Notitia monastica, or, A short history of the religious houses in England and Wales by Thomas Tanner ...

TO THE Honourable and Reverend D^r. Leopold-William Finch WARDEN OF ALL-SOULS COLLEGE In Oxford.

SIR,

FROM the Popular Clamours, that have been raised and car∣ried on against the Old Monks ever since the Reformation, it is easie to foresee, what cold reception a Book of this nature must meet with. The reflections of the witty, and the cen∣sures of the prejudiced, are the best en∣tertainment it must expect, and the Author is too mean to afford it the least protection. In this melancholy condition, it flies to Your Patro∣nage; when nothing but such a Great

Name can defend it against the ill usage of ignorance and malice. For the World must needs be convinced, that the Knowledge of Monastical affairs is nei∣ther barbarous nor insipid, when it is countenanced by One, in whom are to be found Politeness, Exactness, and all other Accomplishments becoming a Noble Birth and Academical Edu∣cation.

You well know, Monasteries were in those dark Ages the only Pre∣servers of Learning, and maintain∣ers of Hospitality; Orders and Sta∣tutes for the relief of the poor were never known till after their Dissolu∣tion. Their Founders were men of the greatest Honour and Virtue in their respective Ages; and it cannot but be some satisfaction to the remain∣ing branches of the Nobility and Gen∣try, to survey the Pious Monuments of their Ancestor's Greatness, best ex∣pressed in these splendid Acts of their Liberality and Devotion. Among many other reasons assign'd for the founding

these Religious Houses, it was usual to erect them after their returns from foreign Wars, both as an acknowledge∣ment of Praise and Gratitude to their Maker for their Success and Safety, and also out of Charity (according to the Religion of those times) to the Souls of their slain Friends. It was to the Conquest of France, that Noble College, wherein You preside, ows it's Birth; which never had a Governour, f••om whom that Society and the whole University could expect more, than from You, who fill that Place with all those Qualities, which exactly an∣swer the very mind, Idea, and desire of the great CHICHLEY.

It cannot be denied, but that our Historians and Lawyers must have constant recourse to their Annals; and whatever some modern Authors may in Essays pretend against their Learn∣ing, most certain it is that the more ju∣dicious draw their best arguments from them. And those that neglect such Re∣cords, find great reason sooner or later

to repent their ignorance, especially when their Faults come to be disco∣vered and exposed. Those Great Men of the latter Age were of ano∣ther opinion. Arch-bishop Parker, Sir Henry Savil and Mr. Camden, thought they did the Publick good service, when they brought to light those valu∣able writings of Asserius, William of Malmsbury, Tho. Walsingham, Ingul∣phus, and other Monks. Mr. Selden and Sir Roger Twisden thought they could not join their Studies more to the honour of England, than in re∣trieving from oblivion those excel∣lent Pieces of Simeon Dunelmensis, Joh. Brompton, Stubbs, Thorn, &c. which will ever remain a noble Monument of their Pains, and Affection to their Native Country. And the great design of that excellent Bishop to publish from our Theater all the Latin Writers of the English History, met with uni∣versal Applause: a Work, the Learn∣ed World may hope, waits for Your Care to see carried on and finished.

I shall rather choose to trespass a∣gainst the Custom of such Addresses, than make the least approaches to of∣fend You with those Characters of re∣spect, which Your Virtues exact from all that have the Honour and Happi∣ness to be known to You. So that I shall only crave leave to acquaint You, that I presumed to Dedicate this Treatise to You, out of an innocent ambition to publish, how freely You have been pleas'd to encourage this sort of Learning, in which the Author, because of his natural inclination to History and Antiquities, has been thought by the partial kindness of his Friends in some measure fit to serve his Country. 'Tis this grateful remem∣brance of Your late generous kindness to a Person altogether unknown to You, and without which he must have left this beloved Place and his Studies, that obliges him to offer these his First-Fruits of Duty and Gratitude, and will also give You a right to com∣mand all his future Labours.

That therefore Your Health and Vigor may be such as to compleat the hopes and expectation of all good Men, in seeing You a Glory to Your Function, Age, and Country; and that You may by your Learning, Prudence and Conduct, be a support and credit to the Church and Universities, is, as a Publick Wish, so in a more parti∣cular manner the sincere Prayers of

Reverend Sir,

Your most obliged and most Obedient Humble Servant, THOMAS TANNER.