise it is a fond fancy Narcissus like for any one to be inamoured with his own Shaddow But that which is worse than all this I perceive the Writer is not consistent with himself but a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Poets words difficilis facilis juâ—…undus acerbus es idem Because one while he plays the Satyrist against the Fanaticks and afterward turns Factor for the Papists whose cause he could not plead better to please the holy Fathers of the Ignatian Society founded since Luther's time than to render the Name of Protestant odious ` A Name ` saith he that imports little in it of `the positive part of Christianity God forbid and let us then put this into our Litany Lord have mercy upon our Souls who profess our selves to be Protestants and not Papists if the positive part of Christianity be wanting among us For by Name what doth he or can he mean but our Religion and Christian Profession For the Name of Protestant it self is but Thema simplex I may say vox praeterea nihil no more is Catholick Christian Orthodox or any other Name Nomina imponuntur rebus Names are given to things to diversify and distinguish them one from another or else how are they significative of themselves While he goes about to unchristian the Name Protestant or at least makes it Terminus diminuâ—…ns a very slighty Name indeed he endeavours to overthrow the true Protestant Religion For ever since the first Reformation and change of Religion wrought among us by our just and necessary separation from communion with the Church of Rome we and our Fore-fathers have constantly gone under the Name of Protestants though originally I acknowledge this Name was taken up by those Princes of Germany who adhering to Luther's Doctrine made their Protestation at Spires the imperial Chamber and afterward set forth the Augustane Confession since which time the Church of England having cast off the Papacy this Name hath been the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or remark of distinction betwixt us and Papists Our Kings and Princes not only acknowledging the same but have defended the Protestant Religion his most sacred Majesty whose Life God long preserve among us in most or all his Speeches unto his High Court of Parliament hath graciously declared to secure and defenâ—… the Protestant Interest and Religion His Royal Father the most glorious Martyr of our Church but two days before his Death told the Princess Elizabeth That he should die for the maintaining the true Protestant Religion and charged her to read Arch-Bishop Laud's Book against Fisher to ground her against Popery And why were the Jesuiâ—…s so active about his Death that some of them became Agitators in the Independant Army but because it was agreed before by the Pope and his Council saith Dr. du Moulin that there was no way for advancing the Catholick Cause in England but by making away the King of whom there was no hope to turn from hiâ—… Heresie because he was a Protestant I cannot omit Arch-Bishop Laud's words at the time of his Tryal before the Lords Anno Dom. 1643. Saith he Not to trouble your Lordships too long I am so innocent in the business of Religion so far from all practice or so much as thought of practice for any alteration unto Popery or any blemishing of the true Protestant Religion established in England as I was when my Mother first â—…are me into the World In his Speech upon the Scaffold before his Death he saith thus of the King I shall be bold to speak of the King our gracious Soveraign He hath â—…een mâ—…d traduced for bringing in of Popery â—…ut on my Conscience of which I shall give God a very present account I know him to be as free from this Charge as any Man living and I hold him to bâ—… as sound a Protestant according to the Religion by Law established as any Man in this Kingdom And now hath not this Name Protestant which imports our Religion been owned by all our Judges and Lawyers the Lord chief Justice speaking of Papists If they cannot saith he at this time live in a Protestant Kingdom with security to their Neighbours but cause such fears and dangers and that for Conscience sake then let them keep their Conscience and leave the Kingdom Mr. Justice Wild in like manner Had such a thing as this been acted by us Protestants in any Popish Country in the World I doubt there would not have been scarce one of us left a live I might bring in here Sir William Jones Mr. Finch Mr. Recorder of London And truly if we are ashamed of our Name we may be of our Religion and cannot blame Popish Plots to subvert it if we hold not funâ—…lamentals which are the positive parts of Christianiâ—…y The Jesuit hawketh not for â—…parrows his zeal to destroy our Religion carries him through Fire and Water Sea and Land over Rocks and Mountains to gain a Proselyte according to those Verses I find in Pareus alluding to the Pharisee and Hor the Poet. Impiger extremos Jesuita excurrit ad Indos Per mare discipulum quaerens per saxa per ignes Juventumque facit se duplo deteriorem Sea Land Fire craggy Rocks and Indian Shore A Jesuit's frantick zeal transports him o're One Romish Proselyte to make once made Child of the Devil twice then before he 's said Nay he hath the patience to stay at home and there no dull Stoick can excel him in this Vertue if he be once commanded by his Superior he will obey though his work be no other saith Mapheus than to water a dry log of Wood for a year together he will not presume to ask the reason why but does it Then how much more ready is he to propagate the Gatholick Cause and in order thereto adventure upon any action if it be to the hazard of his Life while he is commanded by his Father General at Rome and the Congregatio de Propaganda fide What will not he undertake to extirpate the Name of Protestant and think he does God Service for if positive Christianity be not imported in it then we are Negatives we are Jews Infidels Pagans and cannot be denominated Christians for Positive and Negative are contradicentia there can be no reconciling or tacking them together and accoâ—…ding to my Logick a Contradiction is omnium oppositorum fortissima the strongest and most forcible of all oppositions But I would know what are the Principles of Protestantisâ—… that are so contradictory to Christianity they must be either credenda or facienda matters relating to Faith or Christian practice Do we hold any points of Faith contrary to the Primitive Catholick Church Or deny Obedience to the Commands of God either in his Law or Gospel
to celebrate their Praises to Posterity and by this means stir'd up Emulation in others to follow so noble Precedents before them For which Cause St. Jerome writ his Catalogus illustrium Virorum before whom also Eusebius with others in short recorded to future Ages the holy Lives of those Primitive Fathers who were signally active or passive for the Christian Faith Suum cuique decus posteritas rependit saith the Historian Posterity doth render to every man the Commendation he deserves Therefore for the Reverend Doctor 's Sake and in due veneration of his Name which I doubt not is honoured by all true Sons of the Church of England both for his learned Writings and constant Sufferings in defence of her Doctrine and Discipline established by Law Here is faithfully presented to them a true and complete Narrative of his Life to answer the common Expectations of men in this Case who would read his Person together with the ordinary and extraordinary occurrences of Providence that befel him as well as his Books that were long before published to the World To give satisfaction in the former here is nothing inserted but the Relations of Truth which hath been often heard from his own Mouth spoken to his dearest Friends or written by his Pen in some loose fragments of Paper that were found left in his Study after his Death upon which as on a sure Foundation the whole Series and Structure of the following Discourse is laid together but would have been more happily done if he had left larger Memoirs for it Nothing was more usual in ancient times than for good men saith Tacitus to describe their own Lives Suam ipsi vitam narrare fiduciam potius morum quam arrogantiam arbitrati sunt upon a confidence of their right behaviour rather than to be supposed any arrogancy or presumption in them First of all I shall begin with his Birth In that Country above all other enobled with the famous seat of the Muses to which he was a constant Votary By Cambden Oxford is called the Sun Eye and Soul of Great Brittain by Matthew Paris the second School of the Church by the Reverend Doctor co-eval to Paris if not before it the glory of this Island and of the Western parts Yet it cannot be denyed as high praises have been attributed by Learned Men to the most famous University of Cambridge that I dare make no comparisions betwixt those two Sisters of Minerva for the Love I owe to either of them who were both my dear Nurses However the University of Oxon was long since honoured with the Title of Generale Studium in nobilissimis quatuor Europae Academiis and this glorious Title conferred upon none else in former times but the Universities of Paris in France Bononia in Italy and Salamanca in Spain Near which Oxon or noble Athens he was born at Burford an ancient Market Town of good Note in the County of Oxford upon the 29th day of November Anno Dom. 1600. In the same year with the celebrated Historian Jacob. August Thuanus on both whom the Stars poured out the like benign influences But the former viz. Peter Heylyn had not only the faculty of an Historian but the gift of a general Scholar in other Learning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as will appear to any one that reads his laborious Writings He was second Son of Henry Heylyn Gentleman descended from the ancient Family of the Heylyns of Peutre-Heylyn in Montgomeryshire then part of Powis-Land from the Princes whereof they were derived and unto whom they were Hereditary Cup-bearers for so the word Heylyn doth signifie in the Welch or Brittish Language an honourable Office in most Nations which we find in Divine as well as Prophane History whereby Nehemiah became so great a Favorite with Artaxerxes that he obtained a Grant for the rebuilding of the holy City Magni honoris erat Pincernae munus apud persas saith Alex. ab Alex. If Camden Clarencieux be of good Authority as with most he is unquestionable the Doctor deriveth his Pedigree from Grono-ap Heylyn who descended from Brockwel Skythrac one of the Princes of Powis-Land in whose Family was ever observed that one of them had a Gag-tooth and the same was a notable omen of good Fortune which Mark of the Tooth is still continued in the Doctors Family These and such like signatures of more wonderful form are indeed very rare yet not without Example So Seleucus and his Children after him were born with the Figure of an Anchor upon their Thigh as an infallible mark of their true geniture saith Justin Origenis hujus argumentum etiam posteris mansit si quidem filij nepotesque ejus anchoram in femore veluti notam generis naturalem habuere The aforesaid Grono-ap Heylyn from whom the Doctor is one of the Descendents was a man of so great Authority with the Princes of North-Wales that Llewelleu the last Prince of the Country made choice of him before any other to treat with the Commissioners of Edward the First King of England for the concluding of a final Peace between them which was accordingly done but afterwards Llewellen by the perswasion of David his Brother raised an Army against the King that were quickly routed himself slain in Battel and in him ended the Line of the Princes of North-Wales who had before withstood many puissant Monarchs whose attempts they always srustrated by retiring into the heart of their Country and as the Doctor saith leaving nothing for their Enemies to encounter with but Woods and Mountains after they had reigned Princes of North-Wales for the space of four hundred and five years A goodly time that scarcely the greatest Monarchies in the World have withstood their fatal period and dissolution as Chronologers usually observe Anni quingenti sunt fatalis Periodus Regnorum rerum publicarum saith Alsted But this little Monarchy of Wales may be compared to a Finger or Toe `or the least joynt indiscernable in the vast Body of the four great Empires and yet withal shows the mutability of them and all worldly Powers That Time will triumph in the Ruin of the strongest States and Kingdoms as is most excellently represented to us by Nebuchadnezzar's Image of Gold Silver Iron and Brass that mouldred away though durable Mettal because it stood upon feet of Clay So unstable are all mortal things And of no longer duration are the most high and mighty Powers under Heaven than the Brittish Monarchy which caused the Historian to complain that the more he meditated with himself of things done both in old and latter times tanto magis ludibria rerum mortalium cunctis in negotijs obversantur So much the more saith he the uncertainties and mock Vanities of Fortune in all worldly Affairs came to his remembrance Notwithstanding those great alterations in Wales no longer a Kingdom of it self but annexed to the Crown of England the Family of
Book of Nature and Scripture This Knowledge excelleth all other and without it who knoweth not the saying Omnem Scientiam magis obesse quam prodesse si desit scientia optimi that all other Knowledge does us more hurt than good if this be wanting Notwithstanding he met with some discouragements to take upon himself the Profession of a Divine for what reasons it is hard for me to conjecture but its certain at first he fonnd some reluctancy within himself whether for the difficulties that usually attend this deep mysterious Science to natural reason incomprehensible because containing many matters of Faith which we ought to belâ—…eve and not to question though now Divinity is the common mystery of Mechanicks to whom it seems more easie than their manual Trades and Occupations or whether because it drew him off from his former delightful Studies more probably I believe his fears and distrusts of himself were very great to engage in so high a Calling and Profession and run the hazards of it because the like Examples are very frequent both in Antiquity and modern History however so timerous he was upon this account lest he should rush too suddenly into the Ministry although his abilities at that time transcended many of elder years that he exhibited a Certificate of his Age to the President of the Colledge and thereby procured a Dispensation notwithstanding any local Statutes to the contrary that he might not be compelled to enter into holy Orders till he was twenty four years old at which time still his fears did continue or at least his modesty and self-denyal wrought some unwillingness in him till at last he was overcome by the Arguments and powerful Perswasions of his Learned Friend Mr. Buckner after whose excellent Discourses with him he followed his Studies in Divinity more closely than ever having once tasted the sweetness of them nothing can ravish the Soul more with pleasure unto an Extasie than Divine Contemplation of God and the Mysteries in his holy Word which the Angels themselves prye into and for which reason they love to be present in Christian Assemblies when the Gospel is preached as the Apostle intimates to us That by continual study and meditation and giving himself wholly to read Theological Books he found in himself an earnest desire to enter into the holy Orders of Deacon and Priest which he had conferred upon him at distinct times in St. Aldates Church at Oxon by the Reverend Father in God Bishop Howson At the time when he was ordained Priest he preached the Ordination Sermon upon the words of our Saviour to St. Peter Luke 22. 32. And when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren An apposite Text upon so solemne Occasion Being thus ordained to his great satisfaction and contentment the method which he resolved to follow in the Course of his Studies was quite contrary to the common Rode of young Students for he did not spend his time in poring upon Compendiums and little Systems of Divinity whereby many young Priests â—…hink they are made absolute Divines when perhaps a Gentleman of the â—…ish doth oftentimes gravel them in an ordinary Argument But he fell upon the main Body of Divinity by studying Fathers Councils Ecclesiastical Histories and School-men the way which King James commended to all younger Students for confirming them in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England that is most agreeable to the Doctrine of the Primitive Church By this time his Book of Geography in the first Edition bought up by Scholars Gentlemen and almost every Housholder for the pleasantness of its reading was reprinted and enlarged in a second Edition and presented again to his Highness the Prince of Wales who not only graciously accepted the Book but was pleased to pass a singular Commendation upon the Author But afterward the Book being perused by his Royal Father King James the second Solomon for Wisdom and most Learned Monarch in Christendom the Book put into his Majesties hand by Dr. Young then Dean of Winton and Mr. Heylyn's dear Friend the Kings peircing Judgement quickly spyed out a fault which was taken no notice of by others as God always endows Kings his Vice-gerents with that extraordinary gift the Spirit of discerning above other Mortals Sicut Angelus Dei est Dominus meus Rex saith the holy Scripture as an Angel of God so is my Lord the King who lighting upon a Line that proved an unlucky Passage in the Author who gave Precedency to the French King and called France the more famous Kingdom with which King James was so highly displeased that he presently ordered the Lord Keeper to call the Book in but this being said in his Anger and Passion no further notice was taken of it in the mean time Dr. Young took all care to send Mr. Heylyn word of his Majesties displeasure the News of which was no small sorrow to him that he was now in danger to lose the Kings Favour Nil nisi peccatum manitestaque culpa falenda est Paenitet ingenij judiciique mei that Mr. Heylyn could have wished them words had been left out Dr. Young advised him to repair to Court that by the young Prince's Patronage he might pacifie the Kings Anger but not knowing whethâ—… the Prince himself might not be also offended he resided still in Oxford and laid open his whole grief to the Lord Danvers desiring his Lordships Counsel and best advice what Remedy he should seek for Cure according to the good Lord's Counsel he sent up an Apology to Dr. Young which was an Explanation of his meaning upon the words in question and then under Condemnation The Error was not to be imputed to the Author but to the Errata of the Printer which is most ordinary in them to mistake one word for another and the grand mistake was by printing is for was which put the whole Sentence out of joynt and the Author into pain if it had been of a higher Crime than of a Monosylable it had not been pardonable for the intention of the Author was very innocent Quis me deceperit error Et culpam in facto non scelus essemeo The words of his Apology which he sent up to Dr. Young for his Majesties satisfaction are these that followeth That some Crimes are of a nature so injustifiable that they are improved by an Apology yet considering the purpose he had in those places which gave offence to his sacred Majesty he he was unwilling that his Innocence should be condemned for want of an Advocate The Burdens under which he suffered was a mistake rather than a Crime and that mistake not his own but the Printers For if in the first Line of Page 441. was be read instead of is the Sense runs as he desired it And this appears from the words immediately following for by them may be gathered the sense of this corrected reading When Edward the third quartered the Arms of France and England he gave
comâ—… by indirect means and not by merit to them Bellarmine also was of no poor and base extraction but better than his Fellows for which reason he was created Cardinal by Clement the Eight Hunc eligimus saith he quia est nepos optimi sanctissimi Poâ—…tificis because he was the Nephew of Marcellus the Second who said that he could not see how any could be saved who sate in the Pontifical Chair Non video quomodo qui locum hunc altissimum tenent salvari possunt After those heats of disputation were over Mr. Heylyn took a Journy to London where he waited on Bishop Lâ—…d then Bishop of Bath and Wells who had heard of all the passages that had hapned at Oxford of which Mr. Heylyn gave a more perfect account to his Lordship who was pleased to read over the Supposition at which Dr. Prideaux was so highly offended but the good Bishop on the other side commended it and encouraged Mr. Heylyn in his Studies saying that he himself had in his younger dayes maintained the same Positions in a disputation in St. Johns Colledge that Mr. Heylyns Hypothesis could not be overthrown in a fair way exhorting him to continue in that moderate course And that as God had given him more than ordinary gifts so he would pray to God that he and others might employ them in such a way and manner as might make up the breaches in the Walls of Christendom Mr. Heylyn to clear himself from the suspicion of Popery which Dr. Prideaux had most unjustly branded him with in November next following Preached before the King on those words Joh. 4. ver 20. Our Fathers Worshipped on this Mountain c. In which Sermon he declared himself with such smart zeal and with as quick Judgment against several errors and corruptions in the Church of Rome that his Sermon was otherwise resented by the King and Court then his supposition by the Kings Professor at Oxon. And when that clamour was revived again by his Enemies that he had some inclinations to the Romish Religion he gave such satisfaction in his third and fourth Sermon Preached at White-Hall in the year 1638. Upon the Parable of the Tares on these words Matth. 13. vers 26. Tunc apparuerunt Zizania Then appeared the Tares also that some of the Court did not stick to say that he had done more towards the Subversion of Popery in those two Sermons than Dr. Prideaux had done in all the Sermons which he had ever Preached in his Life For that Doctor was a better disputant than a Preacher and to give him his due a right Learned Man in his place of Regius Professor yet withal so Dogmatical in his own points that he would not abide to be touched much less contradicted by Mr. Heylyn Non aliam ob causam nisi quod Virtus in vtroque summa fuit More especially being a Great Man at that time very popular in the University profoundly admired by the Junior Masters and some of the Seniors inclined to Puritanism his own Colledge then observed to be Communis pestis Adolescentum the Common Nursery of West Country Men in Puritan principles so that Mr. Heylyn could expect no favour nor fair dealing in the way of his disputation when it ran contrary to the Professors humor After these Academical contests growing weary of Obs and Sols in Scholastical disputations which was ever opposite to his Genius and for this purpose being unwilling to be alwaies Cloystred up within the Walls of a Colledge where he must be tied to such Exercises besides a Man of an Aiery and active Spirit though studious and contemplative would not be perpetually devoted to a Melancholly recluse Life also emulation and envy the two inseperable evils that accompany Learned Men in the same Society hath frequently stirred up animosities and factions among them That I have known some ingenious persons for this reason have been wearied out of a Collegiat Life resolved therefore he was to Marry and alter the condition of his Life which he thought would prove more agreeable to the content and satisfactiof his mind Neque aliud probis quam ex Matrimonio solatium esse saith the good Author because Marriage is the only comfort of minds honestly given accordingly a fair Fortune was offered to him a Wife with a thousand pounds Portion and a Gentlewoman of a very Ancient Family and of as excellent Education Mrs. Letitia High-Gate third Daughter of Thomas High-Gate of Heyes Esq one of his Majesties Justices of Peace for the County of Middlesex who in his younger dayes whilst his Elder Brother was alive had been Provost Marshal General of the Army under the Earl of Essex at the action of Cales and of Margery Skipwith his Wife one of the Daughters of that Ancient Family of the Skipwiths in the County of Leicester of which Family still there is a Worthy person living Sir Thomas Skipwith Knight a Learned Serjeant in the Law Which said Thomas High-Gate the Father beforementioned was second Son of that Thomas High-Gate who was field Marshal General of the English Forces before St. Quintine under the Command of the Earl of Pembrook Anno Dom. 1557. And of Elizabeth Stoner his Wife a Daughter of the ancient Family of the Stoners in the County of Oxon. To this young Gentlewoman Mrs. Letitia High-gate aforesaid Mr. Heylyn was no stranger for his Elder Brother Mr. Edward Heylyn had married some years before her eldest Sister His Seat was at Minster-Lovel in Oxfordshire where his Son to whom Dr. Heylyn was Uncle now liveth viz. Hen. Heylyn Esq an ancient Collonel and an excellent Commander in the Army of King Charles the First and a most accomplished Gentleman in all respects to the honour of his Family Another of the Sisters of Mrs. Letitia High-gate married Robert Tirwhit Esq one of the ancient Family of the Tirwhits in the County of Lincoln Master of the Buck-hounds in the Reign of King Charles the First a Place of honour and of great Revenue Finally to the honour of that Family Sir Henry Bard of Stanes Knight who afterward was created Viscount Lord Bellamount did marry the Daughter of Sir William Gardiner whose Lady and Mrs. Letitia High-gate were Sisters Children that unfortunate Lord who is mentioned in the Marquesse of Worcesters Apothegmes for a brave Commander and Governour of Camden House in the time of War did attend his sacred Majesty all the time of his Exile until the Treaty at Breda when he was sent as I have heard on some Ambassage into the Eastern Countries where travelling in Arabia deserta for want of a skilful Guide was swallowed up in the Gulf of Sands These were the Relations and many others of Quality which I forbear to mention of Mrs. Letitia High-gate And whereas the late Writer disparages the young Gentlewoman that her Portion was never paid I am sure he has done her that Wrong which he can never recompence for her Elder
few days after Mr. Heylyn was presented by the King to the Rectory of Hemingford in the County of Huntington Soon after he applyed himself to the Bishop of Lincoln for Institution which was not only denyed him but the Bishop more boldly than did befit his Lordship disputed his own Title against his Soveraign and fell upon Mr. Heylyn with most foul opprobrious Language because he presumed to defend the Kings right against his Lordship which he proved by the Instruments of Conveyance made from the other Party at which the Bishop was the more highly offended with him that such a young Divine should have so great knowledge of the Law and especially to argue the Case with his Lordship But this was not the main business Latet Anguis in herba there was a Snake in the Garden for his Lordship had a subtile design under disguise or otherwise he would have easily waved his right of presentation pro hac vice to pleasure the King in the preferment of his Chaplain or at least preserving his own right bestowed the Living upon Mr. Heylyn But then here lyeth the matter his Lordship had been crossed in his wonted method that is to give with one hand and take away with the other which he could not for shame do with a Kings Chaplain For when he bestowed a Living upon any Person as he had many in his Gift being both Lord Bishop and Lord Keeper he would tye the Incumbent to pay an annual pension out of it to be disposed to such charitable and pious uses as he thought fit so that the stream of his Charity flowed out of other mens Purses and not his own at the best he robbed Peter to pay Paul which the Incumbents felt by dear Experience whom he kept at a low pittance that for the most part they lived but poorly for the heavy Taxations laid upon them By this means he had more Penâ—…ers than all the Noble men and Bishops in the Land together And though he made no particular benefit to himself out of those Livings then his Name cryed up for a noble Benefactor in all other things to fill his own Coffer he was so covetous and extremely tenacious that he would never let go what once he had laid hold on for at the same time he was both Bishop Dean Lord Keeper Parson of Walgrove and held the poor Prebendary of Asgarby in which last I have the honour to succeed his Lordship The King hearing the News of Mr. Heylyn's rough Entertainment at Bugden how his Royal Presentation was slighted and his Chaplain with ill words abused was not a little offended with the Bishop on whom he had heaped so many Dignities one upon another both in Church and State I will not say undeservedly if his Lordships Loyalty and Integrity had been answerable to his other great Abilities But his Majesty was pleased for the comfort of his poor Chaplain so disapointed and badly treated by the Bishop to send him this gracious Message by the Attorny general Mr. Noy not usual with Kings to private Persons That he was sorry he had put him to so much charge and trouble at Bugden but it should not be long before he would be out of his Debt Nor long it was for within a Week after a Prebendship in the collegiate Church of Westminster where the Bishop of Lincoln was Dean fell void by the Death of Mr. Darrel which the King bestowed upon Mr. Heylyn and with it sent a most gracious message by Mr. Noy again That he bestowed that Prebendary on him to bear the charges of his last Journy but he was still in his Debt for the Living So that he is now entred into one of the fairest Preferments that hath all the accommodations and pleasures which a Scholars heart can wish a learned Society a well furnished Library a magnificent Church that hath an excellent Quire in it for a Chorus of heavenly Voices the one enough to stir up the coldest heart to Devotion and the other to the veneration of Antiquity where so many ancient Monuments of Kings and Queens in Henry 7. Chappel have their Sepulture The most accurate pile of building in Europe by some called the wonder of the World near which the Courts of Judicature the High Court of Parliament and not far from thence his Majesty's Pallace-royal at White-hall that if one would converse with all sorts of famous Men Divines Lawyers States-men and other Persons of Quality he could not find out a Place more sutable to the hearts desire besides situated healthfully upon a firm gravelly Foundation and pleasantly on the River Thames about whose Banks may be seen along that River for many Miles most princely Buildings stately Palaces fair Towers and Fields as an old German Poet describeth whose Verses are thus translated by the Doctor himself in his Cosmography Tot campos silvas tot regia tecta tot hortos Artifici excultos dextra tot vidimus arces Ut nunc Ausonio Thamesis cum Tibride certet He saw so many Woods and princely Bowers Sweet Fields brave Palaces and stately Towers So many Gardens dress'd with curious Art That Thames with Tyber strives to bear a Part. Therefore Mr. Heylyn was happily disappointed of his former Expectations as Providence ordained to embrace a more noble Preferment that he might say now rejoycingly as Chaerea did Ecquis me vivit hodie fortunatior cui tam subito tot congruerint commoda Or rather in the Scripture words The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly Heritage for certainly he could not be seated in a better manner all those delightful conveniences considered and yet to add more pleasure to them he spared no cost to beautifie and enlarge his Prebends house in the mean time his Wife lived in the Country with his Brother Mr. Edward Heylyn at Minster Lovel in Oxfordshire and sometimes with his Uncle Raynton at Shilton in Barkshire a man of a good Estate who was afterward High Sheriff of the same County So soon as he was settled in his Prebends house several of his Friends about Town came to visit him and give him joy Amongst others of most noble Acquaintance that he had gained by his frequent attendances in White-hall the right Honourable Lord Falkland was pleased first to honour him with a Visit and brought along with him a Miles gloriosus one Mr. Nelson an old Sea-Captain with whom his Lordship seemed to be mightily delighted for his new way of Discovery to find out the Longitude of the Sea with which the Captain had troubled all the Mathematicians about Town who generally dissented from his Opinion that at last by his Majesties Order the decision of this Sea-question was referred to Mr. Heylyn as a Person thought fit to determin it but he could neither satisfie the Captain nor the Lord with any further answer at present than That his Majesty was mistaken in him for his skill and knowledge did lye more in
where he had run through so hard a Task with the Regius Professor though he missed Windsor took this occasion to make himself merry as the Poet did musa jocosa mea est Ov. And so fell into this vein of Poetry When Windsor Prebend late disposed was One ask'd me sadly how it came to pass Potter was chose and Heylyn was forsaken I answer'd 't was by Charity mistaken But this Fancy was soon turned into a mournful Elegy by the death of his noble Friend the Attorny General Mr. Noy whose memory he could never forget for the honour of delivering to him the gracious message from his Majesty and for the intimacy he was pleased to bear to him as a bosom friend that he imparted to the Doctor all the affairs of State and transactions of things done in his time which made him so perfect an Historian in this particular and shewed him his papers manuscripts and laborious Collections that he had gathered out of Statutes and ancient Records for the proof of the Kings Prerogative particularly before his death at his house in Brainford where the Doctor kept Whitsontide with him in the year 1634. he shewed to him a great wooden Box that was full of old Precedents for levying a Naval aid upon the Subjects by the sole Authority of the King whensoever the preservation and safety of the Kingdom required it of them Mr. Hammond L' Strange acknowledges that Mr. Noy was a most indefatigable plodder and searcher of old Records The learned Antiquary Mr. Selden though no friend to the King nor Church confesses in his excellent book entituled Mare Clausum That the Kings of England â—…sed to levy mony upon the Subjects without the help of Parliament for the providing of Ships and other necessaries to maintain that Soveraignity which anciently belonged to the Crown Yet the honest Attorny General for the same good service to the King and Country is called by Hammond Le Strange The most pestilent vexation to the Subjects that this latter Age produced So true is the old Proverb some may better steal a Horse than others look on For it is usual with many not to judge according to the merits of the cause but by the respect or disrepect they bear to the Person as the Comedian once said Duo cum idem faciunt saepe possis dicere Hoc licet impune facere huic illi non licet Non quod dissimilis res sit sed quod qui facit When two does both alike the self same Act One suffers pain the other for the Fact Not the lest shame or punishment and why Respect of persons makes Crimes differently The death of Mr. Noy the more sadly afflicted the Doctor to lose so dear a Friend and an entire Lover of learned men during whose time no unhappy differences brake out betwixt the Dean of Westminster and the Prebends of that Church but all things were carried on smoothly by his Lordship because he knew well that Dr. Heylyn had a sure Advocate in Court both in behalf of himself and his Brethren if they stood in need of help that no sooner this worthy person departed the World but the Bishop so extremely tyrannized over the Prebendaries infringing their Priviledges violating their Customes and destroying their ancient Rights that for the common preservation of themselves and their Successors they were forced to draw up a Charge against his Lordship consisting of no less than thirty six Articles which were presented by way of complaint and petition of redress to his sacred Majesty who forthwith gave order for a Commission to be issued out unto the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York the Earl of Manchester Lord Privy Seal Earl of Portland the Lord Cottington the two Secretaries of State Sir John Cook and Sir Francis Windebank Authorizing them to hold a Visitation of the Church of Westminster to examine the particular charges made against John Lord Bishop of Lincoln and to redress such grievances and pressures as the Prebends of the said Church suffered by his misgovernment The Articles were ordered by the Council Table to be translated into Latin by Dr. Heylyn which accordingly he performed to avoid the common talk and scandal that might arise if exposed to the publick veiw of the vulgar on April 20. A. D. 1634. the Commission bore date which was not executed but lay dormant till December 1635 the Bishop expecting the business would never come to a hearing he raged more vehemently dispossessed the Prebends of their Seats refused to call a Chapter and to passe their Accounts conferred holy Orders in the said Church without their consent contrary to an ancient Priviledge which had been inviolably retained from the first foundation of the Church he permitted also Benefices in their gift to be lapsed unto himself that so he might have absolute power to dispose them to whom he pleased Quo teneam nodo With many other grievances which caused the Prebends to present a second Petition to his Majesty humbly beseeching him to take the ruinous and desperate estate of the said Church into his Princely consideration Upon which the former Commission was revived a day of hearing appointed and a Citation fixed upon the Church door of Westminster for the Bishops and Prebends to appear on Jan. 27. Upon the 25th instant The Prebends were warned by the Subdean to meet the Bishop in Jerusalem Chamber where his Lordship foreseeing the Storm that was like to fall upon his head carried himself very calmly towards them desiring to know what those things were that were amiss and he would presently redress them though his Lordship knew them very well without an Informer to which Dr. Heylyn replyed that seeing they had put this business into his Majesties hands it would ill become them to take the matters out oâ—… his into their own Therefore on Jan. 27th both Parties met together before the Lords in the Inner-star Chamber where by their Lordships Order the whole business was put into a methodical course each Mâ—…day following being appointed for a day of hearing till a Conclusion was made of the whole affair On February the 1st The Lords Commissioners with the Bishop and Prebends met in the Council-Chamber at White-hall where it was first ordered that the Plaintifs should be called by the name of Prebends supplicant Secondly they should be admitted upon Oath as Witnesses Thirdly they should have a sight of all Registers Records Books of account c. which the Bishop had kept from them Fourthly that the first business they should begin with should be about their Seat because it made the difference or breach more visible and offensive to the World than those matters which were private and domestick And lastly it was ordered that the Prebends should have an Advocate to plead their Cause defend their Rights and represent their Grievances Accordingly the Prebends unanimously made choice of Dr. Peter Heylyn for their Advocate The business now brought on so fairly
distemper but he betook himself from his Bed to his Book and fell upon a more than ordinary piece of study The History of the Church of England since the Reformation An easie matter for others to tread the Path when he had found out the Way Though he is dead he yet speaketh and the truth of things without respect of persons not to ingratiate himself with the Parliament and Presbyterian party to make our Religion it self Parliamentary which Papists and Presbyterians affirm he spared no pains nor cost to search into old Records Registers of Convocation Acts of Parliament Orders of Council Table and had the use of Sir Robert Cottons Library to take out what Books he pleased leaving a pawn of Mony behind for them In all his other Writings what a faithful Historian he hath appeared to the World is sufficiently known and will be shewed in this particular In the mean while let not men be too credulous of anothers Transcriptions that are under question an verbum de verbo expressum extulit Whether they are copyed out exactly from the originals wherein lyes the main controversie in matter of fact which I am not bound nor other men to believe till we are convinced by our own Eyes besides it is an inglorious encounter to fight with a mans Ghost after he has been dead near twenty years with whom the late Historian nor any other whilst he was living durst venture with him in the point The Heathens scorn'd to rake in the Ashes of the dead but as Tacitus says of Agricola ut in loco Piorum manibus destinato placide quiescat that he might rest without disturbance in the place appointed for Souls However the Doctors Learning and Fidelity in History is so publickly known that it is not in the power of any Scot or English Aristarchus to blast his good Name And let this suffice at present Magnus Aristarcho major Homerus erat Whilst he was so intent upon the History of Reformation he found little encouragement to go on in these studies for the discontents that boyled in this Nation and the Commotions then begun in Scotland upon pretence of the Common-prayer imposed upon them And a mere pretence indeed it was for herein was nothing done but with the consent and approbation of their own Scottish Bishops who made what Alterations in the Liturgy they pleased to which they had his Majesties Royal Assent but the blame was wholly laid upon the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who only commended the Book to them spe quidem laudabili sed eventu pessimo as the learned Dr. Bates said the success being improsperous though the enterprise commendable the Arch-Bishop unjustly censured for it he caused Dr. Heylyn to translate the Scotch Liturgy into Latin and his Lordship intended to set out his own Apology with the Book to vindicate himself from those aspersions thrown upon him that the World might be satisfied with his Majesties Piety and Goodness and his Lordships own care and readiness to serve that Nation but their hasty Rebellion to which they were ever precipitant put an end to the Bishops Apology and the Doctors Translation Hamilton whom Dr. Burnet doth so highly applaud had a party that not only opposed this Liturgy but betrayed the King on all occasions nay some of the Bed-Chamber who were Scots were grown so sawcy and impudent that they used to ransack the good Kings Pockets when he was in Bed to transcribe such Letters as they found and send the Copies to their Country-men in the way of Intelligence To speak the matter in a word he was grown of Scots in Fact a King though not in Title His Majesty being looked on by them as a Cypher in the Arithmatick of State The Scotch Covenanters after the unhappy War was begun called it Bellum Episcopale the Bishops War raised only to uphold their Hierarchy but the truth is as the Doctor proveth Though Liturgy and Episcopacy were made the occasions yet they were not the causes of the war Religion being but the Vizard to disguise the business which Covetousness Sacriledge and Rapine had the greatest hand in for the King resolving to revoke all grants of Abby Lands the Lands of Bishopricks and Chapters and other Religious Corporations which have been vested in the Crown by Act of Parliament were conferred on many of the Nobility and Gentry in his Fathers Minority when he was under Protectors whence the Nobility of Scotland made use of discontented and seditious Spirits under colour of the Canons and Common prayer to embroyl that Kingdom that so they might keep their Lands and hold up their Power and Tyranny over the people To appease the Tumults in Scotland and quench the sparks of Sedition that began to kindle in England the King called a Parliament and issued out his Writ for Clerks in Convocation at which time the Doctor was chosen by the Colledge of Westminster their Clerk to sit in Convocation where he proposed a most excellent expediency which would be of happy use if still continued for the satisfaction of some scrupolous Members in the House of Commons about the Ceremonies of our Church That there might be a mutual conference by select Commitees between the House of Commons and the lower House of the Convocation that the Clergy might give the Commons satisfaction in the point of Ceremonies and all other things relating to the Church which motion from him was well accepted and generally assented thereto And no doubt a most happy success would have followed upon it not only to take away all scruples but to beget a Reverence and Love from the Commons to the Clergy by such a mutual Conference and Conversation But this Parliament being then suddenly dissolved put a period to that and all other business at the news of which brought unexpectedly to the Doctor while he was bufie then at the election for the School of Westminster his pen fell from his hand himself struck dumb with admiration Obstupuit steteruntque comae vox fancibus haesit A sad and unfortunate day it was saith the Doctor and the news so unpleasing brought hiâ—… by a friend whilst he was writing some dispatches it so astonished him though he â—…ad heard some inkling of it the night before that suddenly the Pen fell out of his hand and long it was before he could recollect his Spirits to give an answer The Convocation usually endeth in course the next day after the dissolution of Parliament But the Doctor well knowing that one great end of calling Parliaments is to raise the King money for the publick concerns he therefore went to Lambeth and showed the Arch-Bishop a preced ent in the reign of Queen Elizabeth for granting subsidies or a benevolence by Convocation to be levyed upon the Clergy without the help of a Parliament whereby the Kings necessities for mony might be supplyed and so it successfully fell out the Arch-Bishop acquainting the King with this present expediency