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-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-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-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
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
Book of Nature and Scripture This Knowledge excelleth all other and without it who knoweth not the saying Omnem Scientiam magis obesse quam prodesse si desit scientia optimi that all other Knowledge does us more hurt than good if this be wanting Notwithstanding he met with some discouragements to take upon himself the Profession of a Divine for what reasons it is hard for me to conjecture but its certain at first he fonnd some reluctancy within himself whether for the difficulties that usually attend this deep mysterious Science to natural reason incomprehensible because containing many matters of Faith which we ought to belâ—…eve and not to question though now Divinity is the common mystery of Mechanicks to whom it seems more easie than their manual Trades and Occupations or whether because it drew him off from his former delightful Studies more probably I believe his fears and distrusts of himself were very great to engage in so high a Calling and Profession and run the hazards of it because the like Examples are very frequent both in Antiquity and modern History however so timerous he was upon this account lest he should rush too suddenly into the Ministry although his abilities at that time transcended many of elder years that he exhibited a Certificate of his Age to the President of the Colledge and thereby procured a Dispensation notwithstanding any local Statutes to the contrary that he might not be compelled to enter into holy Orders till he was twenty four years old at which time still his fears did continue or at least his modesty and self-denyal wrought some unwillingness in him till at last he was overcome by the Arguments and powerful Perswasions of his Learned Friend Mr. Buckner after whose excellent Discourses with him he followed his Studies in Divinity more closely than ever having once tasted the sweetness of them nothing can ravish the Soul more with pleasure unto an Extasie than Divine Contemplation of God and the Mysteries in his holy Word which the Angels themselves prye into and for which reason they love to be present in Christian Assemblies when the Gospel is preached as the Apostle intimates to us That by continual study and meditation and giving himself wholly to read Theological Books he found in himself an earnest desire to enter into the holy Orders of Deacon and Priest which he had conferred upon him at distinct times in St. Aldates Church at Oxon by the Reverend Father in God Bishop Howson At the time when he was ordained Priest he preached the Ordination Sermon upon the words of our Saviour to St. Peter Luke 22. 32. And when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren An apposite Text upon so solemne Occasion Being thus ordained to his great satisfaction and contentment the method which he resolved to follow in the Course of his Studies was quite contrary to the common Rode of young Students for he did not spend his time in poring upon Compendiums and little Systems of Divinity whereby many young Priests â—…hink they are made absolute Divines when perhaps a Gentleman of the â—…ish doth oftentimes gravel them in an ordinary Argument But he fell upon the main Body of Divinity by studying Fathers Councils Ecclesiastical Histories and School-men the way which King James commended to all younger Students for confirming them in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England that is most agreeable to the Doctrine of the Primitive Church By this time his Book of Geography in the first Edition bought up by Scholars Gentlemen and almost every Housholder for the pleasantness of its reading was reprinted and enlarged in a second Edition and presented again to his Highness the Prince of Wales who not only graciously accepted the Book but was pleased to pass a singular Commendation upon the Author But afterward the Book being perused by his Royal Father King James the second Solomon for Wisdom and most Learned Monarch in Christendom the Book put into his Majesties hand by Dr. Young then Dean of Winton and Mr. Heylyn's dear Friend the Kings peircing Judgement quickly spyed out a fault which was taken no notice of by others as God always endows Kings his Vice-gerents with that extraordinary gift the Spirit of discerning above other Mortals Sicut Angelus Dei est Dominus meus Rex saith the holy Scripture as an Angel of God so is my Lord the King who lighting upon a Line that proved an unlucky Passage in the Author who gave Precedency to the French King and called France the more famous Kingdom with which King James was so highly displeased that he presently ordered the Lord Keeper to call the Book in but this being said in his Anger and Passion no further notice was taken of it in the mean time Dr. Young took all care to send Mr. Heylyn word of his Majesties displeasure the News of which was no small sorrow to him that he was now in danger to lose the Kings Favour Nil nisi peccatum manitestaque culpa falenda est Paenitet ingenij judiciique mei that Mr. Heylyn could have wished them words had been left out Dr. Young advised him to repair to Court that by the young Prince's Patronage he might pacifie the Kings Anger but not knowing whethâ—… the Prince himself might not be also offended he resided still in Oxford and laid open his whole grief to the Lord Danvers desiring his Lordships Counsel and best advice what Remedy he should seek for Cure according to the good Lord's Counsel he sent up an Apology to Dr. Young which was an Explanation of his meaning upon the words in question and then under Condemnation The Error was not to be imputed to the Author but to the Errata of the Printer which is most ordinary in them to mistake one word for another and the grand mistake was by printing is for was which put the whole Sentence out of joynt and the Author into pain if it had been of a higher Crime than of a Monosylable it had not been pardonable for the intention of the Author was very innocent Quis me deceperit error Et culpam in facto non scelus essemeo The words of his Apology which he sent up to Dr. Young for his Majesties satisfaction are these that followeth That some Crimes are of a nature so injustifiable that they are improved by an Apology yet considering the purpose he had in those places which gave offence to his sacred Majesty he he was unwilling that his Innocence should be condemned for want of an Advocate The Burdens under which he suffered was a mistake rather than a Crime and that mistake not his own but the Printers For if in the first Line of Page 441. was be read instead of is the Sense runs as he desired it And this appears from the words immediately following for by them may be gathered the sense of this corrected reading When Edward the third quartered the Arms of France and England he gave
precedency to the French First because France was the great and more famous Kingdom 2. That the French c. These reasons are to be referred to the time of that King by whom the Arms were first quartered with the Arms of England and who desired by honour done unto their Arms to gain upon the good Opinion of that Nation for the Crown and Love thereof he was then a Sutor For at this time besides it may seem incongruous to use a Verb of the Present-Tense in a matter done so long agoe that reason is not of the least force or consequence the French King having so long since forgot the Rights of England and our late Princes claiming nothing but the Title only The Place and Passage so corrected I hope I may without detraction from the Glory of this Nation affirm That France was at that time the more famous Kingdom our English Swords for more than half the time since the Norman Conquest had been turned against our own Bosomes and the Wars we then made except some fortunate Excursions of King Edward the First in France and King Richard in the Holy Land in my Opinion were fuller of Piety than of Honour For what was our Kingdom under the Reigns of Edward the Second Henry the Third John Stephen and Rufus but a publick Theater on which the Tragedies of Blood and civil Dissentions had been continually acted On the other side the French had exercised their Arms with Credit and Renown both in Syria Palestine and Egypt and had much added to the Glory of their Name and Nation by conquering the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicilia and driving the English themselves out of France Guyen only excepted If we look higher we shall find France to be the first Seat of the Western Empire and the forces of it to be known and felt by the Saracens in Spain the Saxons in Germany and the Lombards in Italy At which time the Valour of the English was imprisoned in the same Seas with their Island And therefore France was at that time when first the Arms were quartered the more famous Kingdom 'T is true indeed that since the time of those victorious Princes those duo fulmina belli Edward the Third and the Black Prince his Son the Arms of England have been exercised in most parts of Europe Nor am I ignorant how high we stand above France and all other Nations in true fame of our Atcheivements France it self diverse times over run and once conquered The House of Bâ—…rgundie upheld from Ruin The Hollanders supported Spain awed The Ocean commanded are sufficient Testimonies that in pursuit of Fame and Honour we had no Equals That I always was of this opinion my Book speaks for me and indeed so unworthy a Person needs no better Advocate in which I have been no where wanting to commit to Memory the honourable performances of my Country The great Annalist Baronius pretending only a true and sincere History of the Church yet tells the Pope in his Epistle Dedicatory that he principally did intend that Work Pro Sacrarum Traditionum Antiquitate Authoritate Romanae Ecclesiae The like may I say of my self though not with like imputation of imposture I promised a Description of all the World and have according to the measure of my poor Ability fully performed it yet have I apprehended withal every modest occasion of enobling and extolling the Souldiers and Kings of England Concerning the other place at which his most sacred Majesty is offended viz. The precedency of France before England besides that I do not speak of England as it now stands augmented by the happy Addition of Scotland I had it from an Author whom in my poverty of reading I conceived above all Exception Cambdeâ—… Clarenceux that general and accomplish'd Scholar in the fifth page of his Remains had so informed me If there be Error in it 't is not mine but my Authors The Precedency which he there speaks of is in general Councils And I do heartily wish it would please the Lord to give such a sudden blessing to his Church that I might live to see Mr. Cambden confuted by so good an Argument as the sitting of a general Council Thus Mr. Heylyn apologized for himself in his Letter written to the Dean of Winton who shewed the whole Apology to the King with which his Majesty was fully satisfied as to the sincere intention and innocent meaning of Author yet to avoid all further scruples and misconstructions that might arise hereafter Mr. Heylyn by the advise of his good Friend the wise and most worthy Dean took order that whole Clause which gave so much offence should be left out of all his Books It a plerique ingenio sumus omnes nostri nosmet paenitet as once the Comedian said Having undergone such troubles about France he was resolved upon a further Adventure to take a Voyage thither with his faithful Friend Mr. Leuet of Lincolns Inn who afterward poor Gentleman through misfortune of the Times lived and dyed Prisoner in the Fleet. They both set out An. Dom. 1625. and after their safe arrival in France took a singular interview of the chief Cities and most eminent Places in the Realm of which Mr. Heylyn gives a more accurate account and description though his stay was not there above five Weeks than Lassel the Priest doth of his five years Voyage into Italy And now Mr. Heylyn was sufficiently convinced with his own Eyes which was the more famous Kingdom that after his return home he composed a History of his Travels into France and being put into the Hands of several Friends was at first printed by a false Copy full of gross Errors and insufferable mistakes that he caused his own true Copy to be printed one of the most delightful Histories of that nature that hath been ever heretofore published wherein is set out to the Life the Monsieurs and the Madams the Nobility and the Pezantry the Court and Country their ridiculous Customs fantastical Gate Apparel and Fashions foolish common Talk so given to levity that without singing and dancing they cannot walk the open Streets in the Church serious and superstitious the better sort horridly Atheistical Besides all he hath written in that ingenious Book I think he hath in short most excellently deciphered them in his Cosmography where he maketh a second review of their pretty Qualities and Conditions as thus if the Reader has a mind to read them They are very quick witted of a sudden and nimble apprehension but withal rash and hair-brain'd precipitate in all their actions as well military as civil falling on like a clap of Thunder and presently going off in Smoke full of Law-suits and Contentions that their Lawyers never want work so litigious that there are more Law-suits tryed among them in seven years than have been in England from the Conquest Their Women witty but Apish sluttish wanton and incontinent generally at the first fight as