The Hartlib Papers

Sir

although I am not the direct <myself haue not> published of these things adioyned papers; yet I must <doe> owne them as my thoughts; & although I haue Cause to apprehend that these Principles of Moderation <thinke that some will looke> could not bee <soe> heartily entertained think that; & beginne to perceiue it in some; & have cause to apprehend it in others, that these [[the?] wayes] <thoughts> of Moderation, are not only <not entertained, but> disrelished, but desrelished; & may apprehend in others that for my endevours to quicken <these seeds of> loue & I shall bee reap the <fruit of> hatred: yet I hope that he whom I serue in these endevours will beare me out; & that all such as make <take> the profession of Religion <to bee rather a conscionable &> a Rationall & <free> seruing of God, rather <in all> then the pressing of our <their> owne Constitutions <& Dictates> upon the Consciences of others <any>, will find something in this way which may qualifie [word deleted] <the> extreme courses <distances> which are like to Ruine us in all the designes of <our> settlement. I confesse, it was Mr. [Hartlibs? hole in MS] forewardnes rather then mine owne, which caused these papers see the light; & I haue taken this occasion <course> to present yow with the view therof, both to craue yowr Patronage in such aimes as these, may bee & to represent unto yow that which he cannot speake himself, concerning his <the sadde> condition & which I am also <I do find him in which hee cannot & I am> loath to utter, but that <his> extreme <truth is not ashamed &> necessitie Constraines <hath no law>: which is this, that since the ordinance of Parliament was last past in favour of him, his straits are increased <greater & condition more difficult for more worke comes> <left margin: comes upon him & he hath lesse to do it withall> because men from abroad looke upon him as employed with public countenance & supported & therefore send obiects of actions more freely <chargeable addresses are made more frequently> to him, (which to refuse is to him as death). <nor is he able to pay the postage these> men at home who [word deleted] were his Contributers withdraw their wonted assistance because they think him prouided for: in the meane time no diligence nor sollicitation importunitie of sollicitation hath beene able to preuaile either towards the Committee of Oxford or <of> Haberdashers Hall <left margin: & this he dare not complaine of either abroad or at home of lest it reflect upon the Houses: so that no what Remedie to keep him from sinking under debts his debts and employments is in view: yet God is all sufficient; & because I haue heard him occasionally <oft times> say that none euer was or is so great <under God he owes his> support most unto him as yowr self, I haue made bold thus to represent his present case unto yow, because next to our public Calamities & Gods dishonor therin by our diuisions, there is nothing on earth more grievous to>

                Sir              yowr