John Durell

son of Jo. Durell of S. Hillary in the Isle of Jersey, was born there, entred a Student in Merton Coll. in the latter end of the year 1640, aged 15 years, having then a chamber in S. Albans Hall; but before he had spent two years there, (which was under Mr. Tho. Jones) he left that antient house, Oxford being then garrison’d for his Majesty and the Scholars in arms for him, and forthwith retired to France; where, at Caen in Normandy, he took the degree of Master of Arts in the Sylvanian Coll. 8. of July 1644. About which time he studied Divinity, carried it on for at least two years at Samaur under the famous Divine and Writer Moses Amyraldus Divinity Reader in that University. Afterwards he retired to his own Country, continued there for a time among his Relations, but at length being expuls’d thence with Monsieur Le Conteur and Dan. Brevint, both born in Jersey, our author Durell, who was the first that left that place, took his journey to Paris, and there received Episcopal Ordination in the Chappel of the honorable and truly noble Sir Rich. Browne Knight, his Majesties then Resident in France, from the hands of Thomas Bish. of Galloway, (after the Kings restauration of Orkney) about 1651. So that being a native of Jersey, ordained in France, and by a Scotch Bishop, doth make a certain ((a))((a)) Anon. in a book intit. The Nonconformists Vindication, &c. Lond. 1672. in oct. p. 133. Writer doubt whether he was Ecclesiae Anglicanae Presbyter, as our author stiles himself in his books. Soon after he resided at S. Maloes, and acquainting his friends with the condition he was then in, he was thereupon kindly invited by the reformed Church at Caen, by an express on purpose, to come there and become one of their Ministers in the absence of Monsieur Sam. Bochart the famous Orientalian, Philologist and Critick, (author of Geographia sacra, &c. and of that Latin Letter to Dr. George Morley at the end of that book) who was then going into Sweden. Not long after the Landtgrave of Hessen having written to the Ministers of Paris to send to him a Minister to preach in French at his Highness’s Court, he was by them recommended to that Prince: from whom likewise he received a very kind invitation by Letters, which he kept by him to the time of his death. But the providence of God not permitting him to go to either of those places, he became at length Chaplain to the Duke de la Force Father to the Princess of Turein, Monsieur Le Couteur being invited likewise at the same time to the reform’d Church of Caen, and Brevint to another Church in Normandy, where he was prefer’d to be Chaplain to the Prince of Turein. Before I go any farther, I must tell you that about 1642 the Duke of Soubize living near to the Court at Whitehall, and finding it troublesome, and sometime impossible by reason of his infirmities, to go to the VValloons Church in the City of London, had commonly a French sermon preached before him in his own house every Sunday. This being found very commodious to the French living near thereunto, it was thought convenient upon the death of the said Duke, to set up a French Church about the Strand: And it being in a manner setled, that in the City did so highly resent it, that ever after the members thereof did endeavour by all means possible to pull it down. Upon the Kings restauration the French Church in the City addressed his Majesty to have the French Congregation at VVestminster broken, and forbidden to assemble, because it was not established by lawful authority. That at VVestminster did present an humble suit to his Majesty that he would be pleased to continue it. His Maj. upon consideration of the matter, granted both their requests by breaking the Congregation at VVestm. and by setting up a new Church under the immediate jurisdiction of the Bishop of London, wherein divine Service should be performed in French according to the book of Common Prayer by Law established, his Majesty providing for one Minister, and they themselves allowed to add to him as many as by them should be thought convenient, provided that the said Ministers be presented to the Bishop of London and by him instituted. By vertue of the said Grant the Liturgie of the Church of England was first read in French in the Fr. Ch. at VVestm. assembled by the Kings special favour in the Chappel of the Savoy in the Strand, on Sunday 14 July 1661, and the same day in the morning our author Durell, (who had the chief hand in setting up this Church according to this new model) did preach, and in the afternoon Le Couteur, then Dean of Jersey: from which time, he with others were constant Preachers for several years following, and much resorted to and admired by all. In the beginning of Apr. 1663 he (Durell) was made Preb. of North Aulton in the Church of Salisbury, (being then Chapl. in ord to his Maj.) and in Feb. following he succeeded Dr. A. Hawles in his Prebendship of VVindsore, and about that time was made Prebendary of Durham, and had a rich Donative confer’d on him. In the latter end of 1669 he was actually created Doctor of Divinity, as a member of Merton Coll, by vertue of the Chancellours Letters read in a full Convocation, held on the 13 of Octob. going before, whereby we are informed that his fame was so well known to them (the Academians) especially for the great pains he had taken in the Church, that he could hardly propose any thing to them in his behalf, in which they would not be willing to prevent him. The most noble Chancellour farther adds, that of his parts and learning they were better Judges than himself, but had not so much experience of his Loyalty, Fidelity and Service to his Majesty as himself, &c. In July 1677 he became Dean of Windsore in the place of Dr. Br. Ryves deceased, and so consequently Dean of VVolverhampton; and had he lived some years longer, there is no doubt but he would have been promoted to a Bishoprick. He was a person of unbyassed and fixed Principles, untainted and steady Loyalty, as constantly adhering to the sinking cause and interest of his Soveraign in the worst of times; who dar’d with an unshaken and undaunted resolution to stand up and maintain the honour and dignity of the English Church when she was in her lowest and deplorable condition. He was very well vers’d also in all the Controversies on foot between the Church and the disciplinarian Party; the justness and reasonableness of the established Constitutions of the former, no one of late years hath more plainly manifested, or with greater learning more successfully defended against its most zealous modern oppugners than he hath done, as by his Works following is manifest. Several of his professed Adversaries do give him great commendations, particularly Lewis du Moulin, who saith ((b))((b)) In his Patronus bonae fidei, p. 1. that he is in familiari progressu vir civilis ingenio, ore probo, pectore niveo, oratione profluente & lenocinante, &c. And one of another perswasion named Father Simon, Priest of the Congregation of the Oratory calls ((*))((*)) In the Engl. translation from the French of the Critical History of the Old Test. Lond. 1682. quart. him a learned English Protestant. But now let’s proceed to the Works of Learning by him published, which are these,

Theoremata Philosophiae rationa [•] is, moralis, naturalis & supernaturalis, quorum veritatem tueri conabitur in Coll. Sylvano Acad. Cadomensis, &c. 8 Jul. 1644. Cadom. 1644. quart.

The Liturgy of the Church of England asserted in a Serm. on 1 Cor. 11.16. Lond. 1661. 62. qu. ded. to Jam. Duke of Ormonde. It was preached in French at the first opening of the Savoy Chap. for the French, 14 Jul. 1661. Translated into English by G. B. Doctor of Phys.

A view of the Government and public Worship of God in the reformed Churches beyond the Seas; wherein is shewed their conformity and agreement with the Church of England, as it is by Law established. Lond. 1662. qu. Tho this book (wherein the author speaks several things of himself) was wrot in English, yet the adverse party thought fit to rally up their scatter’d forces, and appear against it in different languages. One is in French, intit. An Apologie for English Puritans: The Writer of which neither mentions Dr. Durell, or any body else in the title; and tho an Independent, yet he pleads the cause of the Presbyterians. The other Answer, which is an Apologie also, is said by a certain ((c))((c)) Matth. Scrivner in the beginning of his Actio in Schismaticos Anglicanos. Lond. 1672. qu. p. 4.5. person to have been written by Hen. Hickman, bearing this title, Apologia pro Ministris in Anglia (vulgo) Nonconformists, an. 1662, Aug. 24 die Bartholomaeo dicto, ejectis, &c. And tho this, and others are stiled Apologies, yet our author Durell saith ((d))((d)) In his Preface to the Divines of all the reformed Churches, before his S. Eccl. Angl. Vind. they are Satyrs, and no other but famosi adversus Ecclesiam Anglicanam libelli. Dr. Lew. du Moulin designed once to translate the said View of the Government, &c. (which is often quoted by many eminent Writers, and highly commended) into Latine for the sake and use of Foreigners; but VVill. Jenkyns the noted Presbyterian Minister deter’d him from his purpose, threatning him with no lesser punishment than that of eternal damnation, if so pernicious a book, (as he was pleased to call it) in which the concord of the Church of England, with all the reformed Churches as to Church Government and divine Worship, should be by his means communicated to Foreigners. The Doctor himself hath told us this, saying that for this reason he let fall the work after he had began it, having proceeded no farther in it than the translation of the Preface, which Dr. Durell had by him, as wrot with Moulins own hand. This, and more, concerning the whole matter, may be seen in our Authors Responsio ad Apologistae prefationem, going next before his Vindici [•] , &c. As for Jenkins before mention’d, a most rigid Presbyterian, he had been Pastor of the Black Fryers, and afterwards of Ch. Ch. in London, had been engaged with the Presbyterian Ministers in their Plot to bring in K. Ch. 2. from Scotland 1651, (for which he had like to have gone to the pot, with his dear brother Love) was ejected from Ch. Ch. for Nonconformity, an. 1662, and carrying on afterwards the trade of Conventicling, was several times imprison’d and otherwise troubled. He hath written many things not now to be mentioned, among which is The busie Bishop, or the Visitor visited, &c. Lond. 1648, written in answer to a Pamphlet published by J. G. called Sion Coll. visited. He hath also several Sermons extant; two, or more, were preached before the Long Parliament, and a fun. sermon also on 2 Pet. 1.15. was preached 12 Sept. 1675, by the occasion of the much lamented death of the learned Dr. Laz. Seaman. But several passages therein giving offence, came out soon after an Answer to some part of it, intit. A vindication of the conforming Clergy from the unjust aspersions of heresie, &c. in a letter to a friend. Printed in qu. He had a chief hand also in Celeusma which I shall anon mention, and wrot other things. He died in the Prison called Newgate in Lond. on the 19 of January 1684, (at which time were 80 Dissenters or more then and there remaining) and on the 24 of the same month his corps, being attended by at least 150 Coaches, was inter’d in the burying place called by some the Phanatical, and by others Tyndales Burying place, joyning on the north side to the New Artillery Garden or Yard near London. Soon after was printed and published An Elegy on that reverend and learned Minister of the Gospel, Mr. Will. Jenkyns: who finished his Testimony, &c. A comment on which, with many things concerning Mr. Jenkyns himself, you may see in the 2 vol. of The Observator, num. 209.210. written by Rog. L’estrange Esq. wherein also you’ll find his Petition to the Supreme Authority the Parliam. of the Commonwealth of England, for the pardon of his life and estate, for being engaged in the Plot before mention’d; in which Petition being asserted by him that Possession and strength give a right to govern, and success in a cause or enterprise proclaims it to be lawful and just, &c. it was, by the decree and judgment of the Univ. of Oxon past in their Convocation 21 July 1683, burnt with certain books in the School Quadrangle, as destructive to the sacred person of Princes, their state and government, &c. Our author Dr. Durell hath also written against the aforesaid two Apologies a book intit.

Sanctae Ecclesiae Anglicanae adversus iniquas atque inverecundas schismaticorum criminationes Vindiciae, &c. Lond. 1669. qu. In which Vindiciae, the author doth only by the by sometimes take notice of the former or first Apologist, as thinking him unworthy of any larger confutation, but the other (Hickman) he answers more fully and designedly in his citations following his second edition. As for the character given of the said Vindiciae, hear what Mathew Scrivner saith in the place before cited, in relation to his answer to Hen. Hickman,—Justo volumine contemptissimi istius capitis veternos nuper obtrivit Durellus, fecitque vanissimum autorem inter pueros immodestiae & amicitiae suae infelicissimum deplorare exitum. And what Lew. du Moulin ((f))((f)) In his Epist. p. 56. delivers of it, is, that it is more offensive to the Puritans than the other book intit. A view of the Government, &c.—And therefore against it came out soon after a small piece intit.—Bonasus vapulans: or, some Castigations given to Mr. Joh. Durell for fowling himself and others in his English and Lat. book. Lond. 1672. in a small oct: said to be written by a Country Scholar, yet generally believed to have been pen’d by Hickman before mentioned. Which book with some additions and alterations, came out again with this new title. The Nonconformists vindicated from the abuses put upon them by Mr. Durell and Mr. Scrivner. Lond. 1679. oct. Of which edition and notorious falsities expressed in the title, I shall give you an account when I come to H. Hickman. Dr. L. du Moulin published also another book against it, without his name set to it, bearing this title, Patronus bonae fidei, in causa Puritanorum, contra Hierarchas Anglos: ut disceptatur in specimene confutationis Vindiciarum clariss. viri Joh. Durelli, cujus periculum fit, cum passim in ejus opere tum Maxime in capite primo, in quo agitur de authoribus nuperorum motuum in Anglia. Lond. 1672. oct. This book hath five distinct running titles, all differently paged, to the end that the sheets so printed might the better by that means escape the Searchers of the Press. The titles are 1. Epistola. 2 Specimen. 3. Prodromus. 4. Defensor. and 5. Patronus, &c. This Patronus bonae fidei, tho fraught with scurrilities, and the utmost malice and bitterness, in which the author (whose excellency laid in ill natur’d Satyr) could possibly express himself against the Ch. of England and some of her most eminent, as well dead as living, Propugners; yet it is cited more than once, as a piece of notable authority in Will. Jenkyns’s Celeusma, seu clamor ad caelum, &c. Lond. 1677. qu. In which book when the author refers you to the said Patronus bonae fidei, the Writer thereof (Moulin) is characterized as doctissimus, clariss. and eruditiss. possibly, as we may justly conceive, for his performance in that work. Nay ’tis not only quoted as a very authentick piece by the said Jenkyns, but is cited by Dr. Tho. Godden the great and eminent Rom. Cath. Writer against the Church of England in his Dialogues wrot in defence of Catholicks no Idolaters, against Dr. Stillingfleet, as a Treatise to be credited in its account of some practices and usuages in the Ch. of England, but chiefly of bowing towards the Altar. To which citation from Du Moulin, Dr. Stillingfleet replies in his book ((g))((g)) Printed at Lond. 1679. oct. p. 208.209. and p. 222.223. &c. intit. Several Conferences between a Romish Priest, a fanatic Chaplain, and a Divine of the Ch. of England, being a full answer to the late Dialogues of T. G. In the pages here quoted in the margin you’ll find an account of the great Knight-service which L. du Moulin did for the Papists, and what wonderful good use they made of him, besides the sharp character given of his performance in Patronus bonae fidei, which, I presume, could not be over pleasing to that proud and haughty French-man. A farther account of him and his Writings is in Dr. Rob. Grove his Defensio ((h))((h)) Printed 1682. in qu. from p. 92. to p. 95. suae responsionis ad nuperum libellum qui inscribitur Celeusma, &c. adversus reputationem ab authore Celeusmatis editum: but more particularly from the said Groves former piece called ((i))((i)) Pr. at Lond. 1680. qu. from p. 9. to p. 17. Responsio ad Celeusma, &c. In the 15 page of this last mention’d book, you have this close and smart character of some of this French Doctors most considerable performances thus. Erat aliquando tempus cum tu excusatius peccares, cum esses olim Irenaeus Philadelphus, an. 1641, qui à te laesi erant, temeritati tuae veniam dabant; cum Paraenesin scriberes an. 1656 te opus viribus tuis majus aggredi putabant; cum Causae jugulum peteres anno 1671 delirare credebant; cum Bonae fidei Patronum ederes 1672 insanire videberis; nunc autem postquam Ecclesiae Anglicanae progressus ad Papismum emisisti, omnes te jam furore arbitrantur, &c. Altho these Vindiciae of Dr. Durell are well known to be written in good Latin, yet Dr. Du Moulin makes ((k))((k)) In Patron. bonae fidei, p. 1.2. such a boasting fulsome comparison between the goodness of Dr. Durell’s stile in this book, and that of his own in his Patr. bon. fidei &c. by a strange kind of modesty, giving himself the preeminence in such unbecoming extravagant Language, that Mr. Mat. Scrivener could not but take particular notice of, and reflect on this notable piece of self flattery (among other passages relating only to himself) in the margin of the Preface before his Body of Divinity:—Lond. 1674. fol. What other books our author Durell hath written I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that dying on Friday the 8 day of June, about 8 of the clock at night, in sixteen hundred eighty and three,1683. was buried on the 12 day of the same month about the middle of the north isle joyning to the choire of the Chap. o [•] Ch. of S. George within the Castle at Windsore, in a small Vault of brick built for that purpose, and intended for his wife also after her decease. Soon after was a flat black marble stone laid, with a little inscription thereon containing his name, title and obit, as also his age when he died, which was 58. In his Deanery succeeded Dr. Franc. Turner, and in his Prebendship of Durham Dr. Jo. Montague Master of Trin. Coll. in Cambridge, Brother to the present Earl of Sandwych.