Peter Heylin
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Peter Heylin or Heylyn (1600 – 1662) was an English ecclesiastical writer and cosmographer.
He was born in Burford, Oxfordshire, the son of Henry Heylyn and his wife Elizabeth Clampard. At 14 he was sent to Hart Hall Oxford and in 1615 he entered Magdelen College, Oxford and took his degree in 1617. He subsequently became an outspoken preacher and was one of the clerical followers of King Charles I of England. He suffered for his loyalty to the king, when he was deprived under the Commonwealth of his living of Alresford in Hampshire and other preferments. After which he 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).
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.
[edit] External links
- Royal Berkshire History: Dr. Peter Heylyn
- Ecclesia Restaurata by Peter Heylyn, DD With The Life Of The Author, By John Barnard
[edit] References
- This article incorporates public domain text from: Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London, J.M. Dent & sons; New York, E.P. Dutton.
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