LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS. 



ROBERT PINK TO THOMAS LYDYAT. 



[MS. Bodl. 313.] 



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 re- 

 quest, 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, 



ROBERT PINK. 

 New College, Oxon. 



November 13th, 1641. 



