| Title: | Copy Letter In Hand ?, John Dury To John Thurloe |
|---|---|
| Dating: | 26 September 1654 |
| Ref: | 4/3/35A-B |
| Notes: | Enclosed with 4/3/36. |
[4/3/35A]
Honourable Sir.
Since j wrote[altered from write] from Zurich I went to Berne; whiles I did stay there, & since my arrivall here I have given you no account of the progresse of my worke, because I thought it not expedient to trouble you with an imperfect information: & although the account which now I am to give is not particular & full, yet it is necessarie as a preparation to that which is to follow.
You know that at Zurich I dealt with the Divines, who were Deputed to treat with me; & hawing agreed with them upon the Meanes to bee used, & upon the way & manner of proceeding in making use of them; I received from the Magistrat of Zurich an Answer in the name of all the Cantons to the Proposition which I made unto their Deputies at Araw the 13th of Iune, which was sent unto yow before I went from Zurich, wherin you have seene that they approove[H alters] not only of my soepe & worke, but direct me to conferre with the Chief[altered from chief] Ministres of their Churches, declaring that they had commanded[H alters] them to consult with me therin, & promise to adde their Counsell et authoritie to the furthering[altered] of the busines: heerupon I went to Bern; & that the Senate of Bern might mind the worke more seriously, those of Zurich sent along with me one of their Chief[H alters] Secretaries with Credentials & Instructions towards them to make my recection<B>[H alters from respection] the more effectuall: I was then received with a large Testimonie of affection: & foure of their Chief[altered from chief] Divines were deputed to conferre with me; & upon severall occasions some of the Chief Senators gave me opportunities to bee acquainted with them to understand the sense of our affaires & to receive a more full information therof from me, which I found was very acceptable unto them. There at Bern I stayed till the [latter?] ende of August et having satisifed some doubts, & agreed fully with their Divines of all that had been transacted at Zurich, they made a Report therof unto the Senate, who approowing all their proceedings & ratifying their Resolutions, would also expresse something of affection beyond what those of Zurich had done, & ordered that my expences in my Lodging showld bee defrayed; which courtesie I did resent with due expressions to the Chief Magistrat, & with more then ordinarie Liberalitie towards those that gave me their attendance by public appointment. For[altered from for] the Divines having had a care to lodge me neer themselves, in a privat house, the Senat did recommend my entertainement to mine hoste; therefore to him & to some others, whom they made use of to their<TRANS SWITCH="2"></TRANS> shew<TRANS SWITCH="1"></TRANS> respect unto me, I thought it to bee expedient to bee almost as liberall as my expence might have come to, lest they should think that I valved the defrayment further then it was a testimonie of their affection to my worke: They used another expression of favour towards me in appointing that one should conduct me from their Citie to Basel & left the Choise to myself of him of their Divines whom I should like best[H alters] to accompanie me in their name, & give me an Introduction towards those of Basel. Now amongst their Divines who had treated with me was one of Eminent note Mr Hummel, who has lived heretofore in England & is zealously affected in a Godly way towards & for our cause, & one well knowen to those of Basel: him I intreated to go alone with me which hee did very willingly & wee came hither the first [Hartlib's hand: of] this month[H alters from moneth]. Hee having performed what was incumbent for him to doe in my busines, for my Introduction towards the Professors of the Universitie & the Ministres of this place, went his way, & I made my way by one of the[H alters] Secretaries of State to the Ruling Burgemaster & delivered with a Memoriall on the 3d. of 7.ber the letter which I had from His Highnes my Lord Protector, to the Senate of this Citie, who
[4/3/35B]
who did receive it with a great deale of respect; & the next day having acquainted the Senate with it, the Secretarie was sent unto me from them, to let me know that they would seriously mind the busines, & that they had given order to their Ministres & Professors to depute some to conferre with me, & to acquaint them with the Results of our Conferences. Since that time wee have met, & our meetings have been somewhat interrupted, by reason of the Antistes his going out of towne upon a public Commission with some of the Senate to deale with some, who in the last yeares Rebellion had taken armes, to renew[H alters from renow] their allegiance[H alters from alligiance], & receive them into favour[H?:.] Hee[H capitalises] is now come backe againe, & I suppose this weeke or at the furthest the next[H alteres from wee] they will come to a Result. In the meane time I have sent from hence the Copies[altered from copies] of all that hath been transacted between[H alters] me et the Divines of Zurich et Bern to Mr Hartlib, which do [Hartlib's hand: amount] to some sheets of Paper prettie small written; & have charged him to keep them in his owne hand, without communicating the same to any till you shall bee acquainted with them, & give him direction how to make use of them; which I know hee will do with all faithfulnes. Hee is willing to bee a [Hartlib's hand: Solicitor] of this busines for the good of the Churches. I shall intreat you therefore that the Informations of this kind from me, may[H alters] come through his hand to your self & to his Highnes: & that his Highnes may[H alters] bee moved[H alters from mowed] to appoint some Committee for the consideration of things here transacted; that it may bee in due time resolved vpon[H alters from ypon], what concurrence you will give[H alters from giwe] in this busines, to advance with & amongst the rest of Protestants a true[H alters] Gospell Interest[H capitalises]: I can make no doubt; but that all will ioyne here in[H alters] one way[altered], & that as now their eyes are upon you more then upon any of the other Protestant States, so they will referre the Direction of the worke[altered] unto you, & consequently expect from you answerable assistance therin. I purpose to furnish Mr Hartlib by the next occasions, with more matter of Information & sollicitation fitte for the Divines that have engaged themselves by their declaration given[H alters from giwen] to me; but hee is to make use of no information nor adddresse[H alters] himself to any otherwise then hee shall have leave & Direction from you. I rest
from Basel this 26th. of Sept.
1654. Your Honours
Most humble servant in Christ
Iohn Dury.
For the Honourable
Mr. Thurlow
Secretarie of State to his Highnes the Lord
Protector of England Scotland & Ireland.
these White hall.
[Hartlib: No.23.]