| Title: | Copy Letter In Hand ?, John Dury To Sir Henry Marten |
|---|---|
| Dating: | 4 September 1640 |
| Ref: | 6/4/79A-80B |
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Right Worshipfull
I have this day received the benevolence which you have been pleased to allow unto me for my works[altered from worckes] sake, for I know none other respect for which any should take notice of me, or I receive any benevolence: et indeed as judgement should be used in dispensing, so conscience must not be forgotten in admitting of gifts. as for me I know not whether I be worthy of any entertainement[altered from entertainment] or no: only this I know that my endeavours have been hitherto unblameable et my purpose applauded approved et commended by all that will be called Protestants yet such are the times, so full of Iealousies, feares et distractions that in 10. yeeres space so good a worke so good a worke could not find so much patronage, as to free it from distracting wants, & inable the agent thereof to subsist comfortablely in following it. If I could not dive into the cause of this defect of assistance, I would long agoe have fainted under my burden, but I find cleerely that the universalitie of the worke et my unpartiall behaviour in it make me want as much assistance in the particular proceedings as I receive commendations for the universall undertaking. et as Seneca saith in his second epistle nusquam est qui ubique est, so I may say, nulli beneficium præstat qui omnibus inservit: therefore as he saith further in peregrinatione vitam agentibus hoc evenit ut multa hospitia habeant nullas amicitias; so I must thinck that hitherto Patrocinio destitutus fui, quoniam extra partes esse volui: [catchword: he]
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hee that cannot serve privat ends, cannot challenge any interest in the men of this world: nay it must come at last to this, that he who will not serve ends but departeth from evill shall make himself a prey. therefore much patience et faith is required to dare to continue in well doing. I am allmost come to the end of my Circuit amongst the Churches, et to the period of my travelling negotiation: henceforth I purpose God willing to be in a more settled posture, I know not what my behaviour in it may produce to gaine countenance, but this I am <left margin, H: much> inclining to intend, to be no more an object of so much consideration as I have been, although I cannot intend to leave the thoughts of my worke. for seeing it hath pleased God by a strange Providence all this while to uphold me in it, et bind me as it were with chaines to it, so that I have not been able (though never so much beset with difficulties) to wrappe myself out of it, therefore I dare not intend the leaving of it, as not knowing what Gods purpose is to doe in it. but yet me thincks I may set myself in a more retired way to worke, as knowing that the Kingdome of
[left margin: Luc. 17. 20. [Greek: meta paratereseos] i.e. cum apparatu qui expectari et observari potest in publico.] et if I can gaine this rest, I hope to be lesse troublesome to such as have sought hitherto the favours of benefactours unto me, not that I thinck it great inconveniencie to seeme wanting, for Epicurus saying is true, quod res honesta est læta paupertas, but because I find by the receiving of such benevolences a greater burden laid upon me then I am able to beare, which is to shew myself really thanckfull to my benefactors. I can re- [catchword: -ioyce]
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-joyce therefore to see many well willers unto this purpose which I have in hand, et I can praise God for the favour which he raiseth up for me amongst men of upright hearts, but I must needs on the other side bee cast downe when I see that towards them I must remaine unthanckfull as having nothing wherwith to requite their affection besides a holy wish et prayer for their prosperity. but I know that your worship will accept of this duetye as a sufficient requitall, because in that which you have done you have regarded not so much my particular as the Glory of God, whereof if I become by your meanes an Instrument, then you have something in my worke to be allotted unto your accounts at the day of the Lord. to whose allsufficiencie in rewarding as I must recommend you, so I shall never cease till we appeare together in his presence to endeavour to shew myself according to abilitie
Your Worship.
Hamburg this 4
of Septemb 1640. his most affectionat et
obliged servant
Iohn Durye
I have entreated my friend who giveth to these addresse that he would imparte unto your worshippe the narrative of the proceedings of my negotiation.
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[Hartlib's hand:]
To the Right. Worshipfull Sir H.
Marten Knight. Iudge of his
Majesty's High Court of Admiralty
and of the Prerogative Court
of Canterbury.