To the reverend and much honoured Dr. Earles,
Dean of Westminster, &c. These."

DR EARLE, IN REPLY.

_Hampton-Court, June 23._

"SIR,

[Sidenote: O that they were all such.--_Note by Mr.
Baxter._]

"I received your letter, which I would have answered
sooner, if the messenger that brought it had returned. I
must confess I was a little surprized with the beginning
of it, as I was with your name; but when I read further
I ceased to be so. Sir, I should be heartily sorry and
ashamed to be guilty of any thing like malignity or
uncharitableness, especially to one of your condition,
with whom, though I concur not perhaps in point of
judgment in some particulars, yet I cannot but esteem
for your personal worth and abilities; and, indeed, your
expressions in your letter are so civil and ingenuous,
that I am obliged thereby the more to give you all the
satisfaction I can.

[Sidenote: These words I heard not, being in the passage
from him.--_Note by Mr. Baxter._]

As I remember, then, when you came to me to the closet,
and I told you I would furnish you with a tippet, you
answered me something to that purpose as you write, but
whether the same numerical words, or but once, I cannot
possibly say from my own memory, and therefore I believe
yours. Only this I am sure of, that I said to you at my
second speaking, that some others of your persuasion had
not scrupled at it, which might suppose (if you had not
affirmed the contrary), that you had made me a formal
refusal; of which giving me then no other reason than
that "it belonged not to you," I concluded that you were
more scrupulous than others were. And, perhaps, the
manner of your refusing it (as it appeared to me) might
make me think you were not very well pleased with the
motion. And this it is likely I might say, either to my
lord chancellor or others; though seriously I do not
remember that I spake to my lord chancellor at all
concerning it. But, sir, since you give me now that
modest reason for it, (which, by the way, is no just
reason in itself, for a tippet may be worn without a
degree, though a hood cannot; and it is no shame at all
to want these formalities for him that wanteth not the
substance,) but, sir, I say, since you give that reason
for your ref