â—…o the utmost of his power he had exercised his Pen in the defâ—…nce both of the Crown Scepter and Miter his Soul then transported with joy that he should survive the usurped powers and see with his old bad eyes the King settled upon his Fathers Throne and peace upon Israel In the Evening after the Ceremonies of the Coronation were over while the Ordinance was playing from the Tower it happened to thunder violently at which some persons who were at supper with him seemed much affrighted I very well remember an expression of his upon the same according to the Poets word Intonuit laetus that the Ordinance of Heaven answered those of the Tower rejoycing at the solemnity with which the Company being exceedingly pleased there followed much Joy and Mirth Thus being settled in Westminster he fell upon the old work of building again and repairing which is the costly pleasure of Clergy men for the next Generation because building is like planting the chief benefit of which accrues to their Successors that live in another Age as Cicero said of them who took delight in planting Oake-Trees Serunt Arbores quae prosiâ—…t alteri saeculo He enlarged his Prebends House by making some convenient Additions to it perticularly he erected a new Dining Room and beautified the other Rooms all which he enjoyed but for a little time of which he made the best use while he lived to serve his God and seek after the Churches good in which work he was as industrious after his Majesties happy Restauration as he was before to testifie his Religious zeal and care that all things might run on in the old right Channel for which reason he writ a fervent Letter to a great States-man of that time earnestly pressing him to advise the King that a Convocation might be called with the present Parliament which was a thing then under question his Letter is as followeth Right Honourable and my very good Lord I Cannot tell how welcom or unwelcom 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 perswade 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 this our English Sion But being Bishops are excluded from their Votes in Parliament there is no other way to keep up their honour and esteem in the Eyes of the People than the retaining of their places in 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 than by assembling in in such meetings where they may exercise the Power of a Convocation in granting Subsidies to his Majesty though 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 the Rights or Liberties belonging to an English Subject I know it is conceived by some that the distrust which his Majesty hath in some of the Clergy and the diffidence which the Clergy have one of another is looked on as the principle 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 the Sixth Qeen Mary and Queen 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 a Convocation though 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 truth there was no danger to be feared from a Convocation thâ—…ugh the times were ticklish and unsetled and the Clergy was divided into sides and Factions as the Case then stood and so stands with us at the present time For since the Clergy in their Convocations are in no Authority to propound treat or conclude any thing more than the passing of a Bill of Subsidies for his Majesties use untill they are impowered by the Kings Commission The King may tye them up for what time he pleaseth 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 shall either pass instead of a Convocation or else is thought to be neither competable nor consistent with it I hope for 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 by their Acts and Councils and if the 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 reveiwing of the two Liturgies digested in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth proved any hindrence in the calling of their Convocation which were held both in the second and third and in the fifth and sixth years 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 hinderance to that Conference in 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 Mandates to the two Arch 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 to Gods Glory and my affection to this Church could have forced from me I know how ill this present Office doth become me and how much better it had been
when he thought it would digest The Scruple troubled all the rest Notwithstanding this scrupulosity in them the World knows their hypocritical Practices under all those zealous Pretences how light they are in the Ballance and how extraordinary a thing it is to find from their hands downright honesty and plain dealing they are too much like the Scribes and Pharisees who by godly shews of long Prayers sad Countenances Justification of themselves that they were the only Righteous and all others Sinners played the Hypocrites most abominably to deceive the vulgar sort they made Religion a meer mock and empty show 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith our Saviour to be seen like Stage-players in a Theater Nam tota actio est histrionica as Erasmus well observeth their whole carriage was dramatick to make a feigned Pageantry and Ostentation of Piety Yet John Lord Bishop of Lincoln in compliance with this Sect out of discontent and revenge because deprived of the great Seal and commanded by the King to retire from Westminster transformed himself into one of these Angels of new Light and made himself the Archangel and Head of their Party First of all by writing his pretended Letter to one Titly Vicar of Grantham against the holy Communion Table standing Altar-wise to which Dr. Heylyn made a sudden and sharp reply in his Book entituled A Coal from the Altar to which the Bishop within a Twelve-month after he took time enough for the Work did return an Answer under the Title of The Holy Table Name and Thing pretending withal that this was written long ago by a Minister in Lincolnshire against Dr. Cole a Divine in Queeu Marys Reign No sooner the King heard of this new Book but he sent a Command to Dr. Heylyn to write a speedy Answer to it and not in the least to spare the Bishop Neither did the Doctor baulk the grand Sophos but detected all his false Allegations and answered them that were true which the Bishop had wrested to a contrary sense if we will look into the Doctors Book called by him Antidotum Lincolniense All this while the Bishop as it must be confest being a man of Learning writ against his own Science and Conscience so dear is the passion of revenge to gratifie which some men wilfully sin against the Light of their own Souls therefore the Bishop according to the Apostles word was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 condemned of himself For look upon him in the point of practice and we shall find the Communion Table was placed Altar-wise in the Cathedral Church of Lincoln whereof he was Bishop and in the Collegiate Church of Westminster of which he was Dean and lastly in the private Chappel of his own house as Dr. Heylyn saith in whieh it was not only placed Altar-wise but garnished with rich Plate and other costly Utensils in more than ordinary manner By all which the Bishop needed no further refutation of his Book than his own Example that in those places where he had Authority the Holy Table did not stand in Gremio and Nave of the Quire as he would have it fixed but above the Steps upon the Altar close to the East end of the Quire ex vi catholicae consuetudinis according to the ancient manner and custom in the Primitive Catholick Church But hinc illae lachrymae ever since this mischief followed his Book that in most Country Churches to this day the Table is set at the hither end of the Chancel whithout any Traverse or Rails to fence it Boys fling their Hats upon it and that which is worse Dogs piss against it Country Juries write their Parish accounts Amerciaments By-Laws c. all which is a most horrible profanation and not to be suffered But now John Lord Bishop of Lincoln who would have removed the holy Communion Table from its proper place and had displaced his Prebends of their ancient Seat was himself at this time Anno Dom. 1637. thrown out of his Episcopal Chair by sentence of the Star-Chamber for endeavouring to corrupt the Kings Evidence in a Cause of Bastardy brought before his Majesties Justices of Peace at Spittle Sessions in the County of Lincoln which business afterward came to a hearing before the Lords in Star-Chamber by whose definitive sentence the Bishop was suspended ab Officio Beneficio deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Preferments deeply fined and his Complices with him and afterward committed to the Tower of London where he continued Prisoner for three years and in all that space of time his Lordship did never hear Sermon or publick Prayers to both which he was allowed liberty but instead thereof he studied Schism and Faction by his own Example and his Pen disguisedly During the time of his Lorships Imprisonment Dr. Heylyn was chosen Treasurer for the Church of Westminster in which Office he discharged himself with such diligence and fidelity that he was continued in it from year to year till the Bishops release out of tâ—…e Tower and his removal back again to Westminster While he was Treasurer he took care for the repairs of the Church that had been neglected for many years First of the great West-Isle that was ready to fall down was made firm and strong and of the South-side of the lower West-Isle much decayed he caused to be new timbred boarded and leaded but chiefly the curious Arch over the preaching place that looketh now most magnificently he ordered to be new vaulted and the Roof thereof to be raised up to the same height with the rest of the Church the charge of which came to 434 l. 18 s. 10 d. He regulated also some disorders of the Quire perticularly the exacting of Sconses or perdition mony which he divided among them that best deserved it who diligently kept Prayers and attended upon other Church Duties Whilest he was Treasurer his Brethren the Prebendaries to testifie their good affections to him presented him to the Parsonage of Islip near Oxford a very good Living worth about 200l per Annum then by the death of Dr. King made void but by reason of the distance from Alresford though standing most conveniently to taste the sweet pleasures of the University he thought fit to exhange it for another nearer hand the Rectory of South-warnborough in the County of Hampshire that was in the gift of St. Johns Colledge in Oxon to which exchange he was furthered by the Arch-Bishop who carried a great stroke in that Colledge of which he had been President It pleased God soon after to visit him and his Family at Alresford with a terrible fit of Sickness of which none escaped the Disease was so contagious but the Cook 's boy in the Kitchen who was then Master Cook for the whole Family and he performed his part so well in making their broths and other necessaries that he was the best Physitian among the Doctors for by his Kitchen Physick the Sick was cured No sooner Dr. Heylyn recovered of the
Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit Nulli flebilior quam mihi When will they find another such his Fall Was most by me lamented much by All God Almighty had blessed him with eleven Children four of which are still living His Monument is erected on the North side of the Abbey in Westminster over aganst the Sub-Deans Seaâ—… with this following Epitaph which the Reverend Dean of the Church then Dr. Earl did himself compose in honour of his Memory DEPOSITUM MORTALE PETRI Heylyn S. â—… P. Hujus Ecclesiae Prebendarii Subdecaniâ—…s Viri plane memorabilis Egregiis dotibus instructissimi Ingenio acri faecundo Judicio subacto Memoria ad prodigium tenaci Cui adjunxit incredibilem in studiis patientiam Quae cessantihus oculis non cessarunt Scripsit varia Plurima Quae jam manibus hominum teruntur Et argumentis non vulgaribus Stylo non vulgari suffecit Constans ubique Ecclesiae Et. Majestatis Regiae assertor Nec florentis magis utriusque Quam afflictâ—… Idemque perduellium Schismâ—…ticae factionis Impugnator acerrimus Contemptor invidiae Et animo infracto Plura ejusmodi meditanti Mors indixit silentium Ut sileatur Efficere non potest Obiit Anno Etat 63. In English A Monument of Mortality Of Peter Heylyn Doctor of Divinity Prebendary and Sub-Dean of this Church A man truly worthy of remembrance Endowed with excellent parts Of sharp and pregnant Wit A solid and clear Judgement A memory tenacious to a Miracle Whereunto he added an incredible Patience in Study And therein still persisted when his Eye sight ceased He Writ many Books upon various Subjects that are now in mens hands containing in them nothing that 's Vulgar either for Style or Argument On all occasions he was a constant Assertor of the Churches Right and the Kings Prerogative as well in their afflicted as prosperous estate Also he was a severe and vigorous opposer of Rebels and Schismaticks A despiser of Envy and a man of undaunted Spirit While he was seriously intent on these and many more like Studies Death commanded him to be silent but could not silence his Fame He died in the Sixty third year of his Age. A Catalogue of such Books as were written by the Learned Doctor SPurius a Tragedy M. S. 1616. Theomachia a Comedy M. S. 1619. Geography printed at Oxon twice A. D. 1621. and 1624. in Quarto and afterwards in A. D. 1652. inlarged into Folio under the Title of Cosmography An Essay called Augustus 1631. since inserted into his Cosmography The History of St. George Lond. 1631. reprinted 1633. The History of the Sabbath 1631. reprinted 1636. An Answer to the Bishop of Lincoln's Letter to the Vicar of Grantham 1636. twice reprinted An Answer to Mr. Burton's two Seditious Sermons A. D. 1637. A short Treatise concerning A Form of Prayer to be used according to what is enjoyned in the Fifty fifth Canon written at the request of the Bishop of Winchester 1637. Antidotum Lincolniense or an Answer to the Bishop of Lincolns Book entituled Holy Table Name and Thing 1637. reprinted 1638. An uniform Book of Articles fitted for Bishops and Arch-Deacons in their Visitations 1640. De Jure paritatis Episcoporum or concerning the Peerage of Bishops 1640. M. S. A Reply to Dr. Hackwel concerning the Sacrifice of the Eucharist M. S. 1641. The History of Episcopacy first under the Name of Theoph. Churchman afterwards in his own Name reprinted 1657. The History of Liturgies written 1642. A Relation of the Lord Hoptons Victory at Bodmin A View of the Proceedings in thâ—… â—…est for a Pacification A Letter to a Gentleman in Lincolnshire about the Treaty A Relation of the Proceedings of Sir John Gell. A Relation of the Queens Return from Holland and the Siege of Newark The Black Cross shewing that the Londoners were the Cause of the Rebellion The Rebels Chatechism All these printed at Oxon. 1644. An Answer to the Papists groundless Clamor who nick-name the Religion of the Church of England by the Name of a Parliamentary Religion 1644. A Relation of the Death and Sufferings of Will. Laâ—…d Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1644. The stumbling Block of Disobedience removed written 1644. printed 1658. The Promised Seed in English Verse Theologia Veterum or an Exposition of the Creed Fol. 1654. Survey of France with an account of the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey 1656. Quarto Exâ—…men Historicum or a Discovery and Examination of the Mistakes Falsities and Defects in some Modern Histories Lond. 1659 Certamen Epistolare or the Letter-Combat managed with Mr. Baxter Dr. Bernard Mr. Hickman Oct. Lond. 1659. Historia Quinque-Articularis Quarto Lond. 1660. Respondet Petrus or the Answer of Peter Heylyn D. D. to Dr. Bernard's Book entituled the Judgment of the late Primate c. Quarto Lond. 1658. Observations on Mr. Hamond L' Estrange's History of the Life of King Charles the First 1648. Extraneus Vapulans or a Defence of those Observations Lond. 1658. A short History of King Cbarles the First from his Cradle to his Grave 1658. Thirteen Sermons some of which are are an Exposition of the Parable of the Tares printed at London 1659. and again 1661. A Help to English History containing a Succession of all the Kings Dukes Marquesses Earls Bishops c. of England and Wales first written in the year 1641. under the 〈◊〉 of Robert Hall but now enlarged and in Dr. Heylyn's Name Ecclesia Vindicata or the Church of England justified c. Quarto 1657. Bibliotheca Regia or the Royal Library Octavo Ecclesia Restaurata or the History of the Reformation Folio Lond. 1661. Cyprianus Anglicus or the History of the Life and Death of William Laud Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Folio Aerius Redivivus or the History of the Presbyterians Folio FINIS S. Jer. Com. in cap. 2. Esdr. Instit. lib. 1. cap. 9. Pref. to Hist. of Ref. Hor. de Ar. po Berâ—… Epis 135. Mart. Piaut His Preface Preface Pag. 59 60 61 62 63. Pag. 101. 102. 103. 104. Cic. de orat ftom p. 67 to 89. from p. 212 to p. 227. from p. 228 to 236. p. 61 to 174. pag. 241. Plat. in Parmen p. 38. p. 35. p. 123. p. 31. p. 120. pag. 13. Arist. Eth. lib. cap. 10. A. Gell. lib. 12. cap. 11. pag. 32. pag. 14. Pag 43. Pag. Epist. deep Jact lib. 7. c. 14. pag. 1. pag. 7. pag. 2. Chr. Astrol. lib. 1. cap. 11 pag. 2. Diog. Laer in vit Tacit. Annal lib. 6. Trith de Scrip. Eccl. pag. 86. Suid. Hist. Luth. colliq Vindicat. of the sincerity of the Prot. Rel. p. 11 12. Arch Bish. Life p. 5 6. At the Tryal of Pickering Groâ—… and Ireland 1678. David Par. Comment in Evang. S. Mat. Cap. 23. Maph in vita Ign. Oplat l. 5. c. 29. Lact. Instit. lib. 4. cap. 30. Thu. Hist. l. 22. Theod. Bez. de Minist Evang. Grad Pag. 91. Thu. Hist. â—… 13. Chr. Ocland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive Elizab. Diodor. Sicul l. 3. Tacit. l.
Peutre Heylyn from whom the said Grono-ap Heylyn descended in a direct Line removed not their station for all the Ages past but continued their Seat until the year An. Dom. 1637. At which time Mr. Rowland Heylyn Alderman and Sheriff of London and Cousin German to Dr. Heylyn's Father dying without Issue-male the Seat was transferred into another Family Into which the Heiresses married This Mr. Rowland Heylyn was a man of singular Goodness and Piety that before his Death caused the Welch or Brittish Bible to be printed at his own charge in a portable Volume for the benefit of his Country men which was before in a large Church Folio also the Practice of Piety in Welch a Book though common not to be despised besides a Welch Dictionary for the better understanding of that Language All which certainly was a most pious work notwithstanding their opinion to the contrary who think that the Bible in a vulgar Tongue is not for Edification but Destruction Yet God hath been pleased in all Ages to stir up some devout men of publick Spirits as Sixtus Senensis the Monk confesseth that Christians may read the holy Bible 〈◊〉 their own Edification and Comfort and not be kept hood-wink'd in blindness and heathenish ignorance Not to mention what other Nations hath done King Alfred caused both the Old and New Testament to be published in the vulgar Tongue for the benefit of this Land and in the Reign of Richard the Second the whole Scripture was set forth in English as Polyder Virgil testifies that when the Parliament endeavoured to suppress the same John Duke of Lancaster stood up in defence thereof saying We will not be the refuse of all men for other Nations have Gods Laws in their own Language so ought we Therefore seeing such noble Precedents of godly Zeal for the general instruction of the People it was a most excellent work of the good Alderman Mr. Rowland Heylyn to print those Welch Bibles which were before rare and costly but now grown common in every mans hand and in his own Mothers Tongue As the Doctor was of honourable extraction by his Father's side so his Mothers Pedigree was not mean and contemptible but answered the Quality of her Husband being a Gentlewoman of an ancient Family whose Name was Eliz. Clampard Daughter of Francis Clampard of Wrotham in Kent and of Mary Dodge his Wife descended in a direct Line from Peter Dodge of Stopworth in Cheshire unto whom King Edward the First gave the Seigniory or Lordship of Paden hugh in the Barony of Coldingham in the Realm of Scotland as well for his special Services that he did in the Seige of Barwick and Dunbar as for his valour showed in several Battels Encontre son grand Enemy Rebelle Le Baillol Roy d' Escose Vassal d' Angle terre as the words are in the original Charter of Arms given to the said Peter Dodge by Guyen King of Arms at the Kings command dated April the 8th in the 34 〈◊〉 year of the said King Edward the First One of the Descendants from the said Peter Dodge was Uncle to Dr. Heylyn's Mother and gave the Mannor of Lechlade in the County of Glocester worth 1400 l. per An. to Robert Bathurst Esq Uncle to the Doctor and Father to the Loyal Knight and Baronet Sir Edward Bathurst lately deceased The Doctor in his green and tender years was put to School at Burford the Place of his Nativity and Education under the care of Mr. William North then School-master by whose good Instructions and his own wonderful Ingenuity he grew up to that proficiency in Learning that he was admired both by his Master and Scholars because his entrance into the Free-School was at the time of Child-hood when he was but six years old betwixt which time and the space of four years after he plyed his Book so well that he appeard more than an ordinary Latinist being Composer of several Exercises both in Prose and Verse particularly a Tragy-Comedy upon the Wars and Destruction of Troy with other exercises Historical which foreshewed what an excellency he would after attain unto in all kind of generous Learning Such early Blossoms are for the most part blasted or seldom bring forth fruit to ripeness and perfection that few Examples can be named of precocious Wits as have been long Liv'd or come near to the years of Old Age as the Doctor did excepting one famously known above others Hermogenes the Rhetorician of whom it was said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He was an old Man when he was a Child and a Child when he was an old Man In his Child-hood he was often brought before Marcus Ant. the Roman Emperor who delighted to hear his Talk for the natural Eloquence that flowed from him But though he lived long his Wit and admired Parts soon decayed and for his long Life saith Rhodiginus of him ut unus ex multis he was one as it were of a thousand Yet a Reverend Father of the Christian Church the glory of his time St. Augustine did far excel Hermogenes the Orator for he tells us in his Confessions that in secunda pueritia that is about the Age of twelve Legisse intellexisse Logicos Rhetoricos Aristotelis Libros he read and understood the Books of Aristotles Logick and Rhetorick by which Learning and Study of Divinity well managed together St. Augustin appeared the only Champion in the Field for the Orthodox Faith confounded the Manichees Donatists and other Hereticks and finally he lived to a great old Age a Blessing which ordinarily accompanied the Primitive Bishops and holy Fathers and still is continued as may be observed to the worthy Prelates of our Church But to find many of prodigious Wits and Memories from Child-hood and for such Persons to live unto extraordinary years and keep up their wonted Parts most Vigorously after they are turned Sixty which is the deep Autumne of Mans Life I believe Dr. Heylyn had the happy Fortune in Youth and Age above many others that his Vertues and excellent Abilities kept equal ballance together for all his Life primus ad extremum similis sibi that as he began happily so he went on like Isocrates his Master who being always the same could say Nihil habeo quod senectutem meam accusem He had nothing to accuse his old Age with After he was first diciplin'd under his Master North whom Death took from the School to another World he was committed to his Successor Mr. Davis a right worthy Man and painful Schoolmaster who train'd him up in all points of Learning befitting a young Scholar for the University where he was admitted at the fourteenth year of his Age Commoner in Hart-hall and put under the Tuition of Mr. Joseph Hill an ancient Batchelor of Divinity and formerly one of the Fellows of Corpus Christi Colledge but then a Tutor in Hart-hall After whom Mr.
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
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