The Hartlib Papers

Title:Copy Letter, John Beale To Sherwyne
Dating:28 January 1659
Ref:51/70A-71B
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<Hartlib: No. 184.   (4)          Ian. 28. 58/9.>
Much honoured Sir,
       Can you beleeve that I am not glad to heare from Westminster That you are the Man, & what greater honour, than to be the elected Genius of Westminster whilst that is the Seat of Courts & Parliaments, yet I dare presume That yow allowe mee the old freedome of discoursing in your presence as if I were the Lawgiver & yow the Disciple For this is the Priviledg of BookeMen: Eyther wee must rule the World; or wee assume the Browes as if wee did. And I must tell yow that which others dare not, will not or may forgett. All men will forestall, That your face or heart is wholely towards Whitehall; Yet yow may finde the <H: your> times & seasons to doe better service to Whitehall when others shall seeme to be convinced That yow keep one eare open to all the Interests of England: And it is best when you can make your great Friends assured That tis a guarbe of Prudence & for true advantage: In this I doe not distingvish England from Whitehall For in a Probleme I have opened the secrets of my bosome to my deare Mr Hartlib To whome I shewe that the maine Interest tends to vnion. In which is strength, Honour, Wealth & all Welfare. And all vnion addresseth to a Head./   I know yow are wiser then to take all the vagaryes of oceana [deletion]<H: who> talke soe much of ballance That they forgett Ballaste. For if they had theire owne vote I dare undertake to prophesy them a speedy Gibbet. If they will show mee a People that is not inclinable to revolts, or that is prepared
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prepared to governe well at short warning or that is not like the Windes of late changeable & stormy. Than I will ymagine as great things for Englands Comonalty as they doe. I meane as they speake and write, for theire doeings are of another rate. I [deletion] thinke it is now your safeguard That you have soe many [word altered]<H: heads> & so many Nations.   Some for the House of Scotland some for Oceana. some for the kirke of Scotland, Some for a new World; If there were a little Methodd amongst the sonns of vnion. If that cannot be carried for the first & maine Worke The divers partys may be angled in/to a Mate<H:amate> the[H alters from The] turbulent Whales one after another./ All this at randome. Nowe I must putt yow on minde That a greate <H: Friend> of mine lost himselfe by speaking to much and to often. And it may be yow can remember that I had the boldnes to foretell a cholerice man soe Long[H capitalises] Orations[H capitalises] are onely for Lawers or pulpitt men or practised men. Nor alwaies for them except thay have a peculiar strength of reason or the witchcraft of melting affections which is scarse ever to be presumed in such an Assembly./ Strafford could speak well, yett when he swayd in that house He spake better with other mens Mouthes then with his owne.   Hambden had a quic witt & was Popular, yett in
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in few Words he pointed[H alters from points] to the marke[H alters] & carryed the Prize, whilst Pym carryed the burthen of Issachar.   And he that to justifie the reasonableness of his vote, abbreviates or extracts the quintessence of anothers reason, does doe more then hee that first rendred the reason. For confirmacion is stronger them well joynted[H alters from joyned] affirmation. And first witts are fitt to proiect, second wits are fitt to reigne./ All this at randome. I pray God deliver us from such Parliaments as make love to make such loude noyse as rude Schooles[H alters from Schollers] doe when the Master is absent And I wishe you would send home such members as love to enflame the house & to vapor in Westminster hall. I'le tell you an odd note./ the Lord Lambert was thought to command his Countenance and passions as well as his horse (& as you know he is said to be one of the best Commanders of Horse of this Age) Yet a zelous and discreet Friend of his told mee That he was once ashamed to see such an eminent Man. (& then a chiefe Councellour of State) soe farr loose himselfe in passion as to turne his eye from the speaker in the midst of his speech. If yow would be a Republic as Venice is, Lett all that can yeild soe much to passion be re-[catchword: moved]
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removed from a sober Truste & degraded from a Vote For this small & common English fault would in the Senate of Venice be an intollerable solecisme[H alters from solecime]./ Sir yow know & must learne to pardon the bold hand of
                       Your affect & humble servant./
                                   B.