BALTAZAR GERBIER KNIGHT TO ALL MEN THAT LOVES truth   

BALTHAZAR GERBIER KNIGHT. To all men that love's Truth.  
THe divine p●ecopts of Christ forbid men to judge one another, judgement belongs to God, and to none else; for he saith judgement IS MINE:  
It pleaseth God to suffer my Parents to fly the bloody persecutions in France against those which the Roman Catholics called then 〈◊〉 My said Parents left and lost all for that cause;  
My Father Anthoine Gerbier was a genthleman borne, and had a barony in Notmandie; My Mother was Radegonde, daughter in air to the Lord of Blayet in Picardy;  
I was borne; at Middelbourg in Zelandt, whence I was (by one of my Brothers) transported into France, and thence returned; and about 〈◊〉 tuinty one past (in the company of Noël Charon than Holl●ndt Ambassadeur) into England; where I applied myself to George Villiers, newly become favourite to King Jeames, the said George Villiers, being immediately after Baron, Viscount Earl, and afterwards created Marquis and Duke of Buckingham.  
My attendance was pleasing to him, bijcause of my several languages, good hand in writing:, skill in sçiences, as mathematics, Architecture, drawing, painting, contryving of scenes, marks, shows and entertainments for great Princes, besides many 〈◊〉 which I had gathered from divers rare persons, as likw●e, for making of engines usfull in war, as I made those which might blow up the Dike that stopped the passage to the town of Rochel, for it was on the same model of that of the Prince of Parms when the attempt was on Antwerp;  
He did puts to me first, the contryvance of some of his habitations, to chouse for't him rarities, books, medals, marble of money, of which I never would have the managing.  
I did keep his cyphers with his jntelligences abroad, was sent by him (With the king his Master's aprobation) in secret Messages;  
No sooner were those marks of trust observed, butt malicious Ignorant persons made glosses thereon, according the places were I was sent:  
My first public employment abroad was a journey into Holland, to meet their an Eminent person from Brabant who was to make owertures from Spain and Germani●e for the restitution of the Palatinat; I went at that same justant into Tessei and assisted Sr. Sackville Trevers, to get clear from the Eastindian Company their design which was to stay him with the ship called the S. Esprit, where uviht he made afterwards for England:  
My second jmployment was in France, to expostulate uviht the Cardinal de Richelieu, concerning large promises France had made to assist Count Mansfelt, when king Jeames was mowed to engage himself on their fai●e promises againts Spain; which assistance proved at last butt bare Cabinet discourses, and no real engagement of that king nor Ministers of state: which seemed to vexc Count Mansfelt art my return to Dover▪ and seemed to mouve him to desire that I should say to King Jeames, that he had keijes to make his one passage through France, if the king would give him leave, though it was a question whether Count Mansfelt meant it, for he never had any o●ttaine promise of a real conjonction nor assistance of the french: his Tresorier then (for show) only did pass aquittances to the french; thereby to persuade king Jeames that the jntended ware for the palatinate should not wholly lay on his charge:  
I was afterwards jmployed again into Brabant, where I was commanded to commune with the Marquis Spinola about the reconciliation between the crown of England and Spain, on which secret conference the treaty was set on foot; and pursued until it was brought to à conclusion:  
I was jmploied into France to remonstrate the great jnconueniencies of their countenancing of the Spanish trade, for that their shipping did transportte all the Spanish merchandise, and thereby frustrated the king of England of those hopes (during the breach between the two crowns after the desoluing of the two Treaties of the Spanish match, and that of the Palatinat) the Spaniards might have been pu●t to it, and thereby mowed to give fit satisfaction on the point of the Palatinat:  
I was likweise employed by the King to remonstrate to the French King and to the then Queen Mother, the mistakes of the French Ambassador Monsieur de Blinuille; when his men used violence on the King's Officers, Constables and others that did their Duty, to hinder the scandalous resort of English Papists at Durham house:  
I did then deliver to the Cardinal des Richelieu a letter of the Duke of Buckingham, which was by some taken for the cause and beginning of misintellgences between the two crowns of England and France, because those two great favourites did then declare their ressents; which were so violently uttered on the Cardinal de Richelieu side, as that he accompanied them with uncivil glosses, who gave ground to some licentious discourses, which did so little worck on me (that had not other Northstarre than his majesty's services and my duty) as mowed me to proceed as befitted a person sent on good grounds, and to make apparent to the haughty spirit of that Cardinal that threats were to weak to drive me from my bias, nor could his compliments afterwards work any other effect on me (When he desired my toturne) then to mowe me to hear him, and to relate his utterances which concluded with compliments that he contented himself to know the fame of a favourite so great as the Duke of Buckingham was, but for him only to act the part of a single Minister of state; who did admire the power of the Canon of an English admiral, but that he himself did remain in the humility of the Canons of that Church whereof he was a Disciple, and as those utterances where indeed butt flowers of Rethorice, they coveted serpents, for he caused men to follow me to the very port of Bollogne▪ where the foldiers were appointed to cease on all my papers, butt he was disappointed, for I got safe into England:  
I was afterwards commanded towards Spain, on an invitatin● from that King and a pass sent for my safe Landing▪ In any 〈◊〉 of CANTABRIA, it was to proceed to the intended Treaty of reconciliation between the two crowns; butt an Irish blee●d eyed Papist Priest was set on by Mr. Endymion Porter to make the Duke of Buckingham believe that the Conde-Duch d'olivaras the king of Spain's favourite desired the said Mr. Porter to be sent on that Treaty, which proved but a plot of the said Mr Porter, as appeared by his proceedings, for after he got the Duke of Buckingham's consent to go allong with them and the Abot d'Escaillie (Than Amb●ssad from the Duke of Savoye) no sooner were we arrived at Brussels butt the said Mr. Porter (With out knowledge of the said Abot d'Escalie, less of m●e) repaired secretly to the Arch Duchess Infame Isabell's, and to Don Carlot Colom●●, to contrice his disguised passage into Spain, without the said Abot d'E●caille and myself which he undertook after he left me on my way from Bruxelles to N●mur, and his return to Bruxelles, though he had neither commission nor any letter of Credence, for I did pocesse them, therefore his said secret journey into Spain proved most ridiculous, and his appearance to that Court was taken by the Conde-Duca as an argument of weakness in those that had sent him▪ that had no letters of credit.  
It was from that instant that I became an eyesore to the English Spanish faction which was maintained by the Lord Cot●inghton; some of them caused a most malicious and horrid asperssion to be cast on me supposing by their letters to the Lord of Carlisle (his majesty's extraordinary Ambassador in Itallie in the year 1628.) that I was sent that way about (on a pretence to go to Spain) only to kill him by the way; of which horrid asperssion the said Lord of Carlille was pleased to give me notice; and on my just ●essent declared in his majesty's presence, that he never had any cause to credit that foulle report: yet did the author's thereoff continue their malice against me by their ill Offices during my bleven years Residency in his majesty's service in the Court of Brussels; returning copies to the Spanish ministers off all the of most Important advertisements which I did sent to the King and State.  
And as those malicious persons seemed to aim to have me and mine destroyed in that Residency, they endeavoured no less than the destruction of his majesty's service, his Interest honour; that of the Nation, and the interest of the best and most assured Friends and Allies of the State of England.  
This they did on divers notable occasions: First, when by their maintaining the Spanish, scarce any of his majesty's subjects could get justice in the admiralty Courts of Brabant and Flanders, when divers of his majesty's subiets might have been timly released, their perssons and goods freed from destruction, divers of them suffered therein by the insolency of their aduersse parties favoured by the Spanish faction in England.  
Secondly, They crossed many fair occasions concerning the Palatinat, by returning to some of the ill disposed Spanish ministers of state such secret aduertissements as I had sent into England and which I had in confidency from the Emperors Resident, the Du●k of Neew●●●g, the Prince Elector of Treue●▪ and the Resident of Collen: The said English Spanish affected, aduertissed the Marquis d'Ayton● that the Infanta Isabel arch-duchess had honnored me with a secret declaration that she would put Franckendall into the Queen of Bohemia's hands. This they returned by one John Taylier (an English Papist, who formerly had been by the English Spanish faction, employed into Germany) by which avertissements the Infants for her good will towards the Queen of BOHEMIA was brought into question, and that business utterly destroyed, which then I did manifest to Old Sir John Coke, than Secretary of State: and that I had witnesses how the said John Tailor confessed his fault for having conferred with the said Marquis dAyton●, Contrary to his Instru●●ions, received from the King and the Secretary of State▪ which he confessed a month after his arrival at Brussels, that he had kept sir John Coke letter to me in his pocket until the said business of Franckendall was destroyed, he said that the Cottintoniens had forbid him to go a long with me to the Spanish ministers.  
Thirdly, They returned to the Court of Brussels the copy of a great dispatch wherein I manifested to the King and to the Secretary of State all what the Catholic States (both spiritual and temporal) had resolved in their trance, that those provinces were in hazard to be conquered.  
By which cetu●ne of Advertissement was wrought the destruction of the families of the Duke of Ascot, Prince of Espinoy, Barbanson, Duke or 〈◊〉 and o● Count Egmond: One Jean de vivalde (that had been Secretary to van-Malle for the Space of 1● years in England) beheaded on the Marquet place at Brussels, on the return of such aduertissements as I had sent unto the State? His sentence in Dutch, bearing the words, Vitz. For having given aduertissments to a public ministers of a neighbour Prince.  
All which being become publix, the COTTINTONIENS ceased not to countenance instances done for my recall from that Residency; which the Marquis de Velad● and Don Alonzo de C●●denas did vigorously pursue, though his majesty did most graciously reject their motions, and with matkes of extraordinary exteeme of my fidelity, for he answ warred, it was not his custom to disgrace those that dit serve him will  
Like ill willers as the COTTINTONIENS did likwelse countenance many complaints against me made by factiona●ls about Queen Mother. The Duke d'Elboeuf, and others who would pass into England against his majesty's will, when the words of my Instuctions (signed by the Lord Dorchester, than Secretary of State) dit bear, that my 〈◊〉 was in the Sca●l●e if any one of those dit pass to trouble the English Seas. As it seemed to be indeed which way it went, since the factionaris about Queen Mother had those in the English Court, as well of the French 〈◊〉 of the Spanish faction (and of others God knoweth) wllo did stir an irreconciliable hattered against me for hindering so great a Princess as Queen Mother, to repair in time where she might breathe (At rest) the last of her days: In fine it proved that to free Queen Mother from such aduertissements as I could and did give from the place of my Residency 〈◊〉 factionaris about her led her away about into Holland, whore my confractor Sir William boswell could not stop her, though no ruin fell on him for her said passage into England, where 〈◊〉 self being returned I met a Sea of ill 〈…〉 of divers factions, who duting my eleven years' Residency at Brussels, had taken occasion to except against my aduertissements which spared none, nor of Church, nor State, for what was manifested to me and by me found true on the place I did plainly set down, without mincing any thing for fear of 〈◊〉 nor for allurements, resolved to take things as God ●evould have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and to make due exteeme of the wise saying▪ Nolite cansidere Principibus, neque filiis hominum in quibus non est Salus. His Majesty indeed was often graciously pleased to approve my endeaviours, to express his satisfaction thereon, and I may say, (Without vanity) a truth, as a mark of my gratitude, that his Majesty was so gracious, as to say in public, that of all those that did then attend His service abroad none was more diligent; this was written to me by my predecessor Sir John Finet, who attended the King at His dinner, when the words were uttered.  
Nor could I think so meanly of my endeavours, blessed by God's assistance in the discovery of many things, which peradventure divers others would have been incapable off for want of Languages, but that I might have been thought worthy of a better reward; & better considered even by the best friends of the State of England, since divers of my advertisements to His majesty's principal Secretaries of State, did bear particulars whereby his best friends could be warned to look to themselves, when four hundred thousand crowns were disposed for the betraying of Mastricht, that engines were prepared against Be●gopzom. That one Triboulet, a Bourguinnon, was dispatc●t from Braban● to kill the French King Lovis the XIII. All I got for my pains was a check from old Secretary Coke; to have named in my public dispatch the Duke of Bullon, though his name and the thing became afterwards public in the streets of Brussels, the check, I 〈◊〉, was not old Sir John Coke, but came from the English Spanish faction, who then constrained Sir John Coke pen to written as they would have it. On the second, the man being discovered by the French King himself, a Gentleman belonging to the Duke de cheureule was ●ent to me, with thanks, nor did I look for more since what I could deserve was to put on that Master's score, who I had the honour to serve. And who in conclusion was so gracious to me as to confirm his satisfaction of my service in my letter of credence to the late French King, by the words, V●z. I Do RECOMMEND THIS GENTLEMAN 〈◊〉 MASTER OF MY CEREMONIES TO YOUR PARTICULAR PROTECTION, FOR THAT HE HATH DONE me LONG AND faithful SERVICE.  
This Letter of Credence I sued for, when I was persuaded that I could no longer breath where the Cottintoniens had any credit, since I did feel the continuance of their ill offices without intermission That it was most knawishly sustained to the King that I had de●●●ved to be heinged by my legs, for having to the Lords in Parliament (When I was charged by them of my conscience) declared the names of those that did bettray the King's affairs in foreign parts, though God knoweth I said no more than I could prove, and did but answer to the Question, for I never touched the string of others, and whose rest It was not my design since to trouble; though my journals did bear whose Pensionnaries they were reputed to be, & what Popish Priests were theirs. That it was likewise most knavishly represented to the King (When the Prince Elector Palatin to the hearing of colonel Linzey was pleased at Yorckere the Standart was let up to request for my Licence, that I might be dismissed of my Office to shift for myself in some other part of the world) That I had been untrue to my first master the Duke of Buckingham, and this on a most base, ridiculous and false pretence. Which no doubt was forstalled by a person, who in the Duke of Buckingham's time would once put me ill with the said Duke, and even at the same instant that he entreated me to get him preferred to a more near attendance to his person, it was one Master John Asbornham, since one of the grooms of the Bedchambre, it was for him I spoke, the Lady Duchess (at his earnest suit) required me to do it; I did it in her presence, that she was a bed with the Duke, who mistook my speech and distickt it, for now I ●ust declare the truth (on which I take God to witness) it was when the Duke had told me in private that he would have me in that place, Sir Sackville Crow being then on point to be preferred to the place of Tresorier of the Navy. This office in favour of Master Asbornham, though to my one prejudice then, proved so little advantageous to me, as that it was supposed to the Duke of Buckingham that I had taken the Lady Porbecks' part, to save her from the officers that would have carried her to prison, from a house in the Strand next to the Venetian Ordinary, were then the Savoye Ambassador did lay, and where by accident I then was. It being in those days that the misunderstanding between the Duke and me was fomented, God of Heaven knoweth (to whose tribunal I do appeal on that subject and to answer for all what is contained in these Lines) that I had no to-respondence at all with the Lady Porbeck, nor bade seen her since the days that she lived in amity with the Duke and all the family of the Villiers. Not had the Abot d'Escaille any premeditated design with her, nor to contribute to her escape; as was supposed on a wanton 〈…〉- looseness, which was acted on a sudden, without any premeditation when one of the Pages of the Ambassador was dressed in a wone as close Monsieur Bron●●, Sir Theodor Mayetnes brother in law being then present and the said Page put in a Coach by the Abott d'Esrailles men, who finding the house where the Abott d'Escaillie their Master lay to be abused by a number of men that broke in to g●●● over a pall● of his guarden into a next house, where the Lady Po●bech was said to Lodge, proposed to the Abott (being at dinner) to rid his house of annoyance, for that his said men did conceive that all the crew would run out of doors to stop the Coach wherein the Page was put, who was found to be a Page in effect, as soon the Coach was overtaken the length of a street, which did not at all contribute to the escape of the Lady Po●beck, since the house wherein she was remained pocect with Sergeants and store of people.  
All which being examined and found true mo●●ed the Duke of Buckingham to reconcile himself with the Abott d'Escaille, and to desire that the feast of reconciliation should be at my house; where the Duke was pleased two days after to beseech his majesties to come with the Queen, to accept like entertainment because the manner thereof was pleasing.  
The imposture, therefore, that I should have been untrue to the Duke being Manifest, could not butt with two much Audacity and business be represented to the Kings most Royal 〈◊〉 twelve years after that it was clereed, and his majesty had many proofs of my fidelity and constancy to his service, for which I have many letters of his royal hand to sue, and wherein as before said his majesty's hath been most graciously pleased to express his satisfaction.  
I was thus contained to sue for my remove from the presence of a great King, in whose service and in that of the State) I would have thought myself happy to end my days; yet my licence was refused to agreate Prince; who (in mere compassion) inclined to speak in my favour, when all means of subsistence were taken from me, that the Secretary of State than Lord Fackland had hindered some Bishops of paying such monnie to me as had been by Tallies struck on them a year before, and for which I had paid the fees in the Exchequer at Westminster.  
Being thus in an Instant deprived of all livelihood and also frustrated of desbo●●ssments made both for the transpottation of Queen mother's train from London to Dover, and during the time of my attendance in the office of Master of Ceremonies (after I had consumed myself in his majesty's service during my eleven years' Residency in the Court of Brussels▪ great part of my arrears being 〈◊〉 paid) No wouder that I took then hold on the occasion to pass into France, when I had obtained the letter of Credence as aforesaid▪ which being about the time that a question was moved on as intercepted letter sent from London to Oxford fathered on me (though no man could proure the character to be mine not to have his scent directly nor indirectly by me my said departure then did not (as it seems) satisfy all those that heard of the said letter; not some that have been pleased to vent glosses thereon; Though, I had to plead on that subject first, not guilty:  
Secondly, That I was charged with a letter of Credence to pass a Compliment with a King who was acere the Angonies of death, as it proved; since ere I landed at Calais he was deceased.  
Thirdly, that I had a pass from the Parliament, declaring my liberty, to attend his majesty's service, and this without limitation of place; when his majesty had full power on me to command me to go or to come; That my dependency was Manifest and public; my attendance but a Coremoniall part, without any relation to the discipline of wars.  
Fourthly 〈◊〉 my going from London I was in no constraint nor under any guard.  
Fiftly, it was ten the ClocK in the morning when I did embark myself in the ordinary packet boat at Dover whereof one Master Whi● was master who had known me many years before, I paid the duties, which the Officers there demanded of me: all men that were there did see my face, which was not disguised by false hear nor peruix. Master whit was at the starren of the boat and I never went under deck to hid myself.  
Sixtly, that if the letter could have been proved to be mine, yet could it not have argued me to be a dangerous man, since I had no voice in chapter with either parties; that I was no instrument of the unhappy difference between the King and his People for which I shall praise God whille I live; and divers of my public dispatches (Which I have made to the King and State during my Residency at Brussels, as my journals can manifest) will prouve that I did faithfully relate how little the world did reflect on His majesty's power, so long it was not seasoned by an Harmonious concordance of Parliaments; which was often cast in my teeth, when I did incist (as my duty was, and my Instructions did bear) on the point of the restitution of the Palatinat; which endeavours (besides the pursuance of His majesty's interests) lost me with some of the Spanish Ministers, as namely with the precedent Role, who when I did demand justice for His majesty's subjests, and such positive answers as I was commanded to put to him insolently questioned whetber the King had an Army of fifthy thousand man at his back: which he ●●eered with disrespectful words, whereon I made a just complaint to the Infant Cardinal, who did blame the said precedent Rose for it.  
No men will wonder (as I do conceive) that I did at last sue for my recall from that employment; as I did when I had so long withstood the violence and malice of the Cottintoniens, who by these great Intelligence with the most depraved Ministers the King of Spain had (some of which the said King hath been constrained to shake of) all the good and solid Orders sent to me by His majesty's principal Secretaries of State, were of no force; and all good endeavours destroyed▪ to the prejudice of His majesty's service, Honour, and the real good and greatness 〈◊〉 the State of England.  
No wonder also, that I did sue for my said recall, when the King's enemies made use of Spirits of Dil●●ion to attempt on the souls and minds of the first of my family, a persecution which (Without comparison) Job never felt, for his calamity did not follow him from one country to another: As sirst it begun against me in Brabant▪ It continued at my return in England, and followed me into France, as feemes to finish where it begun with my Predecessors.  
For no sooner had I gotten in France a Surintendance of an Office which would have proved worth to me many thousand pounds a year; but was pursued by factionnaries, who did boldly maintain in Petitions presented by the Bishop du Puis to the Queen Regent, that She was Ipso facto excommunicated, for having conferred such an Office on an heretic, as they term all that are not of the Church of Rome: This was pursued by libels and mischie●●●● contrivances; in which English Papists had part, as especially those who impudently, and most falcoly, did sustain me to be the man who crossed all the King of great Britain's affairs abroad, alleging 〈◊〉 other ground for their utterances, but what I had openly declared to the Lords in Parliament concerning the Lord Cottington; and ha● during my being at Paris, one Sir Thomas Dishington had free access to me That the said Sir Thomas Dishingt on should have said that it was I who disuaded the Queen Regent from sending any Ambassado●r into England that had not left a good esteem there; that the Queen Regent, being graciously pleased to ask my opinion what person seemed most fit for that Ambassage, I said in answer (to her most gracious commands) that to me the marshal de Bassompie●●e seemeed the fittest, being a peaceable, grave; good, and wise noble man, who having once reconciled the two Nations, might perhaps prou● a fit Minister for the reconciliation between the King and his people. That the said Sir, Thomas Dishington had said, that the Lord Lanthian had departed as ill satisfied from the French Court as any man ever could; If I had not represented to the Queen Regent, and to the Cardinal Mazarin the true condition of that Lord; That I had likewise procured a present of a golden chain to the said Sir Thomas Dishington, and presented him to the Cardinal Mazarin, before his going for England, which was in the year one thousand six hundreth forty four.  
Weak Objections indeed, and weak grounds for Master William Crafts to proceed on, for the utter destruction of my family, and to take hold on any other occasion to do me mischief, as was intended with a report that I had since my being in France corespounded with some that are not in good intelligence with the French: On which point I was not bound to answer to any man living, for as I am a free man borne in Zeeland. It was free to me (being not engaged in any service to correspond with whom I would) Yes cannot any man doubt of my Integrity, and Maxime● considering the profession I have made during many years, my experience and the cruel persecutions which I have suffered by those that are no real friends to the State of England, with whom I would correspond (both in public and private) if thereby I could do good to the said State; because I and my family have lived there thirty years; that I am of the same Religion that the Church of England doth profess; and that I have a particular affection to the Nation.  
For the bruited correspondence in itself, who, doth it concern?  
IT may concern the satisfaction of th●se that have 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 (if they please to confirm themselves in what I do maintain which is TO TELL truth,) to take the pains to read the copy of a letter which 〈◊〉 written so me, at my going from Paris, where I have now these nine months, troubled my 〈◊〉 about recovering three of my daughters, as yet detained from me in a Nunnery; contrary to the laws of God, of Nature, the fundamental laws of the Land; and of Nations in the sight of a most Christian Queen's Regent; who as Her pious exemplary life, manifests Her to be a matchless Miror to all those of Her Se●e, and condition) 〈◊〉 disobedience of Children 〈…〉 Patents, etc▪   

Copy AND true TRANSLATION OF A LETTER written TO ME BY Jaques D'ELDIMS, dwelling in the street S▪ Leu behind La Rue 〈◊〉 Ours, a V●nneger house, dated 4 Apprill 1646, Puril.  
SIR,  
I have thought fit to let you know, that Monsieur des Champs is come to me, from Monsieur de la Bernadiere and consorts, (Confrators of the Holy Sacrament as they term themselves to be employed to convert Huguenots and hath told me that if you will become a Roman Catholic, Reconcile your self to the Queen of England, and cast yourself at her feet, it shall be procured that all your affairs will succeed according to your desire.  
It behooves you to know whether your desires and contentments can be assured by this means; and if you do believe that your peace is easy to be compassed with the Queen your Mistress; for my part I do give you this advice as it is put to my charge, to let you know the same, praying you to written thereon what you think fit, and your intention, that I may make known to have acquitted myself of this commission, so Kissing your hands, I rest for ever  
SIR.   

Copy AND true TRANSLATION OF MY answer TO THE LETTER.  
SIR,  
I do answer to your Letter of aduis, for which I thank you, though I stand not in need of any other Confraternity then that of Christians, who have two Sacraments Instituted by their chief Christ Jesus, It's for that profession my predecessors have shed their blood 〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 of Monsieur 〈◊〉, as you may read: and for me I have suffered for the same from my mother's womb, who fled during the persecutions against those of our profession.  
And for what concerns the particular title of Roman Catholic, I do answer, that the Christian saith all. That of Roman properly belonging but to him that'll borne at Rome, from wheno●, as said, seldom good men 〈◊〉  
The proposed reconciliation to the Queen of England seems as strange to me as the proposed 〈◊〉, having never offended her in thoughts, words, nor deeds; so that those who have obliged you to notice their propositions are wholly mistaken in these two points yet will I not forbear to wish them all good, and to commend you for your good will, which obliges me to tell you that I am the more SIR,  
Paris 6 of April 1646.   

The Reader being come thus far, may (if he please) remember again what is said in the first lines of these leaves. Judgement belongs to God and to none else, for he saith judgement is mine.  
And a● by so doing, he will free himself of that just censwer which those deserve that judge arnisse, so will he (by the reading of the following lines) be throughly informed of the just cause that justly moved me thereunto, and that I could not (Without proving criminal to myself) obmit to mention the passages contained in the former lines▪ For an Anatomist cannot proceed to the demonstration of the figure of the heart of man except he rips up the skin of the body.  
Some kings and Princes (Who are abused by pernicious) councillors) will not stick to the observation of the laws which they themselves have made, not to those to which they were sworn, but abandonne themselves unto a licentiousness to dispose of the lives and pocessions of men: But none of them can dispose of the motions of the heart, nor of any man's good fame.  
Iff there be any peculliar prerogative in this world sure self defence in the least questionnable, it is the first law of nature. Therefore all men are bound to conclude that those who do wilfully assaille it do make them self unwoorthy of the benefist of the laws of God, the laws of Nature, the fondamentall laws of Empires, and of Nations.  
To the heart I have been wounded, and attempts have been made to my soul, and therefore no wonder that I have begun these Lines with the names of my Parents, their birth, and their profession, likweise with my birth, and profession; and consequently with some passages that must argue what I have professed, whiest in effet is the ripping up of the first skin: On which Spirist of darkness and Diluzion have of late endeavioured to put such an infamous stain, as neither Antiquity nor modern times can afford amorem horrid example.  
All which the said Spirits of darkness factionnaris and adherents to Cottintoniens have been contracted in the person of Mr. William Crafts, who undertook his task, to pocesse divers Noble families in Paris, with a most false opinion that my Daughters (detained from m● in the Nunnery) belong to others: This the Eldest hath declared under her own hand, and that when the said abominable falsehood was uttered by the said Master Craft, she desired a friend to reprove him, he answered it was to make her a fortune.  
A fortune indeed, which the most wicked among the Headens would on such condition reject, and would for ever banish the word Fortune from their remembrance.  
Myself and a virtuous Mother proclaimed the Keepers of these Children, to have spent their means, belonging to others, horrid Monsters, that kept children from endeavouring their Salvation; and in conclusion by the said Master Craft's most false relations) become in the Opinion of number of Deluded persons a Monster, that should have been capable to do that for which I should justly deserve to be forsaken by God, and abhorred of all mankind; better had I never been borne, than to be coupable of such a crime; better had I lived all my days among brute beasts, and not in sight of the Courts of Princes.  
My life hath been without stain, no man ever saw me pocest with wine, and sure no man can say that the place of my birth was destroyed by fire and Brimstone, and that I was driven with my family in a Cave: No man can say of me (as the world hath just cause to maintain of the said Master Crafts) to have swerved from the Religion in which I haue been borne and bred, nor for any worldly preferments; means to weak to work on a Christian settled m●nde; I shall rather choose to abandonne the Society of mankind, all worldly comforts; Nay, burry myself alive, than to yield to disordinate powers; And had it not been the hopes to do some good on my poor seduced Children, I would not have been moved neither by promises of SUFFICIENT ENTERTAINMENT answerable to my condition, nor by assurances of royal favours, subscribed by Eminent Signatures, which Monsieur Brasset the French Resident at the Hague did peruse ere I vould stir from thence in August last 1645 to return into France.  
Where (as said before) all my labours on my seduced Children have proved like the washing of Black mores, my cares and pains having produced to me but some letters written by those blinded Virgins, but penned by their blind Leaders, for so their arguments proves them to be, since they have set under their one hand that they could not hazard to imitatte Joseph when he rane to his father Jacob to gossen to do their last duty, but with hazard off their SALVATION, and therefore sent only to me (at my departure) a work Stilled, discourse OF AMABLE Bourzet, a Priest, who had dedicated a pack of mouldy ordinary tailles, (a nest of cobwebs) to Prince Edward Palatin, alas deluded Prince! as iff those Lines were to prove as fatal as the wound Achilles received in his heel, and (though whithout comparaison of quality) consequently to stay me, that I might be wrought upon, or constrained to render my soul into the snarres of Monsieur Bourzet, who teacheth a most damnable doctrine, as disobedience of Children to Parents, especially in things in different; which is to see and to hear Parents in a neuther place, according the laws of the Land, which do ordain children to see and consult their parents ere they take any religious orders.  
All which being finally seconded by the letter written by Jacques d'Eldime (Who dwells as said before at a Vinnegar man behind Saint Leu, La Rue aux Ours in Paris) proved a most brutish farewell; and a sooner comfort, to the wounded heart of a Father▪  
BALTAZAR GERBIER.