Walter Newbery a zealous Puritan in those days undertook the Charge of him who little thought his Pupil would afterward prove so sharp an Enemy to the Puritan-faction But by the help of his two Tutors who faithfully discharged their Office in reading Logical Lectures to him and other kind of Learning his own Industry also and earnest desire to attain unto Academical Sciences setting him forward beyond his years and standing he was encouraged by his Tutor and good Friends who saw his Parts were prodigious to stand for a Demy's Place in Magdalen Colledge at the time of their Election But he being very young and the Fellows already preingaged for another he missed the first time as is usual in this Case with which disappointment he was not at all discouraged but cheerfully followed the course of his Studies and among other Exercises for recreation sake and to shew his Wit and Fancy he framed a Copy of Verses in Latin on occasion of a pleasant Journy he took with his two Tutors to Woodstock which Verses he presented to the President and Fellows of Magdalen Colledge who at the next Election in the year 1615. unanimously chose him Demy of the House where soon after he was made Impositor of the Hall which Office no small honour to him being then but fifteen years of Age he executed with that trust and diligence that the Dean of the Colledge continued him longer in it than any of his Predecessors for which he was so envyed by his Fellow Demies as that malignant passion is always the Concomitant of honour that they called him by the Name of perpetual Dictator About the same time being very eager upon his juvenile Studies he composed an English Tragedy called by him Spurius that was so generally well liked by the Society that Dr. Langton the President commanded it to be acted in his Lodgings After those and many other Specimina Ingenii fair Testimonies of his Wit and Schollarship he easily obtained his grace for the Degree of Batchelor of Arts in the year 1617. Then according to the Colledge Statutes and Custom that requires some Exercise to be performed by a junior Batchelor in the long Vacation he read several Lectures of Geography to which his Genius naturally led him and carried them on so pleasantly in a new Method not observed by others by joyning History with Cosmography that made the Work very delightful For scarce any memorable Action done in any Nation Country or famous City in the World but he hath recorded it which was a wonderful Task for a Youth of his years that all his Auditors grave Fellows as well as others was struck into deep admiration of his profound Learning and Wisdom that forthwith the whole Society nemine contradicente admitted him Probationer Fellow in the Place of Mr. Love and that before such time he had fully finished the reading of his Lectures And for a further encouragement of him in his Studies being also a good Philosopher as well as Geographer the Colledge chose him Moderator of the Senior Form in the Hall that brought both credit to his Name and profit to his Purse for which in Gratitude to them as he ever shewed a grateful mind to his Patrons and Benefactors he presently writ a Latin Comedy called by him Theomachia which he finished and transcribed in a Fortnights time and dedicated the same to the Fellows who were so highly pleased with his Ingenuity and Pains that on July the 19th 1619. he waâ—… admitted Fellow in that honourable Society according to the usual Form In verum perpetuum Socium After which followed a new honour upon him as all Degrees in the University are honourable and but the just reward of Learned Men that in the year 1620. the University conferred on him the Degree of Master of Arts and surely a young Master he was that not one of twenty is capable of this Degree at his years but more remarkable it was at that time because he was one of those Masters that first sate with their Caps on in the Convocation-house by Order of the Earl of Pembroke then Chancellor of the University who signified his Lordships Pleasure by his especial Letters That from that time forward the Masters of Arts who before sate bare should wear their Caps in all Congregations and Convocations which has been ever since observed He now a Master of Arts in the University and Fellow of a Noble Colledge than which no greater encouragements can be imagined for young Men to follow their Studies and put audacity into them to shew their Parts especially when they have gained by their Learning and Merits both Preferment and Honour He was perswaded by several Friends to publish those Geographical Lectures which he read in the long Vacation that others might taste the sweetnes and pleasure of those Studies besides his own Fellow Collegians Accordingly having got his Fathers consent for the printing of them and the perusal and approbation of his Book by some Learned Men at the Age of twenty and one years the young Writer comes forth November the 7th Anno Dom. 1621. Whose ingenious Writings found such general Acceptance manibus omnium teruntur that scarce any Scholars Study was without them and to this day since their enlargement by several Editions are as commonly cited upon occasion as any Authentick Author that 's extant The First Copy was presented to his Royal Highness King Charles the First then Prince of Wales unto whom the young Author dedicated his Work and by the young Prince was as graciously received being brought into his Highness presence by Sir Robert Carr afterward Earl of Ancram but then one of the Gentlemen of the Princes Bed-Chamber Having so fortunate a Beginning to gain the Prince his Patron he desisted in Geography and proceeded to higher Studies that might capacitate him for greater Services hereafter both in Church and State In order thereto first piously he took along with him the Episcopal Blessing of Confirmation by the Hands of Bishop Lake in the Parish Church of Wells September the 15th Anno Dom. 1623. the fruits of whose Fatherly Benediction devout Prayers with imposition of Hands did manifestly appear in this true Son of the Church Whom the Almighty did bless and daily increase in him the manifold gift of Grace bestowed on him the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding c. And certainly such singular benefits does accompany this Apostolical Institution mentioned in Scripture constantly used in the Primitive Church that the neglect or contempt thereof from the hands of Gods Bishops no doubt deprives us of many good Blessings which we should otherwise receive from the hands of God Being thus confirmed by the Bishop according to the Order of the Church of England he afterward applyed himself to the Study of Divinity which St. Basil calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Theory or Contemplation of the Great God or his Being so far as he hath revealed himself to us in the
a very bad head for he must needs tell all he knows of him that the flesh in the forepart of his Head rotted to the Scull where never any hair came afterward he was sent to London and kept to a strict Diet and â—…requent sweatings God be thanked this was in the Doctors childhood or else the World would think strange things of him It seems some unlucky Star had a malevolent aspect upon his head which the the Writer of his Life though an Astrologer did take no notice of in his Nativity and much worse Fortune had the Doctor in the affairs of humane Life which if they had been prosperous according to Prognostication no doubt he had been a Bishop and not only a sub-Dean of Westminster and probably he would have preferred this Author whom his Son designed to write his Life But still he persists in his Astrology At which time sayes he the Sun was in the Horoscope of his Nativity and the Houses very well disposed But I affirm the contrary who think my self as great an Astrologer as he Non tu plus cernis sed plus tenerarius audes That the Houses were very ill disposed that time not only for the reasons I have already given but to speak more judiciously upon the point I find the Planets then were combust of the Sun under a fiery triplicity and the Lord of the ascendant in his Nativity was out of his essential dignities the moon also Cadent and unfortunated by those Planets that had dominion in the sixth or eighth House besides not a good Planet was then in Cazimi or the heart of the Sun both the promittors and significators weak in the Radix of his Nativity all which did signifie but indifferent good Fortune to the Doctor sometimes prosperous and improsperous good health and bad no firm Constitution of body as he saith but infirm often crazy never ill but once of his Head when he was a Boy which the Writer would for no good omit But I have found him out all this while where he has been tampering and that is in Mr. Lillys Book of introduction to Astrology who hath learnt him his coelestial Art That the ☉ presents a Man of good corporature of healthful constitution very humane c. his head quickly bald and so the Life-Writer sayes never any hair came afterward when the flesh was rotted to the Scull But Mr. Lilly is not at all so absolute and positive in his judgment upon Nativities between the hours of eight and nine in the Morning Indeed he is the more subtil Astrologer for he hath out-done Mr. Lilly in Christian Astrology because he can prognosticate and foretel from the Stars whether a Child when it is born shall be baptised or no and whether then it shall be Christened by the Minister with the sign of the cross for saith he this reverend man was in this particular fortunate that he had the honour to carry the mark of the Cross which was imprinted on him at the Font. Oh strange under what a happy constellation was the Doctor born above other Christians I thought it had been ordinary but this was extraordinary because he fell not into the hands of a Non-conformist I beleived he was signed with the Cross because I am sure the Heavenly Houses which first set out the Cross to Constantine are allwayes well disposed to this good sign but whether he was Christened at home or in Church I am not fully satisfied and if I should hold the contrary he cannot confute me for according to my Albumazar and other learned Authors the Heavens were then in that positure that the Sun was separated from a square of Jupiter and applyed to the square of Saturn which often gives strange disappointments to things expected so that still it remains a Question whether the Child was Christened in the Font. For my part I durst not pry so far into the Doctors Nativity much less into the Baptism or Holy Font but that the Author incites me to it For I medled no further but that he was born in a happy year with Augustus Thuanus the famous Historian which I wonder escaped his dash in the printed Folio Therefore for that kindness I will give him this counsel and I wish he may follow it hereafter That he would study the Doctors Books and not his Birth and leave poring on his Astronomical Tables and gazing up to the Stars lest he should happen some ill mischance not minding his foot-hold like Thales Milesius fall into a pit or meet with some worse disaster some trap-door which Tiberius Caesar provided for his Astrologers si vanitatis aut sraudis suspicio in cesserat If any jealousie came into his mind they were false and treacherous I cannot also but take notice of the Authors high opinion and conceit of himself because he is a little Writer All Men saith he have not the abilities to write Books so neither to pass sentence on them when written And is it not a Truth as undeniable Scribimus indoctique Are there not more Scriblers than learned Writers The World is pestered too much with them that swarm like Gnats and Flyes to buz the Head and â—…urt the Eyes and yet have no Hony or sweetness in them I am of opinion if there were fewer Books there would be more Learning and much better Scholars in every Age for Authors then would be well read digested and turned into good nourishment Whence Petrus Comestor who writ the Historia Scholastica took his Name Comestor sive manducator librorum saith Trithem quia scripturas quasi in ventrem memoriae manducarit An Eater of Books and good Digester of them Now they are hastily swallowed down without chewing and by reason of the gross stuff and mean feeding in most Books and Writers are converted into excrementitious matter that passes away per latrinam and as Martial saith of a bungling Versifier in his time Scribit Carmina quae legunt cacantes Socrates was looked upon as the chief Oracle among the Philosophers yet he left not one Book of his own writing to Posterity saith Suidaâ—… No doubt there hath been and is still in the World most worthy wise and learned Men as those who have written many vast Volumes For modesty in some weakness of Body and not of Mind in others fear of the Worlds censure nay continual study and reading of Books with which the mind of a Scholar is never satisfied has hindred many a good Writer so that it is no want of Faculty but Will No Imperfection ought to be charged on Mens Abilities who are known Scholars but if every one of them should undertake such a work in a short compass of time there would be more Writers of Books than Readers It was a Saying of Luther All of us have a Pope â—…red in us That is an opinion of our own works though there be no merit in them which we may apply
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