WILLIAM LOWER TO THOMAS HARRIOT.

[MS. Addit. 6789. Orig.] Ira' venti, April 13th, 1611. I so overwhelmed you the last time with a longe letter as it is just I should make you amends now with one as shorte. To send you none at all (which perchance had bene best, consideringe the use you have of all your time) I could not consent unto, out of the addiction and delight I have to bee still conversinge with you; therefore I will onlie signifie how it is with us, and so an end. My course of calculation I have stopte untill I heare from you; the two greate causes of my stay I declared in my last letters. I fell since into Vieta's last probleme of his second apendicle, Apol. Gal.”, and compared his way with yours that you last gave me: but to confesse a truth I can have my will of nether; and the probleme appeares to me not universall, but requires determination; for let the b a given have the same sides a b, a c, that Vieta’s hath, and lett v's" be the same that Vieta gives; now I will give a A that shall have thes sides, so as it shal bee impossible to find anie pointe from whence lines drawen unto the corners be in the given rate, and that is by giving a A with the same sides a b, a c, but in such position as the 3 b a c be > or < , then Vieta's 3 b a c, in such measure as Vieta's two circles doe nether cut nor touch. This rubbe put me out of this course, wheruppon I betooke me to your problemes for the distinguishinge of the sides of A*, whether the summe or difference of the sides and the angle adjacente or contained with the other side were given in this. I proceed still with much pleasure and satisfaction. I have also putt in order all thos propositions which you also gave me, but I had copied in lose papers and with ill diagrammes, so that all the thinges stand well; and so I thanke God doe we also, excepte my catle, which have al this winter bene persecuted with the murraine; since Christmas verie neere I have lost 100 beastes, —Vieta’s sacrifices to the witch Melutina for the invention of one probleme. But I skarce keepe my promise with you. Farewell. I am all yours. WILLIAM Low ER. To his especial good frind, Mr. Thomas Harriott, deliver thes.

WILLIAM LOWER TO THOMAS HARRIOT.

[MS. Addit. 6789. Orig.]
Ira' venti, Friday, July 19th, 1611.

Since you incourage me so much I will proceede in thos calculations of 3, and as I finish anie I will send them unto ou; indeed to find the issue so . . . . . and in the later so impossible to be reconciled, had utterlie discouraged me, but that now by your letter I perceave ther may bee good use made even of ther discordance, therfore of this I will say no more till I send you more. The leasure that the countrie life affordeth us here, hath given me meanes to run over manie things since I left the course of calculation, but amongst others the 3 vexations of scientificall mortals hath held me most, to wit, the squaringe of the circle, the dublinge of the cube, and the philosopher's stoone. From the first I am come of handsomelie enough, and have made myselfe much sporte in the discoverie of mine owne parallogismes, but in the later I sticke still, and am like to make you sporte here. I come fairelie of, but indeed I have here much otium, and therefore I may cast awaye some of it in vaine pursuites, chusinge alwayes rather to doe somethinge worth nothinge then nothinge at all. How farre I had proceeded in this, I ment now to have given you an account, but that the reporte of the unfortunate Erle's relapse into calamitie makes me beleive that you are enough troubled, both with his misfortunes and my lady's troubles; and so a discourse of this nature would be unseasonable. Neverthelesse, give me leave to crave a worde or two in answere of thes doubts, which I will beesilie propound as followeth:1. First whether G) and ([ be bodies so difficulte to be dissolved as alchemists affirme, I meane by dissolution (as I thinke they doe), that they must bee petrifyed and distilled: 2. If they may bee dissolved, whether with one simple alone or with manie? 3. If they may be dissolved and petrifyed, whether ther rectifyed partes, beinge conjoyned againe, will be multiplied in virtue? 4. And lastlie, that which should have bene asked first, an sit elixir 2 But at this time, this much is to much. I am sorrie to heare of the new troubles ther, and pray for a good issue of them, especiallie for my ladie’s sake and her fine litle ones. So for the presente I rest, as of old, Your true frind, WILLIAM Lower. To his especiall good frind, Mr. Thomas Harriott, att Sion.

THOMAS AYLESBURIE TO THOMAS HARRIOT.

[MS. Addit. 6789. Orig.]
Margett, April 15th, 1613.

Good Mr. Harriotts, Bycause I have no other newes to send you, you shall only receave the bare relacion of our voyage from Chatham to Margett att the North Forland, which I can tell you in breiffe, though it was to us (new seamen) very tedious. For wee went on board the sixt of April, and are but now arrived att the Foreland the 15., which you will say is very longe, but that you know the danger of the sands, and contrarie winds too, if yours att Sion agree with ours att sea. I have learned here certaine strange words amonge our mariners, which to interpret will require some tyme. If we had bene at Vlushinge, I mought perhaps have told you more, but I could forbeare writinge to you noe longer, though to little purpose, savinge only to lett you understand that wheresoever I am, I am bound to remember you, and soe rest

Your very loyteringe,
but lovinge skollar,
THoMAs AYLESBURIE.

I must not forgett to tell you, your glasses have fitted my Lord excellentlie well; and soe, as I feare you will leese them both, but not without your owne consent, I have noe auctoritie to promise till you give leave*.

JOHN RUDSTON TO THOMAS HARRIOT.

[MS. Addit. 6789. Orig.]
June 9th, 1615.

Sir, As by experience I have found your singular humaintie by our late conferences, to make good the noble fame of your great learning, so hath itt emboldened me by this my letter, to request that you would send me word by this bearer what the variation of the needle is about Mosco. For at this Fo I have such an ympediment fallen into my toes, that

cannot walke abroade, otherwise I had beene the presenter of this my request unto you myselfe, which, if it might have beene, I should then have moved some other questions, viz. whether it is probable that the variation can be in any place of the world 180 degrees, or the north point of the needle stand directly to the south. Allso whether a shippe sailing right east or west by the compasse, keepes upon a parallell, as the common received opinion amongst maryners is, which I thinke not, because the east and west of the compasse is a tangent to the parallell, but how little soever it so continues in sailing, it is a portion or arch of the great circle of the east and west, and therefore (I conceive) cannot but decline from the parallell. But ceasing to trouble you with these manner of questions, I crave perdon for this my boldnes, resting Att your command, John RUDsTox*.

To his very good frend, Mr. Haryott in
Black-fryars, be these delivered.

Sir, Though I have bene yet soe little a while att Newmarkett, that I have not any thing of moment to ymport, yet I thinke it not amisse to write a bare salutations, and let you know, that in theise wearie journeys I am oftentimes comforted with the remembrance of your kind love and paynes bestowed on your loytering scholar, whose little credit in the way of learning is allwaies underpropped with the name of soe worthie a maister. The comet being spent, the talke of it still runnes current here. The King's Majesty before my comming spake with one of Cambridg called Olarentia (a name able to beget beleefe of some extraordinarie qualities), but what satisfaction he gave I cannot yet learne; here are papers out of Spayne about it, yea and from Roome, which I will endeavour to gett, and meane that you shall partake of the newes as tyme.

Cura ut valeas et me ames, who am ever trulie and unfaynedly yours att command,

THoMAs AYLESBURIE.

To my right woorthie frend, Mr. Thomas
Harriot, att Syon, theise.

THOMAS HARRIOT TO THE DUKE OF
NORTHUMBERLAND.

[MS. Harl. 6002.]
Syon, June 13th, 1619.

Sir, When Mr. Warner and Mr. Hues were last at Sion, it happened that I was perfecting my auntient notes of the doctrine of reflections of bodies, unto whom I imparted the mysteries thereof, to the end to make your lordship acquainted with them as occasion served. And least that some particulars might be mistaken or forgotten, I thought best since to set them down in writing, whereby also nowe at times of leasure, when your minde is free from matters of greater waight, you may thinke and consider of them, if you please. It had been very convenient, I confess, to have written of this doctrine more at large, and particularly to have set downe the first principles, with such other of elementall propositions, as all doubtes might have been prevented; but my infirmitie is yet so troublesome, that I am forced, as well that as other traits, to let alone till time of better abilitie. In the meane time I have made choyce of these propositions, in whose explication you shall find, I hope, the summe of all that of this argument is reasonable to be delivered. And if any doubtes doe arise either of the hypothesis therein used, or of the concomitants and consequences therein also intimated, although upon due consideration onely they may be resolved, yet because I am beforehand in consideration of these matters, I shall be ready when I have notice of them to give your lordship full satisfaction for your ease. And seeing that my purpose, God willing, is within a few days to see your lordship, I cease from more wordes, resting, &c.”