Croft, Herbert. The Legacy of the Right Reverend Father in God, Herbert Lord Bishop of Hereford: To his Diocess. Or a Short Determination of all Controversies We have with the Papists, by Gods Holy Word. London: Printed for Charles Harper, at the Flower-de-luce, over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleet-street, 1679. First Edition. [5980]
Removed, 7 1/2 x 6 inches, includes Imprimatur leaf, [xvi.], 128. [2] pp. Advert leaf at end. Good.
ESTC R1143; Wing C6966. Running title: The legacy of the Bishop of Hereford. A Supplement to the Preceding Sermons. Together with a Tract concerning the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper, Promised in the Preface, p. (75), has a separate dated title page; pagination and register are continuous.
The work consists of three sermons on John 5:39 plus the Supplement.
Herbert Croft, D.D. (1603-1691), Anglican bishop of Hereford. Croft spent his youth with his father in Europe, who had converted to the Roman Church. Herbert did as well, at Rome in 1826, and took up studies at the English College there. On a business trip to England he was persuaded to conform to the Church of England, and 1636 matriculated at Oxford, his former studies being accepted towards his degree. He was made D. D. at Oxford in 1640, and about this time appointed chaplain to Charles I., who trusted him as a courier to several of the officers of the Royal Army, and made Dean of Hereford in 1644. He was nominated by Charles II. to the bishopric of Hereford, and confirmed to the post 21 January 1661/2.
"He became afterwards much venerated by the gentry and commonality of that diocese for his learning, doctrine, conversation, and good hospitality; which rendered him a person in their esteem fitted and set apart by God for his honourable and sacred function." - Wood, Athenae Oxon. He was an outspoken opponent of Popery, and "in 1679 he seized and plundered the residence house of his old masters the Jesuit fathers at Combe, near Monmouth." - see entry in DNB.
