| Title: | Copy Letter In Hand ?, John Dury To ? |
|---|---|
| Dating: | 26 January 1649 |
| Ref: | 1/7/1A-2B: 2B BLANK |
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[another hand:] Durie
[scribe:]
Louing Freind
Although I haue not written any thing to you, yet I haue not beene without thoughts of you, wherein I haue rejoyced, that God doth make your wayes succesfull and I hope will aduance them to a full complishment of the effects of his glory, and your owne comfort; through the public good of his Kingdome, whereof he will honour you to become a profitable instrument in due time. I haue taken this opportunity to write by this bearer, partly to let you know, that God hath blessed my family with yong boy; at the beginning of this yeare; and that my wife hath had an easie deliuerie, and good health since that time; only sore nipples do trouble her; for she hath a zeale to be a nurse: she remembers her seruice to you, partly to second Mr Hartlibs desire in addressing his Son[altered] unto you, that he may learne some employment, and become seruiceable unto you: I had him a while in my Tutoring at Court, but because there were so many and unavoidable occasions of prouocations offered to him; too much answering his youthfull and unsetled disposition; I did find it necessary to remoue him from them. The boy is full of life and action, and if he hath not some perpetuall employment hee will busie his senses; and his tongue too much about other peoples actions to talke and report and vent his owne imaginations of them: for which by a constant and setled course of attending some employment; that may fill up all his thoughts he will be taken of. I perceiued no fault in him but
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this of too much medling and beeing busie: whereupon quarrels would follow sometimes with his equals; which by his age and discretion; and the feare of God I hope will be remedied: he is not without wit; and full of resolution about his businesses; and when he is attentiue and fixed at them, will dispatch them speedily and handsomely enough: If I had hoped he could haue beene a scholar, I would not haue dismissed him after three quarters of a yeares tryall; but his genius not lying that way; and I not hauing objects of action sutable to his naturall parts to set them a worke; I saw that in a Court conuersation he would be spoiled; and therefore recommended him to his father to bee employed another[altered from other] way. Your more stirring and actiue seruices will fill his head, and I hope he will prooue obedient; for I neuer found him unwilling to do what he was bidden; but only forgetfull; or sometimes caryed away with other occasions and objects of exercising Fancie; which out his main busines out of his mind. these objects of Fancie at Court were unauoidable, but with you[altered] will not be frequent I suppose in those parts, and in the seuices wherein you may use him. I pray remember my seruice and affection to Mr Moriaen; to Mr Pergens; and to Mr Boreel of whom I wonder that I haue not heard any thing in so long time, nor of Dr Iustinus. God doth seeme to dash all our hopes of settlement here, and doth defeat
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us of all expectations which wee had to assist public designes and his workes of Iewish Conuersion by the Deanes and Chapters reuenues, which the Army will swallow up and for ought that any man can see with our quietnes all other commodities. The Lord is all sufficient to his Gracious protection and fauour I shall constantly recommend you, and desire your prosperitie as that of
Your faithfull and affectioned
St Iames freind
1648/49. Ian. 26. Iohn Dury