Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

Reverend Sir! BY the great Favour of my Lord Chancellor's Reprehension, I came to understand how long a time I have suffered 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 the proper Insign of a Dr. 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, 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 my self the laughter or scorn of many; if I should have used that which did not belong to me. For I must profess that I no more scruple to wear a Tippet than a Gown, or any comely Garment. Sir, Though thus 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 Innocency 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. 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 my self, whatever is said of me, is taken as an unsufferable Crime, and therefore I am utterly uncapable of vindicating my Innocency or remedying their Mistakes. To the Reverend and much Honoured Dr. Earls Dean of Westminster, &c. These.

Reverend Sir! BY the great Favour of my Lord Chancellour's Reprehension, I came to understand how long a time I have suffered in my Reputation with my Superiours 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 Iudge 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 the proper Insign of a Dr. of Divinity