NATHANIEL TORPORLEY TO THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. [MS. Birch, Brit. Mus. 4409, fol. 87. Orig.] - July 5th, 1632. May it please your Lordship, I presumed heretofore to move your Lordship on the behalf of Mr. W. for some consideration to be had of his extraordinary expense in attending the publication of Mr. H.’s book, after the copy was finished. The same humble request I am induced to renew by reson of his present wants, occasioned by that attendance. For his literary labour and paines taken in forming the work and fitting it for the publick view, he looks for no other reward then your Lordship's acceptance thereof as an honest discharge of his duty. But his long attendance through unexpected difficulties in seeking to get the book freely printed; and after that was undertaken, the frivolous delaies of the printers and slow proceding of the presse, which no intreties of his or mine could remedy, drew him to a gretter expence then his meanes would bere, including both your Lordship's pencion and the arbitrary help of his frends. It is this extraordinary expense, which he cannot recover, which makes both him and me for him appele to your Lordship's goodness and bounty for some tollerable mitigation therof. I purpose, God willing, to set forth other peeces of Mr. H., wherein, by reson of my owne incumbrances, I must of necessity desire the help of Mr. W., rather then of any other; whereunto I find him redy enough, because it tends to your Lordship's service, and may the more freely trouble him, yf he receive some little encouragement from your Lordship towards the repairing of the detriment that lies still upon him by his last imploiment. But for the future my intention is to have the impression at my own charge, and not depend on the curtesy of those mechaniks, making . . . . . . that which may seeme to be saved by the other way, will not countervaile the trouble and tedious prolongation of the busines. But the copies being made perfect and faire written for the presse, they shall be sufficiently bound to deliver the books perfectly clen out of theire hands, and by this meanes the trouble and charge of attending the presse will be saved. Therefore, my Lord, what you do now will be but for this once; and in such proportion as shall best like you to favour the humble motion of him who is Allway most redy at your Lordship's commaund, T. A.<

SIR CHARLES CAVENDISH TO JOHN PELL.

[MS. Birch, Brit. Mus. 4278, fol. 143. Orig.]
Wellingor, January 8th, 1641.

Worthie Sir, I have not much to write to you of, onelie I have heard nothing of those bookes you writ to me of. I have sent you hereinclosed what Mersennus latelie sent me. I desire you will doe me the favoure to write it oute and send it me, for I confess his hande is an Arabicke character to me; I praye you keepe his paper till it please God wee meete. I doute heer hath bin ill weather for Mr. Reeves to worcke in. And so wisshing you all hapiness, I rest

Your assured freind to serve you,
CHARLEs CAve NDYss H.E.

SIR CHARLES CAVENDISH TO JOHN PELL.

[MS. Birch, Brit. Mus. 4278, fol. 146. Orig.]
Wellingor, Feb. 5, 1641.

Worthie Sir, I thanke you for your letter and the transcript of Mersennus problem; if he hath read Mr. Brigs or Mr. Oughtred I wonder he would send it, but it maye be he hath found it the analyticall waye himself. I am glad Mr. Reaves was in such forwardness when you writ; but I doute the glass (which I hope is nowe finished) is not of the same which you tried your refraction in, because Mr. Reaves hath broken in his triall so much glass, that I doute there is none left of that which you tried your refraction in; but I hope fine glass differs so little in refraction that it will not doe us much harme. I hope you goe on with your owne analyticall worcke as your occasions will permit you. I have no more at this time to trouble you with, but remaine

Your assured freind to serve you,
CIIARLEs CAve NDYss HE.

SIR CHARLES CAVENDISH TO JOHN PELL.

[MS. Birch, Brit. Mus. 4278, fol. 134.]
Wellingor, June 26, 1641.

Sir, I perceive oure business of making the perspective glass proceeds not, and I knowe not well howe to help it, unless there be some as good matter to make glass in some other place to be bought, for it seemes that at Broadstreet will not be had; I am not willing to trouble Sir Robert Mansfeild about it, though I thinke he would not denie me. Therefore, if you or Mr. Reaves can finde fitting matter for us somewhere els, ye should doe me a greate favoure; Broadstreet I suppose will be the best place to make the glass, when ye have bought the stuff to make it of. I shall write to Mr. Reaves to give us his help herein. I must againe thanke you for your waie of ordering aequations, and doe desire that you will proceed in your intended analyticall worcke, as your occasions will give you leave. I desire to knowe if Mr. Warmers analogicall worck goe on or not. And so wisshing you all hapiness I remaine

Your assured freind to serve you,
CHARLEs CAv ENDYss H.E.

If you knowe an easie and readie waie to measure the refraction in water, you should doe me a favoure to let me knowe it; for I confess I knowe none.

SIR CHARLES CAVENDISH TO JOHN PELL.

[MS. Birch, Brit. Mus. 4278, fol. 136. Orig.]

Wellingor, Julie 24, 1641. Worthie Sir, I am glad to heare you have got some glass; I hope it is good and fit for oure purpose, for I should be unwilling that you and Mr. Reaves should bestowe your paines upon course glass. When you have tried what the refraction is in that glass I desire to knowe it, and allso howe you like the glass. I have latelie received some propositions out of France, some demonstrated and some not, but I will not divert you from the business you have in hand. I am glad you have begun the analogiques, and hope allso that you proceed in your owne analiticall worcke. And so wisshing

you all hapiness, I remaine Your assured freind to serve you, CHARLEs CAv ENDYss H.E.

SIR CHARLES CAVENDISH TO JOHN PELL.

[MS. Birch, Brit. Mus. 4278, fol. 139. Orig.]
Wellingor, November 20th, 1641.

Worthie Sir, I hope Mr. Reaves is in a good forwardness with the convex glass; I dout not but you will trie all conclusions with it, which may conduce to informe you whether it be an hyperbole or no; as allso what proportion the diameter of the glass hath to the line of the contracted beames of the sun at the pointes of concourse; as allso to observe what aparances are made, the eye being placed in, before, or behinde, the pointe of concourse; and in the mean time, before the concave glass be made, to trie whether my concave glass which you have, will in anie sort fit it. Sir, I leave the further scrutinie of this to your better consideration, and wisshing you all hapiness, remaine

Your assured freind to serve you,
CHARLEs CAvex DYssh E.

I praye you comend me to Mr. Reaves when you see him.

SIR CHARLES CAVENDISH TO JOHN PELL.

[MS. Birch, Brit. Mus. 4278, fol. 141. Orig.]
Wellingor, December 18, 1641.

Worthie Sir, I thanke you for your letter of December 13. I am glad Mr. Reeves is so well fitted for oure worcke; when he hath done it, I dout not but you will make all such trialls as maye give you satisfaction whether it be a true hyperbole or not, and then proceed to the making of the concave glass; if this fit it not, I shall still be in hope that a concave on both sides will. I have not (to my remembrance) seene Henischius arithmetick, nor should desire, for his mislike of demonstration by letters; yet if you thinke there be anie thinge in him considerable, which is not in Vieta or de Cartes, I desire you will send it me, and Mr. Moselei will paye for it, as allso for Scheiner's Ars Nova Delineandi. I confess I expect not an exact booke of analiticks till you perfect yours. And

so wisshing you all hapiness I rest W.

Your assured freind to serve you,

CHARLEs CAve NDYsshr.

Mr. Lydyat, I cannot so well give you account of your tractate which you have sent me, as if you yourself come over hither to me. Which that you may do without your charge or trouble, I have of purpose sent over this my servant Henry Davis with a horse for you. He hath friends to visit some few miles beyond you, which he may do and be back with you at Alkerton upon Monday or Tuesday, as you shall appoint, to attend you hither. A chamber and fire and diet you shall have with me at New College, and the longer you please to stay, the better welcome shall you be. Is this all, will you say? No! but there is that more in it, which will, I am sure, compell you to come over. And that is a great desire my Lord Primate of Ireland hath to see you, and to joy your company for awhile. I need not tell you, for you know him better than I do, that he is a man of that esteem, as no man now living, that I can hear of, is, for his exquisite knowledge and solid judgment in (almost) all points of learning. You cannot any way grace yourself more in the eye and opinion of the University than to have it known that he loves you and approves your learning. I, perceiving his good affection to you, told him of your “ Apparatus;” and at his earnest request, delivered him a good part of it, viz. all from the 88th page to the end, to read over: the former part he told me he had read over long since; his meaning was, I thought, in English. Dr. Bainbridge was then in company with us, and therefore I mentioned your Mesolabe to His Grace, and Dr. Bainbridge his non satis Geometrice, telling them both that I looked to having defects punctually discovered, and not so in the general. And my Lord, if any man will be able to press him to that, and disclose either your mistake, or (which I rather believe) his. So not doubting but that you will have that respect to His Grace's loving expressions of the desire he hath to see you here, as to come over to him, and make me your host while you please, I heartily wish you a speedy and safe journey hither, so remaining always

Your assured loving friend,
Rob ERT PINK.

New College, Oxon.

November 13th, 1641.