TO THE READER.

THOUGH the feveral introductions to these several Lives have partly declared the reasons how, and why I undertook them; yet fince they are come to be reviewed, and augmented, and reprinted, and the four are now become one book; I defire leave to inform you that shall become my reader, that when I fometime look back upon my education and mean abilities, it is not without fome little wonder at myself, that I am come to be publicly in print. And though I have in thofe introductions declared fome of the accidental reasons that occafioned me to be fo, yet let me add this to what is there faid; that by my undertaking to collect fome notes for Sir Henry Wotton's writing the Life of Dr. Donne, and by Sir Henry's dying before he performed it, I became like those men that enter eafily into a law-fuit, or a quarrel, and having begun, cannot make a fair retreat and be

quiet, when they defire it.-And really, after such a manner, I became engaged into a neceffity of writing the Life of Dr. Donne, contrary to my firft intentions; and that begot a like neceffity of writing the Life of his and my ever-honoured friend, Sir Henry Wotton.

And having writ these two Lives, I lay quiet twenty years, without a thought of either troubling myself or others, by any new engagement in this kind; for I thought I knew my unfitness. But, about that time, Dr. Gauden (then Lord Bishop of Exeter) published the Life of Mr. Richard Hooker, (fo he called it,) with fo many dangerous mistakes, both of him and his books, that difcourfing of them with his Grace, Gilbert, that now is Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, he enjoined me to examine fome circumftances, and then rectify the Bifhop's mistakes, by giving the world a fuller and a truer account of Mr. Hooker and his books, than that Bishop had done; and I know I have done fo. And let me tell the reader, that till his Grace had laid this injunction upon me, I could not admit a thought

a thought of any fitnefs in me to undertake it but when he had twice enjoined me to it, I then declined my own, and trufted his judgment, and submitted to his commands; concluding, that, if I did not, I could not forbear accufing myself of difobedience, and indeed of ingratitude for his many favours. Thus I became engaged into the third Life.

For the Life of that great example of holiness, Mr. George Herbert, I profess it to be fo far a free-will offering, that it was writ chiefly to please myself; but yet not without fome respect to pofterity: for though he was not a man that the next age can forget; yet many of his particular acts and virtues might have been neglected, or loft, if I had not collected and presented them to the imitation of those that fhall fucceed us; for I humbly conceive writing to be both a safer and truer preferver of men's virtuous actions than tradition, especially as it is managed in this age. And I am also to tell the reader, that though this Life of Mr. Herbert was not by me writ in hafte, yet I intended it a review,

a review, before it fhould be made public: but that was not allowed me, by reason of my absence from London when it was printing fo that the reader may find in it fome mistakes, fome double expreffions, and fome not very proper, and fome that might have been contracted, and some faults that are not justly chargeable upon me, but the printer; and yet I hope none fo great, as may not by this confeffion purchase pardon from a good-natured reader.

And now I wish that as that learned Jew, Jofephus, and others, fo these men had alfo writ their own lives: but fince it is not the fashion of these times, I wish their relations or friends would do it for them, before delays make it too difficult. And I defire this the more, because it is an honour due to the dead, and a generous debt due to thofe that fhall live, and fucceed us, and would to them prove both a content and fatisfaction. For when the next age fhall (as this does) admire the learning and clear reafon which that excellent cafuift, Doctor Sanderson, (the late Bishop

of

of Lincoln,) hath demonstrated in his Sermons and other writings; who, if they love virtue, would not rejoice to know that this good man was as remarkable for the meekness and innocence of his life, as for his great and useful learning; and indeed as remarkable for his fortitude in his long and patient suffering (under them that then called themselves the godly party) for that doctrine, which he had preached and printed in the happy days of the nation's and the Church's peace? And who would not be content to have the like account of Dr. Field, that great schoolman, and others of noted learning? And though I cannot hope that my example or reason can perfuade to this undertaking, yet I please myself, that I shall conclude my Preface with wishing that it were fo.

J. W.