The Hartlib Papers

   And iff there could be gotten an other hundred pound more that might be [letters deleted] imployed apart for the Extraordinarie Expences those Colleagues should be put unto for transscribing off rare manuscripts, for sending off letters entertaining off correspondencie & such like. But iff you should alltogether despaire off procuring such a Summe in these parts, yet if will be worth your paines, iff you can but gett the one halfe of it heere, endeavoring for the rest in other Countries. For this in the interim, these 5 men might have wherewithall to vindicate themselves from the gnawing Cares, & by this English bountifullnesse <left margin, H: of great Brittaine> unto them, others also would so much the more easily be drawen to the like. Iff we consider Comenius alone, I confesse, we shall not need so much as three hundred pounds; But what will become then off his workes, the perfectioning whereof, himselfe confesseth, goeth byond his owne private Ability, insomuch also, that it seemes he preferres some others before himselfe. Iff he had ten or twentie off such Associates, there were not too many off them; much lesse are two or three onely <left margin H: vpon whom hee hase lighted by a special providence of God> [9 words deleted]. Truely, I doe hold, that either they must joyntly be provided for, or else we must give over all hope off seeing the worke perfected; for without the joyned labour <H: cooperating> off some three or foure, I cannot see how it will answer our Expectations. An annuitie off 300 pound, would be a good helpe to begin withall, & the lesser the summe is, the better it will be procured, & the more also will it free the Partakers from all suspition off covetousnesse. For what gaine or profit can he make to himselfe, that hath <desires> but 50 lb. for <all> his Necessaries, throughout a Whole Yeare? Which it should seeme, by the perusing off some off our letters, some doe, though perhaps not in <H: such> plaine termes.    But now, whence, I pray, shall wee extort those 300 pounds, Here I am allmost posed; yet wee'le say something, & perhaps not much beside the hope off the matter: Not <indeed by> suggesting anie secret cunning off making or coyning monyes: I scarce forbeare

Invectives; Against whome you'le aske? Even against our owne Selves, that would seeme to be speciall promoters off the Honour off Learning, and & yet are so grossly Ignorant off [deletion] Great [Mecænases? altered] & Fosterers off the same? When some Noble Projects are on foote, & finde not forthwith any such Patrons, by & by we fall a slaundering the unahppie <wretched> age we live in, & make no scruple to censure & condemne whole nations off within our selves off basenesse & [word deleted] <regardlesnesse>: whereas we our selves are blame worthy that [word deleted] we seeke them no better, or iff we doe happily meete any we doe not wisely enough make then enamoured with those noble & generous undertakings <left margin H: most Heriock and Christian enterprises.>. To passe by other Kingdomes & Provinces now & onely to mention this Kingdome off great Brittaine, the wealthiest at present, the mightiest & most flourishing off all other, the very Pearle off all Europe, where from the greatest Nobilitie to the very vulgar, there is seene such an emulating Love off Bookes, such an ardent Desire off Knowledge, should we [letter deleted] entertaine such <a> a bad & base conceit off the same, that, for a three hundred-pound-matter, nay say six hundred, to be imployed [word deleted] about a worke so full off sound & everlasting glorie <H: of so vast a consequence>, we should thinke it needfull to sollicite more then one onely Benefactour thereunto: [word deleted] <That> among such a Number off both Spirituall & Temporall Lords so nobly given & so excellently learned; among so many off the Gentrie, yea & off the Commons themselves, worth thousands, there should not one be found, that [word deleted] <with> so small a matter would venture to redeeme this [word deleted] overplus, as it were, off his Glorie, I shall then beleeve, when you can perswade me, that watery cloudes, iff driven by a gentle winde, shall not powre downe raine: He that knowes not how slightly [word deleted] <H.: this gilded earth> is regarded by the greater sort off this Realme: must needes be very ignorant what a masse of mony <H.: it> is yearely spent by them upon feasts & entertainments, upon hunting & hawking, upon playes & pleasures/

I dare say that these doe stand a Nobleman sometimes as much, as would sufficiently maintaine twentie Comeniuses. Nor doe I speake this to detract <H: traduce> anie one. But I perswade my selfe, that these Noblemen, doe ever reproach learned men <by this Profusion> their want off dexterity, that with all their wisedome <H: skil> & abilities they could <not> bring so much delight to generous mindes, as either a Huntsman or some Player, nor & so neither finde the same wellcome favor & preferment at their hands, as those. Howbeit I my selfe have heard divers, so much affected to learning, that they would not stick to spend yearely the best part off their rents <Revenews> for the Advancement & some choice Professours thereoff. The most Compendious way indeed were to seeke out for such a one, & to insinuate the Comenian Projects <H: vndertakings> unto his Favour, by which meanes both Himselfe & his fellowlabourers would be provided. But you'le say, These things you thought on long agoe, but as yet you found no opportunity, to conferre with one another <anie one> off those great Munificent Patrons. meanewhile the Comenian affaires do lye at the stake by reason of such long delays, & unlesse they be speedily redresst, the partakers every one shall be driven to abandon those fruitlesse Pansophicall labours, & to looke to his private affaires, [word deleted] & they, being men off such parts & endowments, will not be long to seeke for more gainfull preferrment to themselves; iff they doe but [deletion] <encline> any such way. Iff [word deleted] <it> be thus with them, I confesse, we must extend our Considerations somewhat farther, & heape together what advice we can get, least the beginning off so glorious a fabricke fall to ground againe for want off either workemen, or Encouragement. Let us trie anie thing rather then suffer our age <to> be branded with this infamie, & to defraude & bereave our posterity yea & our selves too off such a Happinesse. Therefore, iff you will follow my Advice, Endeavour for the helpe & assistance off manie, as long as you despaire off prevailing with one onely for all. I am not ignorant, what [store?] off allyes & friends, & patrons your are furnished withall.

It would be an easie matter I conceive, for you to make choise off some fiftie off them & for them to spare yearely some six pound a piece, towards the making up off those three hundred pound mentioned. And iff there were fewer that would undertake for the whole, that would so much lessen your paines, and advance their credit thanks & glorie. And though some also should make difficultie to part with six pound, take as much as they offer, & call so much the more into the number off Assistants. it matters not, whether there be six hundred or two hundred, that contribute to the erecting off this Tabernacle off wisdome. You know, when the Tabernacle was a framing in the wildernesse, no bodies gift was refused how meane soever. But heere you shall neede a doubble Caveat, for the different sorts off men you [2 words deleted] <are to deale> withall; For Some will be full off doubts & tergiversations, whose mindes you must be readie to perswade & convince with solide Arguments; for you shall meete but a few, that will be free upon any adventure, & give, where they see no returne; no[altered from & nothing] <gift> seemeth little to him that bestoweth it, yea most men indeede doe overvalew their gratuities. On the other side the promtitude & forwardnesse off some must <to> so warily be managed, that they be not spilt heere & there, & their gifts become no gifts, by unadvised disposing. The former sort will have many things to object, <especially> iff you finde them busied with other affaires, so they can but put by <eschew> your solliciting. They will question the works Necessitie <&> Possibilitie, the Fittnesse off those that are imployed about it, & divers other things, which on the sudden their thought may light on, yea anie thing rather, how little soever to purpose, least they should seeme destitute off reason for not yeelding. Neither also can they forthwith, rightly apprehend & judge, off such great Undertakings. As for the Necessitie & Possibilitie off the Project, Comenius himselfe in his most elegant Prodromus, doth set them forth sufficiently, & it may suffise you, thither to direct such as seriously doe question the same:

Off the fittnesse off all the Colleagues to the maine Scope, & off their successes to come, about the workes perfecting, it may be you shall not allways have readie at hand, what to reply unto their objections; whereoff that you may not be destitute, see What I contracted for this purpose out off their owne Communicated Manuscripts. And thus you may shew them: That the Worke undertaken & begunne by Mr Comenius & his Associates (though separated one from another) is off that Diffusednesse & Majestie, that to the due consummating thereoff it is requisite all the learned men wheresoever should conspire & every one contribute his share unto it. But there lyes much in the happie beginning & foundation <as it were> off such a grand Dessigne. Heereunto it seemeth Comenius was called even by God himselfe, so that none <nor is there> any, that can dispute precedencie with him in this particular.   Now those being once well layde it will be easie afterwards both for himselfe & others to advaunce & finish the whole building. Every one should helpe with monies [word deleted] <endeavors> & Counsells, that those first difficulties might be overcome; And some Yeares space also would be allow'd that the first Essay off the worke, may come forth so much the more compleate & polished not but that in the meane while those Patrons & Promoters shall see some fruit off Comenius his Lucubrations; Himselfe & his Colleagues being resolved shortly to publish divers excellent Didacticall Bookes, whereby, the former methods off scooles being as little altered as may be, such [deletion] an admirable compendious way shall be taught to attaine to the learning hitherto in use, as yet is unheard off, & whilest there heere & there in them they shall reveale many principles off the Pansophicall worke still preparing, the mindes off the Vulgar will be fitted by little & little for the breaking forth off that New & Glorious splendor, & still more & more, able & learned men will be allured to [word deleted] <joyne hands &> cooperate <H: hearts>. And thus, Helpes dayly encreasing, this Pansophicall Sunne will not tarie long to rise upon the world & so dispell forthwith the misty clouds off so many falsehoods & errours in all faculties & disciplines & what may be else alleadged & deduced more at large <for this purpose> out off the things themselves.

Renowne off their Liberality Will be so much the more entire & untainted, For off the gratefullnesse off the Colleagues they need doubt as little, as off their eagernesse to perfect their beginnings; which indeed is such <as> that they had more need off bridles then spurres, & cannot be stayed nor dulled but by the difficultie & perplexitie off the things [deletion] themselves. Now the desired summe off these 300 lb. thus obtained, the next care will be about the fruitfull disposing off the same, whose aime will be <is this>, that every one off the Colleagues receive his peculiar share, & that be followed by assured fruits off their Common Endeavours. You are therefore to ascertaine those Patrons of your Trust & Discretion. As for your Trust, tho none worthie to be trusted himselfe, can except against it, yet for the better remooving off all scruples off diffidence, my advise were, you would not be the only receiver off the contributers gratuities, but <to> associate unto your selfe, one or more off like approved fidelity, for to assist you in this labour. And perhaps you shall be more wisely yet, iff you order it so, that the quarterly gathering in & receiving off the monyes either by Quarters, or at such Times, as the Benefactors shall thinke good, together with the keeping thereoff, be wholly remitted to the trust & care off others; & only the Dispensation off it be left to your Taske, provided withall that you never have any summe off mony from those Deputies, but for a bill off receipt under your hand, & returne likewise the Receipts off those Colleagues, to whome you send the mony, to the same Deputies, as soone as ye shall recieve them. And for your Discretion [deletion] he must be very indiscreete, that would question it. For who is it, unlesse he were endewed with singular Discreation, that durst undertake to set on foote & so watchfully to promote a worke off so high a nature. Truely, such as know you but a little; cannot denye you this Commendation. For never had <could> you have gotten so many excellent manuscripts, off the ablest men in all parts, iff you were not so thoroughly

thouroughly skilled, to deale with every one according to his Desert, & to winne the love & favour off all. Nay what might you not have brought to passe allreadie to the advancement off learning, iff the promised assestances had not so often failed you, in the very middst[altered] off your happie endeavors? Yet all this might be forgiven, [word deleted] & abundance off excellent fruit may be recovered yet; iff they would but now begin to be more reall & liberall unto you, & remitt the whole disposing off those Expences to your Discretion. I am much mistaken, or else assured, that with those 300 lb. appointed for those Pansophicall Projects you are <shall be> able to doe more good, & to advance them farre better, than others some [letter deleted] could performe with 3000 lb. For you are not onely intimately acquainted with those, that are the Undertakers off this worthy worke, who still unbosome unto you their greatest secrets, which assuredly they would not doe to others for any Treasure; But withall you have gotten such acquaintance with the learnedst & best experienc'd men, through all Germanie & the Netherlands, that <allmost> nothing is unknowne unto you off all their projects & dissignes. & what they would not part with for any mony, that they send freely over unto you, to get your Advise & judgement, nay they are content, you should make it your owne, iff you will but be at the charge off transscribing: which being amounting to no small summes, it were very just & equall, that such things as are to be transscribed for the common benefit off the colleagues, should be defrayed out off their common allowance. For I know that most off the Colleagues, will esteeme these rarityes byond anie monie. Comenius indeed himselfe tho much straightned for Sustenance; yet, I know not how, he seemes allwayes much more cheered & comforted in his letters unto you for such communicated manuscripts, then for the monie he receiveth off you. And besides these, you know likewise a good many singular & excellent witts, which are growing on[altered] to very good hopes, off continuing & amplifying the labours & endeavors off Comenius & his Colleagues Who being a great deale freer with you, then they would be to others in disclosing their straights, would easily

be drawen & obliged [word deleted] by [letter deleted] some small & present gift, without an extorted confession off their want (a thing which grieves a generous minde most bitterly) for to communicate the profits off their Talent, farre better then would be done otherwise by great but in some regard, injurious gratuityes. <All> Which helpes & advantages the Colleagues would want, iff the entire & unlimited dispensation off those monyes, were committed to others besides you[altered], or not onely & soly unto you. I could not sufficiently wonder when I heard, that some did send their gifts to Comenius, without your Advice, especially at such a Time. When he had desired you to buy divers necessarie bookes for him, & to get [word deleted] <some> Copies off sundrie Manuscripts off Yours, which for the great charges these things required you could not performe them. And the mony that was so unadvisedly sent, after much adoe at length came to that worthie mans hand; & well it was it came at length. But thus, iff others also would Continue in this manner to supply Comenius without making you acquainted with it (as if they should put any diffidence in you tho you have so worthily & infinitly approved your faithfulnesse in this behalfe) their Benefitts would fall short off a great measure off thankes, & off the chiefest fruit & scope off them. But to men that had no great learning, such an errour may easily be forgiven, so that heereafter, being warned by you, they learne to dispose off their gifts with more discretion. Yet this I would have you propound in plaine Termes to the Benefactors, whoever they are like to be, & let not anie bashfullnesse off yours stand betweene you and the Publicke Good. Desire them, that they allow you One full yeares respit, which ended you shall give them such an account off all Receipts & Expenses, as they themselves shall confesse, they never bestowed mony better in their lives. And indeed the very least Time will be <a> yeare, for to render a full account, by reason off the great Distances off places, & the manifold hazzards, these <the> rare monuments off those worthie men are subject unto in their conveyance to & fro both by sea & land. Therefore iff they be wise,

they will committ it all to your charge; though you indeed can get nothing by it but Toile & Trouble, when as they, by these their small adventures will reape a world off lasting fruit & reall contentment. Wherefore also, it would be more then equall, they should not onely committ it unto you but rather [word deleted] <envite> & encourage you unto it if they have any Discretion, by deserved recompences, that you may the more chearefully continue, those restlesse, tho most usefull labours & endeavours about the maine Worke, alltho I know full well, you little aime at this, & content your Selfe abundantly with this fruite of Welldoing, to have Performed it. And this most worthy Sir, is all I can returne at present upon your demands, & I wish it may be so happie, as to prove superfluous unto you afore it come to your hands, by the readie liberalitie off some worthie Benefactors. Iff there be nothing in it, which was not thought on allreadie by you sufficiently, you must beare the blame yourselfe, for not having made use off a more sharpesighted Counsellour. I can well endure to be accounted somewhat dull in this businesse, so I doe but anie way testifie my the largenesse of my Affection to the worke it selfe & all those that so worthily are imployed about it;   I shall never be able so to expresse the same, but that the Worke it selfe <Majestie off> the worke it selfe will make me esteeme & reverence it much more abundantly, I never coveted [word deleted] after Riches (tho I might enjoy reasonable good meanes, iff the rage off these warres had not clipt them so much, leaving me onely, as not able to take it from me, that Gaine off Godlynesse with contentation) but the more I doe dive into the excellencie off this worke, the more indeed it grieves me, that besides my good wishes, & some poore advice, I have so little left to contribute unto it, & that I doe not <more> abound in wealth now, where I doe perfectly see such an incomparable use off them <it>, iff they <it> be but rightly disposed off. But, would to God we could but imprint the plaine apprehending off the excellencie off these grand Undertakings, into the hearts & mindes off some Great & Rich ones, & that they would shew forth their Magnificence about these things; that would make me the lesse displeased with my present <the tenuitie>

of my present Condition. Now since the Obscurity & the quiet kinde of life, I live in, debarres me from the like attempt, I must commend the charge to you, that live & converge with such a Number off Great Ones: & I doe most sollenly exhort admonish request & beseech you, continually & undefatigably to minde the advancement off this glorious Instauration off wisdome. Whatsoever shall be bestowed upon the Authors off these Noble Endeavours, that shall goe byond & excell all other Benifices in Worth in fruit & in contentment. And I doe not see how anie one (in a matter off so small Expences, as we shewed aboue) can denye it, iff there be but one sparke off Christian Charitie remaining in his breast. Whether they regard the authors or the worke, as many as doe but regard them, [letter deleted] are bound & obliged to doe them what good they can. Iff they looke upon the Authors, they finde them as much abounding in the with the Treasures of the Minde, as straightned in that off the Mint, in which bare regard they deserve the Liberality off every one, because they are honest men, learned men, poore men, not by their owne default, but by the Calamities off the Times, continuing poore for the love & advancement off the publik good; For that they might promote the same, more then ever any before them, they have freely neglected all occasions off seeking & getting Wealth, honours & preferment, content to neglect them still, iff they can but honestly support themselves. Now iff they looke upon their Endeavours; they shall never finde the thing, to be but compared to, much lesse proferred before them; <nor> nothing neither, whence there is such a harvest off glorie promised. I cannot but highly commend & extoll the most singular fervencie & liberality [word deleted] <of this> Nation, in erecting publikely so many goodly Churches Colledges Scooles & Libraries, in maintaining very worthily such a Number of learned professors, in fostering by publike charges a multitude off yong scollars, for learning & specially for a continuall supply off the Ministrie; & lastly, in propagating the Truth off the Gospell unto <among> many barbarous Nations by their Colonies, so that I make it a Question, whether any neighbouring Nation may compare with this for such

Magnificent largesses[altered]. But how infinitely more Illustrious would this their Honour be, iff that matchlesse Encrease off a New & Universall wisdom <right margin: which such men doe promise> be added thereunto; as whereby not onely what hath continued hitherto, Will be [deletion] made more easie to be apprehended, but a new light <an altogether> new & glorious Light shall breake forth & overspread the Universe: It is a Magnificent worke, & full of Devotion, to built stately monuments for the publike worship off God; but how much more Magnificent a worke is this, to make that stones <there> shall not sit stones upon stones, but rather, that in the Temples made off Hands, there may meete true Temples off the holy Ghost, that so they may worthily be called the House of God, who otherwise never dwelleth in Temples made by mens hands. Act. 17. 24. Which next to the holy Scriptures nothing is ever like to performe, but this such a Pansophy onely, & that because shee will be ever directing unto that Heavenly Wisdome, which is chaste, peaceable, equall, obedient, full of mercie & off good workes, without strife <most> unfained Iac.3. 17. It is an Argument off great Piety, to traine up manie from a child, some for sacred functions, some for humane learning some for trades & handiecrafts, & to provide publike maintenance for them, to erect stately Libraries for their Use & Benefit, to entertaine publike Teachers & professors for the same. But how farre more [word deleted] <excellent> will it be, to make that all men indifferently shall be publishers off Gods glorie, all shall be Prophets, all shall be artificers, that every one shall be able to teach both himselfe and others, readie with St Paul both to make <weave> & to preach, whereunto onely this incomparable Pansophie will shew the way, teaching all men all things, & very perfectly. And lastly, as this surpasseth all other praise to Communicate the Light off the Gospell to Barbarous Nations, but what the more Necessarie heereunto than to reduce them first to humanity, whom ye would have embrace Christianitie; & [4 words deleted] <what is it else this> Pansophie doth more aime at & performe? But now iff they desire a perpetuall delight for their gifts & presents, what can there be fuller off it, then to know, whatsoever

is to be knowne off man. What can be more pleasant & comfortable, as when we shall see such an infinite multitude off people redeemed out off the Darke Dungeons off Ignorance, to consider, that it pleased the eternall wisdome off God to raise & entertaine & perfect such a worke so glorious & [word deleted] unheard off by the meanes concredited unto our Dispensation. But then, iff we neglect an offer off such blessings, & daigne it not our constant care & readie helpe, I can not tell with how many crimes we make our selves abominable. He that but heares off such extraordinarie undertakings, & cares not to search farther into it, he staines himselfe with the barest degree off stupiditie: He that searcheth & doth acknowledge the excellencie off them, he [word deleted] prostitutes his <owne> malitious diposition: He that understands & yet neglecteth them, becomes a most unthankfull wretch to God who (what great Blisse can mortall man desire) so largely & bountyfully offers Us such Wisdome, or rather in offering this wisdome [word deleted] <H: offereth> himselfe unto us in such a glorious manner. For what is wisdome but an Exhalation off the Power off God & a pure streame off the Glorie off the Allmightie. It is a Splendor off the eternall Light, & a Mirrour off Gods Powerfullnesse, without spot, and the Image off his Goodnesse Sap.7. 25. 26. Nor can it be solide & compleate, without it be Universall; By this heavenly water are our mindes cleansed & [reached?] from those staines & defilings off Ignorance; the continuall causes & breeders off so much mischiefe & confusion in the world. That is it, makes the Subjects rise up in Rebellion against their Souveraignes, Servants against their Masters, that makes men mingle & confounde all sacred & profane things. As long as people remaine enraged off this poison, there is no Law nor penaltie can bridle & keepe them in awe, & iff once they breake the raines, there is nothing they dare not set upon, & it is their only delight to turne all & overthrow all pellmell & upside downe. Insomuch that I doe hold it one off the <the verie> greatest Mysterie of Gouvernment to make

the people as wise and understanding as may be, that will be a very compendious way to make it withall truely godly, honest & obedient that they shall doe freely & off their owne accord what others doe compelled by feare, nay, they will rather suffer all Extremities, then let their mindes, much lesse their hands, lift up themselves against the Lords annointed, which we see is so ordinarie among barbarous Nations, whome nothing keepes in some awe for a while, but either their owne grosse Ignorance, or the apprehension & terrour off some present mischiefe.   But now as for the Publishers off this true & peaceable wisdome, it is not every age that doth produce; nor every one that can abide them. And it is not Wealth alone neither that allways can procure them.   It is the only spirit off God, that doth excite such generous windes for such great undertakings, he doth encourage & enlighten them, that <He> endewes them with such a neglect off earthly, & with such a love off heavenly excellencies; And the same spirit commands & chargeth them whome (to make them likewise accountable one Day) he made to abounde with the goods off this world. The more liberall anie shall shew themselves in this behalfe the more praise they shall receive for their faithfull stewardship, in that great Day off account, when every one shall be rewarded according to his workes. As every one doth sow, so also shall he reape. Hee that soweth unto the pleasure & luxurie off his flesh, shall reape off it Destruction. Hee that soweth to the spirit, shall reap of the spirit life eternall; & he most off all that never growes weary off welldoing. And how can a man doe more good to those off the houshold off faith, but to give entertainment to such, that have consecrated all their thoughts studies & endeavours to the common good & wellfare off All. Whatever good is desired by them to humane kinde, will together with them be likewise acknowledged to those, by whose care & providing the Authors had meanes to continue their cares & endeavours.

What good anie doth to them, the Supreme Iudge will that stands in neede off nothing will account it as done unto himselfe. (what ever advantage & benefit the Publike Weale comes short off by the neglecting & suppressing off these Instruments that same shall be laide & charged wholly upon the carelesnesse off those, that were so often called upon & entreated, to be but a little helpefull to those that so indefatigably labour for the procurement, & yet still refused their assistance. For however the Ignorant & Envious sort doe slight them, yet they cease not for that to be Gods Ministers, & the Publishers off his Devine Goodnesse. Who one day in his Wrath may utterly take away againe this Incomparable Treasure from such unthankfull Esteemers off it, as judging their <such> base mettall mindes alltogether unworthie, that their accursed monie should be brought into His Sanctuarie. The Garamants & Indians I verily beleeve will more <shall> readily receive & embrace these Evangelists off Wisdome, rather then those Treasures should so basely be & vilely be scorned & rejected, which we might have redeemed with such trifling Expences. O iff some durst & would ventour but the twentieth part, nay but the hundredst part off their yearely revenues for such like publik uses, what Victories <& Triumphs> might we not promise to our selves off the Ignorance & Malice of Mankinde! But to comprehende all my wishes in the one, I pray God be gratiously pleased with & & effectually blesse, whatsoever is undertaken by such as sincerely worship him for the magnifying off his glorie, & the propagating off all mens temporall & eternall Wellfare. Fare well.