The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

XIII.
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in folio, at Oxford, in 1675-78, and wrote the preface which he
prefixed to this edition, and who was the only person then living
who knew the author of the Whole Duty of Man, gave this book of the
Whole Duty of Man to his bookbinder, and Hawkins, his bookseller in
London, with other pieces of Mr. Woodhead's, and ordered Mr.
Woodhead's name to be added to the title of this, as well as of the
other works which he gave to be bound. If Mr. Woodhead wrote that
celebrated work, it was before he travelled abroad, or had any
thoughts of embracing the Catholic faith." The same anecdote has
been mentioned to the editor by the late Mr. Challoner.
Some time after our author's return to England, from his travels with
Mr. Edward Howard, he was chosen president of the English College at St.
Omer's. That college was originally founded by the English Jesuits. On
the expulsion of the society from France, the English Jesuits shared the
fate of their brethren.
On his being named to the presidency of the English college at St.
Omer's, doubts were suggested to him on the justice or propriety of his
accepting the presidency of a college which, in fact, belonged to
others. He advised with the bishop of Amiens and the bishop of Boulogne
upon this point, and they both agreed in opinion that he might safely
accept it.
He continued president of the college of St. Omer's till his decease. It
was expected by his friends, that his office of president would leave
him much time for his studies; but these expectations wholly failed. He
was immediately appointed vicar-general to the bishops of Arras, St.
Omer's, Ipres, and Boulogne. This involved him in an immensity of
business; and, his reputation continually increasing, he was consulted
from every part of France on affairs of the highest moment. The
consequence was, that, contrary to the wishes and expectations of his
friends, he never was so little master of his time as he was during his
residence at St. Omer's. The editor has been favored with the following
letter, which will show the esteem in which our author was held by those
who, at the time we speak of, lived in habits of intimacy with him.
"You have occasioned me, sir, to experience a heartfelt satisfaction in
allowing me an intercourse with you on the subject of the late Mr.
Butler, your uncle; and to communicate to you the particulars within my
knowledge, concerning the life, the eminent virtues, and uncommon
abilities of that celebrated gentleman. Never was I acquainted with any
of my contemporaries who was at once so learned, so pious, so gentle, so
modest; and, whatever high opinion might be conceived of him from a