A Memorial Offered to John Williams, Part of biography 1 (1 of 2)

A Memorial Offered to John Williams · Part of biography 1 (1 of 2)

p. 5A MEMORIAL Offer'd to the Great Deſervings OF JOHN WILLIAMS, D.D. Who ſometimes Held the Places of the LORD-KEEPER of the GREAT-SEAL of England, &c.

PART I.

Paragraph 1. EDMOND WILLIAMS Eſq of Aber. Conway in the County of Carnarvan, was the Son of William Williams Eſq of Coghwillanne near adjoyning, and of Dorothy Daughter to Sir William Griffith Knight, of Penrhyn. This Edmond took to Wife Mary Daughter to Owen Wyn Eſq and by her had five Sons and two Daughters. Of the Male Children, John was the youngeſt; the Womb of his Mother ceaſing to bear, when it had done its beſt. This John, whoſe Memory deſerves to be Dignified in a laſting Story, was born at Aber-Conway, a Sea-Town in Carnarvanſhire, about, or upon the Feaſt-day of our Lady the Bleſſed Virgin, March 25. 1582. The Shire wherein he drew his firſt Breath, is notorious for the higheſt Hills of this Iſland, Snoden, Penmanmaur, Creig-Eriri, and others. It is not unlikely that it hath much Riches under the Earth, but it is Barren above Ground. As Pliny ſpeaks of the Orobii, certain Mountainers in Italy, Lib. 3. c. 17. Etiam nomine prodentes ſe al. tius quàm fortunatiùs ſitos: Their Situation was rather high than proſperous. But what the Region wants in Fatneſs of Soil, is requited by the Generous Spirits of the Inhabitants, a far greater Honour than much Clay and Dirt. I light upon it in the Invention of a Maſque, Preſented before King James at Whitehall, An. 1619. that our Laureat-Poet Ben. Johnſon hath let ſome weighty Words drop from him, to the Honour of that Nation, and I take them as a ſerious Paſſage, and will own them, That the Country is a Seed-Plot of honeſt Minds and Men. What Lights of Learning hath Wales ſent forth for our Schools? What Induſtrious Students of our Laws? What Able Miniſters of Juſtice? Whence hath the Crown in all times better Servitors, more Liberal of their Lives and Fortunes? And I know I have their good Leave to ſay, That the Honour of Wales ſhin'd forth abroad in the Luſtre of ſuch a Native as this; and I add what Pliny writes to Sabinus of the Firmians, among whom he was born, Credibile eſt optimos eſſe inter quos tu talis extiteris, Lib. 6. Epiſt.

2. For Carnarvanſhire in particular, ſays Reverend Mr. Cambden, the Ordovices lived there of old, who held the Romans Play to preſerve their Liberties the longeſt of all our Britains: and forced the Roman General Suetonius Paulinus to fix p. 6his Head-Quarter there, deſiring to keep them his firſt and ſureſt Friends, who were his laſt ſubdued Enemies. Afterward the Saxons had the longeſt and ſtouteſt Repulſes in North-Wales, that they felt in all their Battels; which made them bloody their Swords moſt barbarouſly in the Bodies of thoſe reſolute Defendants.

3. Among the Champions of greateſt Note and Valour, that did the beſt Feats of Chivalry againſt the Saxons, was a gallant Commander, the Top of the Houſe of Williams, which is preſerv'd in Memory to this day, becauſe the Family of that Name doth until this time bear in their Coat three Saxons Heads, (De tree pen Saix, they call it in Welch, I think) a noble Teſtimony of the Valour of the Chief of that Stock, that ſought manfully for his Country, and preſerv'd it from the Invaſion of the Saxons, when their Armies had march'd over the Ground of England (now ſo called) with Slaughter and Conqueſts. And ſince the beſt Men of the ancient Houſes in Wales did manage War ſo valiantly in maintenance of Glory and Liberty, it is no marvel if the Inhabitants are noted in the current Ages ever ſince, to have almoſt a Religious Care in preſerving the Pedigrees of their Gentry. Who could excuſe them from Ingratitude, if they ſhould not garniſh Heraldry with the Genealogies of ſuch Worthies?

4. Among their copious Stems, and far-fetch'd Deſcents, the Pedigree of the Houſe of Williams of Coghwillanne hath as many brave Strings in the Root, and ſpreads as wide in the Branches, as I have ſeen produced from the Store-houſe of their Cambrian Antiquities. It grows up in the top Boughs to the Princes of North-Wales in King Stephen's days, as it is deducted by Authentick Records which I have ſeen, and are formalized into a comely ſhape by Evan Lloyd of Egloyvach in the County of Denbigh, and Jacob Chaloner of London, Gent. Men faithful and expert in ſuch Monuments of elder Years. The ſame Authors demonſtrate, that Williams of Coghwillanne hath continued his Coat of three Saxons Heads conſtantly, and without any the léaſt alteration, from Edneuet Vychan Lord-Steward of Wales, an. 1240. and of Hen. 3. his Reign, an. 25. to this day. It hit right indeed for a Coat of Arms, ſays the neat Wit of Mr. Hugh Hotland, when one of that Lineage was advanced to be Lord-Keeper of the Great-Seal, as he couched it in an elegant Diſtic, engraven on his Lordſhip's Silver Standiſh, as I found it there:

Qui ſublime fori potuit conſ…ndere tignum,

Par ſuit hunc capitum robur habere trium.

Meaning, it was a ſign he had the Abilities and Brains of three Heads, whoſe good Parts lifted him up to that Honour, to ſet Chief Judge in the higheſt Court of the Kingdom. But I need neither the light Air of Poetry, much leſs the empty Wind of Vain-boaſting, to blow it about the World, that he was Anciently and Nobly deſcended, there are ſo many Proofs for it, as there are Offsprings of Gentry in North-Wales, being all of his Blood and Alliance, to whom a Catalogue might be added of Great and Honourable Perſons in England. Which King James was aware of, when he was ſworn his Counſellor; for He told him pleaſantly, that He thought not the worſe of him, nor ſuſpected his Fidelity, though He knew well enough, that Sir William Stanley, (then living) a great Traitor to his Prince and Country, was his near Kinſman. I could inſiſt more upon this; but it is the Rule of a wiſe Author, that whoſoever will ſearch into a Man prudently and Philoſophically, —Nunquam cunabula quaerit:—Et qualis, non unde ſatus.

I cloſe it up therefore, that his Pedigree of Anceſtors gave a good Luſtre to his Birth, but he gave a greater to them. Howſoever I receive it for a Moral Truth, as well as a Mathematical, that the longeſt Line is the leaſt of all quantitive Dimenſions.

5. Now to begin with my Subject, from the firſt time that he was able to go without the hand. His Education was like to be Proſperous, for not only his Parents, but his Grandmother the Lady Griffith; his Grandmother Lois, as well as his Mother Eunice, contributed her Care to give him Godly and Learned Breeding. It fell out well for their purpoſe, that their Pious Country-man Gabriel Goodman, Dean of Weſtminſter, had about that time founded a Publick School at Reuthen, and had placed a good Grammarian in it, under whom he was taught his firſt Rudiments of the Latin and Greek Tongues. I have heard ſome of his Contemporaries p. 7ſay, that his Maſter knew not for a while how to manage him, he was of ſo ſtrange a mixture; for at ſometimes he was addicted to loiter and play, and to much exerciſe of Body: Again, by fits he would ply his Book ſo induſtriouſly, that his Praeceptor thought it a great deal too much for a Child to undergo it. But, like a prudent Man, he quickly conſented to leave his Scholar to his own pace; wherein he got ground ſo faſt of all his Fellows. He that raiſed himſelf up to that height of Knowledge in his adult Age, had need to lay ſome part of the Foundation ſo early: For as Comines obſerves it, Lib. 1. Hiſt. Indubitatum eſt ees qui in ullâ re unquam excelluerunt, maturi puerilibus annis ad cam acceſſiſſe.

6. All things fell out happily by Divine Diſpoſition, to bring him up from a towardly Youth, to a worthy Man. For by that time this Bud began to blow, it fortun'd that Dr. Vaughan, afterward the Reverend Lord Biſhop of London, came into Wales, and took the School of Reuthen in his way, where he found his young Kinſman John Williams to be the Bell-weather of the little Flock. Dr. Vaughan was exceeding glad to find him in that forwardneſs, and being not only as Learned as moſt Men to try a Scholar, but Judicious above moſt Men to conjecture at a rich Harveſt by the green Blade in the Spring, took ſpeedy care to remove his Kinſman to Cambridge, and commended him to the Tuition of Mr. Owen Gum of St. John's College, well qualified by his Country and Alliance for a Friend, and no indiligent Tutor. The young Youth was now entring into the 16th Year of his Age, an. 1598. much welcom'd to Cambridge by the Old Britains of North-Wales, who praiſed him mightily in all places of the Univerſity, …for they are good at that, to them of their own Lineage,) and made more Eyes be caſt upon him, than are uſual upon ſuch a Punie. Which took the rather, becauſe of his great Comelineſs, I might ſay Beauty: And it is a great Attractive of common Favour, when virtue takes up a fair Lodging. One thing put him to the bluſh, and a little Shame, that ſuch as had gigling Spleens would laugh at him for his Welſh Tone. For thoſe who knew him at his Admiſſion into St. John's Society, would often ſay, that he brought more Latin and Greek, than good Engliſh with him. This alſo pluck'd Advantage after it; for it made him a very retired Student, by ſhunning Company and Conference, as far as he could, till he had loſt the Rudeneſs of his Native Dialect. Which he labour'd and affected, becauſe he gave his Mind to be an Orator; which requires, Decus linguae, regnumque loquendi, as Manlius lays it out, Lib. 4. And all that heard him will ſubſcribe, that when he was put to it to ſpeak publickly, his Geſture and Pronunciation did add much Grace to his Matter, and Invention.

7. He was the Pattern of a moſt diligent Student to all that did emulate him then, or would imitate him hereafter. He had read over ſo many Authors in ſeveral Sciences, ſo many Volumes, ſo many Hiſtorians and Poets, Greek and Latin, in four Years, (the Evidence of it was in his Note-Books) that I may ſay, Aetatem ultra putes; who would have thought it had been the diſpatch of an Under-Graduate? He had ranſack'd not only the bare Courts, and ſpacious Lodgings, but the very Cloſets and Corners of the beſt Arts and Authors. Nothing ſo great that exceeded him; nothing ſo little that eſcap'd him. I will make this Credible to all that are not utter Drones. He plied his Book, foreign; As much in the Night, as in the Day. Nature contributed to this a ſtrange Aſſiſtance, that from his Youth to his old Age he ask'd but 3 hours Sleep in 24, to keep him in good plight of Health. This we all knew, who lived in his Family. It would not quickly be believed, but that a cloud of Witneſſes will avouch it, that it was ordinary with him to begin his Studies at ſix of the clock, and continue them till three in the morning, and be ready again by ſeven to walk in the Circle of his indefatigable Labours. Ariſto complains thus in Pliny, l. 7. c. 50. Vivendi breve tempus homini datum, quoniam ſomnus veluti publicanus dimidium aufert. That which makes the Life of Man ſhort is, That Sleep, like an exacting Publican, takes half of it away for Toll and Tribute. But here was one that paid very little Cuſtom to that common Publican of Nature, and kept ſo much Time continually going in his Stock, that he lived almoſt twice as much as any Man, that lived no longer. Who will not ſay now, but ſo much Toil was plain Drudgery? And I marvel it the more, that ſo great a Wit could endure to task him to ſuch conſtant and vexatious Pains. No doubt he look'd far afore him, upon the hope of a great Recompence in Church or Commonwealth: that contented him, and confirmed him. Marius ſpeaks gailantly in Saluſt, Nae illi falſi ſunt qui res diverſiſſimas pariter expectant, ignaviae voluptatem, & praemia virtutis. They are much miſtaken, that think to piece together two Things ſo different, the Pleaſure of Eaſe, and the p. 8Guerdon of Virtue. Therefore all theſe concurr'd together in him to make up the Maſter-piece of a Scholar, a rare Wit, a moſt tenacious and even ſtupendious Memory, a clear Judgment, a moſt diſtinguiſhing common Senſe, called Natural Logick, which is the beſt, and moſt vital part of Judgment, and that which hatch'd all theſe, that they might not addle, unceſſant Induſtry. Truly he that will build many Stories high, had need of all theſe Materials. And let thoſe that are happy in great Natural Endowments take Example by him, to joyn the Felicity of Nature, with ſuch a Mate as Diligence. Gardners give the moſt attendance to the beſt Stocks in their Nurſery, and the Fruit will quit the Coſt, after due time hath matur'd it. It was God above therefore that gave his young Servant ſo wiſe a Mind, to fill up the choice Veſſels of Nature with Liquors diſtill'd from his own Studies. And herein I may compare him to Meſſala Corvinus in Tully, as he writes of him to Brutus, Ep. 15. Tanta induſtria eſt, tantúmque evigilat in ſtudio, ut non maximo ingenio (quod in e… ſummum eſt) gratia habenda videatur. He was ſo laborious and vigilant about his Studies, that though his Wit were of the beſt kind, yet he was not moſt beholding to it.

8. I have not added a Grain to the juſt weight of Truth, that his Sails were filled with proſperous Winds, which blew from the Cape of Nature, yet that he plied the Oar with main might to make a gaining Voyage. Eſpecially the good God was pleaſed to give a good Rudder to the Veſſel to ſtear it right, both in the Channel of true Religion, and virtuous Practice. For in thoſe Lubric and often failing years, he neither fell upon the Rocks of dangerous Errors in Opinion, nor ſtuck in the quick Sands of Vice. He was duly preſent at the Service of Common-Prayer in the College-Chappel: And in his private Prayers, as he began, ſo he did ever continue to commend himſelf to God's Mercy and Protection morning and evening, rather with a due Conſtancy, and, as it were, Canonical, never to be diſpens'd with, then a long winded Prolixity; it grew up with him by a Catechetical Principle, rather to be, then after a contrivance and faſhion, to profeſs to be a good Chriſtian. I expound him thus: A Face ſet ſmooth by the Glaſs of Hypocriſie, an affected ſhew of holy Simplicity, a dreaming ſimpering of Words to ſhuffle into the good Opinion of the World by mere Hiſtrionical Devices, he declined in himſelf, and diſlik'd in others. Though he did not ſtrive to cry up himſelf for a great-gifted Saint, yet no wholſom Morals, which are commendable in ſuch green and ſappy Years, were wanting in him. He was obedient to Superiors, ſtrictly juſt in his Word, and in all Commerce and Dealing a Faithful Friend, and, as will appear more in the Sequel, no Vindicative Enemy. He was no Loiterer, no Companion for Ruffians and looſe Perſons, no Tippler, no Wine-bibber. And though the Univerſity Diſcipline began to be more remiſs in thoſe days, then in by-gone Ages, yet he conſin'd himſelf moſt inculpably to Modeſty and Sobriety, not ſo much as leaning towards Youthful Exorbitancies. So far he was a Stranger to wanton Luſts, that his Acquaintance marvelled, that the more the Sin came near to him, ſo comely a Feature wanting not Enticement, the further he ran from it. Arthur Wilſon, in his Hiſtory of King James, by ſome ſecret Whiſper came nigh to the Diſcovery of the Reaſon. Not that he was an Eunuch ab utero, as he bluntly delivers it; but he had ſuffer'd an adventitious Miſchance, being about 7 Years old, which compell'd him to actual Chaſtity. He took a leap, being then in long Coats, from the Walls of Conway Town to the Sea-ſhore, looking that the Wind, which was then very ſtrong, would fill his Coats like a Sail, and bear him up, as it did with his Play-fellows: But he found it otherwiſe, for he did light with his Belly upon a big ragged Stone, which cauſed a ſecret Infirmity, fitter to be underſtood, then further deſcrib'd; and want of timely Remedy, the Skill of good Chirurgery being little known in that Climate, continued it to his dying day. They that traduc'd him when he came to be Lord-Keeper, not only to be Amorous, but to be Incontinent with a great Lady, and taught common Fidlers to ſing it, may bluſh at this Diſcovery, if they be alive; but if they died without Repentance, it may be they want the tip of his Finger dipp'd in Water to cool their Tongues.

9. Though I have not concealed that he was Chaſt perforce, yet I muſt witneſs for him, that in the uſe of Meats and Drinks he was one of the moſt temperate Men in the Kingdom of free Election. I think he ſuck'd it in with his Milk, it was ſo fix'd in him. To let paſs how well he was ſatisfied with his ſhort Academical Fare, I will go further, and come to him, when he came to be a great Houſe-keeper. He kept a full Table, elegantly ſet forth, none of his Rank beyond him. Yet I ſcarce ever ſaw him eat a plentiful Meal. He ſupplied the p. 9convival time at his Board with Carving and Diſcourſe, which made his Abſtinence leſs obſerv'd by his Gueſts; but it was moſt beneficial to him. He that eats ſparingly, ſacrificeth to Health, and is fit for Labour, and Watchfulneſs upon all Occaſions. What Repugnancy there was in his Concoction to Fleſh, I know not; but he fed the leaſt upon it that ever I ſaw: His Diet upon his own Trencher conſiſting chiefly out of a Dairy, a Garden, and an Orchard. No Capuchin kept Lent, and Fiſh-days, as we term them, more ſtrictly. As his Appetite was eaſily under his Will, ſo his Will was as much under the Laws of the Realm. It were a raſh Cenſure to count him Superſtitious in this Obſervation of Abſtinence, becauſe he would not be a Libertine. Obedience is accountable to the ſmalleſt Commandments, and which are cuſtomarily broken. I cannot but call to mind upon what is rehearſed before, that what Pythagoras ask'd of his Diſciple, was comprized in this Verſe, foreign; to be unaddicted to Belly-pampering, Sleep, and Carnal Wantonneſs. Which threefold Rule, this might Moral Man made up into one Practiſe.

10. Many are happy that they have not Means to be Riotous, though they would; but he was happy that he had Means of large Supply for his Breeding, and would not. His Father was a Gentleman of a bountiful and kind Heart, and ſpent more upon himſelf, and upon his Neighbours, then upon his Children. But the numerous Stock of rich Gentry, to which he was Allied, his dear Grandmother eſpecially, made him a great Allowance. But to ſay the truth, all of them could never fill his Purſe. From a Youth, and ſo upward, he had not a Fiſt to hold Money, for he did not only lay out, but ſcatter, ſpending all that he had, and ſomewhat for which he could be truſted. By one Inſtance, which I have heard much quoted in Cambridge, he did diſcover a moſt charitable and franc Affection. That unparallell'd worthy Man Mr. Edward Liveley, Publick-Profeſſor of the Hebrew Tongue, was ſo unprovided to ſuſtain himſelf and his Family, that he was put to a ſad ſhift, to ſell a part of his Library, which being made known to ſome by pitiful Rumour, and to young Williams, among others in Cambridge, he got the Sum of three Pounds together, and carried it home to Mr. Liveley, which the Learned Man's Neceſſity made him accept, and his Thankfulneſs told it abroad, to bring his pretty benefactor into Eſtimation, which was much noiſed, that ſo little a Hand did open it ſelf, when large ones were ſhut. Many things concur'd to make him talk'd of, and to be noted out for future Eminency; yet Envy, that loves to crop the Bud of Virtue, had two Things to object againſt him. Firſt, That he gave Diſtaſt to ſome by his Vehemency of Anger, not ſeldom flying out. 'Tis true, he was obnoxious to Arles foreign, a ſudden eruption of Choler ſometimes upon a little ſtirring; an Infirmity which only bred him Enemies, for his fair Candor could give no other Offence. But as Hippocrates, the chiefeſt of the Aeſculapians, writes, Where Fire abounds in the Mixture, and exceeds the Moiſture, ſuch Flaſhes cannot always be ſuppreſs'd. And ſublime Wits are ſeldom without the Frailty to bring them to Humility. So Pliny ſaid of them in the Character of Julius Ceſar; Acutiſſimi evadunt, & igneâ celeritate volucres. The ſecond thing called Culpable in him, but was not, was pick'd at by the croſs Humours of ſome in the end of Q. Elizabeth's Reign. They were of the old Stock of Non-conformitants, and among the Seniors of his College, who look'd four upon him, becauſe he was an Adherent to, and a Stickler for the Diſcipline and Ceremonies of the Church of England; theſe laid their Heads together to exclude him from Preferment, but their Plot would not hit. Others that were the moſt orderly Sons of the Church, were not pleaſed with him, becauſe he frequented Reverend Mr. Perkins his Congregation. It is true, he was his conſtant Auditor, while Mr. Perkins lived, ſo early his well-kneaded Judgment took delight in clear and ſolid Divinity. And he that is diſcreet, will make his Profit out of every ſide, or every Faction, if you like to call it ſo.

11. At the cloſe of the moſt happy Reign of Q: Elizabeth, he Commenced Batchelor of Arts. And to make that Degree ſit upon him with the better Credit, within a Month he was made Fellow of his College, with the advantage of that Seniority which promiſed him the Proctorſhip of the Univerſity, if he lived to it, according to the conſtant Order of that Society. Filii prunae exultant volare, Job 5.7. He was full of warmth, and tended upward. I find in a Letter, which he wrote to King James 22 years after, wherein he remembers the King, That His Majeſties Gracious Letters confer'd that Bloſſom of the firſt Preferment p. 10upon him. He was no heavy Log to be lifted up to a Fellowſhip with a Court-Leaver. But the Place being extraordinary, (for it was pregnant with the Pretorſhip) there needed ſome Engine from above to ſettle him. Without diſparagement to his Merit, it ſhall not be concealed, that ſome of the Seniors did make reſiſtance againſt him, whoſe Suffrages are requiſite by Statute for the Election of Fellows. One or two of them were obſerved to ſtop the Advancement of all the moſt ſharp Wits, as far as they could, Men not to be compared with the ſweet Philoſopher Plato, but like him in this, That Plato would not admit Homer into his Commonwealth, for he was too great a Citizen for his City. This was a Grief apparent, that Mr. Aluy, though himſelf departed into Ireland, had left of his Spirit among them, a Spirit devious from the Quiet and Happy Way of obeying our Church Diſcipline. And this did ſeaſon a few with a wrong Zeal to depreſs ſuch whoſe Learning and prudent Behaviour did promiſe, that they would be Champions for Conformity. But he that was then the Pinacle of the Codege, far higher then the low-rooſt Building of the reſt, was Dr. Playſere, one of the Public Profeſſors of Divinity, and of moſt celebrated Eloquence, (let me carve a good Figure for his Memory in this Structure,) it was he that opened the ſtiff Soil, and planted this young Sprig in his Fellowſhip, and led him in his hand out of the Throng of Contradiction. You may gueſs, that the young Batchelor did Glory in it, and had the ſenſe of Juily in his mind, when he ſaid, He had rather be Praiſed by Cato, then have a Triumph voted to him by the Senate.

12. Now our young Graduate began to run the Race of three years Courſe to the Degree of Maſter; a time of loitering with too many, but not with him. It was his common Theme, even when he was a Biſhop, if young Students were at his Table, to inveigh gravely againſt Batchelors of Arts, becauſe commonly they mis-ſpent that Triennial Probation, and left upon that place a Vacuum of doing little or nothing. He that leaſt of all committed that Crime, might beſt ſet Judge upon the Guilty. For his own part, now his Clay was upon that Wheel, it turn d about, as Peripateties ſay of the higheſt Sphere, with a moſt rapid Motion. He ſurrendred up his whole Time to dive into the Immenſe Well of Knowledge, that hath no bottom. He Read the Beſt, he Heard the Beſt, he Conferr'd with the Beſt, Excrib'd, committed to Memory; Diſputed, he had ſome Work continually upon the Loom. And though he never did ſo much in this unwearied Induſtry, as himſelf deſired, he did far more then all that did highly value him could expect. Ingenium caeleſte ſuis v…lecius amns ſurgit. Ovid. His Equals of the ſame time began to find his Diſcourſe far above their pitch in weighty Judgment; and what was look'd for from him in his Public Exerciſes, might be perceived by the Throng that come to Hear him, and that none at the parting but Admired him. All perceived that a Fellowſhip was a Garland too little for his Head, and that he that went his pace, would quickly go further then St. John's Walks.

13. He that will dig diligently for Wiſdom, God will provide a Mine for him to Recompence his Labour; my Proof lies thus: Here was a Student that would take any pains to know much; and God ſupplied him with as good Men in that Age, as ever Cambridge afforded before or ſince, that were able to teach him. A Scholar can have no taſte of Natural Philoſophy, without ſome conditement of the Mathematicks. See the good luck of it, that he had Mr. Edward Briggs within the Walls of the ſame College for his Maſter; by whom he was initiated into the Principles of Geometry, which never departed out of his tenacious Memory. Yet he did but kiſs the Cup of thoſe Sciences, and drank not deep: Fruit that is next the Sun, may change the colour; but unleſs it hang long on the Tree, it comes not to maturity. He frequented Mr. Lively and Mr. Downes, (Duo Scipiadae) the Profeſſors of the Hebrew and Greek Tongues in the Publick Schools, from whoſe full Breaſts he ſuck'd moſt excellent Skill in thoſe Learned Languages. He had alſo other choice Praeceptors to perfect him in the Sacred Tongue, Mr. Robert Spalden, a modeſt and no leſs Learned Divine, Fellow of St. John's, and Rabbi Jacob a Jew born, whom I remember for a long time a Commorant in the Univerſity; with the Inſtruction of theſe two, he dived far into the Myſtery of that Holy Language. But chiefly he did heartily acknowledge, that the Hand of God did go with him, that Dr. Overal was the King's Profeſſor in the Chair of Divinity in his Years of ſoft Wax, from whom he took ſuch a right Orthodox Impreſſion of ſtating Theological Controverſies. I ask'd him on a time, what it was that pleaſed him in Dr. Overal above all others whom he heard to handle Determinations of Divine Points in a Scholaſtical Form? He gave me this Anſwer; becauſe, p. 11Firſt, Dr. Overal was uſed to prove his Concluſion out of two or three Texts of Scripture at the moſt, and no more, being ſuch Places upon whoſe right Interpretation the judgment of the Cauſe did chiefly depend. Secondly, That above all Men that ever he heard, he did moſt pertinently quote the Fathers, both to the right ſenſe of their Phraſe, which few did underſtand, and out of thoſe their Treatiſes, wherein eſpecially they handled the Cauſe, for which he Appealed unto them. And, Thirdly, When he had fixed what was prime and principal Truth in any Debate, with great Meekneſs and Sweetneſs he gave copious Latitude to his Auditors, how far they might diſſent, keeping the Foundation ſure, without breach of Charity. Theſe were the Conſtellations, whoſe fortunate Aſpect did ſhine upon this Neophytus in the Orb of Cambridge, and being under the Influence of ſuch Luminaries, a judicious Academian might Prognoſtic, how much he would proſper without a judicious Aſtrologer. But for all that he poſted ſo ſpeedily through the broad Way of the beſt Tracts of Knowledge, yet he found a little leiſure to call in as he went, at the attaining of ſome Skill in Muſick, Inſtrumental and Vocal, not as a Siren to catch him, but as a Delight to ſolace him. Nay, though he ſet his Face to the end of a great Journey, yet in tranſi… he took Acquaintance of the French Tongue, to make himſelf able to read the choice Pieces of that acute Nation, which flow'd in eaſily and apace into him, having the Pipes of the Latin Tongue ready caſt to convey it. What ſhall we ſay to him that took in hand ſuch a long Sorites of Sciences and Tongues together? But that ſuch Blood and Spirits did boil in his Veins as Tully felt, when he ſpake ſo high; Mihi ſatis eſt ſi omnia conſequi poſſim: Nothing was enough, till he got all.

14. The Gameſter was the freer to throw at all, becauſe he was like to draw a good Stake, Preferment already holding its Hand half open. For …f…c…bi 2^o his Patron, and tenderly-loving Kinſman, Dr. Vaughan was Removed from the Biſhoprick of Cheſter to the See of London. The young Eaglets are quickly taken up upon the Wings of the old one. But the good Biſhop, within three Years after he had aſcended to that Dignity, ended his days, greatly lamented of all, and lived not till his young Couſin was adult for Promotion. This only was much to his Benefit, that every Year the Biſhop ſent for him to ſpend a few Weeks in his Palace of London, a great help to his Breeding, to let him ſee the courſe of Church-Government managed by the Piety and Wiſdom of ſo grave a Prelate, who had much of a Gentleman, much of a Scholar, and moſt of a Chriſtian. During his abode in the Reverend Biſhop's Palace, he had the opportunity to tender his Duty to that noble-minded and ancient Baron John Lord Lumley, who received him with equal Courteſie and Bounty as his Kinſman. That Lord having given his Siſter in Marriage to Mr. Humfry Llyd of Nor. h. Wales, a moſt induſtrious Antiquary, as appears in Ortelius, and Adjutant to Mr. Cambden in his great Work. This Lord Lumley did purſue Recondite Learning, as much as any of his Honourable Rank in thoſe Times and was owner of a moſt precious Library, the Search and Collection of Mr. Humſry Llyd. Out of this Magazine, that great Peer beſtowed many excellent Pieces printed, and Manuſcript, upon Mr. Williams for Alliance ſake, a Treaſure above all Preſents moſt welcom to him. Yet the noble-hearted Lord, a free Mccaenas, gave with both hands, and never ſent his young Kinſman away from him without a Donative of ten Pieces. The firſt Gift of Books he kept better then Gold; for the Gold went from him again as magnificently, as if he had been no leſs then the Lord Lumley himſelf But that he had received thoſe noble Favours, I heard him remember with great and grateful Expreſſions in the Chancel of the Pariſh-Church of Cheam near to N…n…c… in Surrey, (whereof my ſelf have been Rector now above 30 Years) coming on a day to view the Burial-place of the Lord Lumley, where his Body lies under a comely Monument.

15. It fell out luckily to Mr. Williams, to keep him from incurring great Debts, that he had ſuch an Ophir or Golden Trade to drive with the Lord Lumley's Pu…ſe, who ſupplied him with a Bounty that grudg'd him nothing, till the Year 1…9. (for then that aged Baron died.) Four Years before the loſs of that dear Friend, An. 1605, he took his Degree of Maſter of Arts, and he Feaſted his Friends at the Commencement as if it had been his Wedding, having more in Caſh at command by the full Preſents of many Benefactors, then is uſual with ſuch young Graduates. His Merits being known, brought him in a great Revenue, long before he had a certain Livelihood. A Maſter of Arts, is a Title of honeſt Provocation rightly conſidered: Nomina inſignia oneroſa ſunt, ſays the Emperor Alexander p. 12Mammaens. But they are ſcarce ſo many as a few, that are warm'd with the remembrance of that Honour, which the Regent-Houſe conferr'd upon them, worthy to be taxed, in parodie, with that Increpation, Heb. 5.12. Cum deberetis Magiſtri eſſe propter tempus, rurſum indigetis ut vos doceamini. When for the time ye eught to be Maſters, you have need one teach you again. Whoſe Reproach hath this, and no other uſe, that they are a pitiful Foil to their Betters. I am ſure I explain a Man, who added as much Grace to the Name, as any his Anceſtors; of thoſe that came after, he that was the beſt, was but ſecond in the Order. Every day (borrowing much of the Night) advanced his Knowledge. He hired himſelf to labour under all Arts, and ſorts of Learning. The more he toil'd, the more he perceiv'd, that nothing in this Earth had ſuch Amplitude, as the extent of Sciences: He ſaw it was a Proſpect which had no Horizon, a Man can never ſay, he ſees the utmoſt Bound of the Coaſt. Therefore he was continually drawing his Bow, becauſe he was ſure he could never ſhoot home. No Man fiſhes to get all the Fiſh in the Sea; yet ſince the Sea contains ſo much, he is ſlothful that labours but for a little. Our Student began now to fall cloſe to the deep, and ſpacious Studies of Divinity. I deliver from his own mouth what he would relate ſometimes in his riper Years; That he began to read all the Scriptures with the choiceſt and moſt literal, and, as he found it fit, with the briefeſt Commentators, ſo that all his Superſtructure might knit cloſe to that Foundation. He compared the common places of P. Martyr, Chemnitius and Muſculus, Calvin and Zanchie, being in at all, with the Sacred Text, and found that Harmony in them all with the Oracles of God's Word, that he perceived he might with a good Conſcience, as he would anſwer it to Chriſt Jeſus, defend the Integrity of the Reformed Religion, taking it not upon Truſt, but upon Judgment and Examination. But an Artiſt knoweth not what he hath got by all his Diligence till he uſeth it; neither can a Scholar underſtand what Taſt is in the Waters of his own …, till he draws ſome quantity out. Therefore he diſcloſed himſelf both in his own Terms, and for his Friends, in common Places and in Problems, ſweet as Sampſon's Honey in the one, ſtrong as his Lion in the other. By both he received mighty Praiſe from his Elders, and great Thanks from the younger Fry, whoſe Benefit is to be intended in ſuch Exerciſes. For it is a Duty that ſits as cloſe to them, as an Oath can faſten it, who live in ſuch a ſocial Life, to make ready, not wild Gourds, but of their beſt Preparation, to ſet before the Sons of the Prophets, that they may eat.

16. Having fetch'd ſuch a great compaſs about Theology in leſs then two years, he began to climb up higher upon the Mountain of God. His Project was to take ſo much Work in hand, that no Temptation ſhould make him idle. And that he might be to ſeek in nothing, which might exactly furniſh him in the Miniſtry of Chriſt, he adventur'd to read the School-men, Hiſtories Eccleſiaſtical, and the Fathers all together. Conceive me that this courſe of Study begun ſo early, co-extended with all the ſpace of his Life. But was it poſſible for one Hand, and yet but a tender one, to graſp all this together? Himſelf knew beſt how he could weave ſo many Webs at once. My manner was, ſays he, to allot one Month to each of theſe Employments. And Variety was almoſt as much Refreſhing, as Ceſſation from Labour. Then I was ſure to return to none of thoſe courſes of Learning as a Stranger, making my ſpaces of Abſence from none any longer then thoſe Monthly Revolutions. Manilius.Howſoever, Viam ſibi repperit uſus, and I like my own method ſo well, that I was conſtant to it for 13 Years, until I was called off by my Secular Employments, and when I was diſcharged of them, I fell again to run round with my former Circle. He was an exact Philoſopher, but chiefly in the Metaphyſicks, whoſe Utility and Neceſſity he defended in the Schools, Pro more Academico, when he was Proctor of the Univerſity. Having taken ſuch a Preparative of Metaphyſical Quidities, the Potions of School-Divinity wrought eaſily with him, ſo that he was not loſt a whit in their Intricoes, any further then they loſe themſelves, which is not ſeldom in more Subtilty then Solidity, being like thoſe Artichokes that have much Core, and little Bottom. He was the firſt that made me look into them better when I was a Novice, then all the Conference I had had with the greateſt Doctors did Premoniſh me before. He ſaid, The beſt Thing was, that thoſe Diſputative Men croſs'd and oppoſed one another eagerly, which was the way to ſtrike out Sparks of Truth between the Flint and the Steel. But the worſt was, that ſuch Maxims as paſſed for common Principles unqueſtionable on all ſides among themſelves, were hollow and unſatisfactory. Chiefly herein they do but beat the Air, they never ſcann p. 13the Interpretations of any Scriptures, but take them upon Traditional Truſt, which are eaſily wrung from them by more curious Expoſitors: So that an hundred Quodlibets all of one Blood, I may ſay, being not maintainable, but from ſuch ſenſe of Scripture as they offer'd to derive them, are but ſo many Baſtard-Slips begotten upon vulgar Errors. A young Clerk that reads them, and truſts them, may think they are good Men, and have paid him the whole Sum of Divinity; but let him weigh their Coin, and I am confident he will perceive, that they will owe him above half the Debt. This was a ſound Caution from him, to take heed how we Truſt: Yet he was not ſo eaſily provoked againſt thoſe Scholaſtical Plodders as ſome are, who fault them above all, becauſe they have mixed the Learning of Arle, the Topics of Boethius, and the like, with Concluſions laid down out of the Word of God; for Prophets and Apoſtles themſelves are not without Embelliſhments of Humane Sciences, as well in Argument, as for Ornament: For why may not Sheaves of Wheat be bound about with Wiſps of Straw, that they may not ſhatter? This Brable is put into a true Sea…e by a late Author, and is thus poized; Accedens Philoſophia ad Th…ol…gi…n …, facit eam …, ſ…d facit Sophiſticam adverſus eam debilior…m. Divinity borrows no Recruit from Philoſophy to make it ſelf ſtronger, but to make Sophiſtry, or Hereſie, which impugns it, weaker.

17. Let it be no marvel if I ſtay long to take a right proſpect of his Studies: To proceed then, you ſhall find him, as it follows, it the next Partition. The Jews divide the Months of the Year after their Calculation in plenos & cavos, ſome fill'd, of 30 Days, ſome unfill'd, of 29 Surely they were Menſes pleni, ſolid Months of the longeſt Meaſure, wherein this Man p…ied Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory. This one eminent Merit alone, his diligence in reading Hiſtory is worthy of an Hiſtory: For I will deliver it confidently, that I took him to be the beſt Proficient in that ſpacious Knowledge, that this Age brought forth wherein he lived. His Memory was ſo truſty, that it made him preſume to be very fleet in Reading. Therefore I know nothing which he had not Read, and I could obſerve nothing he had not remembred. foreign, as the Greeks boaſt; Let no Man compare with Simonides for a Memory. So without boaſting I may ſay, Who would compare with Mr. Williams but Simonides? He that would try his Cunning in Hiſtory when he was old, might wager an Oath upon it, that he fell to it very young. He moiled a while in Chronology, eſpecially after the Epocha of Times was meetly well ſet from the Olympiad of Greece, and Conſulſhips of Rome, yet he ſtuck not long in the Briars of Chronologers, from which a Man can never pluck out his Feet, but referr'd his own Collections to ſuch Computations of Years as himſelf liked beſt, by which he knew well enough in what Rank to find his own Notions. And becauſe Coſmography is like Eyes unto the Blind, to lead a diligent Man in all the Journeys of the Earth, through which divers Authors carry him, he took ſuch Light to walk by as Ortelius held before him; yet he would confeſs, that oft-times he was like an Errant-Knight, and knew not in what Deſart he was, till he came to live in York-houſe a Chaplain to the Lord-Chancellor Egerton, and then became a Scholar to Mr. Richard Hacklun, a Prebendary of Weſtminſter, and ſo his near Neighbour, indeed the moſt verſed Man in that Skill that England bred, and from him his Preceptor, whom he forgat not to mention with much Praiſe, he got as much Thread from Ariadne's Quill, as ſerv'd him never to loſe himſelf in any Region or Sea, whether near or remote.

18. Chronology and Chorography were his Bladders to ſwim with. Now ſuppoſe him lanch'd into the Main Ocean for Hiſtorical Traffick. The Writers are but few that afford any thing to illuſtrate the Contents of the Old Teſtament, till the Jews came back to their own Country again from the Babyloniſh Captivity. From that time whatſoever concern'd the Records of the Church under the Perſian and Macedonjan Monarchies, together with the Seleuctan and Ptolemae…n Princes, he had it at his Fingers ends. But after that the Barren brought forth more Children then the Fruitful, ſince the propagation of the Chriſtian Faith among the Nations, the Books are infinite which have compiled Occurrences of Evangelical Memorials; yet our indefatigable Undertaker was not diſheartned to read over all that was preſerv'd, but ranſack'd Rolls and Libraries for all that was hid or loſt. Of ſuch as faithful Cuſtody had brought to light, none eſcap'd him. They are not the Divines of Magdepurg, nor Baronius Annals, (though twice read over by him) which furniſhed him with the Title of his Skill. He knew more then they had obſerv'd, from the Originals out of which they had digged their Ore. Eſpecially p. 14he was cunning in all Tranſactions done in the old Aſian Churches, and no leſs in the Greek, even to the time of their Decay, or Ruine rather under the Turkiſh Tyranny. And becauſe General and Provincial Councils, the moſt Pure of them having been Celebrated in the Eaſt, were the brighteſt Lanthorns of this kind of Hiſtory, he had obſerv'd in them as much as his Wit could penetrate into. I ſay as much as he could; for none was more ingenuous then he to confeſs his Defects And he did deplore, when diſcourſe of that Learning was on foot, that the meaning of the Greek Canons (nay, nor of the Latin likewiſe) was not opened to the World by an Artifice that was able to try their Metal. That all Gloſſators hitherto had miſtaken the Phraſeologies, and Terms of Imperial Laws, and quaint Words, having alluſion to popular Speech in thoſe days, which are couched in them. And ſince he minded me of ſuch abſtruſeneſs in the Contexture of thoſe Canons, I have accuſed mine own overſight to my ſelf, that I thought I had known more of the true ſenſe of thoſe Canons, then now I perceive I do. There wants a Scholar like an Hound of a ſure Noſe, that would not miſs a true Scent, nor run upon a falſe one, to trace thoſe old Biſhops in their fuſe. A Divine, he ought to be of the firſt Magnitude; a Critic, that ſhould be an Hercules in the Greek Tongue; a rare Canoniſt, a moſt Learned Civilian, mightily acquainted with all Priſtine Ceremonies, of a ſtrong and inquiſitive Judgment. And ſince the matchleſs Salmaſius is lately dead, the Man whom I would have truſted with ſuch a Work before all others, who is ſufficient for ſuch a Task?

19. The Hiſtories of the Occidental Churches of great Bulk, but little Credit, he knew were both Partial and Adulterated, many of them no better Authors then Luit prandus, though it was his ill hap more then his Fellows to confeſs his Knavery; for he ſays in his third Book, that he ſet himſelf to write. Ut de inimicis ſumat vindictam, & landibus extollat eos, qui ſe multis … aff…erant. Such as this plain-dealing Fellow, and all after him, that ſtruggled to raiſe up the Grandeur of the Rom…n Court, Mr. Williams had read them and had hanged them all upon the File of his Memory; and could vouch each or them to King James, when a Queſtion was ask'd about any of their Contents, as if it had been the freſheſt thing in his Mind, which he had peruſed but an hour before. I think bonâ ſide, there was no Man born more like to Eum…es in our Divine Poet Mr. Spencer's Deſcription, Recording all Things which this World doth weld, laying them up in his Immortal Scrine, where they for ever Incorrupted dwelt. Let the Reader, if he be not ſtruck enough into Wonder already, be advertized further, that he could as readily and as dextrouſly recite Things which had been done in our Britiſh and Engliſh Churches, from the firſt Infancy of them to his own days, as if it had been written in the Palm of his Hand. He carried in his Mind an Univerſal Idea of all Synods and Convocations that were ever held in our Land, of all our Cathedrals, their Foundations, Conditions of Alteration, Statutes, Revenues, &c. As he had ſpared for no Travel to purchaſe this Skill; ſo, to fill his Veſſel brim full, he received all that Sir Harry Spelman, Sir Robert Cotton, and Mr. Selden, his dear Friends could pour into him. Some will ſay, his Mind was ſet upon this Church, and every particular of it might in ſome occaſion concern him. I will ſatisfie him that ſo propoſes it, that there was not a corner of an Hiſtory, Sacred or Secular, in any Kingdom or State in Europe which he had not pried into, and wherein he could not ſuddenly enlarge himſelf, whether they were their Wars, or Leagues of Amity; whether their Laws, Inheritances of their Crowns and Dignities, their Lineages, Marriages, or what not? The Chronicles of the Empire and German Princes, the great Partidas of Spain, all the Pieces of Antiquity he could rake out of French Abbies, he was expert in them all, as if he had got them by heart. The iſſue of his Life bewrayed his End therein; for he made this Study pay him Wages for all his Labour: For he diſcerned his own Abuities to be fit for Publick Employment; therefore he ſearch'd into the notable Particularities of all Kingdoms, Republicks, and their Churches, with all the Importances that hung upon them. And he gueſſed right, that King James would give all he could ask for ſuch a Miniſter.

20. The Tertia of his Induſtry and happy Studies, and the Top-ſail of them, was the reading of the Fathers Greek and Latin. Great was his Diligence in them; marvellous was his Devotion to their Volumes. Theſe were the caſting Counters, with whom he reckoned all the Items of Chriſtian Truth. The leaſt ſtood for a Pound, the beſt for an hundred. Theſe were the Champions, that firſt took the Field to fight the Lord's Battel, all of them the Worthies of David, p. 15whereof the ſtouteſt had lifted up his Spear againſt 800, 2 Sam. …. 23.and chaſed them. Theſe were after the Apoſtles the firſt-born Sons of the New-Jeruſalem, to whom, by the Bleſſing of Primogeniture, God had given the double Portion of Wiſdom, and his Spirit. Mr. Williams remembred, and would remember others of it, when they needed ſuch Advice, that a Diſciple of the Church of England muſt be their Diſciple, and would often cite out of the Canons concluded in Convocation, an. 1571. That Preachers ſhould teach nothing in their Preaching, which they would have the People Religiouſly to obſerve, but that which is agreeable to the Doctrine of the Old Teſtament and the New, and that which the Catholic Fathers and ancient Biſhops have gathered out of that Doctrine. This is our Directory. Let our Adverſaries make the beſt of it to their advantage, as the Funambulatory Jeſuit C…mpian preſumes, Ad patres ſi … ctum eſt praeliuns. Let him crow over Capons; we have long laugh'd at his Arrogancy.

21. I have here a Paſſage to inſert, as well for the Good of others, as for the Praiſe of this Man of God. He was as free as Water that runs from a public Conduit, to lay open his Knowledge to all that would liſten to his Diſcourſe. If I muſt give Precedency to this Charity to any before him, it ſhall be only to that Glorious Servant of God, the Marrow of Learned Communication, the Lord Primate of Armach. But to our preſent Matter, thus he would ſay, as my ſelf and many others have heard it come often from him. That his Contemporaries in Cambridge delivered to him by Tradition, which was given to them in the name of Dr. Whitaker's Reſolved Rule. By Proviſo, firſt of all, ſift the Chaff from the Wheat; mark whom Valla, Eraſmus, and others, have bored in the Ear for Counterfeit Pieces; and for the reſt, acquaint your ſelves with the choiceſt and leaſt corrupted Editions. The Proteſtants, to their great Commendation, had given no cauſe to ſuſpect them in either kind. They that had notoriouſly, more than all others, vented falſe Wares, were Italian Huckiters; for be…de thoſe good Authors, Coins, Medals, Monumental Inſeriptions in Stone and Braſs, nay nothing of Archaique Value, had eſcaped their falſe Fingers. Having ſeparated the Vi…e from the Precious. expect that all the Leaven of the Fathers is hid, as the Goſpel ſpeaks, in three Meaſures of Meal. They are very witty and exuberant in Allegories, which are the Windows of the Houſe; they ſerve well for Light, but not a jot for Strength. Another ſhare of their Works is taken up in maintaining Eccleſiaſtical Decrees grounded upon Canons and prudent Orders for Decency and Diſcipline. And a good Moiety of their Writings preſſeth only ſuch Matters, as are ſettled by no more then Canonical, or Humane Authority. No wonder if now adays we hold ſuch Obligations but in a ſlip Knot. Variableneſs of Cuſtoms, alternation of Manners, ſundry new Products in new Ages gives power to diſpenſe, ſo we abuſe not our Liberty to a ſcornful Licence. But it is approveable in Muſick, to ſet new Tunes, if we keep the old Gammut. The 34th Article of the Church of England decides it gravely, That every particular or National Church hath Authority to Ordain, Change and Aboliſh Ceremonies and Rites of the Church, Ordained only by Man's Authority, ſo that all Things be done to Edifying. Now theſe Canonical and Human Decretals are Buttereſſes to the Houſe of God, they are raiſed up without the Walls, but all that is within is the ſtronger for their Supportance. The third Part of the Heavenly Extraction of the Fathers, the Pearl growing between the two Shells premiſed, is Dogmatical, their Doctrine of Faith, and Works neceſſary to Selvation In any of which, when many of them conſent we may well preſume, that the Spirit of Chriſt breathed in them. For the Martyrdom of ſoms, the Humility, Self-denial, and Sanctity of them all will atteſt, that they intended the Truth; and one Point of Succeſs, that thoſe who gainſaid them, never took Root, or proſper'd, will perſwade you that they found the Truth. Neither is there any Reverence towards them diminiſh'd by this diſtinction, that what they ſowed in the Field of God, ſaving here a little, and there a little, was ſound Wheat; but all that they mowed down were Weeds, or Hereſies without exception. Thus far He, or rather Dr. Whitaker; whoſe Antagoniſt Duraeus would ſeem to aſcribe more to the Fathers; indeed it is but a ſeeming. Says he, We aſſent to all the Doctrine of the Holy Fathers, to all of it without exception. A mighty Conceſſion, but his Hand ſlacks immediately; N…que patres cenſentur, cum ſuum aliquid, quod ab Eccleſiâ non accep…, vel ſeribunt, vel docent: For if they write or teach any thing, which they have not received of the Church, they are not to be eſteemed Fathers. As like to Plato's Sophiſter, as one drop of Water to another, who would prove that no Shoe-maker did p. 16ever make a bad Shoe; for he that made a bad Shoe, was not Maſter of his Craſt, he was not a Shoe-maker.

22. I will invite the Reader but to the notice of one Thing more upon this Title. This Man was the leaſt Diſtaſted, ſo far as I have known Men, among all of his Profeſſion, with a Scholar that was divers from him in a Theological Debate. And this, he ſaid, he learn'd from the moderation of the Fathers, who were zealous Upholders of the Glory of the Bleſſed Trinity, of Chriſt, and of his M…diatorſhip, and of the Covenant of Grace for the Redemption of Penitent …ners; but for differences of Queſtions which were not ſo prime and ſubſtantial, they cauſed no angry Contract about them, much leſs a Separation of Churches. St. Cyprian is praiſed for this Candor by St. Auſtin, De Bap. con. Donat. lib. 3. c. 3. in this wiſe: Cyprian was not to be removed from a darling Opinion of his own, too much his own, about Re-baptizing of thoſe that had been Baptized by Heretics, yet ſo as, Nominem judicantes, nee à jure communio…s aliquem, ſi diverſum ſenſer…, amov…ntes. I like this Concordance, ſays Auſtin, with two Explanations: 1. In iis quaeſtionibus quae nondum eliquatiſſimâ perſpectione diſcuſſae ſunt. 2. Exceptis iis quae jam ſunt d…ſinita in totâ Eccleſiâ. Firſt, Not to think the worſe of any, much leſs to make a Rupture for maintaining Opinions, which were not diſcuſs'd ſo far to be convincing and conſpicuous. Secondly, To be the bolder with them, if they were the Tenets of ſome Men only, and not the Definitions of the Church Univeral. O that many living Stones, now ſcattered from one another, were cemented together with this Mortar! O that ſuch as are rigidly addicted to their own Fancies, would deſine leſs, and leave more charitable Allowance to their weak, or at leaſt diſſenting Brethren! O that there were leſs Incloſure, and more common Paſturage in the Church for poor Cottagers! And I wiſh again, that it were wiſely conſidered, that a good Conſcience may continue in our Brother, though he be not ſo found in ſome leſſer Truths. Then you would not deny him your Love, becauſe he ſubmits not his Wit and Reaſon to all your Perſwaſions. Many hot Opiniators of our Age are little better then the S…maritans, as deſcrib'd by Epiphanius, Haereſ. 61. foreign: They thought it piaculous to touch a Man, that did not Dogmatize as they did. Therefore how many Slanders muſt they put up quietly, who were of Mr. Williams his Equanimity, ſociable with them that are at point blank contradiction in ſome Quarrels of Polemical Divinity, n…y as ready to prefer the one ſide as the other, how ſure is this to be called by our F…ri…ſ… 's lukewarm and undigeſted Chriſtianity? I have ſeen the Life … Renowned Frier Padre P…lo of Venice, written in Italian by his … and … terſely and faithfully into Engliſh by that Gentleman … great and elegant Parts Mr. … Secretary to this He…oical Prelate, of whom I write, when he was Lord-keepe…: Out of that Piece I ſhall obſerve many Things as I can overtake them in fitneſs of Time; this comes to me now under …, that Fulg…io cannot deny, that Father Paul was Libel'd for a ſtupid … Man, … careleſs of Religion, becauſe when two perhaps were divided which was the Truth, he made a good Conſtruction of them both. To put this into the Trial of an Inſtance; it is as recent to me, as if it had been … done, what befel this prudent Man I write of, for looking upon … of two vehement Factions, and yet laying a Bet on neither …. He had a mighty Inſight into the ſeventh Volume of St. Auſtin's Works, wherein that holy Biſhop hath ſo divinely contended for the Efficacy of Grace againſt …, and Semipclagians. For his own part, St. Auſtin had poſſeſs'd him, and he was over entirely his Adherent in thoſe Controverſies. Many others of exquiſite Learning were not convinced with St. Auſtin's Judgment. The Schools had many that ventilated thoſe impenetrable Conceptions, pro & con; at firſt, with ſharpneſs of Learning; at laſt, with more ſharpneſs of Enmity. The Netherlanders unluckily invented ſeveral Names for theſe Scholaſtical Skirmiſhes, Remonſtrants, and Contra-Remonſtrants. Ate, and the Furies of Contention, came among us out of Belgia with theſe Names. Reproaches, and all ſorts of unkind Diſcriminations, ſucceeded. But he, whoſe Praiſe is under my Pen, held his Auguſtinian Concluſions, but never diſparaged, foreign, never condemned the Judgment of them that opponed, but commended both Tribes with this P…acidneſs, that himſelf, and thoſe of his Mind went upon this Ground, to be circumſpect to aſcribe all Good unto God; and that the adverſe part were very cautious to ſtate their Cauſe ſo, as to aſcribe no Evil to God. If the moſt Learned in the World could not decide how to joyn both theſe together, without ſome jarring Conſequences, let us p. 17meet together in Peace, till God had decided it. Was not this ſweet and candid? Yet it was call'd in him, and in others of that Moderation, Sluggiſhneſs, Craftineſs, Neutrality and the like; as if in points unfundamental and unreſolv'd, every man muſt be a Guelph or a Gibelline. Whereas by deep inſpection it will appear, that many ſuch Opinions are of as even choice as two Shillings, thogh not of the ſame Stamp, yet of the ſame weight; it is all one which you Receive in Pay.

23. Such a Scheme, as I have drawn forth at large of his profounder Studies, was expedient to be put whole together, to avoid the trouble of broken Interruptions. With the weight of thoſe Plummets, his Wheels began to turn about at the 25 year of his Age: And with the ſame Plummets the Clock went even Hour from Hour, from Month to Month, to the expiration of his Life. He never chang'd his faſhion. Now let me invite ſuch as may peruſe theſe Papers to go back with me, and to look upon him again in the Spring of his Maſterſhip of Arts. For who hath deſpiſed the day of ſmall things? as the Prophet ſays, Zachar. 4.10. And becauſe he made his firſt, and moſt advantagious Sallies into the World about this time, being employ'd for his College in Civil or Litigious Cauſes, call them as you will, I will bring him upon that Stage before I go further. Dr. Clayton, the Head of St. Johns College at that time, was a careful and prudent Governour at home, Thrifty for the publick Stock, Meek and quiet as any of that Dignity. Yet it is not poſſible that ſo numerous a Society ſhould be ſo fortunate, to diſpatch all their buſineſs among themſelves, what by Suits of Law, which burſt in upon them by bad Tenants; what by frivolous complaints often Raiſed by their own Members, but by theſe and other ſudden Claps, againſt which there is no prevention, the Governour being very Aged, and wiſely contented to diſpatch others to ſtruggle in ſuch conteſtations, he ſent forth divers that were Truſty and Judicious to be employ'd in ſuch deſigns. But if it were a knot to be cleaved by a ſtrong Wedg, he did always entreat Mr. Williams, either alone, or with collegues, to manage ſuch an Enterprize. As the Greeks Adagy goes, Nil ſine Theſeo, Theſeus made one in every Maſter-piece of Chivalry: Such was our Theſeus to the Athens where he lived. And he was conſiderately lookt upon for ſuch ſervice, for he well underſtood any thing he went about, he had a fineneſs to be Gracious with them to whom he was ſent, and no man could deliver a Tale more ſmoothly, or wrinkle it leſs with digreſſions, or Parentheſes. To ſay much in brief, he had the Policy and Gravity of a Statesman, before he had a Hair upon his Chin. The Meſſages of greateſt Truſt committed to him from the College were to theſe Eminent perſons that follow; To the Earl of Salisbury Chancellour of the Univerſity. By the way I can Witneſs that he much lamented, that he knew that moſt Wiſe Lord Cecil no longer, or upon no greater occaſions; whom he extolled above all Wits, ſpying him through the Tryal of ſuch petty matters as were brought before his Lordſhip in his Preſence: For, as if the Chancellour had a Spirit of Divination, he would inſtantly diſcover, whether the Suit made to him were fit for his ſerious care, or whether it were but Faction and Envy, the Diſeaſes of Scholars within their own Walls, that made a Clamour for Juſtice. Upon ſuch like Errands for his Society, he was admitted ſometimes to Speak and Argue before the true Pillar of the Church, Arch-Biſhop Bancroft. And upon this Reverend Father he gained ſo far, by his neat Wit and decent behaviour, that the Arch-Biſhop ſent for him two years before he was Batchelour of Divinity, and ex mero motu gave him the Advouzon of an Arch-Deaconry in Wales (Cordigan, if I forget not) which came to the Metropolitan by his cuſtomary Prerogative. I am not certain when it fell void, and came to Mr. Williams's poſſeſſion. This I am ſure of, that he ſate in Convocation in the Title of this Arch-Deaconry the year 1613. expiring, when Dr. Lake, Holy and Learned Dr. Lake was Prolocutor. Sometimes alſo he Petitioned Lord Chancellour Egerton for the ſame Foundation. And in a Lucky hour. For the Lord Chancellour in thoſe Addreſſes quickly found him out, that he was a Jewel fit for his own wearing; which broke forth in due time, as ſhall be comprized in the ſequel. And to riſe up one ſtep more upon the degrees of God's Providence, the Maſter and Fellows aforeſaid deputed him for their Agent to the Court to Petition the King for a Mort-main, thereby to bring ſome increment to their maintenance. It is no New thing to ſay he ſped in the Suit… for when did he miſcarry? You have him right in that Elogy, which Aurelius gives to Septimius Severus, acer erat ingenio, & ad omnia quae intenderat in finem perſeverans: His Wit was ſharp, and drew ſucceſs after it, as the Needle doth p. 18the Thred, and his Induſtry was reſtleſs, till he had his End for which he Labour'd. The marvel is that his Worth and Activity ſhould make ſuch impreſſion in the King, that his Majeſty upon ſome occaſion told him of it long after, when he was then become His Highneſs's principal Officer.

24. Theſe were the noted Adventures which our young Academian, by deputation from his College, did make abroad; but his Staple was at his Study at home, where his Light did break out openly in great ſplendor upon this occaſion. On Candlemaſs-Day Anno 1608. his Reverend Friend Dr. Playfere departed out of this World, in the 46 year of his Life, in his Flower and Prime; whoſe greateſt well-wiſhers did not wiſh him alive again, becauſe his rarely beautified Wits, with which he had even inchanted his hearers in ſo many eſtivat commencements, were now more and more diſtemper'd. Yet Mr. Williams wept over him, and exceeded in Grief, as if a Child had loſt his Father. The Univerſity making preparation for the Solemn Funeral of ſo great an Ornament to it, the Vice-Chancellour that then was Dr. Jeggon poſſeſt the Pulpit to Preach, and Mr Williams was required to be the Oratour, to give him a farewel of due praiſe in the Chappel of St. Johns College. He pleaded the Truth, that his ſorrow would not grant him ſuch a diſpaſſionate mind, as was fit to compoſe a Panegyrick and that in the ſpace of three days, and for ſuch a man as Dr. Playfere. And with this Excuſe he held off, till Dr. Clayton, ſet upon it to enforce the Taſque on him that could beſt diſcharge it, Threatned him with expulſion, if he refuſed that Service to which his Superiours had allotted him. An hard condition, and ſuch as might have been diſputed, as long after I heard him Argue upon it. But then he yielded, whether fair means or foul means overcame him I know not: But I think rather Love than Fear got the upper hand of Grief. And when …his Turn came to ſpeak upon the day of the Obſequies, O what a tunable Muſique he made between his Rhetorique and his Tears! for both flowed together. How curious were his Apoſtrophes! How moving were his Paſſions? How winning his pronunciation? Many pauſes he was compelled to make by the Applauſe and humming of the Swarms about him in the cloſe of his Periods. When he had done, and the Aſſembly brake up, it was in every Mouth, that Playferes Eloquence was not dead with him, while this Orator was alive. Let me trouble this Narration with a ſmall interjection. I was my ſelf in the throng among thoſe that heard this Oration, newly admitted into Trinity-College, that being the ſecond day wherein I wore my Purple Gown. This being the Firſt Exerciſe that I heard in Cambrige in the Latin Tongue, I thought it was a City paved all with Emeraldes, and that ſuch Learning and ſuch Silver Elocution was common to them all. But there is a ſaying in Macrobius, a great Orator being the Subject, which might have made me Wiſer; it is thus, ad notam ſeculi ſui non ſufficit Hortenſius. All men that lived in that Age were not like Hortenſius; and among a bundle of Gods, the Poets have feigned but one Mercury; and although the ſucceſs of this Funeral Encomium was much to the Authors praiſe, yet I have it from his own Teſtimony, that he never ſuſpected himſelf ſo much as then in all his Life, leaſt he ſhould have ſhamed his own parts, and Treſpaſt againſt the Honourable Memory of the Dead, becauſe his Wits were bedarkened with a Cloud of Sadneſs. But I ſee that falls out otherwiſe, with many more than he imagin'd. The Noble Author of the Hiſtory of the Council of Trent hath remembred, that the Letters of the Cardinal of Lorain, ween he was ſtruck with horror of Grief for the untimely Loſs of his Brother the Duke of Guiſe; I ſay, his Letters conſolatory written in that plunge and amazement of Sorrow to his Siſter the Dutcheſs, were the moſt full, the moſt ſententious, the moſt flouriſhing in Phraſes that ever he wrote. No inſtance can go higher that that of the Prophet Jeremy, whoſe Eloquence and curious Figures in his Lamentations were never matcht: The mourning of that Dove is ſweeter than the warbling of any Nightingale.

25. Having bought this Credit ſo dear, with the loſs of his deareſt Friend, he grew more conſiderative to look above him, not about him, to the praiſe of God, and not of Men. He had labour'd four years ſtrenuouſly in Theological Studies, and found himſelf in ſome Ripeneſs to do God Service in the Miniſtry. So ſurrendring himſelf in Prayer to him, that alone gives ſufficiency, he received the Orders firſt of Deaconry, then of Prieſthood in the 27 year of his Life. And being recommended to the Grace of God by impoſition of hands, preſently he began to labour in his Maſters Harveſt, and became a Preacher of more frequency and diligence, than it uſeth to be with Fellows of houſes for the greater part. Who ſtay too much upon their preparation before they buckle to the p. 19work of their calling, like Mowers that are longer in whetting their Sithe, then in cutting down the Graſs. And that the Lord when he came might find him careful in tending like a good Steward over the Houſhold, immediately with the Office of his Miniſtry he took the charge of a Living, the ſcantling of it very mean, and it could be no better after the Letter of the Local Statutes where he Lived, that he might keep his Fellowſhip with it. It lay beyond St. Edmunds Bury in the confines of Norfolk, (perhaps Fakenham, or very near to it) it was the flitting Milk of a poor Vicarage, the Parſonage Tithes being ſcumm'd from it. I know not who preſented him to it, but queſtionleſs the Benefice ſought him, and not he the Benefice. He had a fair Champion Country to Ride over to it from Cambridg, which was Exerciſe with breathing in ſweet Air: But the profits of the living would hardly defray the Coſts of his Journeys. The exility of the ſmall Revenue took not off his Edge: For it yielded all out as much as he did drive at, to teach the ſimple, to attain to a readineſs in Preaching, by early and often practice; and to be acquainted with compaſſion (I uſe his own words) towards the hard condition, which his poor Brethren did undergo, that had ſcarce enough to feed them, and keep them Warm for all their Labour. It ſeems the people of the Pariſh were good people, or he thought them ſuch; for in his higheſt Honour I heard him Treating with Sir Lionel Talomach of Fakenham, that Sir Lionel would employ from him an 100 l. to buy Land of five or ſix pounds per annum Value, for the Relief of the Poor of that Village to the worlds End. I hearkned no more after it: For I reckon'd it was done: Becauſe every place wherein he had a Title was the better for his Charity. If further for a deeper Gage to ſound his Learning, ſome expect to know what he perform'd in St. Maries in Cambridg, rather than in a ſorry Vicarage, I can tell them among others that were preſent, that he publiſht himſelf a moſt rare Preacher in a Sermon made before the Univerſity anno 1610. upon this Text, Luc. 16.22. It came to paſs, That the Beggar died, and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams Boſom. He handled the points of the Souls Immortality, of the preſent Bleſſed …ſs of them that dye in Gods Mercy, of their Reception into Heaven, of the Miniſtry of Angels, whether particularly Guardian, or rather in general to all Chriſtians, there he diſcours'd with that depth of Learning, yet liquidating that depth with ſuch facility of opening it, beſide with that Energy and Vigour of Voice and Sides, that his Auditory granted him to be a loud Cymbal, and a well-Tuned Cymbal. About Eight Mouths after, being Liſted into the Combination of the choiceſt Preachers: He was call'd to do that Duty before K. James and Prince Henry at Royſton, whereupon the King ſpake much good of him, but the Prince taking great notice of him as an Honour to Wales, was not ſatisfied to give him encouragement of praiſe, but gave him his Princely Word, that He would Reward him after the weight of his Worth. But the Father beſtowed that preferment on him, which the Prince, taken away by early Death for our Sins, intended. I heard of this Sermon Six Weeks after, and by a merry Token; for having occaſion to come to that hunting Court at Royſton, I received Hoſpitality at a Table full of good Company, where I was askt over and over, eſpecially by the old Brittains, what Place and Dignity Mr. Williams had in Cambridge; every one of them could tell me he made a moſt Excellent Sermon before the King, but for their parts they had been ſuch attentive Hearers, that among them all I could not Learn the Text.

The Fame of our accompliſht Preacher, who had taken the Univerſity and the Court ſo far with his Merits, as none more, ſpread far: And he wanted not Friends in the Lord Chancellour Egertons Family to acquaint his Lordſhip with it, who inſtantly preferr'd him before all Competitors, and ſaid no more, but, Send for him, and let me have him. This was at Midſummer anno 16…1. That Lord Chancellour was a great Patron to Divines, but then they muſt be of many degrees above Mediocrity; and thoſe whom he pickt out for the Service of his Houſe, were of the firſt, and as it were, Seraphical Order. And ſuch indeed were Dr. Richard Feild, Dr. King Biſhop of London, Dr. Carew Bp. of Exon; and as one of that ſtamp, he was pleaſed to entertain Mr. Williams. But when he came to London to be Approved for that Service, after great and humble acknowledgment of his Thankfulneſs, he prayed the Lord Chancellour he might continue a year, or the greateſt part of it at Cambridg, before he came to wait conſtantly in his Lordſhips Honourable Family, becauſe at Michaelmaſs following he was to enter upon the Proctor-ſhip of his Univerſity, a place of Credit and ſome Emolument. And may you not fulfil that place by a Deputy? ſays the Chancellor, p. 20My Lord, ſays the Chaplain, I muſt take an Oath upon my admiſſion into that Office, to overſee the Government entruſted to me, not in general Terms only of Faith and Diligence, but for the due Proviſion of many particular Branches of the Statutes; and I dare not truſt my Oath with another mans Conſcience. To ſo fair a Plea, he got a gentle conceſſion, where I muſt ſhew him in his Honour of Proctorſhip, before he return again to my Lord Egerton.

I have more to ſay, than to tell the World he was Junior Proctor of Cambridge: So have many been, who did nothing, but that which deſerves to be forgotten; like Conſuls that acted nothing, and were uſeful for nothing but to have the Faſti known by their Names. His was foreign, or a a procuration indeed (ſo it is Tranſlated out of Xenophon) which he filled up with as much real Worth and Value, with as much Profit and Dignity to the Univerſity as could be diſpatcht in the Orb of that Government. The firſt place wherein Epaminondas appear'd publickly among the Citizens of Thebes, was the Surveyorſhip of the High-ways and no better, Et muneri Dignitatem addidit, ſays Valerius lib. 3. c. 4. He gave Luſtre by his management to that petty Function. It holds as right, as poſſibly an Example can match a thing, in this inſtance. It is well known our Proctor came into this Magiſtracy burthened with great expectation, which meaſure he filled up, and exceeded it. He roſe with great Light, and ſet with more Brightneſs than he roſe. Happy were thoſe times that heard his Plinian Orations (for his Style had that Savour) that heard his Ariſtotelian diſputations, that enjoyed the Fruit to hear him moderate at the Morning Exerciſes between a Maſter and a Batchelor. Methinks yet I do hear him inveighing, as I did once, againſt the Sloth of the Batchelors, for degenerating from themſelves and the Ancient Cuſtoms of the Schools, as of a fearful Metamorph…is with thoſe Words, Nam vos mutaſtis & illas. He was an aſſiduous Overſeer and Interlocutor at the Afternoon Diſputations of the Under Graduates. Some of the moſt hopeful he enflamed with his Praiſe: Not a few Taſted of his Bounty, and in no meaner Mettle than Gold. I know a man whom he took Notice of at thoſe Acts, who is the better for his good liking to this day. It was greatly commendable in him that he diſdain'd not to be Preſident himſelf at theſe foreign, but attended at them, and acted in them vivâ voce, and did not put off the Work to Journey-men. The Night-watches indeed, he committed ſometimes to Deputies, as the manner is, to compel the Looſer ſort from their Haunts of Inns and Taverns, and Houſes of ill Fame. But when he held the Staff in his own hand, he perceiv'd he prevail'd moſt. And it was ſenſible to the Eye, That he reclaimed many from diſorder; not that in all the year he damnified any one by cenſure, that I could hear of: Neither did he uſe to make a crackling Noiſe with contumelies and Threatnings. But won Regard to his Place by Sweetneſs, by Affableneſs, by Perſwaſions, as dealing with Scholars, not with Peaſants; with Freemen, and not with Servants. This I am ſure of, by his Prudence and Vigilancy Scandals of corrupted behaviour abated, but increaſed not. And what any of his Succeſſors of the ſowreſt Rigor could do more, I know not.

27. In this Procuratorian year, it is as due as any thing to be Remembred, how he behaved himſelf in three weighty occurrencies. Soon after Chriſtmaſs, the Kings Majeſty Commanded the Heads of the Univerſity, to give entertainment, ſuch as might be prepared of a ſudden, to a German Prince, and his Train. It was the Duke of Wittenberg. I cannot err in that I ſuppoſe; for we of the younger fort were taught to know him by that Name; and his Stile at every Word was his Excellency. The Duke was ſingularly Learned for one of that Eminency and Illuſtrious Blood. Therefore it was thought meet to receive him in the Publick Schools with a diſputation in Philoſophy, performed by the moſt expert Profeſſors of it, who were ready, we were ſure, at the ſhorteſt warning. I muſt do him Right to him that was the firſt Opponent, that he charged the Repondent bravely with Arguments of the beſt Artillery. It was Mr. Wr…n of Pembrooke-Hall, now the Reverend and Afflicted Biſhop of Ely whoſe Enemies God hath puniſht with ſuch hardneſs of Heart, that he being never yet brought to Anſwer to the Objections of his Perſecutors after Ejection out of all his Eſtate, and after Twelve years of Impriſonment in the Tower, he continues ſtill in that cruel Durance. But I look back to my own Matter. Mr. Prectour Williams was the Preſident or Moderator at this Learned Act; who by discretion, as well as other ſufficiency, outſtript them all. For, as the Apoſtle of the Gentiles ſays, He was made all things to all Men, ſo the Proctor manag'd his part before this Prince alla Tudeſea, to Dutch-men he became a Dutch Philoſpher, p. 21for all his Conceptions he confirm'd by Quotations out of Julius Pacius. G…l…ius, Keckerman, and others, that had been Profeſſors within the Diſtricts of the Gorman Principalities, which was ſo unexpreſſibly acceptable to the Duke of Wittenberg and his Retinue, that they kept him in their Company ſo long as they ſtay'd in Cambridge, and would never part with him; and in fine, carried him in their Caroaches to Nowmarket, and acquainted the King what Credit he had done to their Country Philoſophers.

28. The next Paſſage is of another frame; and tried his Judgment, not his Learning. The Earl of Salisbury, that famous Lord-Treaſurer, had Govern'd our Univerſity as Chancellor from the Year 1600, with good liking to all. Uxit dum vixit bene. He leſt this World May 24. 1612. In the Election of a Succeſſor, the Regent-Houſe, in whom the Choice was, were improvidently divided. The greater Number gave their Voices for Henry Earl of Northampton, Lord Privy-Seal, ſometimes a Gremial of our Body, ſuperlatively Learned, a Writer of Books in Queen Elizabeth's days, that eſpecially againſt Judicial Aſtrology is of as elegant Contexture, as any that are written in more Sunny Climates: Beſide, he was very Rich, and a Batchelor; a Founder already of a charitable and handſom Pile of Building at Greenwich. Therefore ſuch as deviſed all good ways to attract the Benevolence of Liberal and Wealthy Men unto us, hoped he would be very beneficial to Cambridge his Mother, which now caſt her ſelf into the Arms of his Governance and Patronage. So far the adverſe Part could not diſlike him. One and the only thing to them of ill digeſtion was, that Vox populi, not the Jealouſie, but the Clamour of Court and Country was, that he was no better then a Church-Papiſt: That certainly his Heart was more with the Conſiſtory of Rome, then of Cambridge. Theſe, with whom this Objection ſtuck, were cloſe Students, plain and honeſt Men, the leaſt of all others acquainted with the World abroad. Therefore they run blindfold upon a deſperate way; and to diſcountenance or diſcourage the Lord Privy-Seal, they put one, far better then himſelf, in balance againſt him, the King's ſecond Son, Charles Duke of York his Highneſs, though then but in the 12th Year of his Age. The Lord Privy-Seal had far more Votes in the Scrutiny for his Election, and ſo it was in all Poſt-haſte ſignified unto him. But he took on with all Impatience to be ſo Abus'd, to be made Competitor with the King's Son, and to prevail in the Election. And the King was more Wroth with the Simplicity, or rather Preſumption of thoſe ſilly Clerks, that durſt Nominate his Dear and Tender Son the Duke to any Place or Office, before they had beg'd Leave in all Humility for the Royal Aſſent. A few of theſe received a great Check for it at the Council-Table, and were a while under the Cuſtody of Purſuivants. For their Error, the whole Univerſity was under as black a Cloud of Diſpleaſure, as ever I knew it in all my time, and floated like a Ship in a great Storm, that knew not where to Anchor. The King exclaimed at them for Heady, Inconſiderate, ſwayed by Puritanical Factions. The Lord Privy-Seal, the Elect Chancellor, ſhrunk up his Shoulders, and made an Anſwer of fine Words, and well ſet together, 'That he was not worthy to have the Primacy or Pilotſhip 'over the Argonauts of ſuch an Argoſie: But in Rude Engliſh it was no better, then that He ſcorn'd their Proffer. The Lords of the Council told them plainly, They deſerv'd no Chancellor among the Peerage, who had ſo ſpitefully confronted an Earl of that Eminency. The Vice-Chancellor Dr. Gouch, with the Sophies of the Conſiſtory, Reſolved, That this was not a Sore that would heal with delay, therefore they diſpatch Proctor Williams with their Letters, to offer himſelf before the King, though the Storm blew ſtiff againſt him. So he came to the Court at Greenwich, and caſting himſelf upon his Knees before the King with his Letters in his hand, the King, with no pleaſed Countenance, ask'd him what he would have. Sir, ſays he, my ſelf, and they who ſent me, crave Juſtice of Your Majeſty in the behalf of Your Univerſity of Cambridge, which ſuffers under Your Diſpleaſure in that ſort, as I believe never any of Your Subjects did before, that nineteen Parts of a great Incorporation ſhould be Condomn'd, for the Frowardneſs, and that unpreventable by all the Power we had of the twentieth Part, and they the meaneſt of us all. We beſeech You, Grati…us Sovereign, to Name a Chancellor to preſide over us, or ſuffer us to come to Your Majeſty upon all Occaſions as unto our Chancellor, not made ſo by the ſuffrage of poor Scholars, You are far above that, but in the ſublime Title of Your Kingly Office, by which You are obliged to Protect all Your People, that are Unprotected. This confident Speech was enough to hint to ſo wiſe a King, that this was not the Style of Guiltineſs; ſo Juſtice being even the Girdle of his Loins, and Mercy dropping eaſily from his Lips, like an Honeycomb, without ſtreining, he gave the Petitioner his Hand to kiſs, and bad him p. 22bid thoſe that ſent him, to take Courage in looking well to their Charge in the Univerſity. All Errors lately committed were ſtruck off. They ſhould have Power to chooſe their Chancellor; for he would not take their Right of Free Election from them. His further Pleaſure ſhould be declared in his Letters, which would be at Cambridge before him, if he made not haſte home. And indeed the Proctor and the Letters came thither both in a day, which being opened, ſignified to the Vice-Chancellor, and the Heads aſſiſting, That they ſhould forthwith call a Congregation, and reſume an Election for a new Chancellor, and that His Majeſty would conſtrain him to hold it, whoſoever it were that the Congregation agreed upon. The Heads were yet in a Quandary, and knew not well what to do, becauſe the King was not more Particular, and ſeemed to be ill pleaſed with the Proctor, that he had dived no further into His Majeſties Meaning: For they feared to fall upon a new Rock, becauſe His Majeſty had pointed at no Perſon, nor diſcloſed His Meaning by any Decipher or Intimation. Nay, ſays the Proctor, I ſhall help this Miſtake before you ſtir from hence. Certainly there is one Clauſe in the Royal Letters, which ſets up the White at which all our Votes ſhould aim: For none hath declared a flat Refuſal of this vacant Place but the Earl of Northampton, therefore none elſe can be meant in this Paſſage, "That whomſoever we Chooſe, the King will conſtrain him to hold. It were not proper to think, that any Grandee in the Realm, beſide that Lord, ſhould need to be conſtrained by the High Power and Prerogative of our Sovereign to be our Patron. The Riddle being ſo luckily Unfolded by this Oedipus, the Buſineſs was concordiouſly diſpatch'd; and then the King confeſs'd, that they had hit upon the Interpretation of his ſecret Meaning. Which abounded to the Praiſe of Mr. Williams's Solertiouſneſs; and indeed in an hundred Inſtances more, he was as dextrous as in this, to hunt upon a Fault, and to recover upon a Loſs: But as Cicero ſays, Orat. pro Cecinnâ, cujus prudentiam pop. Romanus in cavendo, nunquam in decipiendo perſpexit. The Lord Privy-Seal ſoon after took his Oath with due Solemnity to be our Chancellor, and gave civil Entreaty when the Eſquire-Beadles, or other Miniſters of our Body came to him. And we can boaſt of no more that came from him; who went out of the World before his Sickneſs was ſuſpected, Jun. 15.16 14. The Golden Mountains we hoped for, and promis'd to our ſelves from his Liberality came to nothing; and the Univerſity was not the better for him by the worth of a Barly-Corn.

29. There remains one Paſſage more juſtly devolved to be laſt and loweſt; for it had more of Succeſs, then of good Succeſs in it in my judgment. Dr. Clayton the Maſter of St. John's College died, a good old Man, about the beginning of June. His Breath no ſooner expired, but the Fellows, who have all Right of Election, firſt began to Confer, and then to Canvas for a Succeſſor. It was ſoon diſcovered that the ſwaying Men, and that were fit for the bandy of ſuch a Buſineſs, meant to ſet up Mr. Owen Gwin one of the Senior Fellows. Others look'd out for one that was Simplicitor optimus, and they hit him. It was the Darling of Divines, Dr. Morton, then Dean of Winton, now Lord Biſhop of Durham, the Polycarpus of our Smyrna the Church of England, whoſe Piety and Humility are Incomparable, his Learning moſt Admirable, and his long Age moſt Venerable. Almoſt all the true Children of the Muſes bleſs'd their Endeavours that acted for ſuch a Man, ſaying with the Pſalmiſt, We wiſh you good luck in the name of the Lord. But this Patriarch, as I may call him, was not like to carry the day by the Conſent of the moſt. Too few ſtood up for him, too few by one eſpecially, and that one was Proctor Williams. O how could one of his deep Reach, and paſſing great Love to his Society prefer an obſcure one, ſcarce to be named before the Man that had all good Men's Applauſe, Dr. Morton? If there be any thing to be ſaid to make it look fair on his part on one ſide, it is this, Mr. Gwin had been his Tutor. A high Spirit, of which he was guilty, will rather Treſpaſs, then not repay the leaſt Benefit it had receiv'd. Nay, a wiſe Man dare not incur ſuch a Folly as to be Ingrateful. Says Comines, lib. 2. Mihi abſurdum quiddam eſſe videtur hominem prudent em ingratum eſſe poſſe. For great Ones, before they will collate a Favour to make a Man, and raiſe him up, will deſire to be ſatisfied, how he hath carried himſelf to other Obligations? What Fidelity hath he ſhewn to former Benefactors? Ecclus. 3.34. He that requiteth good turns, is mindful of that which may come hereafter. The relation of Pupilſhip prick'd on Mr. Williams to do any thing that was in his power for him, that had ſo much Intereſt in his Breeding. But while he was ſtruggling and wooing his Friends to advance that Choice, he ſolicited Mr. Sen. houſe, a very rare Preacher, as Floury as the Spring-Garden, afterward Biſhop of Carlile, who beſpake him fairly again. Sir, if you deſire my Voice to confer the M… ſterſhip p. 23upon your ſelf, I will not deny you. I know you, though a young Man, right worthy of it; but your Tutor ſhall never have my Suffrage, while I can ſay No. After he had prevailed to ſet Mr. Gwin over that great Society, his Fortunes carried him away, but he heard ſo much, that he quickly diſlik'd his own Work. For there was another in that College, whoſe Name is beſt conceal'd, that was a robuſtious driver of Canvaſſes, who took the whole Rule from Mr. Gwin, (a ſoft Man, and given altogether to Eaſe,) into his own hand, and was like the Major Domo, by whom all Suits paſs'd, and every Student ſtoop'd to him for his Preferment: To compare great Things with ſmaller, ſuch another as Victor ſays Mutianus proved, after he had advanced Veſpaſian to the Empire by his Cohorts, Fiduciâ meruorum factus inſolens, ſawcy to meddle with all, becauſe he had deſerv'd ſo much, and nothing would content him, unleſs nothing were denied him. Mr. Williams heard of theſe Paſſages too late, when he could not help the harm he had done. But becauſe he endured much compunction of Mind for it, I will only commit him for this Fault to the caſtigation of the wiſe Poet Horace;

Qualem commendas etiam atque etiam aſpice, ne mox

Incutiant aliena tibi peccata pudorem.

Horat. Lib. 1. Ep. 12.

30. It was time for him, after the Settlement of theſe great Places upon others, to look to his own Place in the enſuing Commencement, which was even approaching. The Inceptor-Maſters by Preſcription have the Right to chooſe out of the two Proctors whom they pleaſe, to be the Father of the Act, as we Cantabrigians call it. It is a ſtrange Aenigma, that the Sons ſhould beget their Father. It lights commonly, as if it were Poſtulatum Mathematicum, upon the Senior. But becauſe he that now was the Elder, if ever he had Polite Learning fit for ſuch a Performance, had out-grown it, therefore becauſe he was no Elder that could Rule well, the Inceptors gave the Younger the double Honour. This Commencement was as Gay and full of Pomp, by the great Concourſe of Nobles and Gentlemen, as ever I ſaw. The Acquaintance and Fame of the Proctor drew the moſt. The Welch Gentry were enough to fill the Scaffolds. Beſide ſuch as repair'd thither at that Seaſon from Lord Chancellor Elſmore's Houſe, and the very brave Attendance of the Lord Privy-Seal, the lately confirm'd Chancellor of the Univerſity, divers others attended the Elder Brother of the Act. Sir Charles Stanhop Knight of the Bath, only Son and Heir to John Lord Stanhop of Harington, a comely Gentleman, that took his Degree of Maſter, and well deſerv'd it, as much by the Proficiency of his Learning, as by the Title of his Blood. Theſe Gallants muſt be Feaſted by the Proctor, and there was no Want, I would there had been no Superfluity. Theſe Coſtly and Luxurious Meals are the Lard of our Commencements, thruſt in among the better Banquets of Scholaſtical Exerciſes. The Proctors Table was more Sumptuous (I underſtand my Compariſon) for the time, then uſeth to be at a Mayoralty in London. I do not reckon it among his clean and unblemiſh'd Praiſes. But if I may preſume to ſit Judge over his Thoughts, I believe He took Parſimony to be moſt uncivil Behaviour. The Prevaricator made me ſmile, when he gave him this Character to his Face, Titus Largius primus Dictator Romanorum. To expreſs my ſelf a little further: Theſe Meſſes of good Chear ought to be frankly ſet out at the times of ſuch Genial and Gaudy Days. It were a wiſe World, if they could be kept within Moderation. The wiſe and well-governing Heathen Romans had Leges Cibarias, as old thrifty Cato term'd them: Leges ſumptum comprimentes, in the Style of Tertullian in his Apology. I take it from A. Gellius, lib. 2. c. 24. that the Sum of 300 Seſtertii, and no more were permitted to be ſpent in feriis Solennibus, which comes to about 40 Shillings, or a little under, as I caſt it up with my Counters. Yet Liberal Julius Caeſar indulg'd on ſuch Occaſions the Expence of 1000; his Nephew Auguſtus bounded it up to 2000; which comes not altogether to 15 Pounds of our Money, Ut his ſaltem finibus Luxuriae efferveſcentis aeſtus coercerctur. And this was granted only to Senators, the Princes of the World, and not to Scholars, and that neither but, in Nuptiis & Repotiis, at the Feaſt of the Bride, and the Repotations of the Bridegroom. I want not Commiſſion to ſpend this little Ink, and it is but very little, upon this Subject. For the Holy Scriptures ſpeak of Salomon's Feaſts, as well as of Salomon's Wiſdom: Howſoever theſe Junquets, and the mention, are quickly taken away with a Voider. The Feaſts of his Learning and Eloquence, demonſtrated in the Theatre of the Commencement, (that was the open Houſe-keeping) were far more delicious and ſweet to the Ear, then Meats p. 24could be to the Belly. All his Speeches were damask'd quite over with moſt pleaſant Alluſions out of Greek and Latin Authors. This was the laſt Scene acted on the Stage of that one Year's Office, and it had the loudeſt Plaudite. Indeed this was the Vintage, when more then ever before he preſs'd out the ripe Grapes of his Elegancies: Virgil. Georg.Tumidisbumaſta racemis. Theſe were his Olympic Wreſtlings, wherein he got the Maſtery in all ſorts of Exerciſes. As Laertius ſays of Democritus, lib. 9. foreign; So this Champion got the beſt at all the Weapons of Philoſophy. Selected Queſtions were diſputed, and fit for the greateſt Celebrity of the Year, extracted out of the Politics, Natural Theorems, and the Metaphyſics, he became Victor in every Duel. And ſo he ſhut up his Proctorſhip (as to the Learned Trial of it, here it ended) with that General Teſtimony of his Praiſe, Ut puderet virum altius extollere, as Pollio ſays of Valerianus, that neither we could give, nor he with modeſty receive a greater Commendation.

31. Theſe Performances being ſo well over, he left Cambridge, and made a happy Remove, as a Conſul, well approved in the Year of his Magiſtracy, was tranſpoſed into a Proconſulat, or Charge of a Province, to teſtifie the good liking of the People to his precedent Office. By this Province, I mean his Chaplain-Attendance in the Houſe of Lord Chancellor Egerton; a Neſt for an Eagle. From that Step in the Houſe of Lord Chancellor Hatton, Dr. Bancroft began to riſe higher, till he came to be Metropolitan of all England. By the like Service in the Houſe of Lord Keeper Puckering, Dr. Vaughan firſt made his Abilities known, and afterward got his Prince's Favour to ſit in the See of London. Now, the Diſciple whom theſe two great Prelates loved ſo well, performing that Truſt with Lord Egerton, which they had done with his Lordſhip's Predeceſſors, was their Match at leaſt in Diſpatch and Judgment; and, by God's Providence, their Equal in Proſperity. Yet before I ſettle him for good and all in this Honourable Family, which will beſt be done in an whole Piece without disjoyning it, I muſt bring him to Cambridge again by an Act of Revocation. A fond Mother that dotes upon her dear Son, whom ſhe hath ſent abroad to be Manner'd and Diſciplin'd, will pick many Occaſions, after a little abſence, to recal him. But the Expedient, and not the Fondneſs, which made the Univerſity borrow him of the Lord Chancellor his Maſter, after he had been 7 months away, was this: The King's only Daughter, the Glorious Princeſs Elizabeth, was married at Whitehall to Frederick Prince Palatine, and Chief Elector of the Empire at Shrovetide. Nothing could be deviſed to Honour a Royal Solemnity with Bravery, Tiltings, Barriers, Maſques, and all ſorts of Triumphs, which was not uſed and preſented. The Gallantry of the Court having had deſervedly the firſt Place in Celebrating theſe Nuptials, it was Reſolved by the King's Majeſty, That His Son-in-Law the Elector, with the Strangers of the Platz, ſhould be received for a Concluſion with an Academical Entertainment at Cambridge. The Warning coming to Dr. Carew the Vice-Chancellor, a Prudent Courtly Man, and very fit for the Service, Matters were put in a ſhort time into Order and Readineſs. The Earl of Northampton, our Chancellor, was expected, for Tradition Immemorial required him at ſuch a ſeaſon; but the frugal old Man appeared not. The Charge of great Fare and Feaſting was not more Coſtly then Welcom to the brave Mind of Dr. Nevile Maſter of Trinity College; who never had his like in that Orb, I believe, for a ſplendid, courteous, and bountiful Gentleman. His Table was Graced with the Company of Prince Charles, Prince Elector Frederick the Bridegroom, Count Henry of Naſſaw, Lodwick Duke of Lenox, with a moſt comely Concourſe of Nobles and Gentlemen, both of the German and Engliſh Nations. In two diſtinct Nights a Comick and a Paſtoral Fable, both in Latin, were Acted before their Highneſſes, and other Spectators, by the Students of the ſame College. This was Play, the reſt was Work. The Scholaſtical Diſſertations were the Work of the Day, the Church of St. Mary being Scaffolded for that uſe.