Chapter Four. Classical, patristic, and medieval sources

Abstract

This chapter surveys the classical, patristic and medieval sources in the works of Richard Hooker. It touches only obliquely on issues about Hooker currently or perennially in dispute. It does, however, provide context for discussing such issues, and it raises a question of its own. Why so much subtext? Regarding church ceremonies, Hooker devoted hundreds of references and associated pages in Of the Lawes of Ecclesiasticall Politie to controversies that were in his view ?for the greatest part such silly things, that very easines doth make them hard to be disputed of in serious manner?. After a few general remarks on the range and accuracy of Hooker?s references, the chapter moves through his works chronologically, picking out references that typify his use of sources or illuminate major themes in his thought. It also provides tables indicating the distribution of different types of references in the works surveyed. Keywords: church ceremonies; Classical sources; medieval sources; patristic sources; Richard Hooker