The Hartlib Papers

Two or three yeares agoe Hugh Lamy went into Scotland with memorialls of three propositions[altered from propotions] to be presented to the Parlement.

The first concerning the preparation <of> Salmons and other fishes to more profite then ordinarye

The second concerning the improuement of husbandry and the bringing in of the use of the Indian Corne into Scotland.

The third concerning the settlement of a plantation wel armed and policied[altered] in the Indies.

All which was offered for the publick and particular good and especiall relief of the poore in such a manner that by these means should be built[altered from build] everye yeare three shipps of foure hundred tonnes and three pinnaces each of an hundred and fiftie tonnes to come to the building and ordinary entertainment of six and thirtye shippe and six and thirtye pinnaces <left margin: namely twelue ships &twelue pinnaces> for the ordinarye garde of the coastes and convoyes of fishermen and Merchants shipps: and foure <&> twentye shipps and foure and [twentye? MS edge] pinnaces for the settlement and entertament of a plantation

The said Lamy[altered from Lamye] could not come time enough to present these thinges to the Parlement, but not to loose his time he presented the same to the counsell of state which sent him to the counsell of the city of Edenburgh, which counsell gaue him no answer at at all. every one spoke diversely of the busines some did laugh at it, some said that Lamy did not vnderstand himself, because he should haue craved for his particular benefite a speciall priviledge of fourteene yeares; as if the french men knewe not such trickes, but many <some> had no minde to make use theirof.

Since a yeare goe Mr Gradine[altered from Gradinge?] ensigne of the company of Lieutenant[altered] Colonell Hinderson in Hollandt brought the same memorials of the foresayde propositions; and brought an answer <Dury's hand?: made report> that the Parlement had willingly receiued the same but being ready to rise, it [catchword: should]

And we thinking the matter worthye to be prosecuted it was thought good by Common consent, that I should passe over into England to sollicite a coniunction in the same matter in the other kingdomes[altered]

Where hauing soiourned foure moneths without any conclusion <&> The Parlement of Scotland being readye <to sitt> and I not able to goe thither[altered] I was addrest, To Mr Carmichel to whom I gaue the foresayd memorialls, with the commission adioyned to be presented to the Parlement.

His answer is

That the Parlement doth not make an order accordinge to our requests, and the conditions annexed to the memoriall because these matters are vncertaine.

Herevpon I humbly shewe that the nature of all propositions of a niewe invention is such that they are alwaies held to be Vncertaine till those that propose them haue brought forth[altered] the effects and giuen proofe of their propositions of a niewe[altered] tenour[altered] for otherwayes they would not be niewe if they were not different from the ordinary and certaine practise. now to bringe to light the effects and giue the proofes before an order be made by in forme of priuiledge, according to the petitions and conditiones annexed to the propositions of a niewe invention; is contrary to reason and contrary to the order accoustumed in such propositions besides that the ordinance is not desired obsolute but conditionally; namely in case that the effects and proofes succeed accordinge to the propositions.

And <it> would be folly to require such conditions in forme of priuiledge when the secret of the sayd nieue inventions shall be discovered, chiefly seeing the secret <being> discouered will not seeme very strange

For all both divine and humaine reason doth dictate that everye thinge should be done with prudencye and to a good end, seeing it is not enough to haue a good purpose to doe wel, but there[altered] must be a good conduct thereof[altered] also and it is not enough to propose to ones self a good end but he must also seeke and followe the way to attaine it

Now the intention of the proposition[altered from propositions] is first to doe good to the publicqe and that, in time of great need; then to reliefe <Dury's hand?: relieue> the poore who in the meane time languish in [expectcation?].

In the second place the intention theirof is to benefite the particulars, namely The owners of the Salmon fishing, and the fishers and merchants of fish, in a due and reasonable proportion and also to benefite the owners of the ground and the fermers[altered from femers] and moreover by the meanes of a plantation to encrease the territory and the strengh of Scotland and to giue vnto it al manner of commodities <fitt> for this life; and to sett vp also a stronge trade and all this in a manner without their owne cost.

Also the order concerninge propositions of a niew invention is first <to giue> the priuiledge before the effects and proofes be brought to light; and if such priuiledge be given to particular men for their particular benefite farre more ought it to be giuen to the benefite of the publicke and for the reliefe of the poore and according to our purpose and for a good end.

For we might demaund the priuiledge of it for ourselues according to custome, but we had rather aske it for the publicq and the poore, When a marriadge is contracted it is vnder conditions and vpon vncertaine events: never the lesse not onely the authoritye of Iustice doth enterveine but also the autority of God himself; although everye one doth know very wel that by reason of the impotency of the [catchword: contracting]

Therefore we humbly intreate the Parlement to consider our resolution to be iust and reasonable, that we will rather continue to doe nothinge, then to fall to worke to spoyle all; in bringing to light the effects and proofes of our propositions before the condition <all ordinance> of orderinges be giuen, as is required <Dury's hand?: petitioned> namely in case the effects followe according to the propositions

                  Hugh Lamye

                 Peter [le? erased] le pruvost[altered?]

If it please the Commissioners

to fall to worke &to regulate

matters; wel and good

But if they haue charge onelye

to aske <require> the certainty of matters

that doth not goe wel.