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, LIONEL CRANFIELD, EARL of MIDDLESEX, BARON CRANFIELD OF CRANFIELD, &c.

SAint PAUL gave a great charge to Timothy to bring the Cloak which he left at Troas, but especi∣ally the Parchments. Here we have the Inventory of a Preachers estate, consisting of a few Cloathes and Books, what he wore, and what he had written. But the Apostles care was not so much concerned in his Cloathes (which might be bought new) as in his Writings, where the damage could not be repaired.

I am sadly sensible (though far be it from me to com∣pare Scribling with Scripture) what the loss of a Library (especially of Manuscripts) is to a Minister, whose Books have passed such hands which made riddance of many, but havock of more.

Was it not cruelty to torture a Library, by maiming and mangling the Authors therein? neither leaving nor taking them intire. Would they had took less, that so what they left might have been useful to others. Where∣as now, mischievous Ignorance did a prejudice to me, without a profit to its self, or any body else.

But would to God all my fellow Brethren, which with me bemoan the loss of their Books, with me might also rejoyce for the recovery thereof, though not the same nu∣merical Volumes. Thanks be to your Honour, who have bestow'd on me (the Treasure of a Lord-Treasurer) what remained of your Fathers Library. Your Father, who was the greatest Honourer, and Disgracer of Students, bred in Learning. Honourer, giving due respect to all men of merit: Disgracer, who by his meer natural parts and experience, acquired that perfection of invention, expression and judgment, to which those who make learn∣ing their sole study do never arive.

It was a Gift I confess, better proportioned to your Dig∣nity then my deserts, too great, not for your Honour to bestow, but for me to receive. And thus hath God by your bounty equivalently restored unto me, what the Lo∣custs and the Palmer worme &c. have devoured, so that now I envy not the Popes Vatican, for the numerous∣ness of Books, & variety of Editions therein, enough for use, being as good, as store for state, or superfluity for mag∣nificence. However hereafter I shall behold my self under no other notion then as your Lordsships Library-keeper, and conceive it my duty, not onely to see your Books dry'd and rubb'd (to rout those moaths which would quarter therein) but also to peruse, study and digest them, so that I may present your Honour with some choice Collections out of the same, at this ensuing History is for the main extra∣cted thence, on which account I humbly request your ac∣ceptance thereof; whereby you shall engage my daily pray∣ers

for your happiness, and the happiness of your most Noble Consort.

I have read how a Roman Orator, making a Speech at the Funeral of his deceased Mother in law, affirmed, that he had never been Reconciled unto her for many years: Now whilest his ignorant auditors condemned their mu∣tual vindicativeness, the wiser sort admired and com∣mended their peaceable dispositions, because there never happened the least difference between them, needing an agreement, as that bone cannot be set, which was never broken. On which account, that never any reconciliation may be between your self and other self, is the desire of

Your Honours most bounden Beadsman, THOMAS FULLER.

Notes

• Anno Regis
• Anno Dom.
• 2 Tim. 4. 13.