The History of the Worthies of England, Part 1 · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. An Accommodation to prevent Exceptions about the Precedency of several Professions.
IAm sadly sensible, that being to treat of the Worthies in several professions; I shall incur many mens displeasure, in not ranking th…m according to their own desires; the rather because there always hath been a Battel Royal about Precedency, betwixt,
1. Swordmen and Gow…men.
2. Swordmen and Swordmen.
3. Gownmen and Gownmen.
Concerning the first couple, The Question▪ An doctor praecedat militem? hangeth as yet on the File, and I believe ever will, as which is often determined affirmatively in time of peace, but always Negatively in time of War.
Nor less is the contest betwixt Swordmen and Swordmen (I mean of the same side and Interest) about Priority, whether Land or Sea Captains should take place. The former they plead, that they fight on a fixed Element (not so subject as the Sea to casual advantages) which being a setled Theatre of Valour, men may indifferently try their courage upon it. The Sea Captain alledgeth, that the greater danger the greater dignity, and precedency therefore due to their Profession, who encounter the Winds and the Water, besides the Fierceness and the Fury of their Enemies. Besides, it is very difficult if possible for a ship engaged in Fight, to escape by Flight, whereby many in Land battels easily preserve themselves.
I confess that Custome (the best Herald in controversies of this kind) hath adjudged the Precedency to Land Captains, but not without the great grudge and regret of … therein. We may observe in Nature, that though the water and earth make one Globe, and though Providence preserveth the Earth from being overflown by the Water, yet the Water as the lighter Element, challengeth the highest place to its self, and watcheth all opportunities, (especially when great Rain meet with low banks) to regain its superiority by Inundations. Sea Captains in like manner, though depressed by practice and custome to give place to Land Captains, do it with that distast and dislike, that thereby (though they cannot recover their right) they continue their claim to precedency, watching their opportunity, and now (in our so many Naval expeditions) not altogether out of hope to regain it.
Nor less the difference betwixt Gownmen and Gownmen, who should take the upper hand▪ witnesse the Contest betwixt Doctors of Phyfick, and of Canon Law, on that Accompt, the former pleading the following Instrument in their behalf.
Memorandum quod anno Domini 1384, in Vigilia Purificationis Beatae Mariae Virginis, in * Caius de Ant. Cantab. pag. 20.plena Convocatione Regentium & non Regentium, per fidem Convocatorum declaratum est, quod Doctor in Medicina dextram partem Cancellarii in Congregationibus & Convocationibus retineret & non Sinistram, Doctor vero in jure civili partem Sinistram & non dextram. Facta est haec Declaratio ex praecepto Regis Richardi Secundi post conquestum, anno Regni sui Octavo, Add to this what a great *Nicholaus Vernias Theatinus in praefatione in Burleum super Physici… Aristotelis.Professor of Philosophy, living in Padua anno 1482, concludeth after a long debating of the Question. Dicamus ergo cum SANCTA ROMANA Ecclesia, quod Medicina est Nobilior jure civili, quodque Medicinae Professores Domini mereantur Dici; Juristae vero Praecones.
But for all this, the Doctors of the Canon (since in England united with the Civil) Law, will not yeild unto them, pleading for themselves; First, That Professions are to take place according to the Dignity of the Subject they are employed about. Secondly, That the Soul is more worth than the body, which is the Sphear of the Physician. Thirdly, That Canonists meddle with many cases of Soul concernment, and therefore ought to have the Precedency.
Wherefore, to prevent all exceptions about Priority, may the Reader acquaint himself with this our method therein.
1. We place Princes; And both Loyalty and Civility will justifie us therein.
2. Saints; As our Saviour said *Ioh. 18. 6.My Kingdome is not; so their Dignity is not of this World, and therefore none I hope will repine thereat.
3. 4. Martyrs and Confessors. If any grudge them this their high place, let them but give the same price they paid for it, and they shall have the same Superiority.
5. Eminent Prelates; A distance which they might justly claim in those days above others, as generally the Lord Chancellours and Treasurers of the Land.
6. Statesmen; Whose eminent Offices do warrant and avouch this their station against all opposition.
7. Capital Judges; To whom this place doth of right belong.
These premised, in the next four we have observed an order without order. Some will maintain that sometimes a Ryot is as good as a Dyet: When at a Feast all meats cast together, help one to digest another. Qui vivit medice, vivit misere, sure I am, Scribit misere, qui scribit methodice, I mean, when tyed up to such strict terms of method, in such cases that every misplacing is subject to exception.
I commend the no less politick then peaceable custome of the Skinners and Merchant Taylors of London, who after many long and costly suits betwixt their Companies for Precedency, to prevent future quarels agreed with themselves at last, to go first by turns or alternatly. The same method I embrace in ranking Souldiers, Seamen, Civilians, Physicians, sometimes one first, sometimes another, ringing no artificial but a meerly casual Change in the ordering their Professions. These thus ranked next follow,
12. Learned Writers. Though many of these since the Reformation, being Doctors of Divinity, may challenge Precedency of some named before, yet they will not be discontented to come last, having learned the Apostles rule, *Rom. 12. 2.In honour preferring one another, and God make us as humble as we are humbled.
13. Benefactors to the Publick. It is good to conclude and go out with a good savour, on which account these worthy persons are placed last, to leave the grateful perfume of their memory behind them.
As for Memorable persons, they are last, last placed, because (as that Title … taken by us) they are cast in, as Superpondium, or Overweight, our work being ended before.