A iust and temperate defence of the fiue books of ecclesiastical policie: written by M. Richard Hooker against an vncharitable letter of certain English Protestants (as they tearme themselues) crauing resolution, in some matters of doctrine, which seeme to ouerthrow the foundation of religion, and the Church amongst vs. Written by William Covel Doctor in Diuinitie, and published by authority. The contents whereof are in the page following.

ARTICLE XXI The stile and maner of writing. (Book 21)

AS it is an honour to performe that which is excellent; so it is a vertue to approue that which is excellently performed; where to be wanting in the first, may be slouth, or ignorance, but to be wanting in the latter, must needes be malice. Fewe there are, or haue beene in any age, which reaping the due recompence of their labour, haue done that good, which they ought, and haue not receiued that reward which they ought not. Wise men haue thought no otherwise, but that this common lot, might be their portion; yet the feare thereof, could not haue that power ouerall, to make them in that respect, wholy & vnprofitably silent: Know∣ing, that euen that which they suffred for well doing, was their honour; and that which they did well, and suffred for it, was others shame. This vice, in my opinion, is not more vsuall with anie, then with vs, who by reason of the corrupt quality thereof, haue imposed a silence to a great number, who by their writings, doubtlesse, would haue bin verie singular ornaments vnto Gods Church: where∣as strangers of lesse merit, haue a twofold aduantage. The one, that we read their writings without preiudice of their persons; the other, that with a desire of nouelty, we gree∣dily deuoure (as we do fashions) whatsoeuer we think to be done by strangers; this onely in all things (how excel∣lent soeuer) being cause enough of dislike, that it is home borne; but more iustly of silence, that it is disliked. So that when we haue sifted, whatsoeuer is likely to be reproued, euen the last thing to be examined, is the stile itselfe. Thus haue you dealt with Maister Hooker, whom as in all other things, you haue set vpon the racke; so in this you haue ta∣ken vpon you far more, thē beseemeth either the modesty,

or the small learning that is vsually found in such, as professe thēselues, to be but common Christians. For cer∣tainely to iudge of a stile, is not the least point of learning, though it be the least known: but peremptorily, to dislike, which you do, is more then only to iudge. For this, is but to deliuer a speciall verdict, as we thinke our selues; but the other is to take vpon vs, exactly to tell what the law is. Some I haue seene, excellently writing vpon the variety of stiles; and the best, in my opinion, is one Pascalius, who was like enough to iudge well, because he himselfe wrote an excellent stile; yet surely there is in no point of lear∣ning, greater varietie of tastes, then there is in this: some preferre Salust, others Caesar, a third Seneca, a fourth Taci∣tus; in one word, euery man according to his owne fancy. This, as it is in stiles, so it is in the seuerall actions of men; where they are no sooner borne into the world, but Cen∣sure, as a gossip names them. A thing I confesse needfull, and vnfit to be prohibited, seeing we reape oftentimes, more benefit by our enemies, then our friends; yet this sheweth, that the world is vnhappy, where the best offi∣ces are performed by our worst acquaintance. If we come to Authours, some dislike Plato, as Athenaeus did, calling him confused; others say, I only esteem Plato, who doth so cunningly weaue knowledge, and vertue together, as if he said, he were content to giue you knowledge, vpon condi∣tion, that you should be honest. Some compared Aristotle to that fish,* 1.1 whose humour is like inke; Liui•• he likes not Trogus, nor Tully Demosthenes; Lenaeus a seruant of Pompeies mislikes Salust; Asenius calleth him an affecter; Quinti∣lian calleth Seneca chalke without sand; Galigula disprai∣sed Liuie, as ful of words, and yet negligent, in suppressing the triumphes of Romulus, gotten by the victorie of the Tuscans. Thus Varro (without question a mā most learned) euen in the opinion of S. Austin, by one Quintus Rhemius Pal••••on was called a hog. Surely emulation of learning, and difference, either of opinion, or maners, breedes a dis∣like in schollers. This hath bin, is, and shall be that euill,

whereunto learned men must be subiect in the variety of other mens censures; nay euen those bookes, which wee translate, because they are excellent, others wish because they are excellent, not to be translated. Surely it is much easier,* 1.2 saith Dio Cassius, to reprehend others, then to mo∣derate our selues. Some are of so feeble, and weake sto∣mackes, that they loath bread: nay some are of that incon∣stant humour, that what they commēd now, they dispraise the next day; and what yesterday they dispraisd, they com∣mend to day. For in the beginning of your Letter, you cal it a sweet sound of M. Hookers melodious stile;* 1.3 and in a∣nother place, you confesse that his bookes are very excel∣lently and learnedly penned; and yet in this Article, your last scruple is, because his bookes are so long and tedious, in a stile not vsuall, and as you thinke, the like hard to bee found. Where it seemes you are desirous to reprehend, if you could but resolue of the maner how. I dare not take vpon mee to censure those, whom you say he is vnlike; Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, Iewel, Whitgift, Foxe, Fulke: but I perswade my selfe, that whatsoeuer their other vertues were, wherein peraduenture they were more eminent, yet doubtlesse the best of them that now liueth, will acknow∣ledge M. Hookers stile to be very excellent. And although it is vnmeet I should compare him with others, whose labours haue beene profitable in another kind, yet I hope I may say without offence, that as profoundly to iudge, with sound variety of al learning, was cōmon to him with diuers others; so to expresse what he conceiued, in the e∣loquence of a most pure stile, was the felicitie almost of himself alone. That honorable Knight S. Philip Sidney, gaue a taste in an argument of recreation, how well that stile would befit an argument of a grauer subiect; which it may be is more vnpleasing in the taste of some, because the ma∣ner is learned, & the subiect is not agreeing to their hu∣mour. Doubtlesse the perfecting of a stile, and especially of our English stile (which in my opinion, refuseth not the purest ornaments of any language) hath many mo helps,

then those honorable places of learning, the Vniuersities, can affoord. And therfore in those things, which they con∣ceiue (and some of them conceiue much) there are found in the Princes court, diuers most purely eloquent, whom euen the best in the Vniuersities may despaire to imitate. And (if I may speake without offence) I am fully perswa∣ded, that M. Hookers stile (if he had had lesse learning) (a strange fault) (for the weight of his learning made it too heauy) had bin incomparably the best that euer was writ∣ten in our Church. If our English story had been borne to that happinesse, euer to haue beene attired in such rich or∣naments, she might worthily haue beene entertained in the best courts that the world hath; but all Countries know our actions haue beene better done then they haue beene ••old. Of things affected we may giue a reason, but to aske, as you do, a reason of M. Hooker for his stile, it is all one, as if you asked him why he knew so much. For doubt∣lesse out of iudgement he made this choise (in my weake opinion, or strong fancie) simply the best, and (without comparison) imitable to few. Therefore your comparison of the bramble was vnfit, which by a shew deceiued you a farre off; for there is much more by a narrow view to bee discerned in him, then hee seemeth to promise at the first sight. Three things you desire with all instancie. First, to shew what arguments he hath alleaged, which are not to be found in the answer of that reuerend Father vnto M. Cartwright. To satisfie you in this demaund, if there were no difference, yet the consent of their arguments were rea∣son enough, for you to allow M. Hooker, seeing you haue giuen your approbatiō of the works of that most reuerēd Father,* 1.4 whose worthines no doubt, can receiue litle honor from your praise; yet you know, that the whole subiect of M. Hookers first foure books, is an argument, as, ful of lear∣ning, so directly heretofore, not handled by any, that I know. Secondly, you desire, that if he set forth his other books, which are promised, that he would be more plaine, and sensible. Concerning those three bookes of his, which

from his own mouth, I am informed that they were finis••••, I know not in whose hands they are, nor whether y^e church shall euer be bettered by so excellent a worke; for as the Church might haue been happie, if he had liued to haue written more; so she were not altogether so much har∣med, if she might but inioy, what he hath written. But for you to prescribe him a stile, as it is an authority vnfit to assume vnto your selfe, so it were a request, if he liued vnpossible to obtaine.* 1.5 For as once the greatest of place for iudgement of law in our land answeared a client of his in my hearing, who was desirous to haue him take infor∣mation of his cause, from another lawyer, that seemed more fully acquainted with it; he wil speake (saith he) wel himselfe, by his own direction; but if I should speake by his information, I should speake but like a foole: so I am sure, howsoeuer you your selfe may write, following your owne stile, yet Maister Hooker by your direction could hardly attaine the commendations that himselfe had al∣ready gaind. Lastly, you wish him to be carefull, not to corrupt the English creed, by philosophie or vaine decei••, of Schoolemens new borne diuinity; giue me le••ue to ex∣empt you from this fear: for I am fully perswaded, neuer any man liued, who would haue bin lother, to haue bin the author of any new & vnwarranted opinion, which might giue but the least shew of cōtradiction, to the faith which our Church professeth. Things are not to be measured by violence of speech, or vncharitable collections; for who are on Gods side, and who against, our Lord, in his good time, shall reueale. And seeing you doubt of his sound∣nes so far (y^• because he maketh the church of Rome a part of the church of christ (which M. Sarauia, Zanchy, & others do, that you wish him to take heed, that he forget not to giue his lawful Soueraigne, her right, & full due) giue me leaue to set downe his words, & in his words his sound, & feruent affection in this point. When the ruines of the house of God, (that house which consisting of religious soules, is most immediatly the precious temple of the Holy-ghost) were become

not in his fight alone, but in the ••ies of the whole world, so ••nc••••∣ding great, that verie superstition began euen to feele it selfe too far growne; The first that with vs, made way to repaire the de∣ca••es thereof, was King Henrie the eight; the son and succes∣sor of which famous King, as we know, was Edward the Saint. In whom (for so by the euent we may gather) i•• pleased God, righ∣teous ••••d iust, to let England see, what a blessing sin, and iniqui∣••y would not suffer her to inioy; that worke, which the one had be∣gun and the other so far proceeded in, was ••n short space so ouer∣throwne, as if almost it had neuer bin, till such time, as that God, whose property is to shew his mercies then greatest, when they are neerest to be vtterly despaired of, caused in the depth of dis∣comfort, and darknes, a most glorious star to arise, and on her head setled the Crowne, whom he himselfe had kept as a lambe from the slaughter of those blondie times, that the experience of his goodnesse in hir owne deliuerance, might cause her merciful disposition, to take so much the more delight, in sauing others, whom the like necessity should presse; the continuance of which mercy toward vs, in the abundance of his fauour to her, we wish may happely continue so long, as the Sunne indureth. Hither∣to Maister Hooker. To conclude this small and imper∣fect worke,* 1.6 whereas you ioyne these bookes of Maister Hooker, with two other which you take to bee bellowes to blow the coles of sedition; I perswade my selfe, that the ages which are to come, shall more then the present, esteem them with high honor: for mine owne part, what I haue don in defence thereof, it is neither from opinion of sufficiencie, who know mine owne strength in this kinde, weaker then many thousands; nor from a desire of conten∣tion, which I hold (howsoeuer sometimes needefull) the worst imployment of all learning; nor from a willingnes to flatter any, a fault (what soeuer my other infirmities are) whereunto I was neuer subiect; nor that I thought those would haue bin wanting, who had, both farre more learning, and greater reason, to vndertake the defence, then my selfe had: Wherefore, if there be anything, either vnsoundly, or vncharitably set downe (faults, which wil∣lingly

I would be loth to be accused of) I submit my selfe to the Iudgement of the Church, and the courteous ad∣monition of the Christian Reader. But if any man with∣out cause, spurne or thinke himselfe grieued, and finde that conteined herein, which with iudgement, and sound learning he is able to confute, and be desirous hereafter to receiue my answere, let him set to his name, that wri∣teth; otherwise, let him thinke, that Libels, personall, and of no moment, are to bee rather punished by au∣thority, then confuted by any mans pen. And so I will hartily pray that no strife may e∣uer be heard of againe, but this, who shall hate strife most, who shall pursue peace and vnity with most desire.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sepia a Cuttle.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 36. hist
• * 1.3

  Pag. 4. lin. 3. Pag. 46. lin. 4.
• * 1.4

  Pag. 46.
• * 1.5

  The L. Keeper.
• * 1.6

  Querimonia Ec∣clesiae. A Booke of Scotizing and Geneuatizing.