â—…o the utmost of his power he had exercised his Pen in the defâ—…nce both of the Crown Scepter and Miter his Soul then transported with joy that he should survive the usurped powers and see with his old bad eyes the King settled upon his Fathers Throne and peace upon Israel In the Evening after the Ceremonies of the Coronation were over while the Ordinance was playing from the Tower it happened to thunder violently at which some persons who were at supper with him seemed much affrighted I very well remember an expression of his upon the same according to the Poets word Intonuit laetus that the Ordinance of Heaven answered those of the Tower rejoycing at the solemnity with which the Company being exceedingly pleased there followed much Joy and Mirth Thus being settled in Westminster he fell upon the old work of building again and repairing which is the costly pleasure of Clergy men for the next Generation because building is like planting the chief benefit of which accrues to their Successors that live in another Age as Cicero said of them who took delight in planting Oake-Trees Serunt Arbores quae prosiâ—…t alteri saeculo He enlarged his Prebends House by making some convenient Additions to it perticularly he erected a new Dining Room and beautified the other Rooms all which he enjoyed but for a little time of which he made the best use while he lived to serve his God and seek after the Churches good in which work he was as industrious after his Majesties happy Restauration as he was before to testifie his Religious zeal and care that all things might run on in the old right Channel for which reason he writ a fervent Letter to a great States-man of that time earnestly pressing him to advise the King that a Convocation might be called with the present Parliament which was a thing then under question his Letter is as followeth Right Honourable and my very good Lord I Cannot tell how welcom or unwelcom this Address may prove in regard of the greatness of the Cause and the low Condition of the Party who negotiates in it But I am apt enough to perswade my self that the honest zeal which moves me to it not only will excuse but endear the boldness There is my Lord a general speech but a more general fear withal amongst some of the Clergy that there will be no Convocation called with the following Parliament which if it should be so resolved on cannot but raise sad thoughts in the hearts of those who wish the peace and happiness of this our English Sion But being Bishops are excluded from their Votes in Parliament there is no other way to keep up their honour and esteem in the Eyes of the People than the retaining of their places in Convocation Nor have the lower Clergy any other means to shew their duty to the King and keep that little freedom which is left unto them than by assembling in in such meetings where they may exercise the Power of a Convocation in granting Subsidies to his Majesty though in nothing else And should that Power be taken from them according to the constant but unprecedented practice of the late long Parliament and that they must be taxed and rated with the rest of the Subjects without their liking and consent I cannot see what will become of the first Article of Magna Charta so solemnly so frequently confirmed in Parliament or what can possibly be left unto them of either the Rights or Liberties belonging to an English Subject I know it is conceived by some that the distrust which his Majesty hath in some of the Clergy and the diffidence which the Clergy have one of another is looked on as the principle cause of the Innovation For I must needs behold it as an Innovation that any Parliament should be called without a meeting of the Clergy at the same time with it The first year of King Edward the Sixth Qeen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were times of greater diffidence and distraction than this present conjuncture And yet no Parliament was called in the beginning of their several Reigns without the company and attendance of a Convocation though the intendments of the State aimed then at greater Alterations in the face of the Church than are now pretended or desired And to say truth there was no danger to be feared from a Convocation thâ—…ugh the times were ticklish and unsetled and the Clergy was divided into sides and Factions as the Case then stood and so stands with us at the present time For since the Clergy in their Convocations are in no Authority to propound treat or conclude any thing more than the passing of a Bill of Subsidies for his Majesties use untill they are impowered by the Kings Commission The King may tye them up for what time he pleaseth and give them nothing but the opportunity of entertaining one another with the News of the Day But if it be objected That the Commission now on foot for altering and explaining certain passages in the publick Liturgy shall either pass instead of a Convocation or else is thought to be neither competable nor consistent with it I hope for better in the one and must profess that I can see no reason in the other For first I hope that the selecting of some few Bishops and other learned men of the lower Clergy to debate on certain points contained in the Common Prayer-Book is not intended for a Representation of the Church of England which is a Body more diffused and cannot legally stand by their Acts and Councils and if the Conference be for no other purpose but only to prepare matter for a Convocation as some say it is not why may not such a Conference and Convocation be held both at once For neither the selecting of some learned men out of both the Orders for the composing and reveiwing of the two Liturgies digested in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth proved any hindrence in the calling of their Convocation which were held both in the second and third and in the fifth and sixth years of the said Kings Reign Nor was it found that the holding of a Convocation together with the first Parliament under Queen Elizabeth proved any hinderance to that Conference in disputation which was designed between the Bishops and some learned men of the opposite Parties All which considered I do most humbly beg your Lordship to put his Majesty in mind of sending out his Mandates to the two Arch Bishops for summoning a Convocation according to the usual Form in their several Provinces that this poor Church may be held with some degree of veneration both at home and abroad And in the next place I do no less humbly-beseech your Lordship to excuse this freedom which nothing but my zeal to Gods Glory and my affection to this Church could have forced from me I know how ill this present Office doth become me and how much better it had been
where he had run through so hard a Task with the Regius Professor though he missed Windsor took this occasion to make himself merry as the Poet did musa jocosa mea est Ov. And so fell into this vein of Poetry When Windsor Prebend late disposed was One ask'd me sadly how it came to pass Potter was chose and Heylyn was forsaken I answer'd 't was by Charity mistaken But this Fancy was soon turned into a mournful Elegy by the death of his noble Friend the Attorny General Mr. Noy whose memory he could never forget for the honour of delivering to him the gracious message from his Majesty and for the intimacy he was pleased to bear to him as a bosom friend that he imparted to the Doctor all the affairs of State and transactions of things done in his time which made him so perfect an Historian in this particular and shewed him his papers manuscripts and laborious Collections that he had gathered out of Statutes and ancient Records for the proof of the Kings Prerogative particularly before his death at his house in Brainford where the Doctor kept Whitsontide with him in the year 1634. he shewed to him a great wooden Box that was full of old Precedents for levying a Naval aid upon the Subjects by the sole Authority of the King whensoever the preservation and safety of the Kingdom required it of them Mr. Hammond L' Strange acknowledges that Mr. Noy was a most indefatigable plodder and searcher of old Records The learned Antiquary Mr. Selden though no friend to the King nor Church confesses in his excellent book entituled Mare Clausum That the Kings of England â—…sed to levy mony upon the Subjects without the help of Parliament for the providing of Ships and other necessaries to maintain that Soveraignity which anciently belonged to the Crown Yet the honest Attorny General for the same good service to the King and Country is called by Hammond Le Strange The most pestilent vexation to the Subjects that this latter Age produced So true is the old Proverb some may better steal a Horse than others look on For it is usual with many not to judge according to the merits of the cause but by the respect or disrepect they bear to the Person as the Comedian once said Duo cum idem faciunt saepe possis dicere Hoc licet impune facere huic illi non licet Non quod dissimilis res sit sed quod qui facit When two does both alike the self same Act One suffers pain the other for the Fact Not the lest shame or punishment and why Respect of persons makes Crimes differently The death of Mr. Noy the more sadly afflicted the Doctor to lose so dear a Friend and an entire Lover of learned men during whose time no unhappy differences brake out betwixt the Dean of Westminster and the Prebends of that Church but all things were carried on smoothly by his Lordship because he knew well that Dr. Heylyn had a sure Advocate in Court both in behalf of himself and his Brethren if they stood in need of help that no sooner this worthy person departed the World but the Bishop so extremely tyrannized over the Prebendaries infringing their Priviledges violating their Customes and destroying their ancient Rights that for the common preservation of themselves and their Successors they were forced to draw up a Charge against his Lordship consisting of no less than thirty six Articles which were presented by way of complaint and petition of redress to his sacred Majesty who forthwith gave order for a Commission to be issued out unto the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York the Earl of Manchester Lord Privy Seal Earl of Portland the Lord Cottington the two Secretaries of State Sir John Cook and Sir Francis Windebank Authorizing them to hold a Visitation of the Church of Westminster to examine the particular charges made against John Lord Bishop of Lincoln and to redress such grievances and pressures as the Prebends of the said Church suffered by his misgovernment The Articles were ordered by the Council Table to be translated into Latin by Dr. Heylyn which accordingly he performed to avoid the common talk and scandal that might arise if exposed to the publick veiw of the vulgar on April 20. A. D. 1634. the Commission bore date which was not executed but lay dormant till December 1635 the Bishop expecting the business would never come to a hearing he raged more vehemently dispossessed the Prebends of their Seats refused to call a Chapter and to passe their Accounts conferred holy Orders in the said Church without their consent contrary to an ancient Priviledge which had been inviolably retained from the first foundation of the Church he permitted also Benefices in their gift to be lapsed unto himself that so he might have absolute power to dispose them to whom he pleased Quo teneam nodo With many other grievances which caused the Prebends to present a second Petition to his Majesty humbly beseeching him to take the ruinous and desperate estate of the said Church into his Princely consideration Upon which the former Commission was revived a day of hearing appointed and a Citation fixed upon the Church door of Westminster for the Bishops and Prebends to appear on Jan. 27. Upon the 25th instant The Prebends were warned by the Subdean to meet the Bishop in Jerusalem Chamber where his Lordship foreseeing the Storm that was like to fall upon his head carried himself very calmly towards them desiring to know what those things were that were amiss and he would presently redress them though his Lordship knew them very well without an Informer to which Dr. Heylyn replyed that seeing they had put this business into his Majesties hands it would ill become them to take the matters out oâ—… his into their own Therefore on Jan. 27th both Parties met together before the Lords in the Inner-star Chamber where by their Lordships Order the whole business was put into a methodical course each Mâ—…day following being appointed for a day of hearing till a Conclusion was made of the whole affair On February the 1st The Lords Commissioners with the Bishop and Prebends met in the Council-Chamber at White-hall where it was first ordered that the Plaintifs should be called by the name of Prebends supplicant Secondly they should be admitted upon Oath as Witnesses Thirdly they should have a sight of all Registers Records Books of account c. which the Bishop had kept from them Fourthly that the first business they should begin with should be about their Seat because it made the difference or breach more visible and offensive to the World than those matters which were private and domestick And lastly it was ordered that the Prebends should have an Advocate to plead their Cause defend their Rights and represent their Grievances Accordingly the Prebends unanimously made choice of Dr. Peter Heylyn for their Advocate The business now brought on so fairly
when he thought it would digest The Scruple troubled all the rest Notwithstanding this scrupulosity in them the World knows their hypocritical Practices under all those zealous Pretences how light they are in the Ballance and how extraordinary a thing it is to find from their hands downright honesty and plain dealing they are too much like the Scribes and Pharisees who by godly shews of long Prayers sad Countenances Justification of themselves that they were the only Righteous and all others Sinners played the Hypocrites most abominably to deceive the vulgar sort they made Religion a meer mock and empty show 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith our Saviour to be seen like Stage-players in a Theater Nam tota actio est histrionica as Erasmus well observeth their whole carriage was dramatick to make a feigned Pageantry and Ostentation of Piety Yet John Lord Bishop of Lincoln in compliance with this Sect out of discontent and revenge because deprived of the great Seal and commanded by the King to retire from Westminster transformed himself into one of these Angels of new Light and made himself the Archangel and Head of their Party First of all by writing his pretended Letter to one Titly Vicar of Grantham against the holy Communion Table standing Altar-wise to which Dr. Heylyn made a sudden and sharp reply in his Book entituled A Coal from the Altar to which the Bishop within a Twelve-month after he took time enough for the Work did return an Answer under the Title of The Holy Table Name and Thing pretending withal that this was written long ago by a Minister in Lincolnshire against Dr. Cole a Divine in Queeu Marys Reign No sooner the King heard of this new Book but he sent a Command to Dr. Heylyn to write a speedy Answer to it and not in the least to spare the Bishop Neither did the Doctor baulk the grand Sophos but detected all his false Allegations and answered them that were true which the Bishop had wrested to a contrary sense if we will look into the Doctors Book called by him Antidotum Lincolniense All this while the Bishop as it must be confest being a man of Learning writ against his own Science and Conscience so dear is the passion of revenge to gratifie which some men wilfully sin against the Light of their own Souls therefore the Bishop according to the Apostles word was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 condemned of himself For look upon him in the point of practice and we shall find the Communion Table was placed Altar-wise in the Cathedral Church of Lincoln whereof he was Bishop and in the Collegiate Church of Westminster of which he was Dean and lastly in the private Chappel of his own house as Dr. Heylyn saith in whieh it was not only placed Altar-wise but garnished with rich Plate and other costly Utensils in more than ordinary manner By all which the Bishop needed no further refutation of his Book than his own Example that in those places where he had Authority the Holy Table did not stand in Gremio and Nave of the Quire as he would have it fixed but above the Steps upon the Altar close to the East end of the Quire ex vi catholicae consuetudinis according to the ancient manner and custom in the Primitive Catholick Church But hinc illae lachrymae ever since this mischief followed his Book that in most Country Churches to this day the Table is set at the hither end of the Chancel whithout any Traverse or Rails to fence it Boys fling their Hats upon it and that which is worse Dogs piss against it Country Juries write their Parish accounts Amerciaments By-Laws c. all which is a most horrible profanation and not to be suffered But now John Lord Bishop of Lincoln who would have removed the holy Communion Table from its proper place and had displaced his Prebends of their ancient Seat was himself at this time Anno Dom. 1637. thrown out of his Episcopal Chair by sentence of the Star-Chamber for endeavouring to corrupt the Kings Evidence in a Cause of Bastardy brought before his Majesties Justices of Peace at Spittle Sessions in the County of Lincoln which business afterward came to a hearing before the Lords in Star-Chamber by whose definitive sentence the Bishop was suspended ab Officio Beneficio deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Preferments deeply fined and his Complices with him and afterward committed to the Tower of London where he continued Prisoner for three years and in all that space of time his Lordship did never hear Sermon or publick Prayers to both which he was allowed liberty but instead thereof he studied Schism and Faction by his own Example and his Pen disguisedly During the time of his Lorships Imprisonment Dr. Heylyn was chosen Treasurer for the Church of Westminster in which Office he discharged himself with such diligence and fidelity that he was continued in it from year to year till the Bishops release out of tâ—…e Tower and his removal back again to Westminster While he was Treasurer he took care for the repairs of the Church that had been neglected for many years First of the great West-Isle that was ready to fall down was made firm and strong and of the South-side of the lower West-Isle much decayed he caused to be new timbred boarded and leaded but chiefly the curious Arch over the preaching place that looketh now most magnificently he ordered to be new vaulted and the Roof thereof to be raised up to the same height with the rest of the Church the charge of which came to 434 l. 18 s. 10 d. He regulated also some disorders of the Quire perticularly the exacting of Sconses or perdition mony which he divided among them that best deserved it who diligently kept Prayers and attended upon other Church Duties Whilest he was Treasurer his Brethren the Prebendaries to testifie their good affections to him presented him to the Parsonage of Islip near Oxford a very good Living worth about 200l per Annum then by the death of Dr. King made void but by reason of the distance from Alresford though standing most conveniently to taste the sweet pleasures of the University he thought fit to exhange it for another nearer hand the Rectory of South-warnborough in the County of Hampshire that was in the gift of St. Johns Colledge in Oxon to which exchange he was furthered by the Arch-Bishop who carried a great stroke in that Colledge of which he had been President It pleased God soon after to visit him and his Family at Alresford with a terrible fit of Sickness of which none escaped the Disease was so contagious but the Cook 's boy in the Kitchen who was then Master Cook for the whole Family and he performed his part so well in making their broths and other necessaries that he was the best Physitian among the Doctors for by his Kitchen Physick the Sick was cured No sooner Dr. Heylyn recovered of the
giving counsel in such matters as they saw occasion I beleive not Certain I am that it is and hath been otherwise in point of practice And that the Bishops sitting as Peers in an English Parliament were never excluded before this time from any such assistance as by their Gravity and Learning and other abilities they were enabled to give in any dark or difficult business though of blood and death which were brought before them As for the Councel of Toledo it saith nothing to their disadvantage the Canon is si quis sacerdotum discursor in alienis periculis extiterit apud Ecclesiam proprium perdat gradum that if any Priest shall intermedle in Cases endangering the Life of others let him be degraded Hereupon I conclude as to the present business in hand that the Bishops were to be admitted to all preparatory Examination because their counsel and assistance would have tended rather to the preservation than conduced to the endangering of the Parties Life I saw about that time saith he a little Manuscript Tract entituled De jure paritatis Episcoporum that is to say of the right of the Peerage of the Bishops in which their Priviledges were asserted as to that particular But they not willing to contend in a business which seemed so little to concern them or else not able to strive against the present stream which seemed to carry all before it suffered themselves to be excluded at that time without protesting to the contrary or interposing in defence of their ancient Rights And this I look on as the first degree of their Humiliation For when it was perceived that a business of sogreat consequence might be done in Parliament without their counsel and consent it opened a wide gap unto their Adversaries First to deprive them of their Votes and after to destroy even the Calling it self But this was not the main point which the Commons aimed at they were resolved to have a close Commitee to take Examination in the business of the Earl of Strafford and were not willing any Bishops should be of it for fear lest favouring the Earls cause or person they might discover any part of those secret practices which were had against him and thereby fortifie and prepare him for his just defence when the Cause should come unto a Tryal Thus far the Doctor writ of this Subject when he lived in Lacyes Court at Abingdon What he presented to the Bishops themselves at the time of Strafford's Tryal concerning the right of Peerage deserved a rare commendation especially at that conjuncture of time that he could command his Parts and Pen of a sudden to write on this Subject or any other if there was need that did conduce to the publick good either of Church or State and above all make a quick dispatch in accomplishing what he had once undertaken and begun a Vertue for which Q. Curtius praiseth Alexander among other excellent qualities Nullam virtutem regis istius magis quam celeritatem laudaverim I can commend no Vertue more in this King than speed So Lucan of Caesâ—…r Nam Caesar in omnia praeceps Nilactum credens si quid superesset agendum But for those quick dispatches the Doctor endured many tedious waitings at the backs of Commitee men in that Parliament especially in the business of Mr. Pryn about his Histrio-mastix for which he was kept four days under Examination because he had furnished the Lords of the Privy Council with matters out of that Book which Mr. Pryn alledged was the cause of all his sufferings having joyned him in a Petition with the Lord Arch-Bishop as the chief Agents and Contrivers of the troubles he had undergone Great hopes had the Committee by his often dancing attendance after them to sift the Doctor if they could gather any thing by his speeches whether the Arch-Bishop had moved him to draw up those Exceptions against Pryn's Book which he denyed or at least was not bound to confess for as he was faithful to his Soveraign so he would never prove himself unfaithful to his chief Minister both in Church and State For they would have been glad of any matter to put into their charge against that worthy Prelate against whom Mr. Pryn and others of his Enemies never ceased prosecuting till the Parliament took of his head and the Ax having once tasted of Blood had a keen Appetite for more went on to the Supreme Head of all Whilst the Doctor was thus harassed before the Commitees his old Friend the Bishop of Lincoln in great favour with them and the whole Parliament was set at liberty from his Imprisonment and returned from the Tower to the Church after so long a time of his suspension and indevotion to say his Prayers and hear his Brother Peter Heylyn preach in his course at the Abby in Westminster Where notwithstanding the holiness of that place to which his Lordship had no regard or reverence but only to the Name and Thing of it he was resolved publickly to revenge himself for old done deeds that ought to have been forgotten by disturbing the Doctor in his Sermon before all the Congregation contrary to the Laws of this Realm and with Reverence to his Lordship against all good Manners and the common Rules of Civility Mala meus furorque Vecors In tantam impulerit culpam Cat. Strange That a Bishop could not rule his passions for one hour when no provocation was given by the Doctor whose Sermon from the beginning to the end of it throughout the whole Discourse was pacificatory exhorting Christians to Moderation Love and Charity among themselves for the preservation of the publick Peace although they differed in some Opinions For satisfaction of the Reader I will set down the Doctors own words viz. Is it not that we are so affected with our own Opinions that we condemn whosoever shall opine the contrary and so far wedded to our own Wills that when we have espoused a quarrel neither the Love of God nor the God of Love shall divorce us from it Instead of hearkning to the voice of the Church every man hearkens to himself and cares not if the whole miscarry so that himself may bravely carry out his own devices Upon which stubborn hight of Pride what Quarrels have been raised What Schisms in every corner of this our Church To enquire no further some rather putting all into open tumult than that they would conform to a lawful Government derived from Christ and his Apostles to these very Times At the speaking of which words the Bishop of Lincoln sitting in the great Pew which was before the Seat of Contention knocked aloud with his staff upon the Pulpit saying No more of that point No more of that point Peter To whom the Doctor readily answered without hesitation or the least sign of being dashed out of Countenance I have a little more to say my Lord and then I have done Which was as followeth viz. Others coming into
that the dear Saints in England had their Nose and their Ears slit for the profession of the Gospel The Parliament then might pretend the revenge of Mr. Pryns sufferings by a retaliation of a worse punishment upon Dr. Heylyn but the real cause that exasperated them was the good Doctors Loyalty to his King and fidelity to his Arch-Bishop the two great Pillars of the Church to whom all true Sons of the Church of England ought to be faithful And finally the many Books the Doctor had written and still likely to write more against the Puritan Faction was the grand cause of all his flights and sufferings in the time of War Est fuga dicta mihi non est fuga dicta Libellis Qui Domini paenam non meruere sui Though I am forc'd to fly my Books they are not fled No reason for my sake they should be punished At what Friends house he was now secured from danger though I have heard it named indeed I have forgot but from thence he travelled to Doctor Kingsmil a Loyal Person of great worth and ancient Family where he continued and sent for his Wife and Daughter from Winchester to him and from thence removed to Minster-Lovel in Oxfordshire the pleasant Seat of his elder Brother in the year An. Dom. 1648. which he farmed of his Nephew Collonel Heylyn for six years Being deprived of his Eâ—…astial Preferments he must think of some honest way for a Livelihood Fruges lustramus agros Ritus ut a prisco traditus extat aevo Yet notwithstanding he followed his studies which was his chief delight for though the 〈◊〉 Powers had silenced his Tongue from preaching they could not withold his Pen from writing and that in an acute and as sharp a stile as formerly after he had done with his frequent visits of Friends and long perambulations For the publick good of the Church to uphold her ancient maintenance by Tithes being rob'd then of all her other dues and dignities though himself was sequestred of both his Livings and made inâ—…apable of receiving any benefit by Tithes yet for the common cause of Christianity and in mere compassion of the Presbyterian Clergy though his profest Enemies he published at that time when Tithes were in danger to be taken away from them an excellent little Tract to undeceive the People in the point of Tithes and proveth therein That no man in the Realm of England payéth any thing of his own toward the maintenance of his Parish Minister but his Easter Offerings At the same time he enlarged his Book of Geography into a large Folio which was before but a little Quarto and intitâ—…led it with the name of Cosmography of which it may be truly said it does contain a world of Learning in it as well as the Description of the World and particularly sheweth the Authors most excellent Abilities not only in History and smoothness of its style that maketh the whole Book delightful to the Reader but in Chronology Genealogy and Heraldry in which last any one may see that he could blazon the Arms and describe the Descent and Pedigree of the greatest Families in Europe In which pleasing study while he spent his time his good Wife a discreet and active Lady looked both after her Housewifery within doors and the Husbandry without thereby freeing him from that care and trouble which otherwise would have hindred his laborious Pen from going through so great a work in so short a time And yet he had several divertisements by company which continually resorted to his House for having God be thanked his Temporal Estate cleared from Sequestration by his Composition with the Commissioners at Gold-Smiths Hall and this Estate which he farmed besides he was able to keep a good house and relieve his poor Brethren as himself had found relief from others Charity that his House was the Sanctuary of sequestred men turned out of their Livings and of several ejected Fellows out of Oxford more particularly of some worthy persons I can name as Dr. Allibone Mr. Levit Mr. Thornton Mr. Ashwel who wrote upon the Creed who would stay for two or three Months at his House or any other Acquaintance that were suffering men he cheerfully received them and with a hearty welcom they might tarry as long as they pleased The Doctor himself modestly speaks of his own Hospitality how many that were not Domesticks had eaten of his Bread and drunk of his Cup. A Vertue highly to be praised and most worthy of commendation in it self for which Tacitus giveth this Character of the old Germanes Convictibus Hospitiis non alia gens Effusius indulget Greater Hospitality saith he and Entertainment no Nation shewed more bountifully accounting it as a cursed thing not to be civil in that kind according to every mans ability and when all was spent the good Master of the House would lead his Guest to the next Neighbours House where he though not invited was made welcom with the like courtesie Among others kindly entertained Mr. Marchamont Needham then a zealous Loyalist and Scourge to the Rump Parliament was sheltered in the Doctors House being violently pursued till the Storm was over the good Doctor then as his Tutelar Angel preserved him in a high Room where he continued writing his weekly Pragmaticus yet he afterward like Balaam the Son of Beor hired with the wages of Unrighteousness corrupted with mercinary Gifts and Bribes became the only Apostate of the Nation and writ a Book for the pretended Common-wealth or rather I may say a base Democracy for which the Doctor could never after endure the mention of his name who had so disobliged his Country and the Royal Party by his shameful Tergiversation The good Doctors Charity did not only extend it self to ancient Friends and Acquaintance but to mere Strangers by whom he had like to run himself into a Premunire For word being carried to him in his Study there was a Gentleman at the door who said he was a Commander in the Kings Army and carâ—…estly desired some relief and harbour the Doctor presently went to him and finding by his Discourse and other Circumstances what he said was true received him into his House and made him very welcom the Gentleman was a Scotch Captain who having a Scotch Diurnal in his Pocket they read it fearing no harm thereby but it proved otherwise for one of the Doctors Servants listning at the door went straight way to Oxford and informed the Governour Collonel Kelsey that his Master had received Letters from the King whereupon the Governour sent a Party of Horse to fetch him away Strange News it was knowing his own Innocency to hear that Soldiers had beset his House so early in the Morning before he was out of Bed But go he must to appear before the Governour and when he came that treacherous Rogue his Man did confidently affirm that he heard the Letters read and was sure
receive the greatest share of Knowledge and Understanding it being the principal Organ of sensâ—… for that use But the loss of his Eyes considering the Cause was no blemish to his Person but rather a Mark of Honour as the Caeci among the Romans a noble Family were so called because of the notable service they did for the publick good Claros illustres viros militiae domique ex oculorum vitio cognomenta invenere saith Alex. ab Alexand. Thus Constantine the great in honour of Paphnutius sufferings for Christian Religion kissed the hole in his face out of which the Tyrant Maximinus had bored his eye the good Emperor making much of the Socket saith Mr. Fuller when the Candle was pâ—…t out These outward Windows being shut the Doctor enjoyed more perfectly the sweet and seraphical contemplations of his own Mind without â—… disturbance from other Objects which â—…eing removed he did take a complacency and delight only in himself as Tully saith Habet animus quo se delectet etiam occlusis sensibus I may say truly of him thus though he was my Father in Law that he was the venerable Bede of our Age for many excellent Tractates he published which he never saw with his own Eyes and they were done in as exact a manner as when he had his faculty of sight at the best The like Socrates saith of Dydimus when he was blind he not only interpreted Origens Writings and made Commentaries upon them but set forth excellent Treatises to defend the Orthodox Faith against the Arians The Doctors Cosmography was the last Book he writ with his own hand after which voluminous work his Eyes failed him that he could neither see to write nor read without the help of an Amanuensis whom he kept to his dying day yet he was not so totally deprived of his sight as some imagin but he could discern a Body or Substance near hand though not the Phisiognomy of a Face so as to follow his Leader when he walk'd abroad He macerated his Body with the immoderate exercises of his mind ofteâ—… fasting and taking little or nothing for the space of two or three days when he was upon painful studies which made him look at such times like a Sceleton yet then he was also of a cheerful Spirit He followed no excercise for his health but walking in his Garden and then he used a kind of low whistling with himself either to recreate his Spirits or else as it were to sound an Alarm against his Enemies like the old Germans who affected a such like Tone asperitas soni fractum murmur when they went to War All this while he was in deep Meditation preparing for an encounter with his Adversary in some polemical discourse The Pen being his only Weapon in which he was as fortunate as Alexander with his Sword of whom it s said Cum nullo hostium unquam congressus est quem non vicerit He fought with none of his Enemies but he overcame them so the Doctor had the same good fortune in all his Pen-Combates to be Conqueror For which cause he was ordinarily called the Primipilus and chief Defender of Prelacy by Smectymnus the Bishops Darling by others the Puritan Episcopal man For his Zeal and Courage I may truly say of him he was a right Peter of whom Casaubon observes out of the Greek Fathers Petrum suisse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ervido ingenio virum St. Peter was a man of a hot temper and disposition that set him forward on all occasions more than the other Disciples So the Doctor was of the like disposition naturally and inclined the more by study much watching and sitting up late at Nights that threw him often into Fevers to which he was very subject not withstanding his hot temper and constitution he did so wisely correct and govern it that he never fell into those Paroxisms as to suffer his reason to be extinguished with passion but his most fervent zeal was ever attended with deep knowledge for he had an acute Wit a solid judgement and exuberant fancy to which was adjoyned that which is rare to be found in all these excellences together a most prodigious and yet faithful Memory that he did not usually take Notes or make Collections of Readings out of Authors as most Scholars do but committed what he read to his own Memory which I believe never failed him in whatsoever he treasured up to make use of hereafter Therefore it was a pittiful charge of Mr. H. L' Estrange against him that he misreported the words of Pareus in putting down quomodo for quando to which the Doctor answers thus for himself whereby we may see what a true Repository of things his Memory was I must tell you saith he for him that is plundred of his Books and keeping no Remembrances and Collections of his Studies by him he cannot readily resolve what Eâ—…ition he followed in his consulting with that Author He always thought that Tenure in Capite was a nobler and and more honourable Tenure than to hold by Copy and therefore carelesly neglected to commit any part of his Readings unto Notes and Papers of which he never found such want as in this perticular which you so boldly charge upon him When the Esquire tax'd him again for having many Helpers as if he were beholden to other mens studies and pains about the composing of his Books that was such a notorious Scandal that every one who knew him could confute he in modest and most pious manner replied thus Though I cannot say that I have many Helpers yet I cannot but confess in all humble gratitude that I have one great Helper which is instar omnium even the Lord my God Auxilium meum a Domino my help cometh even from the Lord which hath made Heaven and Earth as the Psalmist hath it And I can say with the like humble acknowledgements of Gods mercies to me as Jacob did when he was askt about the quick dispatch which he had made in preparing savory meat for his Aged Father Voluntas Dei fuit tam cito occurreret mihi quod volebam Gen. 27. 20. It is Gods goodness and his only that I am able to do what I do And as for any humane Helpers as the French Courtiers use to say of King Lewis the Second That all his Council rid upon one Horse because he relyed upon his own Judgement and Abilities only So I may very truly say that one poor Hackny-horse will carry all my Helpers used be they never so numerous The greatest help which I have had since it pleased God to make my own sight unuseful to me as to writing and reading hath come from one whom I had entertained for my Clerk or Amanuensis who though he reasonably well understood both Greek and Latin yet had he no further Education in the way of Learning than what he brought with him from the
made him such a Proteus in his Garb because the Parliament was resolved if they could take him that he should follow his good Lord of Canterbury to another World than that described in his Cosmography but he happily outlived most of them and died in Honour which they did not He wandred like a Jew â—…vith a Groat in his Purse and sometimes without it till he got to some good Freinds House At his first setting out he was beâ—… trayed by a zealous she Puritan one Mrs. Munday at her House in Oxfordshire her Husband was a true hearted Cavaleir unto whose protection he committed himself He being one day gone from home she Saint-like unfaithful to her Husband and his Freind sent Intelligence to some Parliament Soldiers that there was a Cavaleir Doctor in her House of which he had notice given him by two of her Husbands Sisters who hated her pure qualities that as soon as the Family was all in Bed he went out at a back door down a pair of Garden-stairs from whence he took his March that Night Factum est peric'lum â—…am Pedum visa est via as Phormio said made what haste he could and by the help of God Almighty and the good Sâ—…ars he got saâ—…ely to another Friends house by morning at which time the Soldiers beset Mrs. Mundays house as the Country men did the Mountain but the Cathedral Rat as they then called him and the dignified Clergy was run away that Mrs. Mundays Plot with the Soldiers proved a silly Fable Ever after the Doctor observed it for a Rule never to come within the doors of a Holy Sister whose house may be compared to that which Solomon describeth Is the way to Hell going down to the Chambers of Death that had not Divine Providence protected him from the treachery of that base Woman he had fallen into the hands of those Nimrods that hunted after his Life From plaâ—… to place he shifted like the old Travels of the Patriarcks and in pity to his necessity found a hearty entertainment amongst his Friends of the Royal Party at whose Tables he was fed for he had none of his own His Children disposed of into several Friends hands his Wife among her Relations himself depending upon the courtesie both of Friends and Strangers till he grew weary and tired out with this kind of Life for Vilis est Amicorum annona It pleased God afterward to send him some supplies of Money that he setled himself Wife and eldest Daughter at Winchester in the house of a right honest man one Mr. Lizard with whom they Tabled a good while where he had a comfortable time of breathing and rest after his former troubles and to his hearts delight the sweet enjoyment and conversation with Loyal Persons for Winchester was then a strong Garrison for the King and being near Alresford he would go sometimes in disguise to visit his old Neighbours whom he knew were true and faithful to him But those Halcion days quickly vanished as seldom Prosperity continues so long a time as Adversity for that Town and Castle especially which was thought invincible to be taken by force of Arms were most treacherously delivered up to their Enemies in three days time And now every house full of Soldiers quartered amongst them Poor Dr. Heylyn was in more danger than ever had not Mr. Lizard took care of him as his dearest Guest and â—…id him in a private Room as Providence ordained to save his Life which Room was supposed to have been made formerly for the hiding of Seminary Priests and Jesuits because the house heretofore belonged to a Papist Family and indeed it was so cunningly contrived that there was no Door to beseen nor entring into it but behind an old Beds-head and if the Bed had not been there the Door was so neatly made like the other Wainscot of the Chamber that it was impossible for a Stranger to find it out In which Room instead of a Papist a right Protestant Doctor who was a professed Enemy both to Popery and Puritanism was now secured from the rage and violence of the Soldiers who sought after him with no less eagerness than if he had been a Heretick followed by the Spanish Inquisition when he good man was in the very next Room to them adjoyning to the Dining Chamber where he could hear all their raillery and mirth their Gaming at Cards and Dice for those idle Lurdains spent their time only in riot and pleasure at home and when they went abroad they would tread the Maze near the Town He took his opportunity on the Market day to put on his travelling Robes with a long Staff in his hand and so walked out of the Town considently with the Country Crowd bidding adieu to the Conclave or little Room that he left for the next distressed Gentleman in the mean while his Wife and Daughter he intrusted to Mr. Lizard's care his faithful Friend And now he must again seek hiâ—… Fortune which proved more kind to him than she did before yet he met with a hard Adventure not many Miles from Winchester where some stragling Soldiers lighting on him and catching hold of his hand felt a Ring under his Glove which through hasté of his escape he forgot to pul off which no sooner discovered but they roughly swore he was some Run-away Cavaleir The Ring being hard to get off the poor Doctor willingly helpâ—…d them in which time came galloping by some of the Parliaments Scouts who said to their Fellow-Souldiers look to your selves the Cavaleirs are coming at which words being aâ—…righted they took that little Mony that was in his Pocket and so rid away without further search and he good man jog'd on to the next Friends house with some pieces of Gold that he had hid in his high Shoes which if the Rogues had not been so hastily friâ—…ed away would have been undoubtedly found and might have cost him his Life by further suspitions of him as it did the poor Jews though not in the same manner at the Seige of Jerusalem who flying from their City fell into a worse Calamity by one of them swallowing Gold hid it in his Belly which he was afterward seen to take out of his Dung when he exonerated himself that caused the ripping up several of their Bellies according to Josephus Had the Doctor been then apprehended by the Soldiers and sent up Prisoner to London or could they have taken him at at any time he had Intelligence from a Friend in the House of Commons that the Parliament designed to deprive him of his Life in revenge of the punishment inflicted upon Pryn who for his seditious Libels written against the King and Church was sentenced not only to lose his Ears but was stigmatiz'd also upon his left Cheek with the Letter S. to signifie he was a Schismatick Whence Cant. the zealous Preacher at Glasgow prayed to God after his Sermon to take away the Kings Idolatry and said