Daniel Fairclough

, commonly called Featley, Son of John Featley (somtimes Cook to Dr. Laur. Humphrey President of Madg. Coll. afterwards Cook of that of Corp. Chr.) by Marian Thrift his Wife, was born at Charlton upon Otmore near to, and in the County of, Oxford, on the 5. of March or thereabouts in 1582, educated in the Grammar School joyning to Madg. College, being then (1590 &c.) Chorister of that house, admitted Scholar of Corp. Ch. Coll. 13. Dec. an. 1594, Probationer-Fellow 20 Sept. 1602 being then Bach. of Arts, and afterwards proceeding in that faculty, (at which time he was Junior of the Act) he became a severe student in that of Divinity. Soon after, having laid a solid foundation in the positive part, he betook himself to the Fathers, Councils, Schoolmen, &c. and in short time became eminent in them. His admirable disputations, his excellent Sermons, his grave, yet affable demeanour and his other rare accomplishments, made him so renoun’d, that Sir Tho. Edmonds being dispatched by King James, to lye Leiger. Embassadour in France, he made choice of our Author to travel with him as his Chaplain. The choice he accepted and willingly obeyed, and spent 3 years in France in the house of the said Embassador. During that time he became the honor of the Protestant Religion and the English Nation; insomuch as his many conflicts with, and conquests of, the learned Sorbonists in defence of the Protestants, and opposition to the Papists, caused even those his adversaries to give him this encomium that he was Featlaeus acutiss. & acerrimus. Upon his return into England, he repaired to his College, took the degree of Bac. of Div. 1613 and soon after became Rector of Northill in Cornwall by the favour of Ezeck. Arscot, Esq one of his Pupils and a Cornish man born. But before he was scarce warm there, he was sent for from thence to be domestick Chaplain to Dr. Abbot Archb. of Canterbury, and by him was prefer’d soon after to the Rectory of Lambeth in Surrey. In 1617 he proceeded in Divinity, and puzled Prideaux the Kings professor so much with his learned arguments, that a quarrel thereupon being raised, the Archbishop was in a manner forced to compose it for his Chaplains sake. The Archb. of Spalato being also present at the disputation, was so much taken with our Authors arguments that he forthwith gave him a Brothers-place in the Savoy Hospital near London, he being then Master thereof. About that time he had the Rectory of Alhallowes Church in Broadstreet within the City of London confer’d upon him by Canterbury; which, soon after, he changed for the Rectory of Acton in Middlesex, and at length became the third and last Provost of Chelsey Coll. In 1625 he left Canterburies service (being then married) and retiring to Kennington near Lambeth, where his wife had a house, laid aside his polemical Divinity, wholly devoted himself to the study and practice of Piety and Charity, and composed his Ancilla Pietatis, which the next year was published. From that time to the beginning of the Civil War, may be many things here spoken of him, worthy of memory, as of his often disputes with persons of contrary Religion, his writing of books against the Church of Rome, &c. which shall now for brevity sake he omitted. In Nov. 1642, after the King had encountred the Parliament-Soldiers at Brentford, some of the Rebels took up their quarters at Acton: who, after they had missed our Author Featley, whom they took to be a Papist, or at least that he had a Pope in his belly, they drank and eat up his Provision, burnt down a Barn of his full of Corn and two Stables, the loss amounting to 211 l. and at the same time did not only greatly profane the Church there by their beastly actions, but also burnt the rails, pull’d down the Font, broke the windows and I know not what. In Feb. following the said Rebels sought after him in the Church at Lambeth on a Lords day to murder him, but he having timely notice of their coming, withdrew and saved himself. In 1643 when the Bishops were altogether disinabled from performing their Office, and thereupon the Assembly of Divines was constituted, by the Blessed Parliament, then by some so call’d, our Author was appointed a member thereof, shewing himself among them to have more of Calvin in him than before, being (as tis ((*))((*)) By Dr. Pet. Heylyn. said) a Calvinist always in his heart, tho he shewed it not so openly till that time. But so it was, that our Author being a main stickler against the Covenant there, which he was to take, did in a letter to the learned Dr. Usher Primate of Ireland, then at Oxon, in the middle of Sept. the same year, shew to him the reasons why he excepted against it. A copy of which letter, or else another, which he about the same time wrot, being treacherously gotten ((†))((†)) See in a book call’d Sacra Nemesis. §. 3.4.5. &c. from him, was first carried to the Close Committee, and at length to the House of Commons. Whereupon our Author being judged to be a Spye and a betrayer of the Parliaments cause, was seised on, committed Prisoner to the Lord Petre’s house in Aldergatestreet on the 30 of the said month, and his Rectories taken away, that of Acton being bestowed on the infamous Independent Philip Nye, and that of Lambeth on Joh. White of Dorchester, the old instrument of sedition, who afterwards got an order to obtain, and keep his Library of books, till such time that he could get his own back, which had a little before been seised on at Dorchester by the command of Prince Rupert. In the said Prison-house he continued till the beginning of March 1644 and then after much supplication made to the Parliament in his behalf (he being then drawn very low and weak by the Dropsie) he was remov’d for health sake to Chelsey Coll. of which he was then Provost, where spinning out a short time in Piety and holy Exercise, surrendred up his last breath to him that first gave it. He was esteemed by the generality to be one of the most resolute and victorious Champions of the reformed Protestant Religion in his time, a most smart scourge of the Church of Rome, a Compendium of the learned Tongues, and of all the liberal Arts and Sciences: Also, that though he was of small Stature, yet he had a great soul and had all learning compacted in him. He was most seriously and soundly pious and devout, and tam studio quàm exercitio Theologus insignis, &c. as ’tis express’d in his Epitaph. What the Reader may further judg of him, may be by his works, the Catalogue of which follows.

The life and death of Jo. Jewell somtime B. of Salisbury—’Tis an abridgment of the said Bishops life written by Laur. Humphrey D. D. drawn up by our Author whilst he was a Student in C. C. Coll. an 1609 at the command of Dr. Bancroft Archbishop of Canterbury. Which being by him concluded and sent to Lambeth, was suddenly printed and prefix’d to the said Jewells works, before he had time to revise it, and to note the errata therein. Most, if not all, of the said life is printed in English in a book intit. Abel redivivus, collected and written by Tho. Fuller—Lond. 1651. qu.

History of the life and manner of death of Dr. Joh. Rainolds President of Corp. Ch. Coll. in Oxon.—It was delivered in a Lat. Oration from a pew set in that Coll. quadrangle, when the said Rainolds was to be inter’d in the Chappel there. Most, or all of the said life is remitted into the before mention’d Abel redivivus.

Life and death of Rob. Abbot D. D. somtimes Bishop of Salisbury—Written in Latine also, as it seems, and remitted into Ab. rediv. in English.

The Romish Fisher caught and held in his own net. Or, a true relation of his conference with Joh. Fisher and Joh. Sweet. Lond. 1624. qu.

Appendix to the Fishers net, with a description of the Romish wheel and circle—Printed with the former book.

A defence of his proceedings in the conference, together with a refutation of Mr. Fishers answer (under the name of A. C.) to a treatise intit. The Fisher caught in his own net. Lond. 1624. qu.

The sum and substance of that which passed in a disputation between Dr. Featly and Mr. G. Musket, touching transubstantiation, 21. Apr. 1621. Lond. 1624. qu.

True relation of that which passed in a conference at the end of Pater noster row, called Amen, touching transubstantiation, 18. Apr. 1623.

Conference by writing between Dr. Featley and Mr. Jo. Sweet a Jesuit touching the ground, and last resolution of faith.

Which five last things were printed with the Rom. Fisher caught.

Ancilla Pietatis. or, the handmaid to private devotion, &c. Lond. 1626. oct. After which, were eight editions of it printed before the year 1676.

The practice of extraordinary devotion—Printed with Ancilla Pietatis. In one of these two he makes the story of S. George the tutelar Saint of England a meer figment, for which he was forced to cry peccavi, and fall upon his knees before Dr. Will. Laud. A. B. Cant. as Will. Cartwright of Ch. Ch. hath noted it in the margin of a copy of the said book, which did belong to him.

Summ of Saving knowledge delivered in a Catechisme consisting of 52 sections, answerable to the Sabbaths throughout the year. Lond. 1626. oct.

Pelagius redivivus. Or, Pelagius rak’d out of the ashes by Arminius and his Scholars. Lond. 1626. qu. This book consists of two parallels, one between the Pelagians and Arminians, the other between the Church of Rome, the Appealer, (viz. Rich. Mountague afterwards B. of Chichester) and the Church of England in three Columes; together with a writ of Errour sued against the Appealer, &c. Seven men in distinct books soon after Mountagues Appeale came forth, appeared against it, viz. G. Carleton B. of Chich. &c. See more in the said Carleton under the year 1628.

The grand Sacrilege of the Church of Rome in taking away the Sacred Cup from the Laity at the Lords Table, &c. Lond. 1630. qu.

Two conferences: The former at Parys now stifled by the Romanists Bishop of Chalcedon, another at London with Mr. Everard a Romish Priest, disguised in the habit of a Lay Gentleman, unexpectedly met at a dinner in Noble street 25. Jan. 1626.—Printed with the Grand Sacrilege, &c.

Clavis Mystica: A Key opening divers difficult and mysterious Texts of Holy Scripture, in 70 Sermons. Lond. 1636. fol. Which Sermons having several matters in them against the Papists and the Church of Rome, were as Prynne ((a))((a)) See in Canterburies Doome, p. 108.254.258.269. alias 279.284.293 527. &c. saith obliterated before they went into the Press by the Licenser, Chaplain to Laud Archbishop of Canterbury.

Defence of Sir Humph. Lynd’s Via tuta. Lond. 1638. qu. See in Sir H. Lynd under the year 1636.

Answer to a piece intit. A case for a pair of Spectacles. Lond. 1638. qu. This, with a Supplement thereunto added, tho published by Dr. Featly, yet ’twas originally written by the said Sir Humphrey. See more in Sir Humph. in vol. 1. p. 513.

Transubstantiation exploded against the Bishop of Chalcedon. Lond. 1638. oct.

Several Funeral Sermons. Lond. 1640. fol. published again with other Fun. Sermons, under the Title of The House of Mourning, &c. Lond. 1671.

Vertumnus Romanus. Or, a discourse penned by a Romish Priest, wherein he endeavours to prove that it is lawful for a Papist in England to goe to a Protestant Church to receive the Communion, and to take the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy. To which are adjoyned animadversions in the margin, by way of Antidote, against those places where the rankest Poyson is couched. Lond. 1642. qu.

Animadversions upon a book intit. A Safeguard from Shipwrack to a prudent Catholick, wherein is proved that a Catholique may goe to a Protestant Church and take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy. Lond. 1642. qu.

Answer to the seaven articles exhibited against him to the Committee of plundred Ministers by three mechanick Brownists, in July 1643.—Which articles, with the answer, are extant in a book intit. The gentle Lash, &c. written, I think, by our Author Featley.

The Dippers dipt. Or, the Anabaptists duck’d and plung’d over head and ears, at a disputation in Southwarke, 17. Oct. 1642. Lond. 1643. 44. 45. &c. Answered by Sam. Richardson an. 1645.

Tractate against the Anabaptists contained in six Articles.

Remarkable histories of the Anabaptists, with observations thereupon—These two last are printed with The Dippers dip’t.

Answer to a Popish challenge touching the antiquity and visibility of the true Church and other questions depending thereon. Lond. 1644. qu. Some Titles of this Book call it Roma ruens.

His Manifesto and Challenge—Written upon report that he was turned Papist, an. 1644.

Sacra Nemesis: The Levites Scourge, or Merc. Britannicus and Civicus disciplin’d. Oxon. 1644. qu.

Divers remarkable disputes and resolves in the Assemb. of Divines related, Episcopacy asserted, truth righted,—In this, which is printed with Sacra Nemesis, is Dr. Featley’s learned Speech against the Covenant, spoken in the said Assembly.

Pedum Pastorale conc. hab. ad Cler. Oxon. ad Joh. 21.15. Ultratraject. 1657. in 12o.

Dr. Dan. Featley revived, proving that the Protestant Church (and not the Romish) is the onlie Catholick and true Church. Lond. 1660. tw. Preserv’d from the hands of the Plunderers in the beginning of the Civil War, carefully kept for many years and at length published by his Nephew Joh. Featley.

The League illegal: or, an examination of the Solemn League and Covenant. Lond. 1669. qu. See in Jo. Gauden under the year 1662. and in Joh. Featley 1666.

Doctrine of the Church of England maintained, in a justification of the 39 Articles of the Church of England, against Papists and Schismaticks, &c. Lond. 1660. quarto.

Antiquity and Universality of the Protestant Faith—Printed with the former. He also published K. James his Cygnea Cantio. Lond. 1629. qu. wherein you may read a Scholastick Duel between that King and our Author; who dying in Chelsey Coll. near Lond. on the 17. of April in sixteen hundred forty and five, was,1645. according to his Will, buried in the Chancel of Lambeth Church. At which time a very great multitude of persons of Honor and Quality attended the Funeral Rites, and Dr. Loe, by some called Leo, preached a learned and pious Sermon: Which being afterwards printed, I shall now refer the Reader to it, if it may be had: wherein, as also in his life, written by his Nephew Jo. Featley before mention’d, (from whence I have taken some materials) you may receive farther satisfaction concerning those rare accomplishments of the party deceased. Over his grave was soon after a comly Monument erected, with an Epitaph engraven thereon; a copy of which you may see in Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Oxon. lib. 2. p. 242. b.