LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS. 71 



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 con- 

 sideration 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 un- 

 expected difficulties in seeking -to get the book freely printed; 

 and after that was undertaken, the frivolous delaies of the 

 printers and slow preceding 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 ex- 

 traordinary 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 ne- 

 cessity 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 to- 

 wards 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 rny 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 counter- 

 vaile 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.* 



* This letter, although signed by the initials T. A., is in the handwriting of 

 Torporley, and from that circumstance and the subject matter of the letter, there 



