The Hartlib Papers

wayes to the end that the State may not bee defrauded of that benefit which otherwise it will certainly receive & that all matters, for want of order end not in confusion and bee dissappointed in the event. I say on only thing is desired by way of prevention of these inconveniences, namely that some Ordinances may bee made by authority of Parliament to Regulat the proceedings of these matters soe as shall bee thought expedient upon farther discoverie which wee are willing to make to the sattisfaction of such as shall bee appointed to Heare & consider our Proposalls.

now they are to the valew of many thousands a yeare; which for Love to the Comon cause cheifly in these times of distresse, your Petitioner thought a matter of Conscience to Conceale.

better then the ordinarie whence without faile (by the grace of God) greater abundance of Corne and fourage will grow and the Corne will not bee subject to fall and Lye on the ground as now it doth offt times by reason of great raines and winds, which at this time are more frequent then in former Ages. (according to the observation of experienced Husband men) from whence much hurt befalleth to the fruits of the Ground, which may without much difficultie bee prevented.

from a better from of netts and <better> manner of Fishing.

other neighbours with those commodities cheifly in the North at cheap rates and soe increase trade.

dressing of Fishes in any manner of way except only acording to the Common order and the foresaid condition of 30^tie in the 100 yearlie under the penaltie of a thousand pound sterling & Confiscation &c.

to avoid the inconveniences which otherwise will stop and hinder the public good; which way of prevention is not only just and necessarie but ordinarie in such cases as according to Common Right.

it is certaine that the sheep which are fedde, in place not so moist &c beare wooles which are finer, more firme, and which make better cloath Also the flesh of such sheep is more solid and healthful for the sheep which is fedd in moist pastures hath flesh which is more sofft, and which breedeth consumptions. the butchers cann tell that such sheep are full of reddish watters, and their bowels full of bladders and offt times halfe rotten; whence they cause consumtion in mens bodyes.

this benefitt seing by this [deletion] meanes their profit is certaine and secured without the danger of evill fishing or of an ill market and above this the profit of the State will redound to their advantage because it will be employed for the entertainment of ships to guard the Coast and secure the Fishing and serve for convoyes for merchants shippes & withall notice is to be taken that hee which doth offer the advice for these advantages doth appropriate the benfit to this use; if it shall soe please the Parlliament to dispose off it. And if the Earth will give towards the Public charges that which is very considerable it is just that the Sea helpe thereunto as much as may bee, without bringing any burden or inconvenience upon the Fishing[altered] or Trade.

sesments and taxes they bring in freely and voluntarily the advantages for service in the heart & hand of the Public, without any feare off a diversion from the right use. For he that holds his horse by the bridle may gett up and rid when he pleaseth.

Countenance of authoritie.

wayes which I find discret reall and rationall Secondly in the possibility of the effect; supposing the orderly way of settling matters to bee such as I could imagine unto myselfe, according to his Principles and for his end, and 3dly because I have some small insight and experience of the usefullnes of such like wayes and advices (which have raised Holland to that Height wherin now it standeth and have (by the meanes of a man whom you know) raised Sweden in the space of lesse then 20 yeares to a perfection of trade and manufactures, which will from hence forth (seeing Peace with Denmark is concluded) increase the Revenue of the Kingdome with the benfit off Particulars tenne times above that which it hath beene a few yeare agoe. Upon this small observation and insight of myne owne in those parts I rest sattisfied in the Possibilitie of the Proposalls; because I find by discourse that the man is rationall in all thinges and that he doth follow the grounds of orderly proceeding which in other parts have beene advantagious unto Common wealths with the benffit of particulars; where upon I conclude with my selfe, that if hee can shew how the same courses may bee sett a foot here, that nothing is impossible of that which he offereth, but that hee doth speake farre within compasse But when I looke upon the Proposalls in themselves as in this adjoyned paper hee doth sett them downe; Although I hadd noe further light of Observations; yet if I did beleeve the man to be honest & found him rationall, mee thinkes I could grant him so much credit as to beleeve that he speakes truth; and if he doth promise noe more then what hee can performe, I should not bee able to deny the consequence which is the effect of his Propositions namely that the great beneffit will arris from thence both unto the public and particulars. For to a man of reason [catchword: I would]

I would undertake to make this good that is hee can doe that which he doth promise an exceeding great benefit will accrew to all that make use of his waye, if hee shew how the encrease of the goods which the Land and Sea doth yeild unto mans industrie is to bee dispensed by way of regular trading unto neighbour Nations: which I am fully perswaded hee is able to doe; and I make noe doubt, and I make noe doubt that there lyes the great secrett of his way and off his complices; which hee will not reveale unto any till matters bee ordered according to his desire to prevent covetous practises of particular man who for their owne ends ruine a public good./.

and I have taken notice of it. For you know that hee could by noe meanes bee induced to offer <to the Parlliament> any thing by way of Petition, for hee said I seek nothing from them, but offer a benfitt to them; and it is incongruous to petition them to receive a benefitt which I am not obliged but of myne owne accord desirous to give them: therefore you out of your Zeale undertooke (for the Love of the Public good) to petition that his Proposalls might be heard and a committee named for him. Truely his Plea was rationall and his behaviour though kind to this State and really Affectionatte yet all along generous & strict in a waye of justice to mantaine his owne right and freedome.

Resolution of going away now and then, but hee is losst to despaire of being understood to meane well, & in hope to make this appeare he doth staye.

Societies for trade and the advantages which may redound from them unto a State, and to particular men; yet because it is your desire, and by your improovment it may perhaps advance a public good, I will not refuse to lay open to you soe much of my thoughts in this kind, as I hope will sattisfy your desire.

need. The meanes by which they are able to doe this, is a Mysterie of trading whereby they are able to make their Country a magazine of all manner of Commodities which are in all partes of the World; which they send abroad to all those Countries where they have intelligence that such commodities are of use. This Mysterie of trading is setled upon these grounds. First they have a peculiar way of making ships fit for greater lading #<right margin: # which fewer men are able to manage than any other of their neighbours soe that one voyage will tak as much lading as> as their neighbour Nations doe at two or three voyages and that with the halfe of the men which they use. Secondly they have a Method to raise meanes out of the trade it selfe to secure these shippes of lading; which else where is not observed. Thirdly they order matter soe, that they know where the best markets are, and have a care to furnish them with commodities, which are well conditioned and which they sell cheaper then other nations till they eate them out of their trade by underselling, and when they have the market alone then they gaine more plentifully [word deleted?]. Other wayes of advantages there are which I take not into Consideration, but to make all these advantages usefull their are certaine wayes of Regulating the Trade. which are setled by the State <#> <right margin: # soe that all men are free to use it and non to incroach upon others or exclude any that will enter into it whence I conceive benefit of the State> doth arise, because this freedome well ordered doth cause trade to multiply and where Trade encreaseth there the benefitt and Revenue of the State must needes also encrease, if a Course bee taken that particulars doe not defraud the Public, which course I suppose this Gentelman is able to shew as well as the other advantages, whereby the Hollanders have gotten the Trade of Europe into their [catchword: handes]

[left margin: +] handes and I beleeve he can shew this because hee hath lived in those partes and by discourse as well as by some intimations in his Papers I conceave his purpose is to doe so as farre as need shall bee. And thus much for Holland.

Having Associates w to joyne with him (who were Merchants like himselfe) went to worke without any charge to the State & having Materialls to trade withall, and a place where to bring them to a good market, and shipping to transport them withall and knowing the Mysterie of the Trade used in Holland hath brought that Kingdome to an incredible Height of wealth in few yeares above what it was before, and I have observed whiles I was there that all this doth proceed from a Regulat way of ordering matters, which in the issue bringeth a setelment of trade, and the trade once being setled Revenue, which is so farre from being support of their profit which cometh unto particulars (it being rightly moderated, and some portion thereof alloted to the support of the trade itselfe) the public is advanced to a setled Revenue, which is so farre from being a Burden to any that it is rather the chief meanes of the support of their proffit by reason of the good order in applying that which goeth towards the State for the right use: This I have observed in Sweden to have been the waye of raising of it to a trade when formerly it hadd none at all.

shall yeeld unto the State (I say) perceiving all this <to> bee offered by a sober understanding man, who doth undertake if matters may bee but ordered as hee shall shew the way, when the benefit of the State shall be secured) at his owne, and his Assocates cost and charges to sett the whole work afoot, perceiving (I say) all this to bee offered, and having seene the effect of such an undertaking else where I should bee very unreasonable to think that the effect of the proposalls is improbable or impossible or that the proposition itselfe is a fantasticall project. Sure I am what ever the effect may bee the demand is but just and equall that the benefit of the Publique ought by public authority to bee secured, before particulars bee intrusted with a way of proffit, which for the Public good sake is bestowed upon them, cheifly seeing the whole buisnesse is to bee setled upon the foundation of that benefit which is to redound unto the Public, or else it will wholly miscarrie. But to shew the Possibility of the thing in few wordes let me expresse it thus. Supposing that hee by experience can make the ground yeeld a fift part more then it doth in corne and the Sea give more Fish, which shall yeeld by the dresing a third more money and make the woole a fift better then now it is, then (I say) to a man that brings these two fifts and the third of encrease of proffit in fish to a fitt market, where the Commodities shall bee gained (being sould or otherwise exchanged) shall bring home thrice or four times their worth (I say) to a man that knoweth where such a market may be hadde, and hath meanes off shipping to bring thether his Commodities, it is easy to setle a trade, if hee but knoweth the common waye of trading & the advantages which others use. But I am fully perswaded that this man doth know [catchword: how]

how the ground may bee made to yeeld more, and how the fish and Wooll may bee improoved, doth know his market and how to bring his Commodities thether, therefore I have noe cause to think his Propositions any way impossible but rather very probable because the encrease of his Corne shall found his Plantation which shall bee a market to returne fourfold the worth the commodities brought to it, and the encrease off his Fishing shall secure his Trade and the being once setled will increase and multiply within itselfe and strengthen the State, which maintaines it in good order. only the point of ordering matters first to gaine the profit of the Land and Sea, and then to bring that proffit constant is all in all and surely this is not impossible but very feasible as I conceave by some experience of my owne. &c

in the same way: Let us as fellow Souldiers strengthen on anothers hands by prayers and faithfull incouragments unto every good worke blessed are they that sow upon all waters; by waters I understand people and occasions and sciences, by sowing I understand the bestowing of endeavours which may fructifie for good: hee that soweth unto his flesh, shall reape corruption from it; saith the Apostle; Gall.6 -8. 9. 10. but hee that soweth unto the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting; hereupon wee are exhorted not to be weary in well-doing because wee shall reap in due time if wee faint not. therefore patience and resolution to waite Gods time is requisite: but our endeavour must bee as wee have opportunity (saith the Apostle) to doe good unto all men: and especially to those of the houshold of faith. Now the household of faith is not soe narrow as many men make it, and though it were never soe narrow yet all men are here recommended to us. That aime then and disposition of spirit, which maketh most universally servicable to others is our best qualification in these times: and when wee are bid sow our seed in the morning [left margin: Eccl. 11. 6] and not withhold our hand in the Evning, because wee know not whither shall prosper whether this or that, or both. I conceave that constancie or dilligence is recommended to us in this resolution with a purpose to resign ourselves up to God by depending upon his providence for a blessing, and not trusting to much to our owne prudencie to doe thinges sometime at an adventure; cheifly when wee see that noe harme can come on that which wee attempt; and that there may bee a possibility of some good event. I [catchword: like]

like your good simplicity and that of Mr Hartlibs extreamly in this kind; but it is not given to all men to become fooles in this way, that they may be truly wise, nor is it fit to adwenture without spirituall discretion, the prudence of the serpent is not whollie useles to a Christian only it must not take away the simplicitie of the Dove. Your advice concerning Mr Pruvost (a man truly of a Public spirit, and a good christian) that hee should desire a patent for 14 yeares which you proposed unto me when you was here and since have mentioned in your Letters to Mr Hartlib I never thought good to offer unto him, because I could not imagine it proffitable either to him or two his worke or proportionable in any measure to the aime which he hath in his propositions and contrivances. for, if hee should seek a patent

a patent to venture their money here: if hee should dye; or his patent affter a yeare or two reversed, what should become of their money. For these and other like causes I never did speake to him of a Patent but cheifly because I did see that the man doth understand himself, in his worke, as I conceive the nature of it is, namely, that it canot bee done but by a State, whose interest must bee engaged in it to carry it on; and that for him and his complices none other securitie will serve to draw them on to venture their substance in this kind, but the Authoritie of the State itself, to owne in the advancement of the designe as that wherin itselfe is principally concerned; nor can any thing give them true securitie but the maintaining of that order by which all the worke is to bee effectuall. nor can any authority Inferiour to that off the Common interest of the State, maintaine the order of soe large a commerce as will be set up by his propositions. Therfore a Patent will bee a thing wholly unprofitable to him: his patent must bee an ordinance, which the State should make for the Regulating of its owne proffit, to arise from his undertakings; wherin the Common idle poore people of all sorts will bee sette a worke by Land and Sea, which will be sette aworke by Land and Sea, which will be infinitly beneficiall to particulars when all the idle hands shall bee set a worke not only to maintaine particulars but to uphold the Public and bring a benefitt to it, wheras now they are a charge and burden to wast and Consume the Substance of it; & studie wicked Practises how to wrong it, and their neighbours for a subsistencie, [catchword: whence]

whence strife and a confussion doth arise, and many judgments are multiplied upon us. Soe that not only in the way of Policy; but in respect of Christianitie his worke will bee usefull to the State, for now multitudes of People, that are without rule in a manner desperate, and wilde under noe goverment shall bee reduced to certain employments and brought under Inspectors, who may bee directed how to teach them, and order their wayes in their callinges to the attainment of Knowledge and the Exercise of Temperance of Righteousnes and Godliness: When all vaines of a State are full of blood and of good spirits, and all the members sound and sett a worke upon their proper objects, then a State is in case to flourish: but if it bee full of obstructions in some parts, soe that they receive noe nutriment, and can performe noe actions for the good of others members; then it must needs fall into diseases and languish. Besides this advantage of Employing the poore and idle people, who bring many distempers to the body of a State, because they cannot walke Reglarly and profitably, there is another speciall benffit which I conceave will redound from this enterprise, if the State will Regulat the way of it, which is this, that they shall not only open a way for their owne subjects, to improove their estates and employ their stockes to better advantage for themselves and the public then hitherto they have done: ^#(by which meanes the subjects become as it were the Factors, and the State by a prudentiall addresse is the Principall trader, and doth manage all their meanes with equalitie for their good)^# but the stokes and Estates of Forrainers will be drawen in, to increase the Trade [catchword: and]

and make it beneficiall to the Public. The greater a stock is, the more proffit it doth yeeld; if then merchants are <soe> desirous to get other mens stockes into their handes to trade withall upon reasonable considerations, noe doubt a wise State will not refuse the offer of Forraigne stockes to increase by their industrie its owne Commerce. If the Complices of Mr Pruvost doe bring into England their substance and settle a Trade with the Comodities which they procure unto this Nation, they not only bring an increase of Revenue to the Kingdome but they ingage the Affections of Forrainers to procure the good of this State, and to prevent the inconveniences which may fall to it by Reason of their interest which they have in it: soe that in effect they have as many Agents abroad in Forraigne parts as they have men whose stockes are joyned to the Public way of their trade: I remember that one of the Policies of the Chancellor of Sweden was to seeke out men that had good stockes to engage them in the Trade of Sweden; and by this meanes the Trade is come to great perfection in comparison of what it was beffore; but I am out of my element now; therefore I will not proceed further then my aime doth warrant me, which is to recommend the matter to your Public zeale & to suggest unto you such considerations, as come into my mind, for which the designe should bee entertained for the good of many; that the confusion and distraction which wee lye under may in some measure, if God will, by lawfull endeavours redressed; and that the wordly trades and employments of his people may be subbordinate unto the Kingdome of Christ and be [catchword: come]

become Holinesse unto the Lord when the way thereof shall be advanced to the Public good without partialitie. I know your conceptions are generous in this kind; the Lord grant them good successe. Pray for me that I may have time and grace to intend matters of a more spirituall nature for whose sake I reflect upon these as possibly helpfull thereunto by Gods blessing. Thus in some haste I take my leave and rest.

in these interruptions, and till I have laid things togeather I can not write with any confidence, The next weeke is my free weeke, therefore write with any confid unto mee by the next the grounds which you conceave you have to engage him: For if hee is jealous that there is noe realitie towards a Public Aime, but only a designe of particular advantage in some hee must bee dispossesed of that feare and wee must not bee rash in giving him an assurance without ground therefore let mee know what groundes and wayes are thought upon to give him Confidence to returne and open himselfe, soe that wee may bee perswaded that his coming will not bee in vaine.

ground, more raine and more shine is also requisite to make it grow Thus it is with undertakings and Proposalls of a public nature; Therfore your Constancie is highly to bee commended in contineuing to doe well, for you have a promise that you shall reap in due time if you faint not Gall.6. Therefore wee are exhorted not to be weary in well doing and all the Tryall of our patience is in the our patient Continuance in well doing to which the Promise of eternall life is given. [right margin: Rom. 2. 9.]

never give him encouragment really to proceed till I can satisfie my judgment in the persons to whome the Authoritie, to mannage his Proposalls shall be committed. If therefore Men of devided affections amoungst themselves be employed, or men that have noe <in>sight at all in matters of Trade, or such as having an insight therein, have not also a conscionable respect unto the Public, and are not willing to bestow theire owne Interests upon the good there off. If I say such men bee employed aboute his worke, hee will instantly discerne them, and fly back forever, because the 2d failing will make him loose all confidence in us, but I doubt he will hardly ever be brought againe towards us, chiefly if hee bee ingaged in other particulars matters of his owne concernment elsewhere, for although hee can show the wayes how this great undertaking may bee advanced here; yet hee doth not live upon the hopes of effecting these matters, as many foolish Projectours doe in the world, and as I have Knowen some that runn themselves upon doubts in hope of obtaining thinges which they Imagine feazable I am confident that he doth not depend upon any such hopes, nor [opened? altered] himselfe rashly, but that hee is bottomed in his owne ordinarie wayes of trading, and that those proposalls are matters hee offereth us by the bye as such which can bee affected by us more conteinently, then by any other nation in the world if God would blesse us with men whose parts and aimes might bee sutable to such a designe. You can remmember that I told you once, that [catchword: in this]

in this discourse to me he opened himselfe thus farre that if he did see a solid ground laid to proceed here, he would find upon the Exchange of London meanes to the valew of 200.000 pounds sterling to set it going. This he would doe by the credit of his Associates and of himselfe which hee would doe from beyound Seas. Hee that is able to raise such a summe for an extraordinary buisinesse must needs be well setled in an ordinary course of trading; And therefore doth not live by hopes of any extraordinarie Projects as commonly Projectours doe, but the contrivement of the work would bee brought in to the channell of his ordinary way. And whereas now his trade is managed elsewhere for the benefitt off another State, then he would with his Associates manage it here, for our beneffit and shew us the way how to drive it togeather with him towards others I am noe Trader or merchant-man but from the smalle experience that I have in Traders Wayes; by observation of that which I could not but take notice off in looking upon mens course. I can understand the feazablnes off his undertakings soe farr as it concerns the errecting of a Trade in these parts by the bringing in and exportation of the Commodities which he should meddle withall, and much more I see in the businesse to make it probable to any rationall man and will not bee unwilling to discover what ever I know in due time but I am not willing to <doe> it till I see first what Mr Pruvost will doe further. For if he can bee gained back againe it will bee needlesse for me to act any thing [catchword: in this]

thing in this kinde, because hee will perfectly and cleerly open all but if hee cannot bee gained at all, although I am not soe vaine to thinke, that I can discover his secretts, yet I beleive that I cowld guesse at that which is the maine matter in the managing of his secret, and shew how that it might bee improoved to the Public good, though not in a way of such perfection as hee doth propose. I cannot bee a Lender in setting on this worke whereof I have an Idea, but I cann be an Interpreter of his secrets and soe am fitt to follow him, and make others understand the Reasons of his contrivances, which otherwise might seeme Riddles unto them. I have promised to the Gentelman which gave mee a meeting before I went from London, to put something to paper concerning this matter, and truly I shall not refuse too fulfill my promise, but it shall bee allwayes in order to the gaining of him how is the Author of the discovery of what I know and not otherwise, as to give men hints of things imperfectly wherby they might be incouraged to undertake for their owne advantage any thing. The Mysterie is in the conjunction & subbordination of mens endeavours according to the Rules of Rightousnesse for a public aime, to bring them to act orderly within themselves: And that is the thing which he calls in his letter to me [Greek: kallon doron kai pandoron kai page?], for this being done and the way being shewne how to doe this by Rule all the rest will followe, which can produce safty and plenty to a state where materialls are to bee made use off and where these are not although there bee never soe great plenty of materialls all will turne [catchword: to con-]

to confusion and nothing will bee safely managed by any, because every one shifting for himselfe alone in his private in his private wayes of Advantage will crosse another, and strife to pull out of anothers handes that which hee is managing whilest hee might for himselfe (if hee were rightly addressed) gaine without hinderance (nay with advantage) to his Neighbour, that which might enrich him abundantly elsewhere. But men lay handes on that which is next unto them to make it their own & by grappling for it, as children doe when thinges are cast amoungst them, whereas in a Regular Course, where every one should know his way of employment, and the subject of his worke he should with his labors bee soe farr from disadvantaging any that he would become a necessary helpe unto those of the same way of trading rather then a hinderance unto them, But time will not suffer mee to inlarge upon these subject, which to demonstrate the grounds of Mr. Pruvosts proposalls must in due time bee made out, but it need not now to bee largly discoursed off. If there were a Committee of Men chosen for the Reformation of the universall Trade of the Nation, and setling of fundamentall Rules of Iustice to bee observed in it I would perhaps put in mind in this kinde amoungst them And I could wish that the Committee which Mr Pruvost should be referred unto should bee authorized to have an inspection of the Universall Trade, and consequently that (I say) should bee men qualified with endowments answerable to such an employment.    I have given you in English that which I write to Mr Pruvost in French that you may impart it to as desires to know my dealing with the man. [catchword: Copia]

God to make them understand it. The time hath not beene lost as you seeme to say which hitherto hath beene spent upon this buisnes for it hath not been mispent by you, nor upon them, for it is a witnesse of your faithfullnes to the worse whereunto God doth call call you that you have endeavoured to doe what seemed most expedient and it is also a Testimony for them that God hath made an offer unto them of meanes by which they might settle themselves in peace and safty, and become a refuge unto such as shall bee presented by the beast, who will not faile to peruse the witneses of Iesus Christ unto death, but their Lord will quick them, as hee did his owne Body and will prepare a place of saffty above for his Church which will flye into the wildernes where the waters, (that is the impetuousitie and multitudes of people) will not bee able to follow it and swallow it upp, for the earth will devoure them. The tymes and seasons are determined with God, our duty is only to doe that which is most likly to advantage the scope, if the effect followes well and good, If not yet our Iudgment is with the Lord and our worke is with our God. Therfore I would intreate you not to bee scrupulous of the [deletion] purposes of our Men in these partes. The jealousies are workes of the Flesh and comonly the reciprocate, for the effection of the flesh, multiply themselves in one by another when they beget their like; for wee are easily provoked to those passions which wee find in those with whom wee have to doe. They have beene suspicious of you at the begining it is not strange that you are the like now of them, But here the Rule is to bee called to mind. Let us not bee overcome with evill but overcome evill with good. Let us walke in the spirit and affections and the flesh will not bee able to trouble us nor turne us out of our way from following that whereunto wee are called [catchword: by God]

God. You thinke that they have intended to surprise you and to get hold of you in the Nets of a Sea and Land hunting and lead you after their wills to fulfill their desires. It may bee that some have had some thoughts of privat Interests upon you, it may bee otherwise, but that they have not beene able to take up your meaning I am sure, or if they apprehended it is most likly that they have not beleeved it to bee possible, and that to attempt the effecting of <it in> this place would have been labour lost, and perhaps they have hadd some Reason to thincke soe because the wayes how your intention could bee presented, and how others might bee perswaded that here in this part they could bee obtained with equitie and Iustice were not in their view. And truly this I beleive this hath beene the cause why your motion hath received such cold entertainment. But now if they begin to see somewhat more in the buisnesse then they did, if they find the possibilitie to bring it to passe more easie then therefore if they are assured of the Pietie & Iustice of your Purpose more then they could bee at first. And if they are desirous to entertaine the Proposition which you make henceforth without all prejudice, and if hereof they are willing to give you such assurance as may bee sufficient and without reasonable exception, will not you suffer yourselfe to bee engaged and that this may bee done by those who are now fully informed of your purpose and have a worthy esteeme of your person and can obtaine what they will in the houses, I think I can give you upon good grounds a promise. It is possible that I may faile in my opinion for I am a man subject to failing, but I can declare unto you by the word [catchword: of a]

of a Christian and of a servant of God that I see some ground of confidence to beleeve that which I say unto you may bee brought to passe without danger which you feare of a distractive charitie (which incipit à se) as you call it amoungst many; which indeed doth overthrow the effect of all good order and the Common weale of al the world. And as I beleive with you that a remedie may be found by the ordering & disposing of maters which should bee managed for a Comminaltie and by the subordination of the employment of all particulars towards the Public: soe I am confident by the grace of God wee shall bee able to finde amoungst those that sitt in Parlliament men fitted in a peculiar manner to manage such a designe, and that the worke may bee really begunn & followed to an issue, if wee continue in peace and tranquillitie amongst ourselves and with our Brethren of Scotland.

understand your meaning without opening the box of [Greek: kallon doron] [6 words deleted] those that have beene formerly appointed may be rectified in that which they have misunderstood, And others very jealous and well versed in the affaires off this nature, and that will have more leisure to apply themselves thereunto may bee authorized in the worke, to whom in a speciall manner the care will belong to provide that the Embrion may be fedd and entertained with good milke and tenderly without harshenes and [slauderie?] as you desire; but without the addresse which you can give nothing at all this will be done. Give me mee then leave to give you counsell not to insist too much upon the demands which are mentioned in your Act. For although I doe not thinke, that which you demand either unjust or such as may not bee in time obtained neverthelesse I suppose that at the first it is not as may not being entred upon the worke you will attaine unto it without any expresse capitulation, which would now make the buisnes subject to many jealousies. Let me then intreate you to thinke upon the matter and to looke upon the other Act without prejuduce and you will find therein all that is requisite to make a begining of the worke. Hee that made the draught is your most affectionate freind, to whom you have intrusted yourselfe hitherto, and   [space]   would not faile to you in any thing for his Live for the Love which hee doth beare to Truth in his owne, and to the Grace which Appeares in your soule. Till the Act bee passed; and the Commissioners chosen such as they should bee, you perhaps will not hazard another journey; but let us knowe the ground [catchword: of our]

of our hope that wee may proceed to incline the spirits of those whome wee have to deale withall unto that which is necessary, which will arise from the declaration of your propensitie to proceed. And to second and serve you in all thinges, which may advance the glory of God and the comfort of the members of Iesus Christ, you shall finde him ready to offer himselfe, who is in him

of noe lesse consequence, then the improovment of the whole Husbandrie of the Kingdome to a fift more then now it is worth, which would amount by an easie Calculation to at least 15 hundred thousand pound sterling yearly whereof a fourth part should come to the Public use of the State in Common, and the rest unto the enrichment off particular persons; withall he offered to shew a way of Improoving the Fishing of this Kingdome to the double or triple value in divers Fishes, and to discover a Plantation to them which should without any Cost unto the State; bee planted, and being setled should furnish to this State all such comodities which now they fetch for money from abroad, without cost, in such store, that they shall be able to maintaine a Trade thereby in furnishing their neighbours therwith; and to efect all this hee would shew a way how from the benfit of the fishing & Husbandrie 36 shipes of 400 tonnes and 36 Pinnace of 150 tonnes apeece might be yearly and constantly maintained at Sea in war-like Equipage, to guard the Coasts and to Convoye Merchant & Fisher shippes; these advantages where offered to be shewed upon these easie termes which I have mentioned: but the man did not receive any incouragement, but being wearied with a long attendance of many months went his way: wondering at our carelesnes to benefit ourselves and the Public State of Christendome: for his aime is not alone to benefit us as wee are a state by ourselves, but to make us beneficiall to all the Protestants of Christendome, and to put in our hand the strength of their Cause against there enemies the Papists, whose plot is to make this warre in ende a gennerall quarrell for Religion throughout Europe which certainly the Pope will bring to passe if the Turck doth not make [catchword: a diversion]

a diversion of his Intentions. And upon this consideration hee was moved to make his offers to this State & not unto Fraunce, because the enriching of that State would in the end a weakning to the Protestant cause; because hee being a French-man doth know that the counsells will bee swayed that way, assoone as the power of Andria is broken and that the french will have noe forraine enemies formidable unto them. However the thing to bee herkned unto, and understood, could bee noe prejudice to any. The man is a sober man and in the conversation which I have hadd with him I have found him very conscientious and just in all his deliberations, and singularly mindfull of the releife of the poore by setting them on worke; hee hath sometimes expressed some passions, when he found such cold entertainment, but that was not strange. I am sure that his purpose was upright, and to me the way was cleer soe farre as hee did open himselfe, nor could there any prejudice arise thereby to the Public, or to any body in particular, whose advantages and proffits doe not overthrow the good of the Common-wealth. I have heretofore in a letter to Mr. Hartlib expressed more fully my sense of the man and of his proposalls, which hee will bee reddie to let you see, your Lovys de Geer the great Merchant in Sweden who did maintaine the warre at Sea for the Swedes, against the King of Denmarcke and did defeat him (for hee furnished shippes, men and amunition to the Swedes) hee with his Associates at first made such like overtures to the King of Sweden, concerning the improovment of the mines and manufactures and Trade of that Kingdome; and the King was soe wise as to entertain the motions and give all incouragments [catchword: unto the]

unto the Kinge of Sweden proposers thereof; by which meanes, I know that the constant yearly revenue of that Kingdome, is now tenne times worth, that which it was at the begining of King Gustavus Reigne. But one of the maine Considerations next unto the situation of his Kingdome (fit for Trade with all Europe, most convenient for fishing, and for enterprizes towardes the Indies, abundant in people, which are without employment and proper for Sea and Land, service if they were trained up unto it, as much any (Nation of the World) is the present frame of the State and posture wherunto it is fallen, by the Parlliaments managing of affaires, which tends unto that naturall libertie of a rightly constituted Comon-wealth; whereby it may become a place of refuge and defence unto all that may flee unto it from the persecution which in other parts of Europe will arise against the Professours of Religion. Ad although I have beene informed by some that the man hath some privat opinions wherin hee is singular; yet I am not staggered at him; for many are suspected offtimes without cause to be worse then they are; nore are private opinions which men keep in themselves just causes of division and breach of Love amoungst Christians. (And although men should endeavour to propogate what their opinions are which I have not found him to doe) yet if they are tractable and rationally to be delt withall, that can be amoungst them unpartiall, and equitable men, noe prejudice against them, Chiefly in pursuite of other matters which concerne only Civil Interest And this I relate[altered] unto you that if you should perhaps heare any thing of the man (as I have heard) it may not be a prejudice to your [catchword your negotiation]

your negotiation with him for the good of this state; for since his departure the matter of his proposall doth beginn to be relished; & I am moved to write unto him to engage him to the persecution of his designe, but because hee is in the Low-Countries, and it is not likely that any Letter can bee soe effectual to worke upon him as your treatie with him may bee; when you are instructed to the effect, by the State; therefore if you find upon the more particular Informations (which Mr. Hartlib is able to give unto you) that the designe is worth the looking affter; I make noe doubt but your owne Zeale for the Public good, will stirre your affections to deale effectualy with him; and whatever I may bee able to doe towards him, as one in whom he hath perhaps some confidence as having me found me hetherto faithfull and willing to serve him; I shall not bee wanting to performe; whensoever I shall receive Intimation that my concurrence will bee of use. This matter I have thus imparted unto you the more willingly, because I understand that you are not to stay long in this Kingdome: and whensoever you goe to your charge againe abroad, I shall wish you all prosperitie in yowr journey and good successe in all your privat and public affaires, as one that ever shall bee     Sir

Kingdome. How it shall bee subbordinate wholly to this Kingdome and eminently serviceable both in peace and Warre. And which will bee done by the Comodities which shall bee found therein, by the orderly way of setling the Planters therin, by the complication of the Profit which shall arise from thence with the benefit which the fishing and Husbandry will yeeld.

Adventure and sharers in the Profit according to their Quota as others that will freely come in, shall bee.