The Hartlib Papers

                    A MOST NECESSARIE

                        VADE MECVM,

                for all such as the State

                 of England shall suffer

                    to trauell abroad.

                     BEEING A CONFERENCE

                 betwen a reformed Christian.

                  AND A MISSIONARY OF A

            new order that is sent to instruct

              and to conuert men in religion.

          Put into English out of the French tongue.

                           By

                  SR BALTHAZAR GERBIER.

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                     Anno M. DC. XLIX.

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                     TO THE STATE

                      OF ENGLAND.

AS by the annexed copie of a dedicatory Epistle to a Treatise addrest to all Fathers of Families and Louers of Vertue hath been made apparant the dessein of the erecting of a necessary Academie, wherein (with the good liking and encouragement of the State) may bee taught the forrain necessary languages, sciences and all noble exercises, to exempt all Fathers of Families from sending their Sons in their tender years into forrain parts, where they daily meet with seducers of soules, fire-brands, and ennemies to the State of England, (their naturall country) and who study to peruert them in their beleefe, thereby to coole them in their loue and duty to their naturall soile.

                            Most humble, most Loyall

                            and most obedient seruant

                             B. GERBIER.

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                       COPPIE

                    of the Epistle

                    TO ALL FATHERS

                of Families and Louers

                      of Vertue.

IT is not long since that you haue been told of a dessein of establishing an Academie in England, wherein forrain languages, Sciences, and Noble Exercises shall bee taught: Viz, French, Italian, Spanish, Germain, and Low-dutch, both Ancient and Modern Histories, jointly with the constitution and Gouuernment of the most famous Empires and Estates of the World, besides the true Experimentall Naturall Philosophie: As also what is most necessary and most noble of the Mathematicks, to wit Arithmetick, the true methods of keeping book of Account, by double partie, as is practised in Italy, and other parts of Europe; Geometrie, Cosmographie, Geographie, Perspectiue and Architecture, as well for Building as for Magnificent showes, and the secret Motions of Scenes, and the like: But aboue

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all there shall be taught what is most excellent of practicall Mathematicks: Whatsoeuer belongeth to Fortifications, Besieging and defending of places, Fire-workes, ordering of Battailles, and marches of Armies. Item, Musick, Playing on all sorts of instruments, Dancing, Fencing, riding the great Horse, together with the new manner of fighting on Horse-backe. And if there be any louers of Vertue who haue an inclination to drawing, Painting, Limning, and Caruing (either for their curiosity, or for to attayne vnto a greater exactnesse in seuerall of the fore mentioned sciences. Viz, Architecture, Fortification, &c.) they shall be as exactly taught therein as in the other Sciences; as there shall be an open Hall for some of the poore children of the Parish, or those that shall be recommended by the supreame authority, to learn gratis such sciences as may bee fit for them. Besides that on euery Saturday throughout all the yeare, betwene two and three the clocke in the afternoone, there shall be a publike Lesson read in the said Academie, as well concerning the grounds and rules of the aforesaid languages, as touching the Sciences and Exercises, which will giue much satisfaction to all Fathers of Families, and louers of Vertue, when they shall be pleased to honour the Academy with their personall presence at that time, as it is practised in other parts.

   You haue beene told in the former Printed

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aduertishment, that all Fathers of Families and louers of those Sciences and Exercises may addresse themselues (if they please) to Mr Will. Kipp at Bednall-greene neere London, or vnto Mr Samuel Hartlib in Dukes place, and whereas some curious Louers of Vertue haue since manifested their desire to be informed of the method which is intented to be obserued in this Academy; I haue thought fit to present a pattern of the same, and that by meanes of this Interpreter, who will repeate once more to you, that it is the zeale which I haue to the English nation, which hath mooued mee to thincke on this establishement, and also a sensiblenesse of the generall misfortune, incident to this most peruers age, where by numbers of young-men are drawne into euill companies, where they heare nothing but pestilent, yea infernall discourses; for the deprau'd humour which raignes now a dayes is such, as there are many most peruers corrupted spirits, boasting of an extraordinary wit, far exceeding in their opinion that of the vulgar, who delight to talke of nothing so much but what tends to Atheisme, euen in spite of their naturall reason, which clearly conuinceth them, that there is a true God, who is the spring and the first cause of all things, and who is himselfe from all eternity.

   And this Interpreter will also tell you my scope to haue beene the benefit of Fathers of Families, by proposing vnto them a meanes,

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where by to free them of such charges as they are at, when they send their children to forrain Academies, and to render them more knowing in those languages, without exposing them to the dangers incident to trauellers, and to that of euill companies, or of giuing to forrain parts the glory of their education; as in effect is no lesse then abusing of the Vniuersities of Cambridge and Oxfort, and of the famous free Schooles of this Realme, to withdraw from them the sonnes of Noble Families, and of those that are louers of Vertue, before they have learned the Latin, and other learned tongues, and the arts that are taught in the same, vnder pretence that they must be sent betimes beyond the Seas, to learn the forrain languages, Sciences, and Exercises, when as (God knoweth) it is no impertinent question to aske, whether many of such are not returned into their naturall country more loaden with whimsies, and odde modes, then with knowledge and sciences, and their language more mixt with oaths and blasphemies then with ciuill and Christian discourses.

   This establishment therfore will saue the Fathers of Families the paynes and charges of sending their children to the Academies of Salamanca in Spaine, of Padua in Italy, and of Paris in France, where they shall not need to goe to learne what they may attayne vnto at home as compleatly euery kinde of way, and thus Parents will see those faire blossoms, and

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hopes of their race, to grow in Vertue and knowledge, vntill they shall attayne vnto a more ripe age, and that they may trauell with lesse danger to forrain parts to satisfie their curiosity, and also leaue among strangers a good and glorious repture of their abilities.

   Men perfectly well skilled in the said forrain languages, Sciences and Exercises, will teach them after a very excellent way, and in a very good method, giuing them a full insight in the theoricall part of the said Sciences, and Exercises; at the self same time that they shall teach them the forrain languages, where vnto shall serue the seuerall discourses wich this Interpreter will present you withall, as likewise some tables of very greate vse for facilitating the matter, and helping the memory, besides seuerall ample treatises concerning the grounds and rules of the languages and sciences herein mentioned.

   Our Interpreter will treate in this first part of the Art of well speaking. Of Languages. And of speaking to some strangers. Of the Languages to Kings, Princes Magistrates. Of speaking to God. Of Ciuill Conuersation. Of History, Naturall Experimentall Philosophie, Arithmetick, to Keepe book of Account by double parties. Geometrie, Cosmographie, Geographie, Perspectiue, Painting, and Architecture.

   In the second part hee will hold forth vnto you what belongeth vnto Fortification, Ri-

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ding the great Horse, Fencing, Musick, and Dancing, and these Treatises hee will present vnto you in the seuerall fore mentioned forrain languages.

   And thus I doe wish vnto you and vnto your children all health and happinesse from Gods goodnesse and mercy.

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                  A FAMILIAR CONFERENCE

                         ON THE

                  PRINCIPALL OBIECTIONS

                         OF THE

                      MISSIONARIES OF

                        THIS TIME.

            Of the Excellency and Diuinity of the

                  true Christian Religion.

      And of the vnnecessary and hurtfull things

         which the Roman Church hath added to

              the pure Christian Religion.

IT seemes by your speech that you are of the pretended reformed Religion.

                 The Reformed Christian.

   By the mercy and grace of God I am of that religion which holding to the true and pure profession of a Christian (as Religion was

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taught to him by the Gospell of our LORD IESVS CHRIST) hath forsaken all the errors, superstitions, falce practises, and seruices which are taught and in vse in the Roman Church.

   Missionarie. How is it possible that you can be of that Religion.

   Reformed Christian. But how should I not be of the same, since God hath (by his especiall grace and fauour) giuen me so cleere and distinckt knowledge thereof as it is an impossibility to know it and not to loue the same with an ardent loue, yea to preferre it to all the glory and richesses of the world, for there was neuer any thing more Heauenly, nor more Diuine, nor more worthy of the admiration of men and Angels, and if I had not the courage to professe it openly I should be the most vnhappy of all men, and the most vnworthy of Gods fauours which I haue receaued from his gracious bounty.

   Missionarie. I doe perceaue that you are extreamly mistaken, for how can the Christian Religion stand in need of reformation? hath it auy difformitie?

   Ref. Chr. The Christian Religion it selfe, (as it was prescribed by CHRIST IESVS our LORD) hath no defect nor can it haue any at all, nor needeth it any reformation, for it is altogether holy and diuine, and ought to reforme all the world, but the thing to be reformed is that which blind and presumptious zeale had the

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boldnes to mixt therewith, humain inuentions, pollutions, and superstitions which as dirt put on a faire diamant hinders the appearance of it's clearnesse and puritie. Christian Religion therefore is properly said to be reformed from that time and moment that the mirre of mens inuentions, illusions and supperstitions hath been remoued from the same. Therefore to you bee it said that men are made to beleeue many ill grounded things, as also that you doe professe to beleeue in grosse and most grosely what your Church makes you beleeue that she doth beleeue, without telling you the particulars of the most principall part of its Doctrine, and without diuing into the mysteries, and thus you are accustomed to beleeue on trust many things of which you neuer heard speake, as you doe seeme to beleeue store of things which you doe not thinck that you doe beleeue them, besides that you doe striue to KICK as against your own beleefe by your particular opinions, and what could haue moued your Cardinall Bellarmin but that Cahos of your willfullnes in faith to confesse that your faight is no way better defined then by ignorance, and not by knowledge. You also doe know your men wilfully to extoll as it were to the heauens the faith of a fained Collier, who (as the taile is told) beeing questioned by an euill spirit what he did beleeue, should have answeared: Viz, I doe beleeue what the Church doth beleeue, and beeing afterwards prest to say what the Church

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did beleeue he answeared againe that she did beleeue what he beleeued, turning thus continually about this circle did as it were confound that wretched euill spirit, none of the craftiest if hee had not the wit to aske of the Collier what he and his Church did beleeue, but wee cannot be accused to beleeue riddles or inuentions of men, since all the articles of our beleefe are clearly and distinctly expounded and manifested vnto vs, as wee are exhorted to examine them by the holy writ, at the example of those of Berea who hearing the Apostle saint Paul preach did daily peruse the Scriptures to know whether it was so, Thankes bee to God that the doctrine which is preached vnto vs is Holy and pure, so Heauenly, and so Diuine, as it doth sufficiently in lightnen vs, so that no man that is a Christian can dout thereof, and your selfe cannot reject any article of my beleefe, when you will but heare what it is.

   Mission. Tell me then I pray what you doe beleeue?

   Refor. Chr, I doe beleeue in God, who i truly only Good, all Wise, all Iust, all Mercifull, and Powerfull, &c. who hath created the world by his word, who gouuernes it by such an admirable prouidence that all things turne and serue to his great glory, and to the saluation of his elect, nay euen those things that are most contrary one to another.

   I doe put all my hopes in that true liuing

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God, and I doe know that not a haire of my head can be pulled out without his permission, I doe pray vnto him in all my necessities beeing my God, my Maker, and who suffers me to call him Father: and I doe render vnto him my most humble thanks for all the benefits which I doe receaue both in body and soul. I doe striue to adore him in spirit and in truth, submitting vnto his Holy will all my actions, and all my desires I doe striue to obey him in all things, nor haue I any other rule for my life nor any other law then that which he hath published with his owne mouth, and written with his own finger, I doe with all my heart craue his graces, that I may conforme all my actions, all my words, and thoughts vnto that Diuin perfect modell and pattern; I doe beleeue that without sanctification it is impossible that any body should see the LORD, and that it is necessary that men should apply them selues to good workes, it is the way of Heauen, aud the true marke of the children of God, who doth not onely command them, and hath them in singular loue, but rewards them gratis, both in this world, and in the world to come. I doe beleeue that IESVS-CHRIST our LORD, is true and eternall GOD: and that he hath been begotten of the proper substance of the Father before all ages, so that he is his perfect image; The brightnesse of his glory, and the ingraued mark of his person: I doe beleeue that this only Sonne, who thought it no robbery

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to be called equall with GOD, hath annihilated him selfe, and that in the fulnesse of times, taken our Humaine Nature in the most holy Virgin MARIE, and that hee became like vnto vs in all things, except sinne: I doe beleeue that this Mediatour (true GOD and true Man) hath willingly suffered for vs the ignominious death of the Crosse, and that he hath spilt his blood for the remission of our sinnes: I doe embrace with all my heart his crosse and all the tribulations of this world, I doe with joy plunge my selfe in that precious blood. and I doe not hope for any life, glory nor felicitie, but by the infinite merites of his Death and Passion: I doe beleeue that as this mercifull Sauiour dyed for our Sinnes, hee also rose the third day for our Iustification, and that he ascended into Heauen, preparing there a place for us: I doe beleeue that this glorious God is exalted aboue all the Angels, and Archangels, the Cherubins and Seraphins, and that as he is truly victorious ouer all his ennemies, he doth raigne and triumph's at the right hand of God his Father, whence he shall come in his glory to iudge the quick and the dead. so that all the men that haue beene since the creation of the world. and that shall bee to the end of the world) shall appeare before his Throne to receaue in their bodies according as they haue done ether good or euill: I doe beleeue that from all Eternity the Holy Ghost doth proceede from the Father and the Sonne,