Two Letters, Letter 2
SIR,
YOUR Letter overtook me in my Jorny, you will pardon me, if I anſwer the Contents currente calamo.
1. To the exception againſt me and my Bretheren for Pluralities, this I ſay for them, I hope it is cauſeleſſe, I have often heard their defence, and know that diverſe of them have bin hardly put to it, but ſomewhat. (I conceive) will be ſhortly done in their Vindication, and I will not anticipate. 2ly, For my ſelfe, I think I may ſay without breach of modeſty, ſum extra noxam ſed non eſt facile purgatu, I was a little too confident of a faire and Candid interpretation of my actions and intentions, and therefore made not haſt enough, and that which ſwayed me was this. It was told me that ſome places (offered me) would ſuffer, in caſe uſe were not made of my name for a ſeaſon. 2ly, I was willing (an option being granted, and I being now to ſettle once for all for ought I knew) to ſee what place would ſuit beſt with my ſtrength for the Charge, and with my health for the Ayre, and thereupon ſome time runne out before I (who was not my ſelfe) could refolve, but it was never intended on any hand, that I ſhould hold any more places then one, nay it never came into my thoughts. There is now from Oxford (as you ſeem to intimate) ſomewhat ſaid with no good affection, nay all heightned, ad Conflandum odium & invidiam, things ſo repreſented as if I had no leſſe then 4 or 5 Livings of great Value at one time, whereas you know that I never had any place (which I could call mine) but only one, the reſt offered me were many (upon ſeverall occaſions) but all Sequeſtred, Tenable (yea and Tithable too) at the pleaſure of others. What reaſon I had to part ſuddainly with a more certaine, for a leſſe certaine thing, doe you judge. All the reſt of thoſe places (ſo offered) are for ought I know diſpoſed of, ſome I never ſaw, from others I never received Penny, the only Sequeſtred place that is in queſtion is Peterfield, this was with much nobleneſſe at firſt conferred, with much feare and ſlownes undertaken, ſupplyed (by reaſon of my attendance elſewhere, and the Sequeſtratours and Pariſhioners refuſing to take the means and pleaſe themſelves in the choyce of the Aſſiſtants) with much difficulty, ſubmitted to that honourable Committee againe upon my derignement for Oxford, and now (the reſult of Oxford buſineſſe being known) to be (according to a former engagement) for ever acquitted, or only reſided upon. As for Hanwell, when a Succeſſour was named by the Patron, I thought the worke done, but it proved otherwiſe. At preſent I ſay this. 1. I was called thence 2. The place was taken from me. 3. Since it returned, I have made theſe offers, 1. That in-caſe the Pariſhioners would make the place habitable, I would (with leave) there live and dye, or 2. That I would reſigne it to ſuch a man as they (and others concerned) liked, ſo as I might be freed of Delapidations, nay Devaſtations made by Souldiers, and 3. In the meane, till Patron and People could concurre in a man, I offered that he who Offciated ſhould take all, Conditionally that he would doe and pay all, there remaines but one thing more, and that's this, that I Petition the Parliament either to relieve me in my great loſſes and returne me thither, or elſe put in a ſuflicient man, in caſe there be not a ſpeedy Concurrence, (as I truft there will be now) in ſuch a man as I have ingaged my ſelfe to leave upon the place. Thus you have the naked truth repreſented herein, what you diſlike I deſire to know that I may Correct it. Sir I am ſo little taken with great places, that my higheſt ambition is ſome private Hoſpitall, and ſo tyred with a Paſtorall Charge, that I diſlike nothing ſo much in my lott at Oxford, as that. Hitherto I have bin paſſive in all the places I ever had, and now I would gladly ſit down in ſilence, and goe to my grave in peace, and this is all I can ſtay to ſay to your firſt Quere.
Now for your ſecond touching Oxford, it is not for me to ſay much: I love the place, I honour diverſe there who are of a different Iudgment in ſome things, and could heartily wiſh, that they would have prevented our Journey thither, and taske there, by a timely Reformation of themſelves, and free concurrence with the Parliament in that neceſſary work, for though you and I and a 1000 more, do honour that our deareſt Mother and do unfainedly deſire (aconcealement of her wants, yea) her greateſt advancement, yet we cannot deny but that there is need of a further Reformation, and that without prejudice to our Oaths and Priviledges, (for ought I knowe) and had that beene done long might the Students for me have enjoyed their Mother, and their Mother them. I thinke I may truely ſay, that there is none put in there by the Parliament, who had not rather ſee the place Reformed, then himſelfe preferred. For my ſelfe, if my places in City and Country be ſo many, ſo rich as they are reported, it may be reaſonably thought, that it is no great preferment for me to quitt them all (as I muſt and will if I ſettle there) for Trinity Colledge, but the truth is, I do not think that Pegaſus doth beleive that I have ſo much in my hands, nay I make a queſtion whether he would not like it well enough, that I ſhould keep more Livings, ſo I would leave one Colledge, and truely I am not very liquoriſh after one. Sir you ſee how apt I am to exceed whil'ſt I conferre with you. I conclude with theſe requeſts, beleive 1. That I am no friend to Nonreſidency and Pluralities, 2. That I have not husbanded mens kindneſſes to mine owne advantage, 3. That I defire no place like my old place, ſi res eſſet integra, you will now preſent my beſt to all with you, and continue your prayers for
Your old Friend and Neighbour. R. H.
End of the text · Robert Harris, Two Letters (1648)