Sir Thomas Browne to his son Edward. [MS. SLOAN. 1847.] July 5, [1679.] DEAR SONNE, I received yours, for which I thanck you. Mr. Payne tells mee that Madame Doughtie his daughter is gone or going unto Tunbridge, and sayth shee is much obliged to you for your kind and faithfull respects unto them. Shee is a good woeman butt fearfull and dubious, and hee a good ingenous gentleman and hath a good estate. I had yesterday the dissection of a porpesse discribed by Dr. Tyson; you knowe you were at the dissection of a dolphin when Dr. Clark was here, your brother drewe a dolphin and a porpesse that wee might see the difference between them, which is not great. Scaliger putt a difference in the rostrum. Aristotle sayth that a phocena or porpesse est rostro latiore colore cæruleo. Old Mr. Whitefoot intends to bee in London the later end of next weeke, and if the Norfolk feast had held, would have offered you a sermon; butt I beleeve these times will scarce give encouragement. It raynes here every day, and all the meadowes have been under water these twelve dayes, so that haye will be a deere commodity, most of the medowe haye fayling. Madame Burwell gave mee a handsome medall of Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey's murder. God blesse you all. Your loving father, THO. BROWNE. Tomey have receved his cloues, and is much delighted, and sends you and his mother and grandmother dutty and thanckes, and meanes to war them carfully. These for Dr. Edward Browne, Salisbury Court, next the Golden Balls, London. Sir Thomas Browne to his son Edward. [MS. SLOAN. 1847.] [July 7, 1679.] DEAR SONNE, Perhaps by this time you have inquired farther into the art of softening of bones. Consider that hydrargyr. softeneth nodes and takes of exostoses: and as I remember Riolan saw the bones of a dead body cereous or somewhat soft like wax, which hee thinkes was a body infected with the lues, butt I know not whether mercureall meanes had been used. Quicksylver brings gold into a soft and pappy substance, by an homalgama. Bones were soft at first, and solids have been fluid; butt probably the artist only showeth the experiment or quod sit, affording litle light how to effect the same. Tis not improbable that the king will knowe it, and so that it may in time become a common culinary practise. I am not so well contented that you should bee putt to read lectures at this time of the yeare, butt if they will insist upon it, it cannot well bee hindred. The bill is enclosed. Your loving father, THOMAS BROWNE. This bill taketh too long time; I will endeavor to take no more payable so long after. I heare that there are 2 elephants in London, when you have opportunity and leasure to see one, observe this well and safely what Julius Scaliger sayeth, Comment in Hist, Animal. lib. 2. Love and blessing to my daughter Browne and you all. If Mr. Goodall cometh our circuit, and next terme, wee shall not, God willing, forgett to bee kind unto them, and wee shall all bee glad to see Mr. Henry. Mr. Whitefoot, I beleeve, is in London, my cosen Townshend comes out of London this day. You did well to have him at your howse. These for Dr. Edward Browne, in Salisburie Court, next the Golden Balls, London. Sir Thomas Browne to his son Edward. DEAR SONNE, [BIBL. BODL. MS. RAWL. CVIII.] July xviii, [1679.] I am very glad and blesse God to heare that you are prettie well agayne. Many heere have had the like trouble, especially such as to satisfie their thirst drincke inordinately in hot wether, or exceed in eating of fruits, or odde or mixed dishes, butt such as ouercome it haue vsually a more confirmed measure of health after it. I am sorry Dr. M. was so suspensory, irresolute, and dilatory, which is hardly auoidable in his temper, for which I cannot butt pity him; and being otherwise a good natured person, men must haue patience and beare with him therein, and afford the best content and satisfaction to his doubts that may bee. Probably an apothecary, with your directions might haue suffised, butt tis like some recommended Mr. Zwoule vnto him, whose employments will not giue him self to attend sufficiently, or satisfie his feares and doubts. You must do your best; take the more paynes to relieue a doubtful mind, and hee must also haue the patience to attend the longer in so considerable a concerne, especially since hee hath lost time as to the beginninge, and the fuller prosecution may proue his great advantage and safety; and so, with my seruice, you may tell him from mee. I thinck I haue heard of Mr. Browne, whom you mention in your letter, and in a former letter from your selfe. It seemes hee is one that hath ingenuity to his riches, and such men are to bee valued and obserued. Omitt not [to] enquire further after Mr. Papin's experiment. I told it to some who wondred much at it, and wishd mee to enquire further of it, beside I take litle pleasure to drinck of the waters of knowledge, instar canis ad Nilum, as the prouerb, "a lick and away," if I can help it. Some doubt whether the bones or hornes softened will not returne unto their hardnesse agayne. The dissolution of parliament 2 ...... vnexpected heere. 2 Prorogued May 27th; dissolved July 12th, 1679. Some thinck the .... of York is coming ouer. Colonel .. neth it as will be one of our burgesses, the sec..... not yet fully resolued on. Mr. Briggs. yet. In the county tis. tention. ... .... ... there will bee greater conFor Thetford, Sir Joseph Williamson, .. Mr. Harbord are like to bee chosen.. ... and the same men agayne for Lynne. Taylor. I cannot say wh.... ..... • ....... Turner and Mr. a litle time will afford coniecture, po.... they will elect the same you did not blessing vnto my agayne .. daughter Bro..... and you all. ..... Your louing father, THOMAS BROWNE. Tom is to hot, and looks as though something would breake out. Hee useth many times to haue litle specks breake out in his face, which remayne for a few dayes. Sir Christ. Calthorpe and Sir N. Catelyn, Sir John Hobart and Mr. Windham stand agayne. Sir Thomas Browne to his son Edward. [MS. SLOAN. 1847.] Aug. 22, [1679.] DEARE SONNE, The epitaphe of Carolus Clusius, the famous physitian and hearbalist, would not bee left out. Joseph Scaliger, the sonne of Julius, was also a very learned and famous man, butt his epitaphe may probably bee too large, and also it may be omitted. God blesse you all; from Your louing father, THOMAS BROWNE. Thetford, Lynne, Rysing, haue chosen the same persons agayne; wee are like to do the same in Norwich. Yarmouth chose yesterday England and Huntington. William VOL. I. S Coventry, who was one before, not being willing to bee chosen. Our day is next Monday. They say Sir Philip Skippon will bee chosen for Dunwich, butt the temper and inclination of the nation will bee best judged by the generall choyce of knights of the shyres and counties. These for Dr. Edward Browne, in Salisbury Court, next the Golden Balls, London. Sir Thomas Browne to his son Edward. [MS. SLOAN. 1847.] Sept. 22, [1679.] DEAR SONNE, 3 Mr. B. the scrivener being so civill vnto you, it will be good prudence to preserve his friendshippe, and to encrease it into a closer unitie, whereby you may have a true friend to make bold with upon occasion, hee having such relations or friends, which may do you a pleasure. And if hee bee an honest and courteous man, hee may bee worth your conversation. When Sir Leoline Jenckins comes over, I doubt not butt you will wayt upon him, and not let your acquaintance decay or slippe away for want of maintaining it. I hope you have by this time received the partridges, for Mr. Saygett tells us that they were left behind, and that hee sent them by his coache which would bee at London on first Saturday, so that you may enquire after them. However wee have provided another pott, which wee intend to send by the next carte, on Friday. God blesse you, my daughter, and you all. Tom, God be thancked, is well. Your loving father, THOMAS BROWNE. I hope you have receaved the hare bones, which I returned by Mr. Marshall, of the Lamb. These for Dr. Edward Browne, in Salisburie Court, next the Golden Balls, London. 3 He returned from the Congress of Nimeguen in August, 1679. |