The church-history of Britain from the birth of Jesus Christ until the year M.DC.XLVIII endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

To the right Honourable HENRY LORD MARQUES OF DORCHESTER, EARLE OF KINGSTON, Viscount Newark, Lord Peirrepont, &c.

HOw low Learning ran in our Land a∣mongst the Native Nobility some two hundred yeares since, in the Reign of King Henry the sixth, too plainly ap∣peareth by the Motto in the Sword of the Mar∣tiall Earle of Shrewsbury, (where at the same time one may Smile at the Simplicity, and Sigh at the

Barbarisme thereof;) SUM TALBOTI, PRO OC∣CIDERE INIMICOS MEOS. The best Latin that Lord (and perchance his Chaplains too, in that Age) could afford.

But in the next Generation we may observe the Rise of Learning in Noble Families. I behold John Tiptoft Earle of Worcester (bred in Bailioll Colledge) as the first English Person of Honour that graced Learning with the Study thereof, in the dayes of King Edward the fourth, both at Home and in For∣reign Vniversities. He made so* 1.1 Eloquent an Oration in the Vatican, in the presence of Pope Pius the se∣cond, (one of the least Bad, and most Learned of any of his Order) that his Holiness was divided be∣twixt Weeping and VVondering thereat.

This Earle may be said to have left John Bour∣chier, Baron of Berners and Governour of Callis, the Heir to his Learning; as who wrote* 1.2 many Treatises, and made Excursions into Variety of Studies, in the dayes of King Henry the seventh.

This Learned Baron had severall Successours under King Henry the eighth, at the same time, to his Parts and Liberall Studies.

1. Henry Lord Stafford, Son to the last Duke of Buckingham of that Name.

2. William Lord Montjoy, a great Patron to Eras∣mus, and well skilled in Chymistry and Ma∣thematicks.

3. Henry Howard, Earle of Surrey, (though last in Time, not least in Merit) the first reviver of English Poetry: so that he may seem in some sort to wave his Coronet, to wear the Laurell.

Since whose time to our dayes Learning hath ever had a visible succession in our Nobility. Amongst whom your Honour, as Captain of the Highest Form, is most illustrious.

Indeed, your Lordship is a reall Refutation of that Scandalous Position which some maintain, That such who are generally seen in all Arts, cannot be eminently skilfull in any one. A Position no better then a Libell on Learning, invented and vented either by the Idle, who would not themselves Study; or by the Envious, who desire to discourage the Endeavours of others.

VVhereas there is such a Sympathy betwixt several Sciences (as also betwixt the learned Languages) that (as in a Regular Fortification one Piece strengtheneth ano∣ther) a resultive Firmeness ariseth from their Compli∣cation, reflecting Life and Lustre one on another. Arts may be said to be Arched together: and all Lear∣ned Faculties have such a Mutual Reciprocation. Thus one is the better Canonist, for being a good Civilian, and a better Common-Lawyer, for being both of them. And hereof your Honour is an Experimentall Proof, whose Knowledge is spread so broad, yet lieth so thick in all Li∣berall Sciences.

VVhat remaineth, but that I crave leave humbly to mind your Lordship of that allusive Motto to your

Name, PIE REPONE TE; that your Honour re∣posing yourself piously in this life, may in a good Old Age be gloriously translated into another? The desire of

Your Lordships Most Bounden Oratour, THOMAS FULLER.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Bale de Scrip••. Angl.
• * 1.2

  Idem & Pitz de Scrip. Anglic.