The Hartlib Papers

              Paris 24 Octobre 1648 ----

Sir/

I had yours of the 5/15 present written as you say jn great haste but as I do perceaue by the words expressing your willingnes to contribute by a hearty application to the furtherance of the worke Intended by me. I can assure you that no man can apply him selfe more to any thing then I am wont to do when[altered] once found good and that I and my sonne that is heere do bestowe all the moments of the day for the preparing of cards necessary to all those sciences mentionned jn my Aduertissement to Fathers of Familly. And were I butt payed of monnies due to me I would not putt off one day butt make hence towards England. Yett giue me leaue to tell you that diuers things depending on this greate worke they must bee thought on so as the first of all must not bee forgotten, which was and is to dispersse throughout the whole Contry the printed papers and iff those I sent will not serue for theire Ortographie [when?] made, on which your last giues me no light. whether they shalbe printed theire of heere, for jt is the first step. and the ground worke of the businesse <that> Fathers of famillies must be jnformed. moued and persuaded, since otherwayes jt would bee jn vaine to make greate preparations [2? words deleted] take greate paines, and trouble mens braines Etc. except theire be a likly hood to do good: my heart and minde js so sett on the worke that I will wholy dedicate my selfe to jt. butt theire must be Scollers for teachers, Truly jt is a glorious thing to see how two or three hunderd[altered] Louers of Art flock heere att one place and [word delteted] [catchword: Number]

number of others to other places, Butt when all the Sciences should bee thaught under one Roofe and braue gentlemen take a delight therein it would do a gentlemans minde good to haue jntroduced such a Noble establishment: You haue likweise seene jn one of mine what I wrote concerning Creditors: here I am spoken to for other establishments, which may take effect after these Stormes, which are now passing away // <left margin: This king an Parliament beeing fully agreed a good example for the king of England/> and which may bring Pistols againe out of theire hidden Corners: Butt to our businesse againe: you haue likweise seene jn one of my letters that I do rest satisfied concerning the Right Honnourable Mr Speakers answeare and expression about the demanded Passe; And truly I should not trouble my selfe more about jt were jt not that jt is a thing spoken by euerey man <that it is good> to haue a passe # when they go jnto England, # <left margin: # so the parliaments Agent heere tels me/> And that neew affrightments are blowne heither that the Treaty meetes with rubbs. and iff no good conclusion. butt continuance of distractions <what then?> Lord god send they Peace on that Nation, and iff theire be some Secret Remorce att the Starren or att the Nose of that Barke wheron the Nation riddes jn the storme remoue jt: The well wishers say that iff the casse where theiris they would blinde foulle signe what the great Senat of a Land hath thought on for the good security and rest of the Nation. The secrets of God are jnscrutable and theire fore what must be shall bee. [catchword: I]

I haue seene the printed Essay touching the reformation of the Lawes of England, I haue jn my dayes seene Popes Emperors kings. states Magistrates and Lawyers; heard diuers things, and of the greatist. Among which this for a word. The Cardinal de Richelieu desiring the Learned Salmatius to stay <in france> to contribute to a reconcilliation [word deleted] jn Religion was answeared jt could not take, except Cardinals Bishops Abots and others of the Sequel could resolue to Liue uppon 2 or three hundred pound per annum as the Ministers of the Reformed Churches must <do>

    [2? words deleted] A greate Common wealths man profered to the Cardinal de Richelieu a list <word deleted> of abuses # <left margin: jn state gouuernment/> and of expedients to reforme them; he answeared that jt would proue [as?] <more> facile to forme a neew World. as <then [word deleted]> to reforme the Old: And you knowe that Some boddies are so accustommed to feede on fleames and jll humors that iff a Phisician should undertake to take them away the Boddy would fall jnto some other distemper, besides that greate alterations haue theire greate Inconueniencies: I wrotte some time past a little Treaty for the framing of a neew world jn florida. The king was to be a goodly glorious braue shinning Lyon without Nailles and without Teeth; <the> knights of his order. whose <to haue for theire> motto should be So lett your light shine to the world <before men>. All was composed and rulled as a Musike booke # <left margin: # you may heare of jt att the Prince Elector Palatin> Butt I could finde no undertakers, most men beeing sett on the old track. to runne [letter deleted] and

  I sent to you a draft or two of <letter deleted?> my Intended [Vocabularie?] <[Interpreter?] to the Albion [Minerva?]> only to shew that I am aworke, butt lest the draft not see the light, for I do not loue to avouch any thing untill jt be past the presse, I haue made some alterations jn those which you have/

  I haue presented your kinde remembrances to your friend Mr Doctor Boate who returnes his to you by me

  Sir                your humble seruant

                            B gerbier