firft hindred there in his Journey, and afterwards again at Bruffels fell to a relapfe, which detained him fo long, that although now very lately I hear he is recovered and gone forward into England, yet in fo long delays and fo often fickneffes, I know not whether he have loft or forgotten my former Letters: Wherefore out of this confideration, and by the opportunity of this Bringer, and by the true hearty affection which I bear you, being defirous to fignify unto you the continuance of my fincere love, I could not pretermit this fo good an occafion, though hereby I have nothing else to fay nor intreat, but if we have Wars, yet our diffention may be rather in the matter and cafes, than betwixt our perfons, as difcreet Lawyers ufe to plead vehemently each for his Client's Juftice, and yet remain betwixt themselves without breach of amity, and abftaining from opprobrious injury; wherein I have great confidence that you will proceed both more moderately in all the circumftances, and to better purpose in the substance than Mr. Jofeph Hall, unto whofe Letter directed to you, and by you fent unto me, I wrote certain Marginal Notes only, and so returned the fame by the above named Gentleman, whereof alío. (if it return to your hands). I would intreat you to fend me a Copy both of his Text and my Glofs, for then being in hafte I remained with neither. Our Lord keep you, and guide us all to his truth, and to Heaven. Madrid, June 8. 1620. James Waddefworth. The The Letter of Mr. Dr. Hall, mentioned in the former with Mr. Waddesworth's Marginal Notes. Good Mafter Bedell, W * HAT a forry crabb hath Mr. Waddefworth at laft fent us from Sevil? I pity the impotent malice of the Man; fure that hot Region, and * fulphurous Religion are guilty of this his choler. For ought I fee he is not only turned Papift but Spani ard too. Ibi vivitur ambitiofa paupertate: The great Man would not foil his Fingers (for that is his Word) with fuch an Adverfary as my felf; he fhould have found this conflict his foiling indeed; but he fcorns the match; and what wonder, if he that hath all this while fat on Father Crefwel's Stairs, fcorn the unworthiness of him whom an English University scorned not to fet in the Chair of Divinity? But whence is this my contempt? I fee but two Vices to clear my felf of; Poetry and Railing; of the latter you shall acquit me if you will but read that my poor Epiftle which I pray fee within how fhort a compass he proves himfelf a Poetical Railer by his Epithets, not only against me, but reviling a whole Nation, and the Religion of the beft part of all Christendom. This Mock if it were true, yet would I rejoice in it, not only to fit on his Stairs, but to make clean his fhoes. SI termed him a Poetical Railer, not accufing nor honouring him for a Poet; but taxing him for railing Poetically, uf ing the word as fometimes it is in the worst fenfe, when it is abufed; neither condemning Poetry, nor approving him for a Poet, but a Paetical Railer: As he doth himself by that Epiftle, and by this bitter Letter, which he flights thus: Let your Eyes judge whether ever any thing could be written more mildly, more modeftly, more lovingly. Of the former I muft acquit my felf; Cujus unum est fed magnum vitium Poefis: What were I the worfe if I were ftill a lover of thofe ftudies? If he could have had leifure to tend upon any thing besides that Father's Pacquets, he might have féen moft of the renowned and holy Fathers of the Church eminent in that Profeffion for which I am fcorned; amongst many others Tertullian, Lactantius, Nazianzen, Prudentius, Fulgentius, Apollinarius, Nonnus, Hilarius, Profper, and now in the upfhot* devout Bernard,and why should their honour be my difgrace? But the truth is, these were the recreations of my Minority; nunc oblita mihi. And if Poetry were of the deadly fins of their Cafuifts, I could fmart for it in my x: Is this a fit scandal to rake up from fo far? What my proficiency hath been in ferious ftudies, if the Univerfity and Church hath pleased to teftify; what need I ftand at the mercy of a fugitive. But if any of his Mafters fhould undertake me in the cause of God, he fhould find I had studied Profe. As for thefe vain flourishes of mine, if he had not taken a veny in them, and found it fmart, he had not ftruck again fo § charlifbly. Was it * I willingly pardon all his poetical railing and falfe Epithets, for that one true word acknowledging St. Bernard to be devout. † Pardon for St. Bernard's fake. my Letter that is accufed of Poetry? There is neither Number nor Rhyme, nor fiction in it: Would the great Schoolman have had me to have packt up a Letter of Syllogifms? Which of the Fathers (whofe high teps I have defired to tread in) have given that example? What were to be expected of a Monitory Epifle which intended only the occafion if he had pleafed of a future Difcourfe? We Iflanders lift not learn to write Letters from beyond the Pyrenees. Howfoever, I am not forry that his fcorn hath caft him upon an Adversary more able to convince him; I am allowed only a looker on; therefore I will neither ward nor ftrike; his hands are too full of you: My only with is, That you could beat him found again; whereof I fear there' is little hope. There was never Adverfary that gave more advantage? He might have ferved in these Coleworts nearer home. I profefs I do heartily * pity him; and fo if it please you let him know from me. What Apoftafy (which is the only hard Word I can be charg ed with) I impute to the Roman Church, I have profeffed to the World in the firft Chap III would there were not. ter *This appears by your railing on him, as he that juftified himself from swearing, by loud fwearing, By God he did not fwear. This were to prove one abfurdity by a greater, and to undertake that fome one Text of Scripture is falfe or forged, becaufe all the whole Bible is fo: Or having called one a Jew or Baftard, &c. to make him amends by telling him all his kindred were fuch. But that Book and Chapter is indeed pitifully profeffed: And by it and by infinuating here an offence of too much Charity, may be eafily perceived the fubftance of our proficiency in Divinity. ter of my Roma irreconciliabilis: If I offend not in too much Charity, there is no fear: Say what you will for me, I have done, and will only pray for him that anfwers me with contempt: Farewel, and commend me to Mr. Sotheby, and your other loving and reverend Society; and know me ever, Waltam, Jan. 10. 1815. Your truly loving Friend, and fellow Labourer; Jof. Hall. Good Mr. Bedell, this Letter hath lain thus long by me for want of carriage. I now hear you are fettled at Horning fhearth, whereof I wish you much joy. I am appointed to attend the Ambaffador into France, whither I pray you follow me with your Prayers. May 15. To my Reverend and worthy Friend, Mr. Dr. Hall, at Waltam, deliver this. Good Mr. Dr. T Salutem in Chrifto. HIS Letter of yours, fince my receipt of it, hath been a Traveller, further than you or I; which being fome Months fince re 2 turned |