LETTER FROM HAMILTON. 93 



the bearer of these, for the four last years my physician, one 

 who is most studious of you, and who begot in us the opinion 

 of you before expressed, that he, armed and equipped with 

 your most prudent and (we expect, if God dispense it so) 

 most healthful counsel, for which he has always thirsted, 

 may inquire out the remedies against the disease, bring and 

 administer them. He has written to you fully enough, at 

 my command, upon my temperament, the origin and progress 

 of the malady, and has set before you almost the whole 

 manner of it, in my opinion, as plainly as if it were before 

 your eyes. But since even this did not seem to himself 

 sufficient, in order that we may do whatever belongs to the 

 affair in hand with greater ease, correctness, and success, we 

 have sent to you the said studious and faithful minister to 

 our health, from whose discourse and from your mutual con- 

 versation, I hope that you will become so plainly acquainted 

 with the whole theory of my disease, that afterwards you can 

 fairly desire nothing to complete your absolute acquaintance 

 with it. 



" Nevertheless, because, as the poet says 



Nee retinent patulse commissa fidelius * aures, 

 Quam quae sunt oculis subjecta,' 



and what are seen are known more certainly than what are 

 heard, and discoveries (as you most prudently say) succeed 

 marvellously in the hands of their inventors, this one thing 

 I seek out of your singular humanity and the good- will you 

 have conceived towards us, that inasmuch as you were willing, 

 according to the terms of your letter, to come as far as Paris, 

 you will consent to come for once to Scotland also, upon any 

 conditions that you please. The bearer of this will give you 

 a safe conduct, and provide, also, for cost and attendance ; 



