The Hartlib Papers

Title:Letter, Robert Wood To Hartlib
Dating:31 October 1660
Ref:33/1/67A-68B: 68A BLANK
[33/1/67A]

Honoured Sir/
           After this long silence & many changes I should be very glad to heare how you do.   For my selfe I have this Summer been visited with a very <great> & dangerous fitt of sicknesse, the like I never endured before nor neere it, few here expected my life & perhaps you might heare I was dead But it has pleasd God after very long weakenesse at length to restore me to as much strength & health as ever, if not more Insomuch that I who lately thought of no other iourny but into another world am now desiring to go & see the most <more> remarkable places of Europe, first to Paris & so to Orleance & downe the Loire to Nantes, thence to Rochell Burdeaux & Tolouse, to Mompilier & along the south coast of France into Italy as far as Rome & Naples & thence begin to returne through the north part of Italy & visit Venice Padua Verona Millan & so go through Savoy to Geneva & downe <up> the Lake into Cantons of the Swisse & so downe the Rhine into the Low Countries & so home againe: All this I hope to performe taking a short yet satisfactorie view of Places & things) in little more than 10 months, but instead not to begin [catchword: my]
[33/1/67B]

my travell till about August next, I take so long time the better to provide for & advise about it, and to heare what my frends will say to it, and to enquire out some agreeable Company, perhaps there are those who would be as glad of mine as I should be of theirs, I understand French indifferently well & am now learning Italian which I find very easy.
   This place affords little news, wee continue still in statu quo. Some friends aske now & then how <for> you, who would be very glad to heare of your health & welfare no lesse then
                        Your very affectionat Servant
Corke House                                   Robert Wood
  8b 31th 1660
[33/1/68B]

          For my much
          honoured frend
          Mr Sam. Hartlib
          the Elder at his
          son Mr Hartlibs
          house in Axe yard
            ----------
                 Westminster