Peter Heylin

Peter Heylin or Heylyn (29 Nov 1599 Anthony Milton, ‘Heylyn, Peter (1599–1662)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004] – 1662) was an English ecclesiastic and author of many polemical, historical, political and theolgical tracts. He incorporated his political concepts into his geographical books "Microcosmus" in 1621 and Cosmographie (1657). Robert Mayhew, "Geography is twinned with divinity"; Geographical Review, Vol 90, No 1, January 2000]

He was born in Burford, Oxfordshire, the son of Henry Heylyn and Elizabeth Clampard. At 14 he was sent to Hart Hall Oxford and, in 1615, he entered Magdelen College, Oxford where he took his degree in 1617 and was elected a fellow in 1618. He lectured on historical geography at Magdalen.

In 1620 he presented his lecture to Prince Charles, at Theobalds. In 1621 these lectures were published as "Microcosmos: a Little Description of the Great World". This would prove to be his most popular work and by 1639, eight editions had been produced.

At college, where he was dubbed 'the perpetual dictator’, Heylin had been an ouspoken controversialist. He subsequently became an outspoken preacher and one of Charles I's clerical followers. In 1630 he lectured against the Feoffees for Impropriations. [ Royce MacGillivray; [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6fzgBbr2cVoC&pg=PT50&lpg=PT50&dq=Cosmographie+in+four+bookes,+containing+the+chorographie+and+historie+of+the+whole+world+1652&source=web&ots=2sn24xZ0wa&sig=ASMiz3DwbBZyCJLk6-KUJRKCRig&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPT45,M1 Restoration Historians and the English Civil War] , Springer, 1974, ISBN 9024716780 ] He suffered for his loyalty to the king when, under the Commonwealth, he was deprived of his preferments including that at Alresford in Hampshire. He subsequently settled at Lacies Court in Abingdon, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire).

At the Restoration, he was made sub-Dean of Westminster, but poor health prevented further advancement.

He was a prolific writer, and a keen and acrimonious controversialist against the Puritans. Among his works are a "History of the Reformation", and a Life of Archbishop William Laud ("Cyprianus Anglicanus") (1668). His Greek titles included "Κειμηλιαέκκληδιαδτικα (Historical and miscellaneous tracts a 1662" (1681) and "Ἡρωολογια Anglorum; or, an help to English history" 1641.Oxford English Dictionary Bibliography: Hart-He]

He was the writer of the "Cosmographie", an attempt to describe in meticulous detail every aspect of the known world in 1652, the geography, climate, customs, achievements, politics, and belief systems. It appears to have been the first description in print of Australia, and perhaps of California, Terra del Fuego, and other territories in the New World. He objected to the name "America" as it placed undue glory on Amerigo Vespucci, and recommended "Columbana" or "Cabotia" as more indicative of the true discoverers, Columbus and Cabot.

He married Letitia Highgate and had a large family. His monument is in Westminster Abbey.

Publications

Heylin's publications include: [Oxford English Dictionary]
*Microcosmus. A little description of the great world 1621 (–1639); enlarged and entitled Cosmographie in four bookes, containing the chorographie and historie of the whole world 1652 (1674)
*The history of St. George of Cappadocia 1631
*The history of the Sabbath 1636
*A coale from the altar 1636
*Antidotum Lincolniense; or an answer to a book entituled, The Holy Table, name and thing 1637
*A brief and moderate answer to the seditious and scandalous Challenge of H. Burton 1637
*Ἡρωολογια Anglorum; or, an help to English history 1641
*The historie of episcopacie 1642
*The undeceiving of the people in the point of tithes 1648
*Extraneus vapulans; or, the observator rescued from the violent but vaine assaults of Hamon L'Estrange 1656
*A full relation of two journeys: the one, into the mainland of France; the other, into some of the adjacent islands 1656
*Ecclesia vindicata; or, the Church of England justified 1657
*The stumbling-block of disobedience and rebellion cunningly laid by Calvin in the subjects way, discovered, censured and removed 1658
*Examen historicum, or a discovery and examination of the mistakes in some modern histories 1659
*Certamen epistolare; or the letter-combate with Mr. Baxter, etc. 1659
*Historia quinqu-articularis; or a declaration of the judgement of the Western churches, particularly of the church of England, in the five controverted points reproached by the name of Arminianism 1660
*Ecclesia restaurata; or, the history of the reformation of the Church of England 1661
*Aerius redivivus; or, the history of the presbyterians from 1536 to 1647 a 1662 (1670)
*Cyprianus Anglicus; or the history of the life and death of William Laud a 1662 (1668, 1671)
*Κειμηλιαέκκληδιαδτικα Historical and miscellaneous tracts a 1662 (1681)

External links

* [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/pheylyn.html Royal Berkshire History: Dr. Peter Heylyn]
* [http://www.godrules.net/library/heylyn/86heylyn_a3.htm Ecclesia Restaurata by Peter Heylyn, DD With The Life Of The Author, By John Barnard]
* [http://enc.slq.qld.gov.au/logicrouter/servlet/LogicRouter?PAGE=object&OUTPUTXSL=object_enc36ui.xslt&pm_RC=REPOMODS01&pm_OI=103&pm_GT=Y&pm_IAC=Y&api_1=GET_OBJECT_XML&num_result=0 Digital story by Robyn Daw] , State Library of Queensland, about one of her favourite collection items - Cosmographie. 4 minutes, (Windows Media Player, RealPlayer).

References

*A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature