PREFACE. 



necessity : nay, it doth more fully lay open, that the 

 question between me and the ancients, is not of the 

 virtue of the race, but of the rightness of the way. 

 And to speak truth, it is to the other but as pal- 

 ma to pugnus, part of the same thing more large. 

 You conceive aright, that in this, and the other, you 

 have commission to impart and communicate them to 

 others according to your discretion. Other matters 

 I write not of. Myself am like the miller of Gran- 

 chester, that was wont to pray for peace amongst 

 the willows ; for while the winds blew, the wind 

 mills wrought, and the water-mill was less customed. 

 So I see that controversies of religion must hinder 

 the advancement of sciences. Let me conclude with 

 my perpetual wish towards yourself, that the appro 

 bation of yourself, by your own discreet and tempe 

 rate carriage, may restore you to your country, and 

 your friends to your society. And so I commend 

 you to God s goodness. 

 Gray s-Inn, Oct. 10, 1609. 



And there is another letter, in which, to use his 

 own words, it appears &quot; how much his heart was 

 upon it.&quot; 



To Mr. Matthew. 

 Sir, 



I thank you for your last, and pray you to be 

 lieve, &c. And I must confess my desire to be, 

 that my writings should not court the present time, 

 or some few places, in such sort as might make 

 them either less general to persons, or less perma- 



