ered, that the beginning
of the year, at that time, was computed the 25th of March. In this
year also, he wrote the short address to the Reader, which is prefixed
to his "Priest to the Temple," which was not published till after his
death.]

[Footnote 28: It is not to be supposed that Andrew Melville could
retain the least personal resentment against Mr. Herbert; whose verses
have in them so little of the poignancy of satire, that it is scarce
possible to consider them as capable of exciting the anger of him to
whom they are addressed.]

LETTER FROM
MR. GEORGE HERBERT
TO
NICHOLAS FARRER,

_the Translator of Valdesso_

[Sidenote: Concerning Valdesso]

My dear and deserving brother, your Valdesso I now return with many
thanks, and some notes, in which perhaps you will discover some care
which I forbear not in the midst of my griefs; first for your sake,
because I would do nothing negligently that you commit unto me:
secondly for the Author's sake, whom I conceive to have been a true
servant of God; and to such, and all that is their's, I owe diligence:
thirdly for the Church's sake, to whom by printing it, I would have
you consecrate it. You owe the Church a debt, and God hath put this
into your hands--as he sent the fish with money to St. Peter--to
discharge it; happily also with this--as his thoughts are
fruitful--intending the honour of his servant the Author, who, being
obscured in his own country, he would have to flourish in this land
of light, and region of the Gospel among his chosen. It is true, there
are some things which I like not in him, as my fragments will express,
when you read them: nevertheless, I wish you by all means to publish
it, for these three eminent things observable therein: First, that God
in the midst of Popery, should open the eyes of one to understand and
express so clearly and excellently, the intent of the Gospel in the
acceptation of Christ's righteousness,--as he sheweth through all
his Considerations,--a thing strangely buried and darkened by the
adversaries, and their great stumbling block. Secondly, the great
honour and reverence which he every where bears towards our dear
Master and Lord; concluding every Consideration almost with his holy
name, and setting his merit forth so piously; for which I do so love
him, that were there nothing else, I would print it, that with it the
honour of my Lord might be published. Thirdly, the many pious rules
of ordering our life ab