, it may be I
have insisted longer upon the argument than may be
agreeable to the rules to be observed in such a work,
though it be not much longer than Livy is in
recollecting the virtues of one of the Scipio's after
his death. I wish it were with you that you might read
it, for if you thought it unproportionable for the place
where it is I could be willingly diverted to make it a
piece by itself, and inlarge it into the whole size of
his life; and that way it would sooner be communicated
to the world. And you know Tacitus published the life of
Julius Agricola before either his annals or his history.

"I am contented you should laugh at me for a fop in
talking of Livy and Tacitus; when all I can hope for is
to side Hollingshead, and Stow, or (because he is a poor
knight too, and worse than either of them) Sir Richard
Baker. But if I had not hooked them in this way, how
should I have been able to tell you, that I have this
year read over Livy and Tacitus; which will never be
found by the language and less by the Latin. We have had
no boat out of Normandy these ten days, so that we have
heard nothing from the Isle of Wight since the Kings
first message thence. God send us good news that we may
again (in what condition soever) enjoy one another;
which will be a very great satisfaction to; your most
affectionate humble servant."

"Jersey this 14 Dec. St. vet."

A Copy, endorsed by himself.

* * * * *

There are two very long letters of Feb. 12th and March 16th, 1647--too
long to quote in full--from which I have thought it worth while to make
extracts.

Concerning the subject of the Charitas Patriae, "I cannot" he says,
"rejoice at foreign powers being at peace" that there might be "forces
vacant for the reduction of England,"--but he appeals to Earle for "advice
and direction; upon whose judgment, discretion, and conscience I do so
much depend that I do really suspect my own when I find it at all differ
from yours." He speaks too of Earle's company being so comforting to his
fellow-exiles. Jersey Feb. 12th.

In the letter of March 16th, speaking of possible deterioration of
character--of "innocence destroyed," of "wiping out the old loved prints,"
he adds that the "shame of communicating his thoughts" to Earle [in case
of his (the writer's) falling away] will, he hopes, keep h