close and dangerous Factions because some points of speculative Divinity are otherwise maintained by some than they would have them Also regardless of the common Peace that rather than be quiet we will quarrel with our blessed Peace-maker for seeking to compose the differences though to the prejudice of neither party Thus do we foolishly divide our Saviour and rent his sacred Body on the least occasion rarely conceiving that a difference in a point of Judgment must needs draw after it a disjoyning of the affections also and that conclude at last in an open Schism Whereas diversity of Opini ons if wisely managed would rather tend to the discovery of the Truth than the disturbance of the Church and rather whet our industry than excite our passions It was S. Cyprians resolution Neminem licet alicui senserit a Communione amovere not to suspend any man from the Communion of the Church although the matter then 〈◊〉 was as I take it of more weight than any of the points now controverted which moderation if the present Age had attained unto we had not then so often torn the Church in pieces nor by our frequent broils offered that injury and inhumanity to our Saviours Body which was not offered to his Garments At this and all the other parts of his Sermon the Auditory was highly pleased but the Bishop in so great wrath that his voice and the noise of his Pastoral Staff if I may so call it had lik'd to have frighted the whole Flook or Congregation out of the Fold Considering the ill posture of Affairs in which the Nation then stood overflowing with seditions and schisms Navem Reipub. Fluitantem in alto tempestatibus seditionum et discordiarum as Tully once said I think a more seasonable Sermon could not have been preached to move men of different perswasions unto Peace and Unity one with another which is a most Christian Doctrine After the Sermon was ended he took St. Robert Filmore his learned Freind with some other Gentlemen of quality that were his Auditors out of the Church along with him to his House where he immediately sealed up the Book that contained this Sermon and other Notes to which they also set their Seales that so there might not be the least alteration made in the Sermon nor any ground to suspect it which was presently after sent to the Bishop who kept it in his hands for some days in which time his passions allayed being more calm at home than in the Church sent the Book untouched back again to Dr. Heylyn in whose Study it had lain dormant for the space of fifteen years when the danger of an old Sermon being called in question must needs be over by my perswasion and his conâ—…ent he was pleased to give me leave to open that Apocalyptical Book that I might read and see the mystery that lay hid under the Seals for so many years which indeed only proved a pious and practical Sermon foâ—… Edification to moderate the heats of those fiery Spirits that were like to make a Combustion in the whole Kingdom The Bishop deserved a sharper rebuke for his own Sermon which about that time he preached before the King when he made a strange Apostrophe from his Text to the Sabbath falling down upon his knees in the Pulpit at the middle of his Sermon beseeching his Majesty in most earnest and humble manner That greater care might be taken for the better Observation of the Sabbath day Which was looked upon by many as a piece of most grand Hypocrisie who knew his opinion well by his practice for he did ordinarily play at Bowles on Sundays after Evening Service shot with Bows and Arrows and used other exercises and recreations according to his Lordships pleasure Nay more than all this as the Doctor informs us in his Animadversions on the Church-History of Brittain he caused a Comedy to be acted before him at his house at Bugden not only on a Sunday in the Afternoon but upon such a Sunday also on which he had publickly given sacred Orders both to Priests and Deacons And to this Comedy he invited the Earl of Manchester and diverse others of the Neighbouring Gentry though on this turning of the Tide he did not only cause these Doctors to be condemned for some Opinions which formerly himself allowed of but moved at the Assembly in Jerusalem Chamber that all Books should be publickly burnt which had disputed the Morality of the Lords Day-Sabbath But the Bishop now restored to his dignity by means of that unhappy Parliament with whom he was in high favour expected that Dr. Heylyn should have submitted himself to his Lordship and particularly acknowledge his Error in putting out the Antidotum Lincolniense which he commanddend him to call in to which the Doctor replyed that he received his Majesties Royal Command for the writing and printing of that Book in which he had asserted nothing but what he was still ready to justifie and defend against the Opposers of it And how could it be imagined otherwise but he would vindicate his own Writings For men of known Learning and Integrity satisfied with the truth and right of their Cause its impossible to bring them over to a Retractation against their own Conscience The Case ran thus betwixt St. Jerom the Presbyter and St. Augustin the Bishop Hortaris me ut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 super quodam Apostoli Capitulo Canam absit unusquisque abundet suo sensu No sooner was the Doctor out of the Pulpit but he must come again before the Chair of the old Committee to answer unto new Articles that Mr. Pryn had drawn up against him more especially for a Sermon that he had preached many years agoe which Mr. Pryn who had then Ears heard himself and brought along with him some other Auditors a Company of the Rabble sort to vex him Urgeris turba circum te Stante thrusting and justling the Doctor in the Croud and railing against him with most vile speeches to which be made no reply in this sorry Condition but patiently endured all their affronts and injuries for it was to no purpose to take further notice of an ungovern'd Multitude Non opus est argumentis sed fustibus with whom nothing can prevail but Club-Law But contrary to all their expectation he got the victory of the day and was dismissed with a Quietus est by reason of a Letter which he had wisely sent before hand Ingenium res adversae nudare solent to a leading Gentleman of that Committee who was before his most bitter Enemy but now mollified with the Letter he allayed the fury of his Brethren And glad was he to be so delivered out of the Lyons mouth telling his Friends that he would now go to Alresford with a purpose never to come back to Westminster whilst these two good Friends of his abode in it viz. the House of Commons and the Lord of Lincoln Accordingly he hastened down to
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
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
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
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
extollebantur Therefore the Parsonage of Houghton in the Bishoprick of Durham worth near 400 l. per Annum being made void by the Preferment of Dr. Lindsel to the Sea of Peterborough the King bestowed upon Mr. Heylyn which afterward he exchanged with Dr. Marshal Chanter of the Church of Lincoln for the Parsonage of Alresford in Hampshire that was about the same value to which exchange Mr. Heylyn was commanded by his Majesty that he might live nearer the Court for readiness to do his Majesty service Neither was he envyed for this or his other Preferments because every one knew his merits was the only cause of his promotion For men of eminent Worth and Vertue when they are advanced saith my Lord Bacon Their Fortune seemeth but due to them for no man envyeth the Payment of a Debt That as his Majesty was pleased most graciously to express upon his loss of the Living by the Bishop of Lincoln so according to his Royal Promise he doubly repayed that Debt by a Living of twice the value into which he was no sooner instituted and inducted but he took care for the Service of God to be constantly performed by reading the Common-prayers in the Church every morning which gave great satisfaction to the Parish being a populous Market Town and for the Communion Table where the blessed Sacrament is consecrated he ordered that it should be placed according to ancient Custom at the East end of the Chancel and Railed about decently to prevent base and profane usages and when the Chancel wanted any thing of Repairs or the Church it self both to be amended Having thus shewed his care first for the house of God to set it in good order the next work followed was to make his own dwelling-house a fit and convenient Habitation that to the old Building he added a new one which was far more graceful and made thereto a Chappel next to the Dining-room that was beautified and adorned with Silk hangings about the Altar in which Chappel himself or his Curate read Morning and Evening-prayeâ—… to the Family calling in his Labourers and Work-folks for he was seldom without them while he lived saying that he loved the noise of a Work-mans Hammer For he thought it a deed of Charity as well as to please his own fancy by often building and repairing to set poor people a work and encourage painful Artificers and Tradesmen in their honest Callings He built a Hall in the middle of the House from the very Foundation upon the top whereof was a high Tower of Glass on one side of the Hall a fair Garden with pleasant Walks Cypress Trees and Arbours on the other side upon the Front a spacious Court at the Gate of which next the Street a high wooden Bridge that went cross over the Street into the Church-yard on which himself and Family went to Church to avoid the dirty common way which was almost unpassable Besides he made many new Conveniences to the Out-houses and Yards belonging to them all which was no small charge to his Purse for I have heard him say it cost him several hundreds of Pounds in Alresfords-house where he in a manner buried his Wifes Portion yet after his Death his Eldest Son was unreasonably sued for dilapidations in the Court of Arches by Dr. Beamont his Fathers Successor but the Gentleman pleaded his Cause so notably before Sir Giles Swet then Judge of the Court that he was discharged there being no reason or justice he should be troubled for dilapidations occasioned by the long War when his Father was unjustly turned out of his House and Living After so much cost bestowed upon Alresford and his Prebend-house in Westminster he constanly resided in one of those places where he kept good Hospitality and took care to relieve the Poor following also his wonted studies not only in History but Fathers Councils and Polemical Divinity the better to prepare himself for a new encounter with the old Professor Dr. Prideaux for he resolved to go on in his Universitâ—… Degrees notwithstandiug his removal from Oxon and to perform those Exercises required in that Case in which he always came off with credit and applause Being now to take his Degree of Batchelor in Divinity in July An. Dom. 1630. Upon these words Mat. 4. 19. Faciam vos fieri Piscatores hominum Upon the Sunday after he preached the Act Sermon upon this Text Mat. 13. 14. But while men slept his Enemy came and sowed Tares among the Wheat and went his way Where he made a seasonable Application of this Subject as the Times then stood of the danger of Lay-Feofees in buying up Impropriations A godly project it appeared at the first sight but afterwards a Tare fit to be rooted up Pulchra Laverna Da mihi fallere da justum sanctumque videri The Pretension of those Feofees seemed to be very just and pious but their Intention and Practice was quite contrary by planting many pentionary Lectures in many places where the Preachers were Non-conformists from whom could be expected no better fruits than the overthrow of Episcopal Government The words of Mr. Heylyn's Sermon as to this particular are as followeth For what is that which is most aimed at in it but to cry down the standing Clergy of this Kingdom to undermine the publick Liturgy by Law established to foment factions in the State Schisms in the Church and to have ready Sticklers in every place for the advancement of some dangerous and deep design And now we are fallen upon this point we will proceed a little further in the proposal of some things to be considered The Corporation of Feofees for buying in Impropriations to to the Church doth it not seem in appearance to be an excellent piece of Wheat a noble and gracious part of Piety Is not this Templum Domini Templum Domini But blessed God that men should thus draw near to thee with their mouths and be so far from thee in their hearts For what are those entrusted in the management of this great business Are they not most of them the most active and best affected men in the whole Cause magna partium momenta and chief Patrons of this growing Faction And what are those that they prefer Are they not most of them such men as are and must be serviceable to their dangerous Innovations And will they not in time have more Preferments to bestow than all the Bishops of the Kingdom And so by consequence a greater number of Dependents to promote their Interest Yet all this while we sleep à nd slumper and fold our hands in sloth and see perhaps but dare not note it High time it is assuredly you should be awaked and rouse your selves upon the apprehension of so near a danger If we look further upon this new devise and holy project it being observed as Fuller saith that those who hold the Helm of the Pulpit always steer the peoples hearts as they please The Feofees
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
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.