The Hartlib Papers

Title:Copy Petition John Christopher De Berg To Lord Mayor & Aldermen Of London
Dating:undated
Ref:8/63/25A-26B: 25B, 26A-B BLANK
[8/63/25A]

      To the Right honourable the Lord Maior of the Citty
      of London & to the Right worshipfull the Aldermen
             his Bretheren of the same
  The humble peticion of Iohn Christopher de Berg Lord
    of Wahanizig in Moravia
Humbly sheweth that whereas your petitioner by reason of the long continued miseries and straights of his exilement hath bene forced to retire at last to this florishing kingdome of England to partake of the charitable assistance of well disposed people, but not vnderstanding the language nor being able to relate his wants hath prevaled soe little all this while that he is fallen into greate extremityes which had bene soe much the greater if this honourable Court some 3 yeares agoe had not bestowed on him a larg testimony of theire bounty which he still acknowledgeth with all due respects and thankfulnes. All this while he hath not ceased to vse all lawfull endeavours to subsist by his owne industrie and to be burdensom to none till at last having studyed the Mathematiks he hath made choice of some Mechanicall[altered from Machanicall] inventions whereby the common good may be notably furthered: How farr some of them have bene liked & approved by men expert in both kinds doth plainely appeare by theire attestations which they have bene pleased to give him vnder theire owne handes: But because your humble petitioner is now resolved to make those inventions of his publique by way of thankfulnes for the good of this kingdome whereas yet he is constrained to live and dwell to try if by Gods blessing and these meanes he might procure a sufficient mantenance for himselfe & his family he thought it good before it came to the publique view and vse of all men to Comunicate the same in the first place a part to some of the more nobler Courts & societies, yet above all other he doth count it as his dutie to tender that honour first to the honourable Magestrates of this Citty being soe highly obliged vnto them for theire former kindnesses And vpon this grownd he is further emboldned, being also perswaded of the Manifould benefits that will redound vnto this kingdome and famous Citty from those Inventions, to beseech your honour & worships to favour againe his extreame necessities, vnder which he groanes for the present soe farr as that he may be supported vnder this heavy burden by your rewards & encouragement that others seeing your good example may follow it, and himselfe brought into that condiciion that he may not be forced to vse any more the Charitable helpe either of this most honourable Court or of any other./