SO difficult (most flourishing Academians) are the present times, (and the present busi­nesse so urgent) that wee have no leisure for writing. This writing of what Nature soever receive readily, I will transmit a few things to you, as yet (most flourishing Vniversitie) we have most dif­ficult times and businesses, which every way urge, us. But in what estate Ecclesiasticall businesses are all men may see, there is more then one Fountaine of these evills. But there is but one fury of those, who not enduring sound Doctrine, which St. Hilary observed, desire a corrupt Doctrine, among whom, thus stung with the Summer-flye, how hard a thing it is to live amongst them: But I am more sensible of it, to whom, I thanke God, it is the same to live, and to doe my duty, but these things are to be pas­sed by, neither can wee know what will be the issue of these things, and wee have no milder times nor suffer, then our complaints; But I desire to give you to understand, that I pray you may have all [Page 2] things happy, while here amōgst the higher Spheres, the Starres of any magnitude, scarce keepe their motion, and in regard of y^e thicknesse of the clouds, send forth a weake light, while all things are at this passe, I have resolved to lay downe in safety (as I hope) vvith you certaine Manuscripts of former times, they are fevv, but like to the former, if not equall, and such they are vvhich I hope, I have not be [...]n wanting to provide for your use, notwithstan­ding the difficulty of the times, but amongst them there are 6. Hebrew, 11. of Greeke, 34. of Arabicke 21. of Latine, 2. of Italian, and as many of English, and of Persian 5. one of the vvhich, (being of a large volume) containeth a Historie from the be­ginning of the World, to the end of y^e Saracen Em­pire, and vvithout doubt, is of great vvorth, let these be carryed by you, into the Library of Bodley, I reverence the name, let me not be superstitious, and I desire, they may be placed by others, which of late vvere mine, and under the same conditions, I have given the former. There is no need of ma­ny words to set forth this too small a gift of ours, neither did I ever desire it, This I daily pray for earnestly at God, that the University may ever flourish, and that Religion and Piety, and whatsoe­ver may set forth true Doctrine, may arise to the height, and that the Tempests (which are high) be­ing once laid, you may enjoy your selves, your stu­dies, and above all things God, which shall be al­waies my desires.

WEE wish all eternity most Reve­rend Chancellour, oh how great are the vertues which arise from the streights, which are pressing, while the Starres shine, you thinke of conforming and strengthening the Universitie, and to make it famous and Illu­strious, being carefull for all, and as we hope secure for your selfe. You have made a new Harvest for us, by adding to the former Manuscripts these lat­ter, yet with great price and labour, and with the like variety of Tongues, and weights of Argu­ments, and variety of examples, worthy to be per­used, so in number, and one volume, which vvith the like faith, and thankefulnesse, wee will most safely keepe and carefully observe. There are divers [Page 4] Iudgments of those that observe & reade these books, but there is but one sense, which is this, That you are the man that desires the Muses, and our Mother the Vniversity, to the height of happinesse; These were the Monuments of former Ages, but they shall be yours, by giving us the treasury of this Hi­story, a deserved History, the tumultuousnesse of the times doe double the gifts, which now, will hardly admit, either the leisure of writing or reading, not­withstanding it leaveth it's place, for the incompa­rable pains of doing good, and space of giving ad­vice, whatsoever you put into the bosome of the Vniversitie, you may assure your selfe in safety, wee hope it is beyond Fortunes reach, not in that it is given to us, but because the reward of such Works, is treasured with the chiefe of Mortals, we in the meane time (who are nourished by hope) are under the same fate, The hand that hateth the Orchard, and ha­teth the Orchard-Keeper, doth not spare what is sowne into the ground, or what the tree produceth, onely the Orchard-keeper who adventures him­selfe for the safety of the Seminary and unmindfull of his owne, to increase their prosperity, hee stands in a slippery place, he is more to be reverenced, then when there is a most streight rule, certainly without the Church (without the which we cannot hope for safe­tie) we will not hope for comfort, we desire no such safe­tie, no such pleasure, we desire rather to perish, then to depend on those Travels, when that unhappy day shall come, when nothing shall be more displeasing then the faithfull mysteries of God, and nothing more dangerous when innocencie, and too much integrity shall be coun­ted [Page 5] a fault. These evils God turne farre from us, and appease the furie popular, who causeth the waves or windes.

Our members are ready to be your Champions, but our minds (notwithstanding all interpositions) are more ready, for by this time, wee shall muster up our forceable troopes of sighes, and shall dispose of all the force of your desires, joyfully and earnestly looking up, and spreading our hands towards Hea­ven, praying on our knees that (with other gifts given to the House) vve may enjoy (this the great Gift) and you the Giver: