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

Another to him. LETTER XLVIII.

SIR, three dayes since I imparted my melan∣choly and my unquietnes unto you, and how much I was mooved at the crueltie of—I have since received your Letter of the ninth of this present, which doth not indeede take all my paine from me, because it declares not what is done against me, but yet asswageth it a little, because it declares that nothing is done against mee that is deadly. However I must put on a resolution for all events; and com∣fort my selfe with Philosophie, and with you; you that are my true and faithfull friend, and that stand betweene mee and all the stones my enemies throw at mee. Your affection is no small helpe to me in these troublesome encoun∣ters,

and the tendernesse you shew to have of me, bindes me in a very sensible obligation to you. Concerning the ill will of—it can doe me no great hurt, and pardon me if I doe not thinke my honour is ingaged to make so bloody a warre upon him as you would have me. The lesse shew is made of resenting petty injuries, the bet•…•…er and the more readily they are repelled; if I should thinke upon answe∣ring him, I should but mak a comment upon his gibrish, for them that understand him not; and thereby bring his folly into the more credit and request. When time and place serves we will handle him as hee deserves, and doubt not but his lightnesse shall light heavily upon him; one∣ly doe you collect some common places upon this matter, and remember your selfe of all that hath passed betweene—to the end the history may not be lost. I have had speech with the man whose whole life is nothing but a continuall meditation of death; I never found him so austere, nor so great an enemy of bra∣very as now; his devotion respects neither right of nations, nor lawes of civillitie. I have not beene able to get him to write to that per∣son that loves him so dearely, and complaines to you so often about it. All the answer he re∣turnes to his long Letters, are but these three words of the Gospell, Noli amplius peccare, which in sweeter and more courtly termes is as much as to say,

Lites heures au lieu de lire ses poulets Defile tes coliers, faits-en des chapelets, &c.

I received the other day a most elegant and gentle Letter from one Mounsieur Ytterius, a Lawyer of Antwerpe; but I know not by what meanes it came to my hands, nor by what direction to returne an answer. Pray enquire af∣ter him, and let our friends know that in spight of the Marquesse of Aytona, I have adherents in Flanders, and therefore hee neede not make his bragges for having burnt my booke at Bruxells. Scilicet illo igne, vocem omnium Gen∣tium, & libertatem Europae, & conscientiam ge∣neris humani abolere arbitrabatur. By the next Post I will write to Mounsieur Hottoman, and will give Mounsieur de la Pigeonnerio thankes for the verses you had of him to send me. Wee have read them here in good companie, both of Males and Females, and they all agree that the Fathers my adversaries are none of those Christian Ulysseses, hee speakes of, that have nailed their Passions to the crosse of Christ. I forgot to aske you of Mounsieur Seton, and to desire you to call to him for the papers hee promised me. I regard him as one of the great Doctours of our age, and make use of the ri∣ches of his Spirit with so great privacie that hee seemes to be but as it were my Treasurer. I know not how to make an end, nor yet am willing to say more, because I must reserve something for Monday next. I therefore take my leave, assuring you there is none more tru∣ly then I,

Sir,

Your, &c.

At Balzac 7. Jan. 1631.