The Hartlib Papers

Sir

     I am sorry my occasions would not permitt mee to see you again before I went forth of towne, yeat to lett you see that I was not vnmindfull of what you proposed, to mee, I haue left this with my Brother Euans to bee convaied with speed vnto you; I haue perused the letters you left with mee, to consider of, & by them, I apprehend the authour of them, to bee an able honest & discreet man, & aboue all a pious & iuditious Christian, And I wish from my hart I might bee so happy as to bee able to help him, to a meet helper according to his desire; In which regard I thought itt not amisse to intimate vnto you, that there is a Gentlewoman a kinswoman, of my wiues, who hath liued with mee<my wife> [these? wax on MS] three years in the nature of a companion, or rather guide vnto my onely daughter; which I apprehend, might proue a fitt & convenient wife for the Gentleman, according to the character which you gaue & his letters confirme of him; shee being a religious discreet good natured, & well bred maid; of a sober well composed & well featured carriage & countenance, of about eight & twenty years of age, able to guid an house & gouerne children; Her Father is a merchant now liuing in Russia named Osborne; Her portion as yeat assigned her, by her Father is but six or seauen hundred pounds, but I suppose vpon so good a match as you represent this to bee, hee will make itt somewhat more, as his estate may beare; Howeuer I suppose the Gentleman makes not portion his first or chief aime, & therfore will beare with some defect that way if itt may bee recompenced with other conveniences wherof this may bee one added to the former, that shee doth intend if the troubles continue heer, to go this summer to her Father & then if the Gent think good shee may take Hamborough in the way, to giue & receaue mutuall orall satisfaction; So commending you in this & all you other good vndertakings to the good guidance of the Almighty I rest

Stoughton.March.19.1642          Your true respectfull Friend

                                          Ni:Stoughton

For the businesse of the books my Brother Euans will giue you an account therof, with whom I left a small remembrance of our wellwishes to Mr Durys & your vndertakings intending if God enable vs not onely to continue but enlarge the same./

     To my much respected Friend

      Mr Samuel Hartlib

       at the great Court in

        Dukes place

         London

          these