part, impugn the printer, or tranfcriber, rather than the author. If, after that, you shall efteem it worth your vacant hours to difcourfe thereon, you fhall but take that liberty which I affume myself, that is, freely to abound in your fense as I have done in my own. However fhall determine, you fhall fufficiently honour me in the vouchsafe of your refute, and I oblige the whole world in the occafion of your pen,

you

Norwich, March 3. 1642.

Your Servant,

T. B1

Sir

Sir KENELM DIGBY's anfwer to the foregoing letter

WORTHY SIR,

SPeedily, upon the receipt of your letter of the third current, I fent to find out the printer that Mr. Crook (who delivered me yours) told me was printing Something, under my name, concerning your treatife of Religio Medici, and to forbid him any further proceeding therein; but my fervant could not meet with him whereupon I have left with Mr. Crook a note to that purpose, entreating him to deliver it to the printer. I verily believe there is some mistake in the information given you, and that what is printing must be from some other pen than mine; for fuch reflexions as I made upon your learned and ingenious difcourfe, are fo far from meriting the

prefs,

prefs, that they can tempt no body to a ferious reading of them; they werė notes hastily fet down, as I fuddenly ran over your excellent piece, which is of weighty fubject, and fo strongly penned, as requireth much time, and sharp attention but to comprehend it; whereas what I wrote was the employment but of one fitting and there was not twenty four hours between my receiving my Lord of Dorfet's letter that occafioned what I faid, and the finishing my anfwer to him; and yet part of that time was taken up in procuring your book, which he defired me to reads and give him an account of; for till then I was fo unhappy as never to have heard of that worthy difcourfe If that letter ever come to your view, you will fee the high value I fet upon. your great parts: and if it should be thought I have been something too bold

in differing from your fenfe, I hope I fhall eafily obtain pardon, when it fhall be confidered, that his Lordship affigned it to me as an exercitation, to oppofe in it, for entertainment, fuch paffages as I might judge capable thereof; wherein what liberty I took is to be attributed to the fecurity of a private letter, and to my not knowing (nor my Lord) the person whom it concerned:

But, Sir, now that I am so happy as to have that knowledge, I dare af fure you, that nothing shall ever iffue from me but favouring of all honour, eSteem and reverence both to yourself and that worthy production of yours. If I had the vanity to give myself reputation by entering the lifts in publick with fo eminent and learned a man as you are, yet I know right well, I am no ways able to do it; it would be a

very unequal progress: I pretend not to learning; thofe fender notions I have are but disjointed pieces I have by chance gleaned up here and there. To encounter fuch a finewy oppofite, or make animadverfions upon fo fmart a piece as yours is, requireth a more folid Stock and exercife in fchool-learning. My fuperficial befprinkling will ferve only for a private letter, or a familiar difcourfe with lady-auditors. With longing I expect the coming abroad of the true copy of that book, whofe falfe and ftolen one hath already given me fo much delight. And fo af furing you I shall deem it a great good fortune to deferve your favour and friendship, I kiss your hand and rest,

Winchester Your most humble ferv ant,

house,

March 20

1642

KENELM DIGBY.

TO