The Hartlib Papers

          Some Reasons why I rather lyke the agencye

          of some one or (verry few) more perticuler

          persons, & not sutch ffeoffers as are propounded

          for that excellent worke (vizt) the advancement

                         of Learning

1     First I feare good men are not soe plentifull that we can hope to bring togather any number

2     hee that is to be a trustee or ffeoffer in this case must haue these two most eminent virtues meet in him to witt, Religion (I meane not the forme of itt but true pyety which is most aptly discribed by Gods word where itt is layde downe thus, True Religion and vndefiled is to vissitt the sicke, releiue the oppressed etc. And how farre the most men now living in this nation may seeme to walke besides this path is easily disernable; Religion then is the first, the second must be learning, And itt is too true that which the same holy word saith, Nott Many wise, Nott many learned shall enter into the kingdome of heaven, and soe many as are shutt out of heaven I'me sure out to bee shutt out of this imployment, besides the most <of the> learned <of the> men of this age haue yett beene brought vp in & by those irregular rules & meanes which is here complayn'd of & the substance of this whole matter is a proposition how to reform that In a word these two a learned wise man (for meer schollers are meer dunces) & a Religious just man rarely meet, & yett more rare is itt to find sutch a one when to these must (or att least will) bee ioyned that other qualitye that brings infection enough with itt (if itt were possible) to poyson both the other to witt a ritch man, for if hee bee not sutch how shall hee (without some competent allowance) bee able to spend soe mutch of his tyme as will bee nessessarye for the well management of this precious designe, And to say that each trustee should haue an allowance or salarye is altogather inconsistant either with the smale revenue propounded, or with the sence of this paper

Againe where shall wee find soe many men that are ritch & yett haue not imployments of their owne already, & where shall wee find them that will forsake or neglect their owne ymployments for any publique good whatsoever, except they can either aboue or under board bee gayners there by, yett there must bee found att least -six- if not -8- or -10- men in all points thus quallified, which for my part I hold impossible [catchword: Thirdly]

3     Thirdly they must every one bee (besides all this men verry zealous of th & actiue in that verry perticuler disigne & that can noe man well bee except some few that haue long since bent their minds thoughts & endeavours into & vpon this verry subiect matter

4    All this is nothing yett for when you haue found a man thus quallifyed except hee bee willing you are never the better, for itt is most impropper (if att all lawfull) to compell in this case

5    Itt hath beene observed in all ages & humaine affaires that where many men meet to consult (as beeing called or intrusted soe to doe) the most part stand for cyphers, some one, two, or a very few, by their odds of parts, dilligence, or interest, carrying all things as they please, And then in this case if the partye or faction, predominate happen to bee of worser men all the buisines is meerly lost where as one man if once good is soe still, & is not capeable to bee carried by any faction more att one tyme then another

6     Itt is seene too freequently that all trustees of this nature doe proue most notoriously falce wittnesse (to go noe farther of, or backeward to find examples) the miserable abuse of allmost all the hospitalls & charritable endowments, soe intrusted in this kingdome which are most shamefully imbeaseled, & the pore either not maintayned att all or not as they ought to bee, or might bee according to the intent & bounty of the donors & benefactors, & that oppression is carried on with soe mutch subtillitye & power, that these wicked men doe goe away clearely with the bread of the pore which can gett noe remedye

7     Seaventhly and lastly one man having a certaine sallarye, sufficient to maintaine him, & soe need not either for want, or other wo worldly affaires bee taken of from this ymployment (as not having any other soe good & comfortable) will bee cautious to falcifye or neglect, if itt were but to keep himselfe in that present happy condition (but indeed the man fitt for this grand imployment cannot bee supposed or feared to bee dilligent onely for this soe pore & base an end, but rather for the most ardent zeal hee hath to continue in the imployment & trust which his soule most affects, as that whereby hee hopes to bee most instrumentall for the Glorye of God, & the publique good) And if he should vniustly doe or forbeare to doe any thing itt will bee easye for any person or power to call him to accompt, & (if need bee) punish him for itt [catchword: whereas]

Need is the Mother of invention If therefore the reward bee vncertaine & both acceptance, & reward difficulty to attaine whoe will endeavour   In my pore Iudgement then itt were the better way to allow a constant[altered], competent salarye to one man and noe more as Treasurer and another to one Man (or (if itt bee found requisit) to two or three as agents one of which to bee superintendent to the rest, and all these to bee sutch men that beesides all other abillityes should haue a most imediate knowledge of & loue to this perticuler designe

That the maine Agent should from tyme, to tyme demand of the treasurer, & (without farther adoe but his owne discharge given & the occasion pretended entred in the treasurer's booke) receaue any some vnder -50^li, but if the occasion require a greater some then to bring for itt an order from aboue And that that power vnder which hee acts shall att pleasure vpon a months warning call him to an extraordinary accompt if cause appeare, or else ordinarily hee of course to enter <or giue in> his accompt vnask't once every yeare to sutch persons or att sutch place as shall be thought fitt & appointed

Thus shall his hands bee strong in the worke

Thus will his clients chearefully addresse to him when they knowe him to bee both able & willing to entertaine encourage and reward