The Henson Journals

[109]

Saturday, March 22nd, 1919.

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"Many a day the only entry in the diary is, 'My daily task, thanks be to God.' The amount of labour, mental and mechanical, which is intimated by this short phrase, must be estimated by reference to his printed books, & to the still extant Adversaria, from which his books proceeded".

Pattison's "Isaac Casaubon" p. 230.

I was indisposed all day, and went to bed early: so that my record may equal Casaubon's in brevity though not in quality. Beyond a few letters, & the newspapers, I solaced myself with Casaubon. Mark Pattison is an admirable biographer, and he found a thoroughly congruous subject. There is a ring of personal bitterness in the contemptuous language which he employs to describe the much–vaunted learning of the Jacobean divines, but he is probably not far from the truth when he lays emphasis on the theological and controversial interest which dominated English learning. James I comes out creditably in his dealings with Casaubon, & the latter's uniformly respectful references to his royal patron in his private correspondence are creditable both to himself & to the King. It is hardly true to say that the Anglican controversialists represented the appeal to sound learning. This appeal on all essentials was to the Bible, and on non–essentials to Christian antiquity. Their opponents really stood on the Authority of the Church, & their appeal to antiquity was merely polemical. Hence the facile & frequent forgeries.

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