though if it come forth armed with verses and epistles, I cannot tell what to think of it. For the great wits will think themselves threatened, and rebel. Unusual fortifications upon the borders, carry with them a suspicion of hostility. And poets will think such letters of commendation a kind of confederacy and league, tending to usurp upon their liberty. [I have told you my judgment, and you may make use of it as you please. But I remember a line or two in your poem, that touched upon divinity, wherein we differed in opinion. But since you say the book is licensed, I shall think no more upon it, but only reserve my liberty of dissenting, which I know you will allow me.][D] I rest, Sir, Your most humble and obedient servant, THOMAS HOBBES. _Chatsworth, October the 24th, 1668._ Footnote B: This letter is here printed from the autograph of Mr. Hobbes, now in the possession of Rowland Eyles Egerton Warburton, Esq. of Arley Hall, Cheshire. The same letter, with the variations hereafter noticed, was prefixed to Mr. Howard’s poem, “_The British Princes_,” published in 1669: it is there addressed “_To the Honourable Edward Howard, Esq. on his intended impression of his poem of the 'British Princes,'_” and is subscribed, “_I need say no more, but rest, Your Honour’s most humble and obedient servant_, THOMAS HOBBS. _Chatsworth, Nov. the 6th, 1668._” Footnote C: The passage between brackets is omitted in the letter prefixed to the _British Princes_, and the following is substituted for it: “_Besides 'tis a virtue in a poet to advance the honour of his remotest ancestors, especially when it has not been done before. What, though you out-go the limits of certain history? Do painters, when they paint the face of the earth, leave a blank beyond what they know? Do not they fill up the space with strange rocks, monsters, and other gallantry, to fix their work in the memory of men by the delight of fancy? So will your readers from this poem think honourably of their original, which is a kind of piety._” Footnote D: This passage is omitted in the “_British Princes_.” END OF VOL. IV. ------------------------------------ G. RICHARDS, PRINTER, 100, ST. MARTIN'S LANE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BOOKS PUBLISHED BY JOHN BOHN. ------- _To be completed in 12 Vols. 8vo. each 12s. cloth lettered_, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THOMAS HOBBES OF MALMESBURY,