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
way the other bends to Sedition Blood-shed and Confusion if it be left to the Multitude Which caused the good Father to complain of the Donatists Basilicas invasistis multi ex numero vestro per loca plurima cruentas operati sunt caedes And what outragious acts were done by the Donatists against Churches Altars consecrated Vessels and necessary utensils for the Sacrament Haec omnia furor vester aut rasit aut fregit aut removit saith Oplatus All these things your fury hath raz'd down or defaced or taken them away And hath not this been the practice of some Reformers God be thanked not in the Church of England and let other Churches of the reformed Religion look to themselves I am sure it is a detestible Principle which the Primitive Christians from their hearts did abhor that if the Magistrate will not reform the Church and State then the people must Their Piety and Patience is most exemplary to us that we should rather suffer for true Religion than make resistance or Reformation by rebellion It was a seditious saying of Donatus Quid est Imperatori cum Ecclesia What hath the Emperor to do with the Church But be he either Heathen or Christian and if Christian either Orthodox or Heterodox in the Faith the good Catholicks did not then seek to establish their Religion vi armis much less without his Authority or at least connivance of their Emperors publickly exercise their Religion Secondly that which so imbitters Mr. Baxter against Dr. Heylyn is saith he That Heylyn would make men believe that it was Presbyteriaas in England that began the late Strife and War And who believes otherwise but they who have a bloody mind to War again Have we not seen it with our Eyes and others who were unborn then have heard with their Ears the same by many Witnesses and Writers besides Dr Heylyn What must men deny their senses It is not in the power of the Doctor nor any other to possess people with a belief and perswasion of things whether they will or no but as they appear evident to sense reason or understanding they give credit to them accordingly Mr. Baxter imitates the Papists He thinks of the War as they do of the Gun-powder Plot that it is so long ago it must be either forgotten or cannot be proved He and those of his Tribe would be blowing their Trumpets again for a second War and cry out to your Tents O Israel but God in his mercy I hope will preserve the Land that is grown more wise by sad experience of the late troubles than to be twice deceived The pretence of Reformation and Reformers whose Credit Mr. Baxter would still hold up he cannot endure they should be touched was the Pulchra Laverna of Rebelion both in England and Scotland Who were the first Reformers but the Presbyterians Who was it An Episcopal man or a Presbyterian that said Strike the Basilick vein for nothing else will cure the plurisy of our State and after followed the fatal stroke given upon the Lords anointed to the terror and consternation of the whole Kingdom but much more to the shame and confusion of it And how many years after was this Nation ridden with the Reformers That it might have been called instead of France Regnum Asinorum for the unmerciful loads of Oppression it groaned under till at last wearied and tired out with them it kickt off her Riders and I am confident will never take to them again For what were the fruits of the godly Reformation Sacriledge and a continued Rebellion Church and Crown Robberies the King deprived of all his Right and Revenues and the Church of her ancient Demeans and Dignities from both which as no good consequence any one might conceive did follow a horrible Anarchy and confusion not only Dr. Heylyn but the World it self is judge of these things whether the Presbyterians were not the Principal and I may say the only causes of the late Wars and those evils attending them I think the Doctor set the Sadle upon the right Horse But I am sure Mr. Baxter doth not when he puts Lads and Dr. Heylyn together who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and very irreverently conjoyned together yet perhaps those Boys think themselves as good Men as Mr. Baxter and possibly to have as much Learning however more discretion in them than appears in him who shamefully complains of his feebleness to his Wife For modesty sake I dare not set down the words written at the end of his Letter to her which he hath printed in his Narrative of her Life But who are these Lads that knew not the War and yet will be talking of it I very well apprehend his meaning and confess I was then but a Youth but now am old and gray-headed that what I have written I hope to make good and fear not to meet Mr. Baxter upon a fair Challenge any where in the half-way except between Lynsel and Longford In the mean while he who Styles himself so proudly in the Title page of his Church History Richard Baxter a Hater of false Histories Let him not falsisie Dr. Heylyn nor others who approve themselves truer Historians than himself whom I now attach for falshood in saying this scandalous story of the Doctor That he himself had laid much of the War on the Arch-Bishops and Bishops and on the Parliaments complaints of Popery Arminianism and arbitrary illegalities In his Hist. of Presb. pag. 465. pag. 470. In all which pages ne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quidem there is not a word or syllable can be found of these things nor to such purpose that I wonder he hath the face to charge Dr. Heylyn with them when he pro fesseth himself to be a Hater of false Histories no sooner the word is out of his mouth but within a page or two he makes this abominable falsity I do suspect him now more than ever about Major Iennings business and conclude him to be guilty Could any one rationally think that the Doctor who in all his Time and Books appeared a most zealous Champion for the Bishops and in that cause I may say was Dr. Irrefr agabilis would lay to their charge much or little that they were procatarcical causes of the War especially when he vindicates them in all his Writings from this malicious aspersion which the Puritan Faction would have thrown upon them He was not a man of contradictions like Richard Baxter in most of his Writings for which every Lad is apt to lug his Beard as the Poet said of the Stoick vellent tibi barbam lascivi pueri No no he had a wiser Head-piece and better Memory than any Baxter That he never exposed himself to shame or censure for any contradiction that could be fouud in all his Writings Qualis ab inâ—…epto processerit sibi constet Instead of Mr Baxters Allegation the Doctor tells us in the same page 464
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.
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
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