An excellent scholar himself, Hoby cultivated the friendship of learned men, especially that of
William Camden, who eulogises his bounty and accomplishments in his
Britannia. Camden also dedicated his
Hibernia (1587) to him. In 1612 Hoby presented a copy of
Sir Henry Savile's sumptuous edition of
St Chrysostom to the library of Trinity College, Oxford. Hoby was also a keen
Protestant theologian, sparring in print with the
Roman Catholic convert
Theophilus Higgons and the
Jesuit John Fludd or Floyd. Hoby's theological writings include: •
A Letter to Mr. T[heophilus] H[iggons], late Minister: now Fugitive ... in answere of his first Motive, (1609), which was answered by Higgons during the same year. •
A Counter-snarle for Ishmael Rabshakeh a Cycropedian Lycaonite (1613), being a reply to
The Overthrow of the Protestants Pulpet Babels, by "J. R." (John Fludd or Floyd). Floyd forthwith replied with his
Purgatories triumph over Hell, maugre the barking of Cerberus in Syr Edward Hobyes "Counter-snarle" (1613). •
A Curry-combe for a сохе-combe . . . In answer to a lewd Libel lately foricated by Jabal Rachil against Sir Edward Hobies "Counter-Snarle," entitled "Purgatories triumph over Hell," (1615), written under the ponderous pseudonym of "Nick-Groome of the Hobie-Stable Reginoburgi," in the form of a dialogue. Hoby also translated
Matthieu Coignet's
Politique discourses on trueth and lying from French (1586), and
Bernardino de Mendoza's
Theorique and Practise of Warre from Spanish (1597). ==Notes==