The Hartlib Papers

Title:Letter, John Robertson [John Dury] To [Hartlib]
Dating:4 December 1655
Ref:4/3/134A-B
[4/3/134A]

[Hartlib: No. 80. Dec.4. 55,/.]
Deare freind
the post that came yesterday brought none from yow. your last is dated the 17th. of Novemb: it was a particular one & I answered it the last weeke. I expected by this <post> Monsieur Coyet his title which you promised; but I hope to haue it by the next. I know not whether it bee safe to trust the Suedish with our Counsels; states men use to make a shew therefore it is good to haue a reserue in Case they bee not true. the Chief Ambassador you say giues out that my designe of Reconciliation is impossible, if hee says so of iudgment & not of Policie to draw us forth; hee will giue his Reasons why he doth think so: & if Mr Coyet who you say is for my designe with tooth & naile, bee sincere; hee will not only speake his reason wherefore hee thinkes so; but will also tell us what the obiections are which the Ambassador makes wherefore hee doth imagine the worke impossible; & if hee bee so ingenuous as to let me by you know these reasons in a few lines imparted to you that I may consider them perhaps wee shall soone discouer whether in truth or in Policie, either or both of them make their professions, of what they think of the worke. for it is possible that both of them collude to discouer what they desire to know of us; the one disputing pro & the other contra, & maintaining opposit tenets, may doe it, only to learne what wee intend, & how wee are prepared or resolued to cary on the worke that they may preuent. all this I say as a thing possible, which must prudently bee auoided if wee can discreetly doe it; & the best way I know is to get from Mr Coyet the reasons why the Ambassador doth think my worke impossible.
I would bee gladde also you would let me know, what ground you haue to belieue; that Dr Hulseman hath sent a new formulam Concordiae to the K. of Sueden & whether a Copie therof cannot bee had. Dr Hottinger who is lately Called from Zurich to Heidelberg to bee Regent of Collegium Sapientiæ hath lately written to me these lines.
[The first word in each line underlined to the end of latin quote]
Adij antequam has clauderem Sereniss: Electorem. Mentione mox tui iniecta literas ostendit ad se scriptas. Negotiationi [Greek: eirenopoias] ex animo fauet; veretur tamen ne sueci suis postulatio ad [Greek: aporian] nos potius quam Pacis studium adigere uelint. Calent hic Consilia pacifacatoria: sed inter paucos admodum de quibus proxima occasione.
The letters which hee mentions is herewith adioyned; but at the same time I wrote some other letters to others which did expostulat the Case more plainly: but you need not haue them; this it seemes [catchword: the Prince]
[4/3/134B]

Prince would owne to haue seene; & by this would bee persuaded to lay aside delayes. & upon Dr Hottinger his information I haue moued to haue a Correspondencie setled about this busines between the three Chief Houses of the Reformed party Palatin Hessen & Anhalt; & that they should take up a resolution & make an ouverture to us iointly as Brandenburg has done alreddie, to concurre with Brandenburg & apply themselues unto the Lord Protector: Hessen is willing to this, so farre as I can perceiue, but the rest haue not yet opened themselues so farre; nor haue I as yet beene with Anhalt.<H?: />
[left margin, H?: ]/ When you send me Monsieur Coyet his title I pray send also the Lord Ambassador his title, that in Case I know by you the Causes which hee thinkes to make my worke impossible I may write something to him concerning the remouall of the same.
Remember me to Monsieur Schlezer & all freinds. the Grace of God bee with you & all yours; I rest
                              Your assured freind
                                in Christ to serue you
Cassell this 4. Decemb.                 Iohn Robertson.
                1655.
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