John Vicars

a Londoner born, descended from those of his name living in the County of Cumberland, educated from his infancy, or time of understanding, in School learning in Ch. Ch. Hospital in London, and in Academical, partly in Oxon. particularly, as it seems, in Queens Coll. but whether he took a degree it appears not. Afterwards he retired to his native place, became Usher of the said Hospital (which he kept to, or near, his dying day) and was esteemed among some, especially the puritannical party (of which number he was a zealous brother) a tolerable Poet, but by the Royalists not, because he was inspired with ale or viler liquors. In the beginning of the Civil Wars, he shewed himself a forward man for the Presbyterian cause, hated all people that loved Obedience, and did affright many of the weaker sort and others from having any agreement with the Kings Party, by continually inculcating into their heads strange stories of Gods wrath against the Cavaliers. Afterwards when the Independents began to take place, he bore a great hatred towards them, especially after they had taken away the Kings life. His works are these.

A prospective glass to look into heaven: or, the celestial Canaan described. Lond. 1618. oct. ’Tis a Poem.

The Soules sacred Soliloquie, &c. sung in a most heavenly hymne—’Tis a Poem also, and printed with the former.

Englands Hallelu-jah: or, Great Britaines grateful retribution for Gods gracious benediction in our many and famous deliverances since the Halcyon dayes of ever blessed Qu. Elizab. to these present times. Lond. 1631. oct. This is a Poem also, and his kinsman Tho. Vicars of Qu. Coll. hath a Copy of verses before it.

Quintisence of cruelty: or, the Popish powder-plot related—’Tis a Poem and printed in a large oct.

Englands remembrancer. Or, a thankful acknowledgment of Parliamentarie mercies to the English nation. Lond. 1641. a Poem in one sh. in qu.

The sinfulness and unlawfulness of having or making the picture of Christs humanity, &c. Lond. 1641. in tw.

God in the mount: or, Englands remembrancer, being a panegerick piramides erected to the honour of Englands God. &c. Lond. 1642. qu. a Poem.

Looking glass for Malignants: or, Gods hand against God-haters. Lond. 1643. qu. in 6. sheets. In this book is much bitterness against the Kings followers, whom, he often stiles cormorants, against the Prelates also, especially Laud.

God in the mount: or, Englands remembrancer, being the first and second part of a Parliamentary Chronicle, or a Chron. of the Parliament of England from 1641. to the month of Octob. 1643. Lond. 1644.

Gods Arke overtopping the worlds waves: or, a third part of a parliamentary Chronicle, &c. Lond. 1646. qu.

The burning bush not consumed: or, the fourth and last part of a Parliam. Chronicle, &c. Lond. 1646. qu. one J. Hart did put out in the year 1627. The burning bush not yet consumed, printed in oct. which title our author Vicars borrowed. These three last books, viz. God in the mount, &c. Gods Arke, &c. and The burnish bush, &c. were all printed together, with this general title,—Magnalia Dei Anglicana: or, Englands parliamentary Chronicle, &c. Lond. 1646. qu. Of which Chronicle one Joh. Hornius a Dutchman is very liberal in his character ((c))((c)) In his Epist. ded. to the reader, before his book entit. Rerum Britannicarum libri 7. &c. thus—Chron. Vicarii qui priora belli complexus est, sermones potius sacros, quales ad populum habentur, quam historias continet, cum maxima operis pars Theologica sit, &c.

Coleman-street-conclave visited; and that grand impostor, the schismaticks cheater in chief (who hath long, slily lurked therein) truly and duly discovered; containing a most palpable and plain display of Mr. John Goodwins self conviction, &c. and of the notorious heresies, errors, malice, pride and hypocrisie of this most huge Garagantua, &c. Lond. 1648. qu. in 7. sheets. Before the title is John Goodwins picture, with a windmil over his head, and weather cock upon it, with other Hierogliphicks or Emblems about him, to shew the instability of the man.

The Schismatick sifted, &c.

Soul-saving knowledge, &c. in oct.

Picture of a Puritan, &c.—These three last I have not yet seen.

Dagon demolished: or, twenty admirable examples of Gods severe justice and displeasure against the subscribers of the late engagement against K. Ch. 2. and the whole house of Peers, &c. Lond. 1660. in two sh [•] in qu. He the said J. Vicars translated also from Lat. into English (1) Mischiefs mysterie: or, treasons Master-piece, the powder-plot: invented by hellish malice, prevented by heavenly means, &c. Lond. 1617. qu. This is a Poem written in Latin by the rev. and learned Dr. Fr. Herringe, but much delated by Vicars; whose labours therein are commended to the world by several copies of verses made by divers persons; among whom are Thom. Salisbury M. A. of Cambridge, Joshua Sylvester, Nathan. Chamber of Greys-inn, &c. Afterwards Vicars making some additions to the said translation, repaired to Dr. Sam. Baker Chaplain to Laud B. of London, to have it licensed, but denied for several reasons. See in Canterburies Doome, p. 184. (2) Epigrams of that most witty and worthy Epigrammatist Mr. John Owen Gent. Lond. 1619. oct. (3) Babels Balm: or, the Honey-comb of Romes religion: with a neat draining and straining out of the rammish honey thereof; sung in ten most elegant Elegies in Lat. by the most Christian Satyrist Mr. George Goodwin. Lond. 1624. qu. (4) The XII Aeneids of Virgil into English deca-Syllables. Lond. 1632. oct. What other things this Presbyterian Poet hath written and translated I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he dying after he had spent 72 years in this vain world, about the 12. of Apr. in sixteen hundred fifty and two,1652. was buried in the north isle of the Church of Ch. Ch. Hospital beforemention’d. Over his grave was a large stone soon after laid, with an inscription thereon, but defaced, and consumed with the Church it self, in the grand conflagration that hapned in London, in the beginning of Sept. 1666. One Joh. Vicars of Magd. Coll. was admitted Bac. of Arts, Nov. 7. an. 1587. and another Joh. Vicars of Broadgates Hall was admitted Master of that faculty in the beginning of July the same year, but both these are too soon for John Vicars the author beforemention’d, who had a Son of both his names, matriculated in this University as a member of Queens Coll. in Mich. term 1631. aged 17. I have made mention of John Viccars among these writers under the year 1639.