Andrew Willet or Thomas Cartwright? A question of authorship

[Reformed Covenanter]

I am trying to ascertain the most probable author of a reply to Richard Hooker entitled, A Christian letter of certaine English protestants, vnfained fauourers of the present state of religion, authorised and professed in England: vnto that reverend and learned man, Mr R. Hoo requiring resolution in certaine matters of doctrine (1599).

According to EEBO-TCP, the text has been attributed to both Andrew Willet and to Thomas Cartwright. The secondary sources that I have checked on Google Books favour Willet as being the author. Has anyone here got any insight on this issue?

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Sorry, I made a typo in the title. Change "ot to or", please.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

On page 5, the author praises those who agreed "with the Liturgy & church government established among us." That comment probably indicates that it was not Thomas Cartwright.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

What is the subject of the letter? Is it from Barley where Andrew Willet was serving?

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

What is the subject of the letter? Is it from Barley where Andrew Willet was serving?

Basically, it is a critique of Richard Hooker's doctrine on the basis of the 39 Articles. One really interesting point which I read shortly after creating this thread was that Andrew Willet maintained that Hooker's notion of (what we would today call) the well-meant offer was incongruous with predestination. Brad Littlejohn also argues that Hooker followed Heinrich Bullinger on the subject rather than John Calvin and Theodore Beza, which may explain why his Calvinism was (probably unjustly) seen as suspect in some quarters.

P.S. Could you please fix the thread's title. Thanks.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

Footnote 130 in this work gives a source to consult for the attribution to Willet. Chttps://books.google.com/books?id=83jOBAAAQBAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA36&dq=A%20Christian%20letter%20of%20certaine%20English%20protestants%2C%20andrew%20willet&pg=PA37#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Footnote 130 in this work gives a source to consult for the attribution to Willet. Chttps://books.google.com/books?id=83jOBAAAQBAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA36&dq=A%20Christian%20letter%20of%20certaine%20English%20protestants%2C%20andrew%20willet&pg=PA37#v=onepage&q&f=false

Thanks, that was one of the sources that I consulted.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Michael Brydon also argues that the circumstantial evidence indicates Andrew Willet was the author. See his book, The Evolving Reputation of Richard Hooker, p. 23ff.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Near the end of the treatise, the author says:

First to shewe vnto vs what arguments you haue alleadged which are materiall and of waight, which are not to bee found in the aunswere of that reuerend Father vnto Maister Carthwright; ... (p. 46)

It is unlikely that Thomas Cartwright wrote about John Whitgift in such a manner. Hence, he is probably not the author of the book.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

Near the end of the treatise, the author says:

First to shewe vnto vs what arguments you haue alleadged which are materiall and of waight, which are not to bee found in the aunswere of that reuerend Father vnto Maister Carthwright; ... (p. 46)

It is unlikely that Thomas Cartwright wrote about John Whitgift in such a manner. Hence, he is probably not the author of the book.

I saw that when looking at the piece; agreed.