Page:Elizabeth Elstob - An English-Saxon homily on the birth-day of St. Gregory.djvu/25

 heard when very young in the North'', and drew me in to be more inquisitive after Books written in that Language. With this the kind Encourager of my Studies being very well pleased, recommended to me the Saxon Heptateuch, most accurately publish'd by Mr. Thwaites. The Matter of that Book being well known and familiar to me, made the reading of it very easy and agreeable: and led me on to the reading of several other Treatises, and to divert myself in taking Transcripts from such ancient Manuscripts as I could meet with. Among these was one I made of the Athanasian Creed, which the great Instaurator of Northern Literature was pleased to accept from me: and to think not unworthy of being publish'd with the Conspectus, or account in Latin, which the learned Mr. Wotton has given us of his ample and learned ''Thesaurus Linguarum Vett. Septentrionalium''. This great Patron of the Septentrional Studies, hath ever since persevered to encourage my Proceeding in them, and to urge me: that by publishing somewhat in Saxon, I woud invite the Ladies to be acquainted with the Language of their Predecessors, and the Original of their Mother Tongue. Particularly he recommended to me the Publication of this Homily. And here I cannot but observe, how great an Argument Women have, for engaging in Learning, even Saxon Learnings from so great an Authority. Of how great importance he thinks the having a due Care for Female Education, may be understood by his so earnestly recommending those excellent Instructions for the''