ered in my reputation with my superiors by your
misunderstanding me, and misinforming others; as if when
I was to preach before the king, I had scornfully
refused the tippet as a toy; when, as the Searcher and
Judge of Hearts doth know, that I had no such thought or
word. I was so ignorant in those matters as to think
that a tippet had been a proper ensign of a doctor of
divinity, and I verily thought that you offered it me as
such: and I had so much pride as to be somewhat ashamed
when you offered it me, that I must tell you my want of
such degrees; and therefore gave you no answer to your
first offer, but to your second was forced to say, "It
belongeth not to me, Sir." And I said not to you any
more; nor had any other thought in my heart than with
some shame to tell you that I had no degrees, imagining
I should have offended others, and made myself the
laughter or scorn of many, if I should have used that
which did not belong to me. For I must profess that I
had no more scruple to wear a tippet than a gown, or any
comely garment. Sir, though this be one of the smallest
of all the mistakes which of late have turned to my
wrong, and I must confess that my ignorance gave you the
occasion, and I am far from imputing it to any ill will
in you, having frequently heard, that in charity, and
gentleness, and peaceableness of mind you are very
eminent; yet because I must not contemn my estimation
with my superiors, I humbly crave that favour and
justice of you, (which I am confident you will readily
grant me,) as to acquaint those with the truth of this
business, whom, upon mistake, you have misinformed,
whereby in relieving the innocence of your brother, you
will do a work of charity and justice, and therefore not
displeasing unto God, and will much oblige,

Sir,
Your humble servant,
RICHARD BAXTER.
_June 20, 1662._

_P. S._ I have the more need of your justice in this
case, because my distance denieth me access to those
that have received these misreports, and because any
public vindication of myself, whatever is said of me, is
taken as an unsufferable crime, and therefore I am
utterly incapable of vindicating my innocency, or
remedying their mistakes.

"