Calybute Downing

the eldest Son of Calyb. Downing of Shennington in Gloucestershire, near to Banbury in Oxfordshire, Gent. (Lord of the mannors of Sugarswell and Tysoe in Warwickshire) became a Commoner of Oriel Coll. in 1623 and in that of his age 17 or thereabouts took one degree in Arts, compleated it by determination, and then went, as it seems, to Cambridge, or beyond the Seas, where taking another degree, he entred into orders, was made Rector of Hickford, (in Bucks.) Doctor of the Laws, and had, (as I have been informed by one that well knew him) the Rectory of West-Ildesley in Berks, bestowed on him. About that time, he being a competitor for the Wardenship of Alls. Coll. when Dr. Gilb. Sheldon was elected, but lost it, did at length exchange W. Ildesley for the Rectory of Hackney near London, and was a great suitor to be Chaplain to Tho. E. of Strafford L. Lieutenant of Ireland, thinking that employment the readiest way to be a Bishop. And whilst he had hopes of that preferment, he writ stoutly in justification of that calling, and was ready ever and anon to maintain it in all Discourses. But being a reputed weathercock that turns which way soever the wind of his own humour and ambition blew him, did, upon some discontent, watch an opportunity to gain preferment, let it come what way soever. At length being esteemed by the Faction to be a Man fitted for any base employment, and one that (what ever he counterfeited) ever looked awry on the Church, in which (being setled and in peace) he could never hope to advance further than Rector of Hackney, was by them sent to feel the pulse of the great City of London. While therefore discontents did rise high in the North, the Scots having in an hostile manner entred the Kingdom, the people every where, especially in London, stirred up by some Agents to petition the King for that Parliament, which began 3. Nov. 1640, our Author Downing did then (viz. on the first of Sept. 1640) preach to the brotherhood of the Artillery Garden, and positively affirmed that for defence of religion and reformation of the Church, it was lawful to take up arms against the King. He having thus kindled the fire in the City, did, for fear of being questioned, (for then it was not lawful to preach Treason) retire privately to Little-Lees in Essex, the house of Robert Earl of Warwick, and common rendezvouze of all schismatical preachers in those parts, while in the mean time his Sermon, which did administer in every place matter of discourse, was censur’d as people stood affected, and in fine gave occasion to the Ringleaders of the Faction to enter upon serious examination and study of this case of Conscience: And, it seems, that they consulting ((*))((*)) See a Letter from Merc. Civicus to Merc. Rusticus. printed 1643. qu. p. 8. with the Jesuits on the one side, and the rigid Puritan on the other; or indeed, because without admitting this doctrine, all their former endeavours would vanish into smoak, they stood doubtful no longer, but closed with these two contrary parties, yet shaking hands in this point of Rebellion, and subscribing to the Doctrine of Downing, as an evangelical truth. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion soon after, he became Chaplain to the Regiment of John Lord Roberts in the Army of Robert Earl of Essex, where he preached and prayed continually against the King and his Cause. In 1643 he shewed himself a grand Covenanter, and thereupon was made one of the Assembly of Divines, but leaving them soon after, he sided with the Independents, and preached so seditiously that he was commonly ((†))((†)) Tho. Edwards, in his Third part of Gangraena 1 p. 81, 82. called Young Peters, or Hugh Peters the second, and often and bitterly preached against such Citizens of London that shew’d themselves zealous for an union or right understanding between the King and his Parliament. But behold, while he was in the height of these diabolical and rebellious actions, he was suddenly, and as I may say most justly, cut off from the face of the earth and was no more seen. His Works are these.

A discourse of the state Ecclesiastical of this Kingdom in relation to the Civil, considered under three conclusions, &c. Oxon. 1633. &c.

A digression discussing some ordinary exceptions against Ecclesiastical Officers—To these two discourses, tho his name is put, yet I have been informed by a certain D. of D. then living and well known to Downing, that he the said C. Downing was not the Author of them.

Discourse of the false grounds, the Bavarian party have laid, to settle their own Faction, and shake the peace of the Empire, &c. Lond. 1641. qu.

Discourse upon the interest of England considered, in the case of the deteinure of the Prince Elector Palatine his dignities and dominions—printed with the former book next going before.

A discoursive conjecture upon the reasons that produce a desired event of the present Troubles of Great Britaine, different from those of Lower Germany, &c. Lond. 1641. qu. &c.

Divers Sermons, as (1) Serm. preached before the renowned Company of Artillery 1. Sept. 1 [•] 40. on Deut. 25.17. Lond. 1642. qu. (2) Fast Serm. before the H. of Commons 31. Aug. 1642, on 2. Thes. 3. ver. 2.—(whether printed I know not,) and others which I have not yet seen. This person who had a hot and rambling Head, laid it down very unwillingly, and gave up the Ghost at Hackney, about the beginning of the year sixteen hundred forty and four,1644. to the great grief of his aged Father, who died in Nov. following. This Dr. Cal. Downing was Father to a Son of his own temper named George, a sider with all times and changes, well skil’d in the common Cant, and a Preacher sometimes to boot, a man of note in Olivers days, as having been by him sent Resident to the Lords States General of the United Provinces, a Soldier in Scotland, and at length Scout Master General there, and a Burgess for several Corporations in that Kingdom, in Parliaments that began there in 1654 and 56. Upon a foresight of his Majesty K. Ch. 2. his Restauration he wheeled about, took all opportunities to shew his Loyalty, was elected Burgess for Morpeth in Northumb. to serve in that Parl. begun at Westm. 8. May 1661, was about that time sent Envoy Extraordinary into Holland, where to shew his zeal and love for his Majesty, he seized on three Regicides at Delft named John Barkstead, Joh. Okey and Miles Corbet, whom he forthwith sent into England to receive the reward of the Gallows. Afterwards being made Secretary to the Treasury and one of his Majesties Commissioners of the Customs, was by the name of Sir George Downing of East-Hatley in Cambridgeshire Knight, created a Baronet on the first of July 1603.