Page:Elizabeth Elstob - An English-Saxon homily on the birth-day of St. Gregory.djvu/75

 ''earnestly beseeches him to correct them; and, in case he shou'd meet with any thing Heterodox in them, that he would not spare to blot it out; because, says he, I had rather be reproved by your Clemency, than, by an unwary seducing, receive Praise from the Ignorant. I humbly implore your Clemency; to read this Exposition over: in like manner as the former, and to judge whether it be fit to be received by the Faithful, or rejected. The Reprehensions of the Envious in no wise move us, if this Performance shall not be discountenanc'd by Your Authority. The Transcript of this Homily I compared with that antient Parchment Book of Homilies in the Bodleian Library amongst Junius’s Books NE.F.4. being the second of those Volumes that had formerly belong'd to the Hattonian Library, an Account of which we have in that most elaborate Catalogue of Saxon Manuscripts by Mr. Wanley, which makes the second Volume of Dr. Hickes’s Thesaurus p. 43. I had access to this Book, by the singular Courtesy of Dr. Hudson, a Person of so much Learning, that as he needs not envy it in any other, so has he that generous Quality to be found only in those great and generous Minds that are informed with a truly Scholar-like Genius; of not discouraging Learning, even in our Sex.''

''Having given an Account of the Homilist, some will expect, somewhat shou'd be said of the Translator. I have been askt the Question, more than''