POST-HASTE: A REPLY TO PETER (DOCTOR HEYLIN'S) APPENDIX; TO HIS TREATISE, INTITULED Respondet Petrus &c.
BY WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq
LONDON, Printed for the use of the Author. 165 [...].
The Contents
- PEtrus his Preface examined;
- A castigation of Doctor Heylin for his ill Manners to the late Primate of all Ireland;
- And his scandalizing Doctor Prideaux at Court in divers false Informations;
- With a Copy of his Answer to each;
- And the Protestation he was compelled unto to cleer himself;
- The Character given by Doctor Hackwell of Doctor Heylin;
- Three passages replied unto and confirmed as before;
- [Page] With some seasonable good Counsell to the Doctor, if he have the will to accept thereof.
POST-HASTE. A Reply to Peter (Doctor Heylin')
His Appendix to his Treatise, &c.
THere is a Treatise come forth the other day, Intituled Respondet Petrus; or an answer of Peter Heylin to Doctor Bernard &c. And although it be very large to small purpose, yet at the 109th. Page, he adds an Appendix in answer to certain passages in Mr. Sandersons History of the late King Charles, relating to the Lord Prymate, The Articles of Ireland, and The Earl of Strafford. And (as if it were so memorable a business to be kept upon Record) he gives us punctually the day, when he began to [Page 2] undertake this Taske, and the time of his finishing; In which I find little else true, but the confessing of his infirmities, and his unfitness to enter into disputes &c. Instead of cleering himself, he hath added more spots to his former.
Indeed Petrus hath made hast; for notwithstanding the extremity of the season (as he sayes) and his languishing quartanague, he hobled up his answers for the middle of the Term following, with as much ease, as Hoggs eate Acornes, or Pidgeons pick Pease. Yet he was interrupted the publishing, by the undertakers with him; a dead vacation not profitable for the vent thereof; And so it came not forth untill just the first day of this Midsomer Term; By it, he hath both thriftily gotten the advantage of sale, and enforceth his adversaries to hunt dryfoot after him a whole long Summers Vacation; contemptible Grashoppers compared with such a sonne of Anak as himself; Only Petrus considers wisely, that although convicia spreta exolescunt &c. [Page 3] Short liv'd Pamphlets (with which he hath been often bang'd) pass away upon the breath of Rumour, but for him to be enrolled upon record in the body of an History, what is it lesse, than for him to live defam'd, and dye detestable, a scorne to these times and an ignominy to all ages following? But who can help it, if a Man will make himself such? I wish he be not prophetick in it, which by this book he hath put hard for, Let him not blame me, tis the malefactor himself (not the judge who pronounceth justly) that is the Author of his own ruine.
And thus in briefe we have the Preface to his large Treatise; which I shall leave to such, whom it may concern, if they conceive it worthy of answering, for I find some learned Men are for the Negative, as if he had been in it, his self-revenger, and next doore to a felo de se, rather to be pitied, than opposed.
I shall only take notice of his Appendix, and shew him to the Reader by that light by which he longs to be seene (wherein [Page 4] Petrus falls upon me) not so much answering as to shew how little he deserves it. I have been a while considering, which part to take of that double Counsell of Solomon in the like case, Answer not &c. And yet answer &c. I concluded upon the latter in this Post-Hast, that the Term might not want an enterlude at the ending, as well as it had by his Book, at the beginning of it.
And now let me meet my Petrus, who spends 17 whole Pages in the combate with me, taking in his large Frontispeice▪ or the Contents of his Appendix, which might have well stood for the whole. So have we seen a da [...]ing coward practise on the Stage to fence with his supposed foe, when all that while it was but with his own hat and feather. How much time doth Petrus spend, to hear himself speak, imagining the Reader to be bound up to his sence and audience.
Indeed I had warning heretofore not to meddle with him, and was told, that although [Page 5] he was blind, yet he with his helpers, could see as far into a Millstone as any other Man: And that if he should be concerned in my History (as how could he scape) he would reprint himself, and be thereby well paid for his paines.
And truly I conceive it no discretion for me, to make it my business other than to dry blow beat him, since he is not herein worthy of bleeding. For to say much were but to give him further occasion to assume fresh credit of copeing with the deceased, now at rest, whom he hath endeavoured to disturbe, even the most Reverend name and living fame, of that approved learned Prelate, the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh, Prymate of all Ireland.
But to be a little serious with him, 'tis no newes for Doctor Heylin to be a disturber of pious and eminent Men, while they were living, of which (now he is not like to live long himself) tis time to think upon repenting, I shall upon this occasion only instance in his demeanour towards Doctor [Page 6] Prideaux, at and after the taking of his degree in Oxford Anno 1635. Who catching at some particulars which fell from Doctor Prideaux in the discussing the questionsDoctor Heylins desturbance of Doctor Prideaux. given by Doctor Heylin, scandalized him at Court to the late King being then at Woodstock.
Upon which the Doctor was compelled to make his defence; with a protestation under his hand against those false Informations given in against him; Pretending to have been cross to the Articles, and in speciall to the 20th, of the Church of England, branched into positions viz.
1 That the Church is Mera Chimaera.
2 That it teacheth and determines nothing,
3 That controversies might better be referred to the Vniversities than to the Church.
4 That learned men in the Vniversities might determine of controversies without the [Page 7] Bishops or acquainting them with them.
To these Doctor Prideaux was fain to make answer, which to satisfie the desire of the Reader (not being heretofore publisht) I shall give him a transcript as followeth viz.
The answer of Doctor Prideaux to the Information given in against him by Doctor Heylin.
These passages imperfectly catched at by the Informer were not positions of mine, (for I detest them, as they are layd, for impious and ridiculous) but oppositions according to my place proposed for the further clearing of the truth; to which the Respondent was to give satisfaction. And this generall protestation I hope takes off all that can be laid against me, in the particulars. Notwithstanding to touch on each of them as they are layd.
1 To the First, I never said that the Church was Mera Chimaera as it is, or, hath a being, and ought to be beleived; but as the Respondent by his answers made it: In which I conceived him to swerve from the Article, where his questions were taken.
[Page 8]2 To the Second my argument was to this purpose, Omnis actio est suppositorum, vel singularium.
Ergo Ecclesia in abstracto nihil docet, aut determinat, sed per hos aut illos Episcopos, Pastores, Doctores, &c. homo non disputat sed Petrus et Johannes.
3. 4. The Third and Fourth may be well put together: my prosecution was, that the Vniversities are eminent parts, and Seminaries of the Church, and had better opportunity to discuss controversies, than diverse other assemblies; Not by any meanes to determine them, but to prepare them for the determination of Ecclesiasticall assemblies, of Synods, Councells, Bishops, that have superiour Authority, wherein they might doe service to the Church, and those superiours not perscribe any thing unto them; As the debating of a point by learned Counsell, makes the easier passage for the Benches sentence: And this was urged only as commended, not as necessary.
The Queenes Al [...]oner was present.Informer.
I am told noe. Doctor Prideaux. For he departed (as they say) that were in the same seat with him, being tired, as it should seem, by the tedious preface of the * Respondent,Doctor Heylin. before the disputations began; but be it so, or otherwise, to what purpose this is interposed, I know not?
Vpon an occasion of mentioning the absolute decree,Informer. he brake forth into a great and long discourse, that his mouth was shut by Authority, else he would maintain that truth contra omnes, qui sunt in vivis which fetch't a great hum from the Country Ministers that were there.
This Argument I confess was unexpectedly cast in by another,Doctor Prideaux. but bent (as I took) it against some what I have written in that behalf, which the Respondent, not endeavouring to clear, I was put upon it to shew, in what sence I took absolutum decretum, which indeed I said, I was able to [Page 10] maintain against any, as my predecessors in that place had done, This was not in a long discourse, as it is suggested, but in as short a solution as is usually brought in Schooles, to a doubt on the by.
And from this I took off the opponents further proceeding in obedience to Authority; whereupon if a hum succeded, it was more then I use to take notice of, it might be as well of dislike, as of Approbation, and of other Auditors as soon as Country Minnisters. A Hiss I am sure was given before, when the Respondent excluded King and Parliament from being parts of the Church; But I remember whose practise it is to be [...] I had rather to bear and forbear,The accuser of the [...] Rev. 12. 10. and end with this Protestation.
Protestation.
THat as I beleive the Catholick Church in my Creed,Doctor Prideaux Protestation. soe I reverence this Church of England, wherein I had my Baptisme, and whole breeding, as a most eminent member of it. To the Doctrine, and discipline of this Church, have I often hitherto subscribed, and by Gods grace constantly adhered, And resolve by the same assistance, according to my abilitie under his Majesties protection faithfully to maintain against the Papists or any other that shall oppose it. The prelacie of our Reverend Bishops I have ever defended in my place, which I dare say hath been more often, and with greater paines taking than most of those have done, who have received greater encouragements from their Lordships: I desire nothing but the continuance of my Vocation in a peaceable course, that after all my paines taking in the place of his Majesties Professor, almost for this 18. yeares together, [Page 12] mySuch proceeded [...] Doctor Heylin [...] one. sonns especially, be not countenanced in my declining age to vilifie me, & vex me; so that I end the remainder of my time, (which likely must be short, and cannot be long) in heartie prayer for his Majesty my onely Master and Patron; for the Reverend Bishops, the State, and all his Majesties Subjects and his affaires; and continue my utmost endeavour to doe all faithfull service to the Church wherein I live, to whose Authority I have ever, and doe hereby submit my self, and Studies, to be according to Gods word directed or converted.
Thus was this learned and eminent Professor of divinity traduced and disturbed, let the application be the patience and disregard of the Reader, when in this book he finds the like attempted by the same person, upon the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh.
And yet, what slender accompt is to be made of his language that way,Doctor Hackwells Character of Doctor Heylin. may appear by the Character, which a learned person, and one of note, George Hackwell Arch-Deacon [Page 13] of Surrey and of Exeter Colledg in Oxford, gives of him which I have under his own hand in a letter of his to a friend; Where, speaking of Mr. Heylin (since Doctor) whom he stiles, the Patron of that pretended Saint (St George,) hath these words of him, viz.
‘In the second impression of his book where he hath occasion to speak of the Roman writers, especially the Legendaries, he magnifies them more, and when he mentions our men he vilefies them more than he did in his first Edition, But the matter is not much, what he saith of one or the other, the condition of the man, being such, as his word hardly passeth, either for commendation, or a slander.’
By this you may see that my adversary had good cause to disguise his name, and so would I too, were it under such an Ignominious character. This is the fourth time he hath done it, I expect in time he will make up the number of Labans change of [Page 14] Iacobs wages. Here is a Proteus indeed (which he would have put upon me) Annonymus, observator, observator Rescued, Rejoynder and now Petrus. 'Tis well he hangs by his christian name; he hath in this presumed, beyond any Pope, who though they have assumed Paul, the fift time, yet none hath stiled himself Petrus. We have now the one half of him, we shall have the other the next, either conjunctim, or divisim, it matters not.
He begins with his fancie of my being Doctor Bernards Reserve, in clearing the whole proceedings of the Lord Prymate in the business of the Earl of Strafford; and in the Examination and moderation of all passages, between Mr. l'Estrange and him. I shall satisie the Reader upon what occasion I undertoke it.
So soon as that Anonymus of an observator on Mr. l'Estrange, The occasion why I undertook his observations on Mr. l'eStrange. came to the Prymates hands, he was pleased to shew it to me; and finding the Author so apt upon a slender occasion to bleamish him; (supposing [Page 15] him to be some Romish Agent whom he disdaining to Answer,) desired me in the prosecution of my History (as it lay in my way) to vindicate him, (though not long after I was told by his Bookseller, that the Author was Doctor Heylin In order thereunto he acquainted me with such passages as did concern that of the Earl of Strafford; whose commands I presently effected; intending (then) to have set it out by it self, least the Doctors Malice should Gangreen by neglect. But the Lord Prymates decease immediately following, it was referred to my History with some fresh Notions more proper, which in my absence was neglected by the Press; and at my return, they being inserted have given cause of Intersections in the Impression, between fol. 108 and 109. With which Petrus is so much troubled, and spends his breath in a dispute with himself, whether it were mine or Doctor Bernards? And why so jealous, good Petrus? Append: pa. 142 First (saith he) because Mr. Sanderson before in his Preface makes Doctor Heylin [Page 16] a person of some fame and great ability. That (possibly) might be my mistake as the next in my speaking reprochfully, of him, is his: Indeed I acknowledg that Doctor Heylin deserves Characters of severall kinds, as most men may discover, who consult his writings; and so Cato's, lesson learnt by him long agoe Convenient nulli &c. will better serve the turn to decipher him, than mee.
Secondly, (saith he) Mr. Sanderson in his History fol. 200. informs us, that in Anno. 1635. There was a Synod held in Ireland &c. But in his foysted Argument he speakes the Contrary. Good Petrus consult some true friends, that will read [...]right to you, and you will find the severall Folio's you mention, not to be any thing contrary, which are too tedious to insert in this short Castigation.
Three points there are in which Petrus fancies me,Three points of mine quarrelled by Petrus. to act for Doctor Bernard.
1 The acquitting the Lord Prymate from the distinction of a Politicall and a personall [Page 17] conscience. And yet it is confessed by himself to have been done to my hand by Mr. Howell's attestation of my history, (who was concerned in those words.)
2 The proving that the Articles of Ireland were not abrogated & those of the Church of England inserted in their stead. And yet he hath prevented any further confirmation of either, by his own confessing of his being too much credulous in beleiving and inconsiderate in publishing such mistaken intelligence. Which are his own words folio 87. And I could wish that in the Errata of the next Edition of his History of the Sabbaoth (if the world be ever troubled with it again) he would Record this Ingenuity of his (being such a rarity in him) so as to retract it, and howsoever he is much offended at the Primates expressions, viz. Nor shames he to affirm as being a Notorious untruth &c. Truly with me it seemes a gentle penance for so presumptuous an assertion, and pertinaciously continuing in it these many yeares, till he was thus convict; defaming [Page 18] not only a single person, but a whole Nation.
3 That the Lord Prymate boar no grudge to the Earl of Strafford, so as to advise the King to pass the Bill of Attainder. This (whosoever he accounts the Actor) hath been sufficiently cleared also, and needs no repetition here.
For the term of Sophistry, (for which he is also much offended with the Prymate) he hath in the Iudgment of divers, made it good, throughout his book, which are so many, that they would find as much work for an observator, as he saith my History will afford him: I shall only trouble the Reader with one instance (ex ungue Leonem▪ by this you may judg of the rest) which is in such great Characters, that he who rides post, may read it without stopping.
'Tis folio 63. where he repeating a Quotation of the Prymate in the conclusion of his Letter to Doctor Twiss viz: That Gregory the great, esteemed it to be the [Page 19] doctrine of the Preachers of Antichrist; who at his coming shall cause both the Lords day, and the Sabaoth, to be kept, or celebrated from doing any worke;) Petrus, in his pretended answer, hath blindly mistaken the Copulative and, for the disunctive or (though the Prymate in the next words, had given him warning of that Stumble:) And so upon a false fent he runs away with the Hunt, as if it must necessarily follow from thence That it is the doctrine of the Preachers of Antichrist that no manner of work be done on the Saturday or the Sunday: And from that surmise, he makes an application (of which, I leave it to others to give the sense.) What will become (saith he) of our English Sabbatarians and their Abettors, who impose as many restraints of this kind, upon Christian people, as ever were imposed on the Iewes, by the Scribes and Pharisies? And in Conclusion he attempts to put out our Eies also, in perswading us again; That 'tis all one to say, on the Saturday and the Sunday; as on the Saturday, or the Sunday; As [Page 20] if unity and division; conjunction and separation, were alike with him: And it seemes by this, that his Nature is most addicted to the latter.
As for that great offence taken by him in the mistake of weakness, Append: p. 195. for incredulity, and Idleness▪ for Inconsideration in the printing of the Prymates Letter: There is no such difference, either in quantity or quality; but that if he can swallow the one, (as he hath done even now) he may as easily digest the other: And it being but a copy, it might as well happen as other greater mistakes have been in my absence between the Margin and the body of that letter.
Though 'tis possible for Petrus to shew his guilt of Idleness, to make more work for the Press to no purpose. Which petulant brain of his, may be excused by the want of that sense, which might divert his thoughts, otherwise.
And for what else remaines,Append: p. 147. concerning the Bishops whether sent for, or sent to the [Page 21] King? Or whether the Iudges were willi [...] or unwilling to deliver their Iudgm [...] against the votes of the Parliament? I r [...] the Reader to what hath been said in the History▪ too tedious to recite.
As for the challengers threats with which he concludes, (hereafter) to commit a publique Riot on my whole History; and therein to be made immortall, by being loud and troublesome. He that marcheth against the Ocean may no doubt take abundance of Cockle shells Captive. I confess ingeniously, there may be mistakes in the body of so large an History, which will be amended in the next Impression, as it is sodainly intended; wherein, your oblique Information, or any civill advertisement of others will direct me: Seeing (as Petrus saith) abilities not governed by Infallibility, cannot exempt a man from being obnoxious to mistakes, with which his own Pamphlets are pestered. But spare your Intelligence in the disquisition of one particular concerning the Children [Page 22] of Mr. Iohn Hambden of Buckingham Shire, which is confessed an Errata, and must be thus corrected: That he died of his wounds, and left three Sonnes compleat Persons both of body and mind; what ere sinister Report then gave occasion of the mistake.
And now (Petrus) at parting: I could find in my heart to give you a little good Counsell: Be not so wilde an Ishmaelite, as to have your hand against every man, and provoking every mans hand against you.
Take the advice given to your namesake: Peter, put up thy sword again into his place. Leave off this cross [...]grain humour, studying the injury against such Persons, as the late eminent Prymate, so far above you in learning and reputation, that wise men look upon your language, like the barking at the Moon; or a mad-man throwing up a sharp stone, which falls on his own pate.
This your last Book, having made you such a Bankrupt in point of reputation [Page 23] with most men, that all the charitable collections of your numerous helpers, will not easily recruite you.
I reverence your function, and mervail that many of your Bookes do so little concern it, rather to the dishonour than otherwise, and I am not at all obliged to respect your person. Your travail hath been much earthy, at which you began, had you continued that Iourney, you might have amended your own Errours. What is otherwise (as the observations of the Lords day, or of Persons of piety, who were and are for it) you have been in a continuall combate against both.
Your own friends conceive you unfortunate, to the disturbance of the Church in each; For my part, so soon as I find you reformed, I shall contribute my endeavours, that your credit, now out of joint, may be set right again. Your own Pen that broke you must repair you, though as yet I am among the number of those that therein despair. And as you have been a