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prefs, that they can tempt no body to a ferious reading of them; they were notes hastily fet down, as I fuddenly ran over your excellent piece, which is of weighty fubject, and fo ftrongly penned, as requireth much time, and fharp 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 re ceiving 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 read. and give him an account of; for till. then I was fo unhappy as never to have heard of that worthy difcourfes If that letter ever come to your views 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 Thall eafily obtain pardon, when it shall be confidered, that his Lordship affign ed 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 con

cerned:

But, Sir, now that I am so happy às to have that knowledge, I dare af·fure you, that nothing hall 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

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very unequal progrefs: 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 smart a piece as yours is, requireth a more folid Stock and exercife in fchool-learning. My fuperficial befprinkling will serve 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 so affuring 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 fervant,

house,

March 20

1642.

KENELM DIGBY.

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defire to live when all the world was at an end; and he must needs be very impatient, who would repine at death in the fociety of all things that fuffer under it. Had not almost every man fuffered by the prefs, or were not the tyranthereof become universal, I had not wanted reafon for complaint : but in times wherein I have lived to behold the highest perverfion of that excellent invention, the name of his Majefty defamed, the honour of parliament deprad the writings of both depraved, ly anticipatively, and counterfeit

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ly imprinted, complaints may feem ridiculous in private perfons; and men of my condition may be as incapable of affronts, as hopeless of their reparations. And truly had not the duty I owe unto the importunity of friends, and the allegiance I must ever acknowledge unto truth, prevailed with me; the inactivity of my difpofition might have made these sufferings continual, and time that brings other things to light, should have fatisfied me in the remedy of its oblivion. But because things evidently falfe are not only printed, but many things of truth most falfely fet forth, in the latter I could not but think myself engaged: For tho' we have no power to redress the former, yet in the other, reparation being within our felves,

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