pleased to strengthen my heart (after some years of reluctancy) to embrace His truth; and hath also given me a firm and solid resolution (as I hope) never to deviate from His right ways. Believe me, Sir, these desires of mine were not first conceived nor discovered in France (I mean very privately to, or by, some friends of mine, Catholics, in secret discourse, which was sometimes my own desire to content myself); I have had them in some degree a longer time, though I deferred the execution of them until now, not so much to satisfy a discontented world that I did not with temerity resolve, as out of a private and eager apprehension that I might (if any where) meet here in Paris with dear satisfaction. When I had sought here for this quiet to my troubled mind, with all the diligence I could possibly use (without discovering myself to any, which, I must confess, I durst not do on one side, and on the other side as yet I would not), and neither in this way could I find any repose,what had I to do but to extricate myself from the labyrinth of those ambiguities which had caused me to doubt. Which I did privately, too; by hearing the public disputations of the reverend fathers of many several religious houses and orders, and other scholars; by reading some manuscripts dictated by the learned doctors of the Sorbonne, by frequenting their lectures, in which truth was so clear and solid, so evident, so perspicuous and evincing, that in my opinion no man was able to resist it : potius fugientia ripas Flumina devincat, rapidis aut ignibus obstet. Where is there yet any barbarism in our priests? Is it for keeping constant to their integrity of conscience? Or that I have turned, not to those priests only, but to the Father of those priests (whose ministers they are), my Saviour Christ. Or is it for rejoicing at the conversion of a sinner, which is the joy of the blessed angels in Heaven? Though, Sir, their wisdom and piety, their love of God in Christ (for which they daily bear the cross of most opprobrious contumelies with great joy, patience, and long-suffering), doth carry them so transcendently to their pious obligations (whom I have had the happiness to converse withal), I cannot choose but vindicate their goodness and integrity, their innocence and piety, from those slanderous indignities and heinous false aspersions (especially in this case), which without just indignation I cannot see so maliciously cast upon them. But I am separated (they say) from my dear father, and remain in actual disobedience to his commands. If I be separated, that separation proceeds not from the instigation of any priest living: they have done no more than with joy received me into the Church of God, of which office they are not ashamed, or, if they were, I should join myself to their present detractions, and make their quarrel just. If I obey not his commands, it is because I cannot hear them, and that is caused by my absence. Sir, it is not so new a thing for children to absent themselves for some time out of their parents' sight, when they have done anything, though never so justly, which may seem to displease them. My design was to have discovered the business unto him in the best manner; and I believe I had done so, had not my resolutions been unexpectedly discovered, and I too suddenly surprised. Believe me, Sir, my absence proceedeth rather from the duty I confess to owe unto my dear father, than any disrespect and if I esteemed it otherwise, I would rather have suffered much more than I could have expected, than to have withdrawn myself from him. Had I not been assured that Catholic Doctrine did not enjoin the payment of children's obedience and duty to their parents, I assure you it would have been a point that should have given me great distaste: and surely the Grace of God cannot diminish our pious and natural affections, since it is the complement and perfection of all virtues. But herein I hope to give due satisfaction to the world, when at last Time, which is edax rerum, shall first digest all fears and discords, and then rectify their understanding. In the mean while, I desire to give men this satisfaction, that I am free; and to forgive them their own freedom in talking so dissolutely of my restraint. Why should people so much concern themselves as to slander so ignominiously (I will not say barbarously) innocent men on my behalf, if my desires of privacy be (as they are, for aught they know) out of a serious devotion to get into the Church as much as I can, apprehending the danger I was in, in being so long out of it? This freedom, Sir, I have taken with you, as well to quell these vulgar outcries, as to have a right understanding amongst us. If, after the trouble of reading these tedious lines, you will not take the trouble to communicate this for others' satisfaction and my vindication, I hope yet I shall not quite lose my labour; but you will please to believe me yourself, in whose good opinion as an ingenious and sober friend, I shall rest as content as in that of the multitude. I cannot be so confident as to think that any will receive a salutation from a disobedient; I shall, therefore, remit it a while; and when this dark cloud is more dispersed and blown over, that my candid innocence and integrity in this matter may appear, I shall take the boldness to present my service where it is due, though not with so much freedom and presumption, yet with the same honesty and heartiness in which I now say I am, Dear Sir, Your most faithful and affectionate servant, Addressed "To his much honoured friend Mr. Evelyn, at Sir Richard Browne's, Resident for His Majesty the King of England in Paris," and endorsed by Evelyn :-" Brought to me late at night by an unknown person, and answered by me, dated 1st January, by occasion of the dispersing copies of it in Her Majesty's Chamber." Dean Cosin to John Evelyn. Paris, April 3, 1652. SIR, If it had not been our preparation here the last week for Easter, I should have prevented your letter with my thanks for your kind visit that you gave my daughter, whereof she had given me notice the week before. Your advice and assistance in disposing of her books will, I hope, make her journey more pleasant to her than otherwise it would have been. If those half dozen that your brother hath scored, be not such as will dismember any class, and hinder the sale of the rest which belong unto it, she shall not do amiss to part with them: but for them that you have a mind to yourself (and I would for her sake, and for your own, too, you had a mind to them all, especially to the Fathers, and to the History, both ecclesiastical and secular, whereof upon every occasion you will find great use), I dare promise that she shall give you your own convenient times of payment for such monies as you agree upon, and that her demands for the agreement will be very reasonable. Truly if you would be pleased to furnish yourself with those classes which were chosen and designed by you know whom, for Mr. St. (who intends not to make the use of a good library that you are both desirous and able to do), rather than they should be distracted elsewhere, it will be best for her to take your payments proportionably for several years, as you can best spare the money; for I would you might have as much ease in your payments as I know you will have pleasure in the books. I am sorry you find such confusion in Religion, and such intemperance in life, where you are; but as neither of them is pleasing to you (whom I have ever noted to be virtuous, orderly, and conscientious in all your ways), so it pleases me highly when you can number so many names that make more esteem of their knees and their souls together, than to bow them down to Baal. I never entertained any suggestions against my daughter, who, I am confident, hath more of God in her than ever to be carried away with such Devil's temptations as have seduced and undone her brother, against whom I can hardly hold here from expressing a very great indignation. The excellent letter you addressed to him, I presented to his Majesty's view (and I presented your excuse withal for not coming to him before you went), for whom the copy of it was prepared; and every way it was highly pleasing to him as he read it. But when I told him it was my intention to publish it, though he wished it done, yet he thought it were better for a while to spare it (rebus sic stantibus), for fear of displeasing his mother the Queen,* who had been pleased to interest herself in the matter. I meet often with the good company of those persons that you left behind you: but in good truth I am very sorry that I must lose the benefit and pleasure of your good society, which was always most acceptable to Your assured and most humble servant, John Evelyn to Edward Thurland. J. COSIN. (Afterwards Sir Edward Thurland, and Baron of the Exchequer.) London, 25th April, 1652. SIR, Nemo habet tam certam manum ut non sæpe fallatur; and yet I hope my memory shall serve me for the subscribing this epistle, which is more than yours (dear lawyer) could, it seems, do, when you sent me your summons for my Court at Warley, with all those sigillary formalities of a perfect instrument. But this is a trifling opáλμ¤; and I easily supplied it, by taking the boldness to write a new warrant in the most ill-favoured character I could, that it might be the more like to your fair hand; it was despatched, only the day altered to be the next before the Term, since otherwise I could not have appeared; and for which presumption, if you think fit to amerce me, I desire it may be by the delegation of Mr. Jo. Barton pro Vicario; since, whilst I thus indulge my nable tenant, I may not neglect to reduce my vassals, cum ita suggerent chartæ sicut optimè noveris, &c. it being the advice of a great philosopher, and part of my Litany, Libera te primum metu mortis (illa enim nobis primum jugum imponit), deinde paupertatis. The first I endeavour to secure by physic, the latter by your learned counsel, the effects whereof I much more desire to resent by the favour which (I am assured) you may do your servant in promoting his singular inclinations for Albury,† in case * The reader will connect this curious delicacy about the Queen and the popish convert with Evelyn's " dispersing copies" of his answer to the latter "in her Majesty's chamber." + Albury, in Surrey, a seat of Mr. Howard. Thurland was one of the trustees appointed for the sale of it. The allusion in the letter is to the |