then give a reft both to myself and my reader. His first four books and large epiftle have been declared to be printed at his being at Bofcum, anno 1594. Next, I am to tell, that at the end of these four books there was, when he first printed them, this Advertisement to the Reader: "I have for fome caufes thought it at "this time more fit to let go these first "four books by themselves, than to stay "both them and the reft, till the whole "might together be published. "generalities of the caufe in question as "are here handled, it will be perhaps "not amifs to confider apart, by way "of introduction unto the books that "are to follow concerning particulars; "in the mean time the reader is requested 66 to mend the Printer's errors, as noted "underneath." Such And I am next to declare, that his fifth book (which is larger than his first four) was first also printed by itself, anno 1597, and dedicated to his patron (for till then he chose none) the Archbishop. These books books were read with an admiration of their excellency in this, and their just fame fpread itself alfo into foreign nations. And I have been told, more than forty years paft, that either Cardinal Allen, or learned Dr. Stapleton, (both Englishmen, and in Italy about the time when Hooker's four books were first printed), meeting with this general fame of them, were defirous to read an author, that both the reformed and the learned of their own Romish Church did fo much magnify; and therefore caused them to be fent for to Rome: and after reading them, boafted to the Pope, (which then was Clement the Eighth,) "That though he "had lately faid, he never met with an "English book, whose writer deserved the 66 name of author; yet there now ap❝peared a wonder to them, and it would "be fo to his Holinefs, if it were in La"tin; for a poor obfcure English Priest "had writ four fuch books of Laws, and "Church-polity, and in a ftyle that ex 66 preffed fuch a grave and so humble a ma"jefty, with such clear demonftration of "reason, that in all their readings they had "not met with any that exceeded him :” and this begot in the Pope an earnest desire that Dr. Stapleton fhould bring the faid four books, and, looking on the English, read a part of them to him in Latin; which Dr. Stapleton did, to the end of the first book; at the conclufion of which, the Pope fpake to this purpose: "There "is no learning that this man hath not "fearched into, nothing too hard for his "understanding: this man indeed de"ferves the name of an author: his books "will get reverence by age; for there is "in them fuch feeds of eternity, that, if "the rest be like this, they shall last till "the last fire shall confume all learning." Nor was this high, the only teftimony and commendations given to his books; for at the first coming of King James into this kingdom, he enquired of the Archbifhop Whitgift for his friend Mr. Hooker, that writ the books of Church-polity; to which the answer was, that he died a year before Queen Elizabeth, who received the fad news of his death with very much forrow: to which the King replied, replied, " And I receive it with no lefs, "that I fhall want the defired happiness ❝ of seeing and difcourfing with that man, "from whofe books I have received fuch "fatisfaction: indeed, my Lord, I have "received more fatisfaction in reading a "leaf, or paragraph, in Mr. Hooker, though it were but about the fashion of "churches, or church-mufic, or the like, "but especially of the Sacraments, than "I have had in the reading particular 66 large treatises written but of one of "thofe fubjects by others, though very "learned men and I observe there is in "Mr. Hooker no affected language; but ❝a grave, comprehenfive, clear manifefta❝tion of reason, and that backed with "the authority of the Scripture, the Fa"thers and Schoolmen, and with all law "both facred and civil. And, though 66 many others write well, yet in the next "age they will be forgotten; but doubt"lefs there is in every page of Mr. "Hooker's book the picture of a divine "foul, fuch pictures of truth and reason, "and drawn in fo facred colours, that "they Y 3 "they fhall never fade, but give an im"mortal memory to the author." And it is fo truly true, that the King thought what he spake, that, as the most learned of the nation have, and still do mention Mr. Hooker with reverence; fo he alfo did never mention him but with the epithet of learned, or judicious, or reverend, or venerable Mr. Hooker. Nor did his fon, our late King Charles the First, ever mention him but with the fame reverence, enjoining his fon, our now gracious King, to be studious in Mr. Hooker's books. And our learned antiquary Mr. Camden, mentioning the death, the modefty, and other virtues of Mr. Hooker, and magnifying his books, wifhed," that, for the honour of this, and "benefit of other nations, they were "turned into the univerfal language." Which work, though undertaken by many, yet they have been weary, and forfaken it: but the reader may now expect it, having been long fince begun, and a In his Annals, 1599. lately |