Memoranda on the Christian Letter.

cxiii

PREFACE.

help of divines allowed by authority, that they may a little better EDITOR'S make it sink into your head, before you meddle again with matters Appendix 3. of religion.

Add here such sentiments as the Fathers use for admonition to shallow witted men, and consolation, although they be not able to argue and dispute in matters of doctrine: which thing belongeth not to them, but to others, whom God hath more enabled for that purpose.

P. 48.] "Now in all these things, good Maister Hoo. though we thus write, we do not take upon us to censure your books, "neither rashly to judge of you for them; but because. . . . he "that toucheth our faith toucheth the apple of our eye; we could "not but utter our inward grief, and yet in as charitable manner, as the cause in hand would suffer."] As if Cassius and Brutus, having slain Cæsar, they should have solemnly protested to his friends, they meant him nothing but mere good-will and friendship. Only they feared lest the commonwealth should take harm by his Was there any friend he had so ill-minded, as not to believe such honest protestations?

means.

An imitation of this conclusion in the person of Cassius and Brutus. You have given me as many stabs as my body could receive at your hands: although in effect, I praise God for it, none of them deadly, whatsoever your intent were. But for this once I will take your word without further reply; and am content to let the world think, if it will, that as you have done me, so likewise you have meant me no evil in any thing hitherto written; not in traducing me as an underminer, not in, &c.

Forget not here to use that of Solomon, Prov. xxvi. 18, “As a "madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man "that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?"

P. 49. At the foot of their conclusion.] "Hæc pro animi nostri pura conscientiæ et Domini ac Dei nostri fiducia rescripsi. Habes "tu literas meas et ego tuas. In die judicii ante tribunal Christi "utraque recitabuntur." Cyprian. ad Papin. Ep. 66. in fine.

CALIFORNI
NIVERSITY

LIBRAR

The above are

all

1 from MSS. preserved in C.C.C. Library. Oxford.

TO THE

RIGHT HON. AND RIGHT REV. FATHER IN GOD,

GEORGE, LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER,

DEAN OF HIS MAJESTY'S CHAPEL ROYAL,

AND PRELATE OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER.

MY LORD,

I HERE present you with a relation of the life of that humble man, to whom, at the mention of his name, princes, and the most learned of this nation, have paid a reverence. It was written by me under your roof: for which, and more weighty reasons, you might, if it were worthy, justly claim a title to it but indeed, my Lord, though this be a well-meant sacrifice to the memory of that venerable man; yet I have so little confidence in my performance, that I beg your pardon for subscribing2 your name to it; and desire all that know your Lordship to receive it, not as a dedication, by which you receive any access of honour, but rather as a more humble and a more public acknowledgment of your long continued, and your now daily, favours to

your most affectionate,

and most humble servant,

IZAAK WALTON.

Nov. 28, 1664.

[Morley.]

lives, 1675, which is the same with

2 [Corrected to "superscribing" this, mutatis mutandis.] in the dedication to the collected