peruse it so much as to give any judgment of the man by it. Besides this, he hath published two little manuals in 12mo, Assertionum Theologicarum: but these speak but very little of the man. His history, indeed, is a great undertaking, and his family (for he is of the Jesuit order) used to sell the book by crying up the man: but I think Í saw enough of it to suspect the expectation is much bigger than the thing. It is no wonder that Baxter undervalues the gentry of England. You know what spirit he is of; but I suppose he hath met with his match, for Mr. Peirs hath attacked him, and they are joined in the lists. I have not seen Mr. Thorndike's book. You make me desirous of it, because you call it elaborate: but I like not the title nor the subject, and the man is indeed a very good and a learned man, but I have not seen much prosperity in his writings: but if he have so well chosen the questions, there is no peradventure but he hath tumbled into his heap many choice materials. I am much pleased that you promise to inquire into the way of the Perfectionists; but I think Lord Pembroke and Mrs. Joy, and the Lady Wildgoose, are none of that number. I assure you, some very learned and very sober persons have given up their names to it. Castellio is their great patriarch; and his dialogue An per Spir. S. homo possit perfectè obedire legi Dei, is their first essay. Parker hath written something lately of it, and in Dr. Gell's last book in folio, there is much of it. Indeed you say right that they take in Jacob Behmen, but that is upon another account, and they understand him as nurses do their children's imperfect language; something by use, and much by fancy. I hope, Sir, in your next to me (for I flatter myself to have the happiness of receiving a letter from you sometimes), you will account to me of some hopes concerning some settlement, or some peace to religion. I fear my peace in Ireland is likely to be short, for a Presbyterian and a madman have informed against ine as a dangerous man to their religion; and for using the sign of the cross in baptism. The worst event of the information which I fear, is my return into England; which, although I am not desirous it should be upon these terms, yet if it be without much violence, I shall not be much troubled. VOL. III. I Sir, I do account myself extremely obliged to your kindness and charity, in your continued care of me, and bounty to me; it is so much the more, because I have almost from all men but yourself, suffered some diminution of their kindness, by reason of my absence; for, as the Spaniard says, "The dead and the absent have but few friends." But, Sir, I account myself infinitely obliged to you, much for your pension, but exceedingly much more for your affection, which you have so signally expressed. I pray, Sir, be pleased to present my humble service to your two honoured Brothers: I shall be ashamed to make any address, or pay my thanks in words to them, till my Rule of Conscience be public, and that is all the way I have to pay my debts; that and my prayers that God would. Sir, Mr. Martin, bookseller, at the Bell, in St. Paul's Churchyard, is my correspondent in London, and whatsoever he receives, he transmits it to me carefully; and so will Mr. Royston, though I do not often employ him now. Sir, I fear I have tired you with an impertinent letter, but I have felt your charity to be so great as to do much more than to pardon the excess of my affections. Sir, I hope that you and I remember one another when we are upon our knees. I do not think of coming to London till the latter end of summer, or the spring, if I can enjoy my quietness here; but then I do if God permit: but beg to be in this interval refreshed by a letter from you at your leisure, for, indeed, in it will be a great pleasure and endearment to, Honoured Sir, Your very obliged, most affectionate, and humble servant, JER. TAYLOR. John Evelyn to the Hon. Robert Boyle. HONOURED SIB, Sayes-Court, Aug. 9, 1659. I am perfectly ashamed at the remissness of this recognition for your late favours from Oron: where (though had you resided) it should have interrupted you before this time. It was by our common and good friend Mr. Hartlib, that I come now to know you are retired from thence, but not from the muses, and the pursuit of your worthy designs, the result whereof we thirst after with all impatience; and how fortunate should I esteem myself, if it were in my power to contribute in the least to that, which I augur of so great and universal a benefit! But, so it is, that my late inactivity has made so small a progress, that, in the History of Trades, I am not advanced a step; finding (to my infinite grief) my great imperfections for the attempt, and the many subjections, which I cannot support, of conversing with mechanical capricious persons, and several other discouragements; so that, giving over a design of that magnitude, I am ready to acknowledge my fault, if from any expression of mine there was any room to hope for such a production, farther than by a short collection of some heads and materials, and a continual propensity of endeavouring in some particular, to encourage so noble a work, as far as Ĭ am able, a specimen whereof I have transmitted to Mr. Hartlib, concerning the ornaments of gardens, which I have requested him to communicate to you, as one from whom I hope to receive my best and most considerable furniture; which favour, I do again and again humbly supplicate; and especially, touching the first chapter of the third book, the eleventh and twelfth of the first; and indeed, on every particular of the whole. Sir, I thank you for your receipts: there is no danger I should prostitute them, having encountered in books what will sufficiently (I hope) gratify the curiosity of most, when in my third I speak of the elaboratory. But I remit you what I have written to Mr. Hartlib, and begging pardon for this presumption, crave leave to remain, Sir, Your most humble and obedient-servant, Sir, do you know whether Campanella has said any thing concerning altering the shape of fruits, &c., and how I may obtain the perusal of Benedicti Curtii Hortorum Lib. 30. Lugd. 1560. fol. John Evelyn to the Hon. Robert Boyle. NOBLE SIR, Sayes-Court, Sep. 3, 1659. Together with these testimonies of my cheerful obedience to your commands, and a faithful promise of transmitting the rest, if yet there remain any thing worthy your acceptance amongst my unpolished and scattered collections, I do here make bold to trouble you with a more minute discovery of the design, which I casually mentioned to you, concerning my great inclination to redeem the remainder of my time, considering, quam parum mihi supersit ad metas; so as may best improve it to the glory of God Almighty, and the benefit of others. And, since it has proved impossible for me to attain to it hitherto (though in this my private and mean station) by reason of that fond morigeration to the mistaken customs of the age, which not only rob men of their time, but extremely of their virtue and best advantages; I have established with myself, that it is not to be hoped for, without some resolutions of quitting these incumbrances, and instituting such a manner of life, for the future, as may best conduce to a design so much breathed after, and, I think, so advantageous. In order to this, I propound, that since we are not to hope for a mathematical college, much less, a Solomon's house, hardly a friend in this sad Catalysis, and inter hos armorum strepitus, a period so uncharitable and perverse; why might not some gentlemen, whose geniuses are greatly suitable, and who desire nothing more than to give a good example, preserve science, and cultivate themselves, join together in society, and resolve upon some orders and economy, to be mutually observed, such as shall best become the end of their union, if, I cannot say, without a kind of singularity, because the thing is new: yet such, at least, as shall be free from pedantry, and all affectation? The possibility, Sir, of this is so obvious, that I profess, were I not an aggregate person, and so obliged, as well by my own nature as the laws of decency, and their merits, to provide for my dependents, I would cheerfully devote my small fortune towards a design, by which I might hope to assemble some small number together who would resign themselves to live profitably and sweetly together. But since I am unworthy so great a happiness, and that it is not now in my power, I propose that if any one worthy person, and quis meliore luto, so qualified as Mr. Boyle, will join in the design (for not with every one, rich and learned; there are very few disposed, and it is the greatest difficulty to find the man) we would not doubt, in a short time, by God's assistance, to be possessed of the most blessed life that virtuous persons could wish or aspire to in this miserable and uncertain pilgrimage, whether considered as to the present revolutions, or what may happen for the future in all human probability. Now, Sir, in what instances, and how far this is practicable, permit me to give you an account of, by the calculations which I have deduced for our little foundation. I propose the purchasing of thirty or forty acres of land, in some healthy place, not above twenty-five miles from London; of which a good part should be tall wood, and the rest upland pastures or downs, sweetly irrigated. If there were not already an house which might be converted, &c., we would erect upon the most convenient site of this, near the wood, our building, viz. one handsome pavilion, containing a refectory, library, with drawing-room, and a closet; this the first story; for we suppose the kitchen, larders, cellars, and offices to be contrived in the half story under ground. In the second should be a fair lodging chamber, a pallet-room, gallery, and a closet; all which should be well and very nobly furnished, for any worthy person that might desire to stay any time, and for the reputation of the college. The half story above for servants, wardrobes, and like conveniences. To the entry fore front of this a court, and at the other back front a plot walled in of a competent square, for the common seraglio, disposed into a garden; or it might be only carpet, kept curiously, and to serve for bowls, walking, or other recreations, &c., if the company please. Opposite to the house, towards the wood, should be erected a pretty chapel; and at equal distances (even with the flanking walls of the square) six apartments or cells, for the members of the Society, and not contiguous to the pavilion, each whereof should contain a small bedchamber, an outward room, a closet, and a private garden, somewhat after the manner of |