The Hartlib Papers

Worthy Sir

          my last vnto you was of the second of this month in answeare vnto yours of the 21^th of October, Therin I certified you, that I could not (as I much desired) come to London, as yeat, by reason of my wiues illnes & auersenes from the iourney; Since that another hinderance hath befallen mee which is an extreme cold, that I haue taken, which hath kept mee within dores aboue a week, & I doubt considering the season will keep me from London till next terme, Now hauing occasion to send this bearer thither, I could not but salute you with a line or two; the rather for that I haue not heard from you, since my last to you; which makes mee doubt that either itt is not come vnto your hands, or some accident is befallen you; In my last I intimated vnto you, that in regard I perceaue both by your letter & by the work itt self, that the specimen you sent me was but a part of a larger tract, which I would not haue dismembred therefore I would (so soon as I could have it transcribed) returne itt to you again, as likewise the other pieces you sent me, if you pleased to send mee word (as I desired you would) which of them you would haue: I haue now accordingly heerinclosed sent you the said specimen & shalbee ready to do the like for the rest vpon the least intimation from you which I shall no wayes take offensiuely, as I hope you will not my offer; for it proceeds not from any slighting or neglect of you or them, but out of respect vnto you & the businesse which I shall still express my self ready to my best ability to promote, & not to grow worse & worse though the times be likely so to do. Thus my kind & respectfull loue vnto you, & your two worthy Friends remembred hartily praying for the good sucesse of their good endeauours I rest

                            Your affectionate & obseruant

Stoughton. Nou.28                  Friend

        1641./                    Ni: Stoughton/

                 To my much respected friend

                    Mr Samuel Hartlib

                     at the Dukes Place

                       London

                        these

                               present/

[above, another hand:]   Stoughton

[Hartlib:]                    Dr Stoughton.