Scrinia reserata a memorial offer'd to the great deservings of John Williams, D. D., who some time held the places of Ld Keeper of the Great Seal of England, Ld Bishop of Lincoln, and Ld Archbishop of York : containing a series of the most remarkable occurences and transactions of his life, in relation both to church and state / written by John Hacket ...

THE PROEM.

READER,

Paragr. 1. BOOKS are sown so thick in all Countries of Europe,that a new one, which one adds more to the former Gross, had need of an Apology. The easie Dispatch of so many Sheets in a day, by the readiness of Printing, hath found the World a great deal more Work then needs. Many that love Knowledge, both Industrious, and of sound Judgment, are not nice to say, that Repletion of Authors hath begat Loathing. Which is a Reason likewise, or a Pretence, that divers, who are Learned and full Men, contain their Liquor in their Vessels, and never broach it in the Press to make it Publick, because they think it is Folly to contribute to Waste and Excess. I am one of those, I confess, that wish it were possible, that a Moses could be raised up to restrain us, from bringing more either of our Pamphlets, or Volumes, to the Work of the Tabernacle; For the Stuff already is sufficient for all the Work to make it, and too much, Exod. 36.7.

2. How shall I answer it therefore? Or, how shall I defend that I am constant to mine own Judgment in this Design, that I thrust my Labours into the World? What Warrant can I plead, that I build a new Cottage upon the Waste? I conceive that it will stand for satisfaction, that I set forth an History of Things not tra∣vers'd before, but of memorable Passages running through the Channel of one Man's Life in our present Age. It is a Debt owed to Posterity, to furnish them with the true Knowledge of sore-gone Occurrences, worthy to be Registred; as, I believe, these ensuing are. A Tradition must be kept of famous Exploits, espe∣cially moving upon the Stage of turbulent Times. For when it is skilfully drawn through the Acts of famous Men, it will rouze up our Children by Emulation as much as by Precept, and give them double advantage to seek Virtue and Glory. But better it will be to have it coarse spun, then quite omitted: For such will serve for Cork, to keep a Net from sinking.

3. This Century of our Account from Christ's Birth wherein we live, now wasting beyond the middle, hath been happy in this, That it hath brought forth in our King∣dom of England many of great Renown, Wise and Eloquent, deep in Learning, and sage in Counsels, in a word, to be praised as much as the best of their Fore∣fathers; yet granting to all, both former and latter, an Allowance for some Grains of Frailties. It were pity their Memorial should perish with them. Caesar was a large seeker of Glory; yet grudge no Man a share in Glory, as testifies that little which remains of his Oration for the Bithynians, saying, It is a Duty required from the surviving Generation, to keep them alive in their good Name, who deserv'd it, and can endure the Censure of the World for ever. I listen to his Encouragement; yet measuring my Strength by mine own Meet-wand, I task my self to set up a Pillar but for one Man's Memory. The Event will clear me, that I stint not my self to this one Theme to do but little.

But, First, Because there is so much Kernel in one Shell; I must set forth a great Bishop, a great Judge, a great Counsellor, in all these Capacities most active

in most active Times. Such a Mill will not go with a little Water. Beside the Turnings and Returnings of his Fortune, multiformous Changeableness, rather Prodigious then Strange, by Honour and Dishonour, by Evil Report and good Report, 2 Cor. 6.8. Which will draw considerate Thoughts for no little time to this one Center. As Pliny writes of the Emperor Augustus his Life, interwoven with much Glory, and much Misfortune, Si diligenter aestimentur sancta, magna sortis humanae reperiantur volumina. So it is highly re∣markable, that in this one Piece a diligent Eye may discern all the Colours of human Inconstancy and Instability.

4. Secondly, I spend all my little Skill upon this Subject; for I can draw no Picture so like, because I knew none so well. I noted his Ways and Worth in the University, when I was but young. I observ'd him in his earliest Preferments, when he came first sledge out of the Nest. I was taken into his Houshold Service, as soon as he ascended to his highest Office. And commencing from that time till thirty Years expired with his Life, I trespass not against Modesly if I say, I knew his Courses as much, and saw them at as near a distance, as any Man be∣side. I have as much Intelligence from an Eye-witness Information, and from his familiar Conference with me, as can be expected from any Writer of the Memorials of a great Statist: Qui audiunt audita dicunt, qui vident planè sciunt, says Plautusvery well. He that reports but what he hears, must con∣fess he is at uncertainty; he that sees a Thing done, can relate it perfectly. Pliny hath cast down a great deal of that which he built up in the seventh Book of his Natural History, with this Passage in his Proem, Nec in plerísque corum obstringam sidem meam, potiúsque ad autores relegabo. He would make Faith for little of that which he wrote; but turns his Reader over to such Authors, as himself did not trust in. I am far from such Prevarication. I drew the knowledge of those things of most moment which I shall deliver from the Spring-Head. And I trust in God, that I have incorporated them into this Frame with Integrity. This then is my confidence to make this Compilement, that my Tools were whetted at home. I need not repair to the Allophyli, or Philistins, to sharpen my Axe at their Grind-stone.

5. Thirdly, I am full of willingness to be the Father of this Child: And nothing is apter for a Man to undergo, then that which is agreeable to his Delight. I profess it is not the least of my drifts to sweeten my Master's Memory with a strong composed Perfume; and to carve him out in a commendable, but a true Figure. Suffer me to put one Day to his Life after his Decease. When a worthy Man's Fame survives him, through their help, that light a Candle for that use, that others in succession of Ages may perfectly behold him, it is a grateful Service to put one Day more, as it were, to the Life of Nature, but a Day that may be longer, perhaps, then the Mortal preceding Life thrice told over. The Learned Grotius (Who can stop his Conjectures?) thinks it not improbable, but that the Sun went down, Josh. 10.13. when Joshua pursued the Kings of Canaan in the Valley of Ajalon: Sed post Solis occasum speciem ejus in nube supra horizontem extanti per repercussum ostendere: That is, a kind of Sun, that made a great Lustre, shined sufficiently to make it Day, not in his Presence, but in the repercussion of his Beams upon a Cloud. I cite it only for Accommo∣dation; that when a renowned Man is departed, his last Sun set, the worthy Deeds of his Life may yet shine in our Horizon, as it were by Repercussion in the memory of after-times; which causeth a longer Day then any, nay then all that went before.

6. Now I fear I am in danger of a stabbing Censure, through the Discovery of some part of my Aim in this last Confession: For I have divulg'd, that I offer up this Book as a Banner at the Shrine of this Renowned Prelate's Memory. Some will say, What could be utter'd more in way of Prejudice, to entangle the Belief of the Reader with Knots of Jealousie? A Master in this Art,Dionysius

Halicarnassus gives this for one Rule, to examine prudentially the Truth of an History, by considering, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Affection of the Writer. For my part, I desire to be tried by such a considerate Overseer. And let him judge uprightly, that I could not but understand, it had been better for me to have smother'd my Purpose, which I hold out before the open Light, if I had meant corruptly, and would stain my Paper, and my Conscience, with blots of Falshood and Flattery. I fear God. And he that feels that Motion within him, will not seek Honour to himself, much less to cast it upon another, by Consenage and Fictions. Or if Religion, carelesly present, did not bind so hard, I think Discretion and Experience should advertise any Man, that he is a Fool that ima∣gins he can poison the whole World with a Lye. Polybius speaks soundly, that Truth will be obscur'd by no History, by no Conspiracy. Yet although I should gild this common Place with as much Oratory and Flourish as could be laid on, I know yet there is no Historiographer, but must stand to the courtesie of his Judges to think him honest. I am content to stoop to that Necessity. Not that I despair to make it appear, that I play above Board so fairly, that he that is true-hearted himself, will suspect no Juggling. A late Writer, and one of our Country-men, ••••••ds me this Passage: That Historical Credit is of three degrees; First, When the Fact was s••en of Thousands, as the Battel fought at Pharsalia. Secondly, When a small Number can attest it, as Tully's Defence for Ligarius before Caesar. Thirdly, When few were present to justifie the thing, Sed a sido, occulato, & aurito teste posteris est consignata. Such are many Matters related by Comines concerning his Master Lewisthe Eleventh. I am furnish'd in great part with Materials of the first and second Faith; I will supply the rest from Evidences, though of the third and lowest Credit, yet of the true Sterling value, being the Hand-writings kept in custody, or the very Sayings kept in me∣mory of the chief Actors. The Result is, That I engage unto the World to carve myMercury out of sound Wood, and then to set it up. As the Roman Senate did the like for the Glory of Cato Major, who s••t up his Statue in their Court, having been the Honour of their Robe: To which Valerius very pertinently, Lib. 16. Com. 4. Gratum ordinem, qui utilissimum Reipub. Senatorem tantùm non semper secum habere voluit. A thankful Bench of Judges, that would never suffer so beneficial a Senator to be out of their sight.

7. In the end of this Preface I protest, that there is nothing troubles me less, then that I expect this my Endeavour may displease some, that will either cavil at my Pen, or at the Arch-Bishop's Praise. I wish the Offence may rather fall upon me: For I am grown rather Impudent, then Bold, from that Defiance which Clem. Alexandrinus gives; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Nothing was ever written so fortunately, that found no Opponents: But that's considerately written, which no Man can considerately oppose. But if any have their Teeth set on edge with a sour Humour, and gnash at the honourable mention of the Dead, it is not to be wondred: For he lived when there was little hope to please all; he died when there was less. I wish well to his Memory. I profess it. And would have him live in Honour, though he be dead, not with me, or a few more only, but with the Succession of Men. Historia praestat, ut qui aevo priore vixerant, vivere adhuc nostrâ videantur aetate, as a mighty Master of Learning says: Salmas. Praefat. in August. Histo. Scriptores. And if this Monument cover'd no more then one dead Man, it ought to be Intemerate; says as great a Scholar as the former: Grotius, Lib. 3. Cap. 12. Com. 7. de ju. Bell. & pacis. Quae in honorem mortuorum structa sunt, violari non possunt nisi contemtâ humanitate. But my Scope is, (and I am not under∣stood if I be taken otherwise) not to Consecrate this slight Piece to the Fame of one, but to the Benefit of all, that will find leasure to peruse it: That is, I in∣tend in the Narration of one Life, to insert Rules for any. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: Breathing Images of our Divine Conversation. Therefore I repeat it, that my Labours may have a right Construction, that I cast out this Matter into the Figure of a Moral Example; else I had been far more Compen∣dious. Yet it is the true Image of his Life, whom I describe, and not a Cyrus, or feigned Idea of Wit. One of the greatest Knowledge of any in his Age said, Est Historia nihil aliud, nisi Philosophia quaedam exemplis utens. Ca∣saub. Proleg. in Aug. Hist. Scriptores: A right History is a System of Exemplary, or Practick Philosophy. Such I wish this were; though that way will not please all. Not. those who are delighted with Romances, and like to have Shadows commended that were never extant, rather then such as lived among us, did do us good, and deserv'd Glory; who are no wiser then they, that had rather have Felicity in a Dream, then Waking.

Lastly, That I may not Lavish in Proem, I crave my Due from my Readers and Judges, their good Opinion that I extremely affect Candor; and let them try me by this Mark, That I never (or with little Exception) blame any thing with my Pen; but, First, I consider how much I may Excuse it: Or, Secondly, How I may Recompence it with some other Praise.

Notes

• Lib. 7. Nat. Hist. c. 45.
• Thomas Albius.
• Lib. 1.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉