A Literary History of Ecclesiastical Writers

To the most highly valued Theologian, William Cave, who has truly achieved

all learning, and holds the first rank in sacred criticism.

Greetings, man of renown! You are known as a friend to the blessed saints; you are a friend to mortals, and you are a friend to God.

Many good men of old, deep in learning, provided the defense of the Fathers and excellent testimonies. They discerned which writings were spurious and which were genuine, and they separated out the mournful dogmas of the heretics. There was Eusebius, the very famous Bishop, and then after him... original: "Σπυριδωνὸς χολὶς" (Spyridon's gall/zeal). This is a difficult phrase, likely a poetic reference to the historian Socrates Scholasticus or a specific anecdote involving Saint Spyridon's defense of orthodoxy.

Then Gennadius and Matalius, chirping slightly original: "πελαρίζων" – acting like a stork or chirping; a playful reference to their scholarly commentary. as authors for those who follow. These things occurred when divine Justice and the brightness of Apollo and the Graces were known to the venerable fathers.

But did the sacred ship later descend into an inescapable wave of evils, a wretched and fearful turmoil? The sky was mixed with the sea, the stars dissolved in the waters, and a barbarity hostile to life prevailed with blood. Greece was captured—even Greece!—and mistress Rome became the prey of the northern plunderers This refers to the "Dark Ages" following the fall of the Roman Empire and the subsequent loss of classical learning..

And then Isidore, Honorius, and Ildefonsus appeared (who were then the Phoenixes among Spanish Theologians); then Sigebert, a monk of the land of Gembloux, and Trithemius, a treasurer of the archives. (Of their works, many were excellent, yet mixed with many things that were mournful.) They brightened that dark age only a little.

Forgive me, blessed man, united with the saints—I speak of Photius Photius the Great (c. 810–893 AD), Patriarch of Constantinople, whose 'Bibliotheca' is a primary source for ancient Greek literature., the glory of all the East! Photius, though struck by the thunderbolts of the Romans as if he were profane, is yet even more a friend to those in heaven. You, Cave, have truly attained all kinds of learning, both Roman and Greek.

I have come to crown you with flowers of hymns... but not a few others have also chronicled the lives of the fathers: Hessus, Possevino, Aubertus Miraeus, Gesner, Rivera, and our own Coke James Coke (1563–1644), an English scholar who wrote on the authenticity of the Fathers..

There was Bellarmine, who—though he knew no Greek (a great wonder!)—judged the foreign writings of the Greeks with excessive criticism. Labbe followed him, a formidable judge, very bitter, a stranger to Greece but possessing its spirit. Finally, there is Oudin Casimir Oudin (1638–1717), a contemporary bibliographer whom the author accuses of plagiarism., quite thievish, who took as much from the books of others as his own book contains—even the titles from printers and the marks of booksellers; his errors are like no others.

But you, noble man, having labored in your own Sparta A reference to the Greek proverb "Spartam nactus es, hanc exorna" (You have found Sparta, now adorn it), meaning to do one's duty in the place one is assigned., did not merely draw a little water from the surface of the well.

Once a Chartophylax Keeper of the Records; specifically the title of Cave's previous work, 'Chartophylax Ecclesiasticus' (1685), now you have become an Oeconomus Steward or Manager; a play on Cave's role in organizing the "household" of church history, revealing the hidden treasures of libraries. You correctly diagnose the orthodox and the heretical, the primary dogmas, the ancient foundations of kings, short writings, songs, and synods.

Hail, famous man! May you be strong in deep old age; may God give you unbending strength and sturdy limbs. Grow old like the long-lived Nestor of Pylos A legendary king from Homer's Iliad known for his wisdom and great age., from whose tongue flowed speech sweeter than any honey.