To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Shee tels what the vulgar thinkes of brave spirits.
MAdam, I protest, I shall hardly content you, and albeit all the world discourses of brave spirits, it seemes to me neverthelesse, that they agree not in their description. I will
tell you nothing of my opinion but that of others: and will ra∣ther assure you what they say of them, then what they are in effect, doe not then abuse your selfe touching my purpose; I have no other, but to write to you some of the absurdities which they attribute to them, and not to combat them by reason. And I think to set them downe, is enough to confute them, and to shew their extra∣vagancy, sufficient to bring thē in hatred. I will tell you then, that one of their principall maximes is to condemne all, they cannot comprehend: as if their opinion ought to be the rule of our actions, and nothing were reasonable, but what is thereto conformable: by their sayings, the vertue which wise men follow, is b•• them accoun∣ted,
but a Chimera. Religion overthrowes their sense, and with an ignorance and impiety without paralell, they find not onely what to reforme in the providence of men, but also in that of God himself; in so much that there is nothing divine, nor humane, wherein they find no blemish. I leave you to judge, if it be so, how much this sect should be abhord by those that have soule or conscience. Ne∣verthelesse, tis a misfortune that the novelty of this (with some dexterity, they observe to establish it) gaines the be∣liefe of ma••y, who admire, if they doe follow them. These brave spirits say, that they are bent against none, but bad o∣pinions, and that their chiefe aime is to restore reason, and vertue to their ancient force.
Howbeit, they are accused to oppose both the one, and the other, to the end they may the better establish licentiousnesse, and vice. I could say more but I would have my words as in∣nocent as my thoughts. And al∣so I feare to describe them ra∣ther according to the errour of the world, then according to the truth of their being. let us leave then what they say of their conscience, to speake of that they see in their counte∣nance, let us quit their actions, to entertaine our selves with their lookes. If they have not faults enough to condemne them, at least they have markes visible enough to make them be knowne. They have cer∣taine deportments, whereby when they would demonstrate the force, they shew but to
much the feeblenesse of their soules. If their life fright you, their countenance makes you laugh; and if they be Atheists in heart, they are Buffons in conversation. You shall see some of these fellowes retire from the company, the ha•• puld downe in their eyes, the band out of order, and bigger then ordinary, striking with their feete against the ground. Instead of being ashamed of themselves they perke up and downe every where, and doe not onely make private places the witnesses of their folly, but also the publicke, as the ••ourt, the Exchange, the Walkes, with all their studyed postures they would passe for great per∣sons, never thinking that their apish trickes, doe better resem∣ble madmen, then sages. Ne∣verthelesse,
they take them for signes of a brave spirit, and would have their stupidity, passe for vigour, their coldnesse for prudence. They call their silence an effect of that divine ravishment, which is the mo∣ther of beautious thoughts, thus they name their defects, and would have their sottish∣nesse passe for sagenesse. This dazzles but the vulgar, and cat∣ches those onely which love novelty better then reaso••. But let us passe on. They offend not onely in the beleife they hold of themselves, but in that they have of others, they seeme displeased, and are dista∣sted even with the best things. Although any speak excellent well in their company, they give, or deny their approbation by a nod, or a smile. These are
the judges of our discourse, and our actions. Rarely doe they give a perfect praise: they find that solid spirits are grosse, po∣lished, light, or ignorant. If any good word escape them, as it may happen sometimes by chance, tis strange to heare with what accent they pro∣nounce it. But we have spoken enough of them; that which they doe to acquire the esteem of the world loses it, they would passe for wise, and are thought extravagant. Never sect was lesse followed th••n theirs: and I thinke they are a∣lone in their opinion, when they think well of themselves. This is what I have to write touching the judgement many make of brave spirits. I pray you beleeve this Letter is none of the least witnesses of my
complacency, since not being used to speake of what I know not, I have notwithstanding broken my purpose, to obey you without reserve, and to te∣stify the absolute power which you have
Madam,
Over Your, &c.