Nevv epistles of Mounsieur de Balzac. Translated out of French into English, by Sr. Richard Baker Knight. Being the second and third volumes

To Monsieur de Coignet. LETTER XLVIII.

SIR, I am much bound unto you for your writing to me, and for sending me Newes that exceedingly pleaseth mee. You may well thinke, I have no mind to crosse my own good; and to refuse giving my consent to the Earle of Exceters request. To have so illustrious an In∣terpreter in England, is morethan a full revenge upon all the petty Scribes that oppose mee in France: it is the crowning and triumph of my writings. I am not therefore so a Philosopher, that I place the honour he doth mee, amongst things indifferent, but rather to tell you plainly, I have perhaps received too sensible a content∣ment in it; and upon the poynt of falling againe

into my old desire of glory; of which I thought my selfe to have been fully cured: I send you a word, which I entreat you to deliver to him, which shall witnesse for mee, how deare and glorious, the markes he gives mee of his love and account, are unto mee; Otherwise Sir, I doubt not, but I owe a great part of this good fortune to the good opinion you have of me, which is to be seene in every lyne of your Let∣ter; and that you have confirmed the English in this Error, which is so much in my favour. Onely I entreat you, never to seeke to free them of this errour, but so to deale with them, that if you convert them from other, it may still be with reservation of this. The truth in question is of so small importance, that it deserves not any curious examination; and in which, to be in a wrong beliefe, makes not a man to be ei∣ther lesse honest, or more unfortunate: Never therefore, make scruple to oblige me, seeing you shall oblige a thankfull man, and one who is;

Sir,

Your, &c.

At Balzac, 12. June. 1629.