and your dear lady and pretty babies: for which I am Your most affectionate and endeared servant, [Evelyn, with reference to his friend's advice as to the finishing of Lucretius, has written on this letter in pencil: "I would be none of ye Ingeniosi malo publico."] Jeremy Taylor to John Evelyn. HONOURED AND DEAR SIR, November 21, 1656. Not long after my coming from my prison (Chepstow) I met with your kind and friendly letters, of which I was very glad, not only because they were a testimony of your kindness and affections to me, but that they gave me most welcome account of your health, and (which now-adays is a great matter) of your liberty, and of that progression in piety in which I do really rejoice. But there could not be given to me a greater and more persuasive testimony of the reality of your piety and care than that you pass to greater degrees of caution and the love of God. It is the work of your life, and I perceive you betake yourself heartily to it. The God of heaven and earth prosper you and accept you! I am well pleased that you have read over my last book; and give God thanks that I have reason to believe that it is accepted by God, and by some good men. As for the censure of unconsenting persons, I expected it, and hope that themselves will be their own reprovers; and truth will be assisted by God, and shall prevail, when all noises and prejudices shall be ashamed. My comfort is, that I have the honour to be the advocate for God's justice and goodness, and that the consequent of my doctrine is, that men may speak honour of God and meanly of themselves. But I have also, this last week, sent up some papers in which I make it appear that the doctrine which I now have published was taught by the fathers within the first 400 years; and have vindicated it both from novelty and singularity. I have also prepared some other papers concerning this ques tion, which I once had some thoughts to have published. Your most affectionate friend and servant, John Evelyn to his brother G. Evelyn. DEAR BRO: Says-Court, 15 Decemb. 1656. I am so deeply sensible of the affliction which presses you, that I cannot forbear to let you understand how great a share I have in the loss, and how reciprocal it is to us. For your part, I consider that your sex and your knowledge do better fortify you against the common calamities and vicissitudes of these sublunary things: so that precepts to you were but impertinencies: though I also find, that the physician himself has sometimes need of the physician; and that to condole and to counsel those who want nothing to support them but their own virtue, is to relieve them of a considerable part of their affliction: But the fear which I have that the tenderness of so indulgent a mother's affection (as is that of my dear lady) may insensibly transgress its bounds, to so huge a prejudice as we should all receive by it (if her immoderate grief should continue,)—makes me choose rather, being absent, to contribute what aids I can towards its remedy, than, being present, to renew her sorrows by such expressions of resentment as of course use to fall from friends, but can add little to the cure, because but compliment. Nor do I hereby ex 1 On the death of his son Richard. George was Evelyn's eldest brother. tenuate her prudence, whose virtue is able to oppose the rudest assaults of fortune; but present my arguments as an instance of my care, not of my diffidence. I confess there is a cause of sadness: but all who are not Stoics know by experience, that in these lugubrious encounters our affections do sometimes outrun our reason. Nature herself has assigned places and instruments to the passions; and it were as well impiety as stupidity to be totally dorógyos and without natural affection: but we must remember withal that we grieve not as persons without hope; lest, while we sacrifice to our passions, we be found to offend against God, and by indulging an over-kind naturere double the loss, or lose our recompense. Children are such blossoms as every trifling wind deflowers; and to be disordered at their fall, were to be fond of certain troubles, but the most uncertain comforts; whilst the store of the more mature which God has yet left you, invite both your resignation and your gratitude. So extraordinary prosperity as you have hitherto been encircled with, was indeed to be suspected; nor may he think to bear all his sails, whose vessel, like yours) has been driven by the highest gale of felicity. We give hostages to Fortune when we bring children into the world: and how unstable this is we know, and must therefore hazard the adventure. God has suffered this for your exercise: seek, then, as well your consolation in his rod, as in his staff. Are you offended that it has pleased Him to snatch your pretty babes from the infinite contingencies of so perverse an age, in which there is so little temptation to live? At least consider, that your pledges are but gone a little before you; and that a part of you has taken possession of the inheritance which you must one day enter if ever you will be happy. Brother, when I reflect on the loss as it concerns our family in general, I could recall my own, and mingle my tears with you (for I have also lost some very dear to me); but when I consider the necessity of submitting to the divine arrests, I am ready to dry them again and be silent. There is nothing of us perished; but deposited. And say not they might have come later to their destiny: Magna est felicitas, citò esse felicem: 'tis no small happiness to be happy quickly. That which may fortune to all, we ought not to accuse for a few. and it is but reason to support that patiently, which cannot be prevented possibly. But I have now done with the philosopher, and will dismiss you with the divine. "Brother, be not ignorant concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not even as others which have no hope; for if we believed that Jesus died and rose again, even so them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." They are the words of St. Paul, and I can add nothing to them. In the meantime, auxiliaries against this enemy cannot render it more formidable; and though all grief of this nature have a just rise, yet may it end in a dangerous fall: our dear Mother is a sad instance of it; and I conjure you to use all the art, and all the interest you are able, to compose yourself, and consolate your excellent lady, which (after I have presented my particular resentiments) is what I would have hereby assisted you in, who am, Dear Brother, &c. Et consolamini alij alios istis sermonibus. Francis Barlow,' (“ on Dedicating a Plate of Titian's WORTHY SIR, From the Black-boy over against Șt. Dunstan's, I have been bold to present you with a small piece of my endeavours. I hope your goodness will pardon my confidence in that I have presumed to dedicate it unto you, conceiving no one to be more worthy, or to whom I am He was a native of Lincolnshire, and placed under Sheppard, a por trait-painter; but his genius led him to the painting of animals, which he drew with great exactness, though his colouring was not equal to his designs. There are six books of animals engraven from his drawings, and a set of cuts for Æsop's Fables. He painted some ceilings of birds for noblemen and gentlemen in the country: and at Clandon, in Surrey, the seat of Lord Onslow, are five pieces from his pencil. He died in 1702. See Walpole's Anecdotes. For notices of him in the Diary, see Vol. i. p. 328, and Vol. ii. p. 166. As a specimen of Mr. Barlow's orthography, the concluding lines of his letter are here appended from the original MS. :-"As eaching is not my profeshion, I hope you will not exspect much from me. S', if you shall be pleased to honner my weake (yet willing) endeavours with your exseptation." VOL. III. more obliged for those civil favours I have received from you. It may seem strange that I own that, another's name is to; but my occasions not permitting me so much spare time to finish it, Mr. Gaywood my friend did, which [who] desires his name might be to it for his advantage in his practice, so I consented to it. The drawing after the original painting I did, and the drawing and outlines of this plate: I finished the heads of both the figures, and the hands and feet, and likewise the dog and the landscape. As etching is not my profession, I hope you will not expect much from me. Sir, if you shall be pleased to honour my weak (yet willing) endeavours with your acceptation, I shall ever rest obliged for this and former favours. Your servant to command, FRANCIS BARLOW. SIR, John Evelyn to Francis Barlow. Sayes-Court, 23 Decemb. 1656. I had no opportunity by the hand which conveyed it, to return you my acknowledginents for the present you lately sent me, and the honour which you have conferred upon me, in no respect meriting either so great a testimony of your affection, or the glorious inscription, which might better have become some great and eminent Mæcenas to patronise, than a person so incompetent as you have made choice of. If I had been acquainted with your design, you should on my advice have nuncupated this handsome monument of your skill and dexterity to some great one, whose relation might have been more considerable, both as to the encouragement and the honour which you deserve. From me you can only expect a reinforcement of that value and good esteem which, before, your merits had justly acquired, and would have perpetuated: of another you had purchased a new friend; nor less obliged the old, because less exposed him to envy; since by this you ascribe so much to me, that those who know me better, will on the one side be ready to censure your judgment, and, on the other, you put me out of all capacity of making you |