A miscellany of sundry essayes, paradoxes, and problematicall discourses, letters and characters; together with politicall deductions from the history of the Earl of Essex, executed under Queen Elizabeth. / By Francis Osborn Esquire.

A Letter writ to disswade Mr. — from a Duell.

Sir,

I Shall, at this time, conceal, what I apprehend of your Quarrell, and the Circumstances that did at first produce it: Lest I should fall into a Physitians indiscretion, who com∣ming to one labouring of a Fever, did consume the time, In telling the Patient, The Causes of his Di∣stemper were Drink and Evill Com∣pany: which though possibly true, could not but carry the Figure of a Meager Impertinency, before the par∣ty had his Cure; since no place is now Left for prevention. And as Physick is opposed to the Defects incident to bad Dyet, and Disorder: So Counsell hath been observed, to Moderate, and palliate, though not Cure those of Indiscretion; arising

for the most part from an Inexperi∣ence in the exact knowledge of our own Fame, no lesse then that of O∣thers; And where it may be, or is Sci∣tuated, with the smallest prejudice to Conscience, or giving the least in∣terruption to the Prospect of Self∣preservation, the First Result in the Intention of Nature, and left as of greatest Intendment, to the Care of Prudence. From whence I have been taught, that it is possible, for Physick to be welcome, though Di∣stastefull; but that Counsell seldom meets any more favourable Constru∣ction then Scorn, from the Receiver; & an Opinion of Presumption in Him that Ventures to give it; especially, if it meets not with a candid Nature: Which hoping to find in You, I shall so much transgresse the voyce of Discretion, as to suffer my Self in Love to become an Arbitrator, be∣tween the Honour and prudence of a

Friend, so far, as to maintain, That Such as animate you to a Formall Revenge, do out of Forgetfulnesse, or Want of Religion, forbear to Cal∣culate the Danger, no lesse then Impiety, that for ever Cleaves to such hands, as are found once polluted in Blood: And, That those violate the Dictates of Piety and Discretion, (by Wisdome esteemed the most Considerable part of Manhood) that Contradict it. For to use their own canting, (no where to be found in the Dialect of Antiquity) He hath given you an Affront; and such an one, as may not decently be passed∣by, without a Formall Satisfaction; which is but the single and wild O∣pinion of some under-graduates in the Arts of Living. Yet, admit it a Debt, due in the Court of Honour, may it not as well be discharged by your Friend or Servant, as Your self? Parties lesse agitated by In∣terest

and Passion, and therefore the likelyer, to deal a Revenge so even∣ly, as He shall have as little cause to bragge as You to repent. A thing you can never promise your Self, if con∣trary to the Injunctions of God and the Examples of the most prudent people you proportion out your Sa∣tisfaction in the Field. Where you cannot but deliver into the Custody of Blind Fortune, not onely your Life but Estate: As justly belon∣ging to posterity, as ever your Ance∣stours made it yours. Which by this Mad-Knight-Errantry you hazard to Undo. I am sure all Wise minds will quadrate with this. And if the Fools of the present Age, pretend to any Discoveries of Wayes to Ho∣nour, New and Untrod, by the An∣cients, Let'um follow them, to the furthest Extent of their Lives or Lunacy. Whilest you hearken, to the Graver Advice of reason. Which

may informe you, He hath offer'd an Abuse already, and will you hazard upon equall Terms the receiving a Greater? Indeed if a Requitall had been endeavoured at the Instant it might have rendred you more ex∣cusable before God and Man: But that opportunity omitted; it were more Wrong to your Charity, then Vindication of Valour, in cold Blood to call back Revenge: As if a Worse Christian upon Meditation, then when irritated by Fury and Passion. Nei∣ther is Honour to be purchased, in Single and self-perswading Com∣bates, because no Marks of them appear in Antiquity; where many are found Dead, but not one, to my remembrance, upon so impertinent a Quarrell, as Words. Yet we may conclude from the foul Expressions in Oratours, That the Mouthes of the Gentry were then none of the Cleanest. He that Consults former

Histories, may find, That some have gained more repute from a Retreat, then others could obtain by a Won-Field. And what is a Retreat, I pray you, but a Fine Word for Running away? Fiercenesse being proper to Beasts, whereas a Neat Evasion be∣longs peculiarly to Men. Of which, I shall instance this, as now fresh in my Memory. A Gentleman lying, like you, under the repute of an In∣jury, did meet his Enemy, and shot him with a Pistoll stopped full of Dung, whereupon he cryed He was slayn, which set him further back in the Opinion of the World, then his former Vapouring had advanced him, when the Excrement the Dagge was loaden with, appeared to the Senses of the Standers-by. And for this, the Wit of it's Deviser was highly commended. Another return'd this Answer, with a like Successe, to a Younger Brothers Challenge;

That if he could prove his Losse as great as His, should he Kill or be Killed, he would gladly accept it; Otherwise he did not think it rea∣son, to venture his Life, against one did want Necessaries, and so might seek Death, no lesse out of Discon∣tent, then Gallantry: which Him∣self, that wanted nothing, had no cause to do. All that remaines is but your Pardon for this Boldnesse, which I most seriously Desire. Re∣maining in the mean time, no lesse Your Faithfull Friend, Then,

Sir,

Your, &c.