Herbert Croft

, Son of Edw. Croft Esq descended from an antient and gentile family of his name living at Croft Castle in Herefordshire, was educated in Academicals in Ch. Ch. as his Son Col. Sir Will. Croft use to say, tho his name occurrs not in the Matricula, which makes me think that his stay was short there. Afterwards he married, was a Parliament man in the latter end of Qu. Eliz. and in 1603. received the honour of Knighthood from K. Jam. 1. at Theobalds, being then a person of repute in his own country. At length being full weary of the vanities and fooleries of this world, did retire to Doway in Flanders, and there was by letters of confraternity, dated in the beginning of Feb. (1617) received among the Brethren in the coll. of English Benedictines: who appointing him a little cell within the ambits of their house, spent the remainder of his days therein in strict devotion and religious exercise. After his settlement there he wrote,

Letters perswasive to his wife and children in England, to take upon them the catholick religion.

Arguments to shew that the Rom. Church is a true Church—written against Dr. R. Field his Four books of the Church.

Reply to the answer (c)(c) The said Answer, as Sir Herb. Croft saith, was penned for her by a Protestant Minister. of his Daughter M. C. (Mary Croft) which she made to a Paper of his sent to her, concerning the Rom. Church. At the end of it is a little thing entit. The four ministers of Charinton gag’d by four propositions made to the Lord Baron of Espicelliere of the religion prtended: And presented on S. Martins day to du Moulin in his house, and since to Durand and Mestrezat. All these were published by Sir Herb. Croft at Doway, about 1619. in tw. containing 255. pages. There were but eight copies printed, viz. one for himself, now in the libr. of the English Benedictines at that place, formerly sent to me by a (d)(d) Edw. Sheldon second Son of Will. Sheldon of Boely Esq; Brother of that order, purposely to be perused for a time, and then to be returned: who for religion sake, and in contempt of the world hath denied the inheritance of an Estate of at least three thousand pounds per. an. Another copy was printed for Sir Herberts wife and the rest for his children, but all without a title, only dedicated to his wife and children, with a short Epistle before them beginning thus. I would have you know that although this ensuing discourse cometh to you in print, &c. The beginning of the book it self is this, When it had pleased almighty God, in his great mercy, even after above 53. years of my mispent life, &c. At length after he had macerated his body with fasting, hardship, and devotion, surrendred up his pious Soul to the Almighty,1622. on the 10 Apr. (according to the accompt there followed) in sixteen hundred twenty and two, and was buried in the Chappel or Church belonging to the said English Benedictines at Doway. Soon after was a monument put over his grave, with an inscription thereon, (a copy of it you may (e)(e) In Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Ox. lib. 2. p. 269. b. elsewhere see) in which he is stiled vir prudens, fortis, nobilis, & patriae libertatis amantissimus, &c. He left behind him a Son of both his names, sometimes a R. Catholick, but afterwards a zealous Protestant and a Bishop, of whom I shall hereafter make mention in his due place.