to Monsieur Des Cartes Father Bourdin declared positively to him in his Letter That he had not nor should ever undertake a particular War against his Opinions Yet he promised him to send him his Treatise within a Week that is the Reasons he made use of not to approve his Sentiments The term of eight days at the end of which Monsieur Des Cartes expected these Treatises being expired over and over he began to despair of them when he received some Letters from some other Fathers of the Society by which they demanded of him Six Months delay longer He made no question but this was a Stratagem to Correct these Writings at leisure and to put them in such a condition no longer to fear his censure He conjectured by these Fathers Letters that notwithstanding the assurances they had given him of a pure personal Quarrel with Father Bourdin yet that he was going to detach from the main Body of the Society a powerful Party of Jesuits against him to back their Fellow-Collegian Knowing that their chief Strength consisted in the Art of Logick of which they perform many Exercises in the Society to make them handle their Arms the better in their Disputes against all sorts of Adversaries he thought likewise he was to look about him and have recourse to Scholastick Arms which he thought he had laid aside this many years not so much as ever dreaming he should have any more occasion for them He communicated his purpose to Father Mersennus who expected him in Paris towards the end of this Year and he writ to him about it in these terms I shall not yet take my Journey this Winter for being I am to receive the Objections of the Jesuits within four or five Months I believe I must be in a posture ready to expect them in the interim I have a great desire a little to peruse their Philosophy which I have not done this Twenty Years on purpose to see if I like it better now than I did heretofore To this effect I beseech you to send me the Names of the Authors who have writ a Body of Philosophy which are most followed amongst the Jesuits and whether or no they may have any new ones I remember none but Collegium Conimbricense He desired him also to inform him if they had not compiled some Abridgment or Compendium of all Philosophy of the Schools that was much read to spare him the labour of turning over the Schoolmen such a one as that of Eustachius Father Mersennus could tell him of none but de Raconie which was not so fit for his purpose as Eustachius but he forceably urged and exhorted him not to neglect the Philosophy of the Schools such as was at that time taught in the Colledge supposing that the time of Sacrificing of it to truth was come letting him understand by the way that he was the only man from whom the Lovers of Truth and Wisdom expected this piece of Service Monsieur Des Cartes writ back to him the Eleventh of November That he did not believe the School-Philosophy so hard to be confuted because of the diversity of Opinions that it contains He declared to him at the same time the aims he had upon Philosophy in reference to that of the Schools His intent was to write in order a whole course of Philosophy in the nature of Positions or without any superfluities of Discourse he would put down only all his Conclusions with all the Reasons from whence he deduc'd them which he hoped to be able to do in few words In the same Book according to his Project he did get a course of Vulgar Philosophy printed such an one as that of Eustachius with his Notes at the latter end of each Question where he intended to add the various Opinions of Authors and what a man was to believe of them all according to him In a word he put us in hopes for to serve for a Conlusion to his Work that he would make a Parallel or Comparison of two Philosophies that is to say of his own and that of others He was only sollicitous to know if Eustachius were yet alive because having no design neither on his Person noâ— Writings in particular he had a desire to keep a fair Correspondence with him and use all sort of Civilities towards him As for the Collegium Conimbricense i. e. the Courses of Philosophy of the Jesuits of Conimbra in Portugal in his Opinion they were too long But he could have wisht they had writ as succinctly as Eustachius because having to do with the Jesuits he should have preferr'd their course to all others XII This Year proved fatal to our Philosopher by the loss not only of three or four of his Friends Mathematicians or Philosophers but especially of two Persons the dearest to him in all the World viz. his Daughter Francina and his Father Dean of the Parliament of Britain who departed this Life in October 78 years of Age. Francina died on the 7th of September at Amersford only 5 years of Age. He publickly own'd her for his Daughter altho' we cannot learn who her Mother was having not any proof of his being Married He lamented her Death with that passionate affection that forc'd him to Experience that true Philosophy cannot stifle Natural Affection The Sorrow and Grief that over-whelm'd him for this loss makes us apt to believe she was his only Child But those that speak ill of him have not stuck to father more upon him The Calumny altho' supported by the Authority and Writings of a grave Minister amongst the Reformed at Vtrecht seem'd to him so ill-grounded that he only laught at it and answer'd his Enemy that cast it in his teeth that not having made a Vow of Chastity and not being exempt from Humane Frailties he should make no scruple at all to own them before all the World if he had any but albeit he had none yet he agreed not to pass for a great Saint with a Minister that had no good opinion of the Gift of Continency in the Ecclesiasticks of the Roman Church who live in Celibacy He staid not long to repair the breach that was made in integrity of his life wherewith he honoured his solitude and the profession of his Philosophy and restor'd his Celibacy to its pristin perfection ever before he had acquired the Name of Father Upon the whole the Publick had never come to the knowledge of this humbling Circumstance oâ— his life if he had not made a Publick Confession of it himself by writing the History of his dear Francina upon the first Leaf of aâ— Book that was to be seen by many Three weeks after the death of this Child he quitted the Town of Amersford to return to his abode at Leiden He was quite out of conceit with the Neighbourhood of Vtrecht because of Voetius his Intrigues that allarm'd all the Country making as if Regius was a Pestilent Fellow good for
put his Friends in Holland to about some suspicions they had that he should be retain'd in France Upon his Arrival about the 15th of March he went directly from Amsterdam into North-Hollanâ— to his retiring place at Egmond de Bearnen with a resolution to shut himself up more closely than ever in his old beloved Solitude and at a distance from the importunities of his Neighbours and visits of Friends having resolved wholly to apply himself to the knowledge of Animals Plants and Minerals That he might procure himself the ease and quietness necessary to his Studies he presently had thoughts of putting an end to that process or suit that he had depending at Groninguen against Schoockius Professor and Rector of the University which was partly the cause of that which Voetius had commenced against him at Vtrecht The face of this Vtrecht affair changed to his honour at last altho' by the ill-will of the Judges Voetius â—ad bribed he got but little advantage by it But it was enough for him that their irreguâ—ar Proceedings contrary to the Course of Law turn'd to their confusion the great noise â—heir Injustice made stood the Judges of Groâ—inguen in no small stead for the regulating â—heir Proceeding in the Judgment they were â—o pass between the Professor and Monsieur Des Cartes The Business was depending in the Senate â—r Counsel of the University which is the â—ight Court of Judicature where Schoockius his Causes were to be tried and the Action against him was to make a publick amends â—nd reparation for the Calumnies and Slanders â—hereof the Latine Book was full intituled Philosophia Cartesiana or Admiranda Methodus which was composed and published by Voetius â—n Schoockius his Name who declared himself Author of the same and consequently to be â—esponsible for it Upon a Letter Monsieur Des Cartes writ about it the 7th of February to Tobias Andraeus one of the Professors of the University and one of the Judges that sit upon the Cause Schoockius was warn'd into Court upon his appearance without holding it necessary to hear the Cause they gave Sentence in favour of Monsieur Des Cartes the 10th of April 1645. yea and they dealt very favourably with Schoockius because he was Colleague to the Judges being content only that he should acknowledge and confess his Errors and that he had been but only the Instrument and Broaker of Voetius his Calumnies and Excesses The surprizal that his Cause came to anâ— Hearing in his absence even before he had produced his Writings made Monsieur Des Cartes look upon this quick expedition as 〈◊〉 pure effect of the Evidence that his Cause was good The Judges of Groninguen sending him a Copy of the Judgment together with all the Acts that served to the prosecuting the Cause he judged it convenient to dispatch them to the Magistrates of Vtrecht with five Letters of Voetius their Minister written to Father Mersennus on purpose that they might open their Eyes and behold the Impostures and Malignity of this Hypocrite But instead of repairing the loss and making amends for what was past their confusion turn'd into their being asham'd at it which produced nothing but an Act to Prohibit the Impression and dispersing whatsoever was for or against Monsieur Des Cartes Notwithstanding this Order Voetius taking on like a Madman for what had past at Groninguen did nevertheless Print a Letter in Schoockius his Name against the Author's consent who disowned it and his Son falls foul upon the Judges of Groninguen by a most insolent Libel intituled Tribunal Iniquum it was but requisite Monsieur Des Cartes should take upon him to defend these Gentlemen and their Judgment Nevertheless Voetius the Father and Dematius his Colleague branded in the Sentence as Forgers and Slanderers did complot and contrive an expedient how to punish Schoockius his Ingratitude who had been Scholar and Confident to Voetius They termed the Obligation that lay upon him to prefer Truth to Falshood before the Tribunal of his Judges ingratitude But because he was no longer under the lash they entered an Action of Scandal against him as tho' he had done wrong Nevertheless the threatnings Schoockius thunder'd out against Voetius that he would discover all his Roguery in Court caused the latter to surcease his Process just when it was upon the point of being try'd at Vtrecht and they never really pardoned one another after The disposition of Monsieur Des Cartes in respect of them was quite otherwise The Storm once blown over he scrupled not to discover his heart and had the generosity to facilitate their reconciliation and freely tender'd them his friendship but Voetius seem'd not to be sensible of all these Courtesies He boasted that he had reserved another Action still against him that he could make use of when occasion served This put Monsieur Des Cartes upon drawing up an Apologetical Manifesto for the Magistrates of Utrecht to the intent he might once for all bury all the whole Affair in Oblivion He made for them an Historical and rational Compendium of what past in their City from the Year 1639 touching his Philosophy and Person He laid before them the justice of the Cause and the injustice of his Enemies to prevail with them at last to do him right for the wrong they had done to his reputation out of the favour they bore to Voetius However the reading of his Principles produced good or bad effects in mens Minds according as they found themselves inclined anâ— disposed in respect of the Author of themâ— Accordingly Monsieur Des Cartes could hope for nothing but what was favourable to hiâ— from Rivet who called himself his Friend 〈◊〉 and an Admirer of his Doctrine too that 〈◊〉 might imitate several Cartesians with whâ—â— he was to live Yet not so well understanding it he thought he put an acceptable Complement upon M. Gassendus in propounding to him to make the same Reflections upon his Principles as he had done upon his Meditations M. Gassendus excused himself thereupon first of all upon pretence that he would rub up an old Sore and then upon pretence that he undervalued his Principles was pleased to let fly some injurious Expressions against him for to discharge his Mind The Jesuites carriage was quite contrary to his in the Judgment they past upon his last Work He received exceeding advantagious Testimonies thereof from the Heads of their Body even to the making him believe that the Society would take his part The Progress of his Philosophy was no less in Holland than in Paris In the Month of February M. Hoogheland sent his three different Positions lately defended at Leiden containing nothing but his Opinions They were pretty fortunately introduc'd into this University by the Industry of Adrian Heereboord Professor of Philosophy and Sub-principal of the Theological Colledge by leave of Heydanus Minister and famous Preacher of Golius Schoolen and of some other Professors who were themselves
THE LIFE OF Monsieur DES CARTES Containing the HISTORY OF HIS Philosophy and Works AS ALSO The most Remarkable Things that befell him during the whole Course of his Life Translated from the French By S. R. LONDON Printed for R. Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-yard MDCXCIII An Abridgement OF THE LIFE OF Monsieur DES CARTES BOOK I. THE Family of Des Cartes hath ever been reputed as one of the best in all Tourain there was never observed in it any unfit Matches or wrong Alliance that might alter its Nobility and we find no date of its being made noble that can determine and fix the antiquity thereof the branch of the Eldest Brothers having diffused it self into the House Lillette and then again into that of Maillé the branch of the Puinees or Younger Brothers increast very much and extended it self into the upper Poictou yea and it even past as far as Berry and Anjou by means of its Alliances and Matches until at last at the time of the League it was reduced on the Males side to but one single person Peter Des Cartes Grandfather to the Philosopher whose Life we are here about to undertake to write Peter Des Cartes after having with good success served in the War against the Enemies of the Religion of his Countrey and against those of the state of his Prince quitted the service pretty early on purpose that he might the longer relish the fruits of repose that he procured himself he had no more but one Son of Claudia Ferrand Sister to Anthony Ferrand principal Lieutenant particular of the Chastelet of Paris and Sister to Michael Ferrand who was Father to M. Ferrand Dean of Parliament This Son by name Joachim was the first of the Family who was of the Long Robe or followed the Law who went to settle in Britaigne after he had got the place of Chancellour of the Parliament of Rennes on the 14th of Feb. 1586. upon the resignation of D'Emery Reynald he Married afterward by a Contract bearing date 15. Jan. 1589. Jane Brochard Daughter to the Lieutenant General of Poictiers who bore him three Children during the little time she lived with him the Eldest named Peter Des Cartes Sieur dela Bretailliere Counsellour of the Parliament of Bretaiyne was Father to Monsieur Des Cartes seur de Kerleau who is at present Subdean to the same Parliament The second was a Daughter Married to Mr. Roger de Crevis and Grandmother to Monsieur the Count de Villeneave alive at this day II. The last was Renatus Des Cartes our Philosopher who was born at La Haye or the Hague in Turaine upon the River of Creuse on the 31th day of March in the year 1596. in the seventh year of Henry the Great or Hen. 4. in the beginning of the fifth year of the Pontificat of Clement the eighth He shewed himself very ill satisfied in the course of his Life afterward that any one should take notice of his Birth-day from the Baptismal Register of the Parish and from the Genialogical Archives or Pedigree of his Family his Reason was because He had a great aversion to your Calculaters of Nativity whose errour one seems to promote when he publisheth the Birth of any one But it is not so much a reason as a pretence which he alledged to those who were willing to make use of this Circumstance to make him known to the publick III. He received Baptism the third day of April ensuing in the Parochial Church of St. George of La Haye and they gave the Sir-name of Du Perron which was a Lordship belonging to the Family that he might be distinguished from his Eldest Brother in the family His Mother being brought to Bed and lying in pretty fortunate for him was followed with a sickness that hindred her up sitting she had been ill all along from the very time of her being big of Pulmonic distemper occasioned to her by some displeasure that came not to our notice her Son who told us this particular only informed us that she died shortly after she was delivered of him The cares of the Father may well defend the Child from those inconveniencies which are to be fear'd from the loss of the Mother yet they cannot for all that secure him from those infirmities that attend the weak disposition he brought into the World with him A dry cough and pale colour were hereditary to him from his Mother which he kept until he was above twenty years of age and all Physitians whoever looked on him before that time condemned him to dye young But amongst all these first rubs he received one advantage which he remembred all his Life time that is that of being entrusted to a Nurse who omitted nothing at all that her duty could possibly require of her which he was willing generously to acknowledge by a Pension he settled upon her for the remainder of her life as soon as ever he found himself in a capacity to enjoy and manage an Estate The Death of his Mother did much contribute to the taking his Father off from his acquaintance he had in Poicto◠and to the changing his inclinations he found for Touraine His residing in these Provinces in some of his Houses or in some place where his Estate lay thereabouts wonderfully pleas'd him till that time and he took great delight in going thither to pass away that time which his six months service in Parliament could spare him But a few years after he reduced himself wholly to Britaigne and there he fixt the rest of his days by a new Marriage which he contracted with Anne Morin Daughter to the chief President of the Chamber of Accompts at Nants He had by her a Son and a Daughter The Son was Counsellour in Parliament Seigneur de Chavagnes by name Father to Monsieur de Chavagnes now living a Counsellour in the same Parliament who has turn'd Priest since the death of his Wife The Daughter was Married to one Louis d' Avangour Seigneur dubois de Kergrais IV. The cares of this new family did not cause Joachim des Cartes to divert his cares he owed to his Son du Perron whom he was wont to call Philosopher because of the insatiable curiosity that appear'd in the Child to demand the reasons and effects of whatsoever enter'd by his senses The weakness of his disposition and unconstancy of his health obliged the Father to leave him along time under the tuition of Women Yet at the time they were but busie about his body and endeavour to procure him a good strong constitution he afforded almost every day instances of the beautifulness of his genious He shewed in the midst of these his infirmities such promising dispositions for study that his Father could not chuse but procure him the first exercises suitable to the design he had of cultivating his stock of parts maugre the resolution he had taken to make sure of the corporeal
health of his Son before he attempted any thing upon his mind To this effect they carried on the business that nothing was spoiled So that a Man may say these first studies were nothing but sleight Essays and but superficial rude draughts and delineations at those they intended to make him perform when he was of Age. His Father considering he was going into his ninth year thought it behoved him to take the advantage of the new foundation of that famous Colledge of La fleche in favour of the Jesuits he admitted him and put him into Commons there Anno 1604. after Winter was over and recommended him particularly to the care of Father Charlet his Kinsman This Father who was along time Rector of this Colledge before he proceeded to the chief employments of the Company conceived such a tender affection for young Des Cartes du Perron the willinger took upon him all the care in reference to his Body as well as his Mind He was like both a Father and Governour to him above eight years together that he stay'd in the Colledge and helped him to Father Dineâ— for a tutour who was since Provincial and Confessour to our Kings Both of them perceiving our young Scholar pretty sensible of all their kindnesses were not long before they joined to them some esteem and affection for him and after that had been his directours as to his Studies Conduct and Behaviour so they made him their Friend and continued so to be till death whom also they were careful to discourse with and entertain by a mutual commerce of Lettâ—â—â— and Recommendations Young Des Cartes whom we shall no longer call du Perron but only at such time as there is need to distinguish him in His Parentage Had brought along with him at his first coming to the Colledge a more than ordinary Passion to acquire the Sciences and this Passion being backt with a solid understanding yet quick lively and free withal he evermore answered the intentions of his Father and diligence of his Tutors beyond expectation in all the course of his Humanity which was five years and an half none ever perceived in him the least affectation of singularity except that which emulation produced for he took some Pride to out-run such of his companions who had out-stript others Being of a very good nature of an easie complying humour he never found himself uneasie at the submission he paid to his Masters Will and his diligence in plying his business and performing his task both of the Classe and Chamber cost him nothing With these two hopeful dispositions he made great proficiency in the knowledge of the two Tongues the importance and necessity whereof for understanding ancient Authors he early apprehended He loved Poetry a great deal more than those who look upon him but as a Philosopher can possibly imagin Nay he had even something of a Talent for Poetry he hath made it plainly appear that he was not astranger to the phancies and niceties thereof He found moreover a great deal of pleasure in the Fables of the Ancients not so much because of some mysteries of natural and moral Philosophy that was couched under them as that they roused his Spirit by their genteil phancies In recompence of his faithfulness and exactness wherewith he discharged his duty he obtain'd liberty not to keep close to Lectures nor compositions which otherwise were enjoin'd him in Common with his associates Now his business was to make use of this liberty to satisfie his passion which he felt to increase in him to acquire a clear and certain knowledge of whaâ—â—oever conduceth to the profit and advantage of Life which they had put him in hopes to attain by means of humanity upon this account not taking up with that which is taught in the Colledge he run over If a man may believe him all the Books that treat of Sciences that men account the most rare and curious which you must understand only of what could at that time come to his hands I shall add for the undeceiving those who have suspected that in the whole series of his life that he had but small inclination or value for Books that we meet with but very few sentiments more advantagious than those he past upon them in those days He was fully persuaded that reading of good Books is as it were the conversing with the greatest wits and honestest persons of former ages who were Authors of them but withal that it was a studied conversation in which they discovered to us their best thoughts only V. Besides emulation of study behaviour and genteil breeding Colledges do yet produce another advantage of which Monsieur Des Cartes would not be deprived that is to say the advantage of friends and acquaintance which one does there contract with those of his own age and humour and which prove the Seeds of the strongest and most durable friendship the antientest of his Friends were without doubt those he got acquaintance with in the Colledge of La fleche But besides Renatus le clerc since Bishop of Glandave and the Sieur Chauveau of Melun who afterward became a grand Mathematician and a zealous Cartesian we know no more besides in those days but Father Marinus Marsennus a Minim who past for Monsieur Des Cartes his Resident at Paris amongst Learned men and for the Dean of his friends and followers notwithstanding he was near upon eight years older than he and albeit he was in his Rhetorick when the other did but begin his Accidence M. Des Cartes was in the first year of his course of Philosophy when the news of the Kings Death slain upon Friday May 4. 1610. made a Non term in the Colledge this Prince upon bestowing his house of La fleche upon the Jesuits desired his Heart that of the Queen and his Successours might be carried thither after their Death and kept in their Church so that all the time that past between that fatal news and the removing the Kings Heart to La fleche was spent in publick Prayers in the Colledge in funeral compositions both in Verse and Prose and in preparations for the reception of this depositum It was performed on the first of June with a great deal of Ceremony and it was constituted and agreed upon in the Townhall of La flesche that upon the aniversary day their should be performed every year a solemn Procession with Service suitable thereto for the Kings Soul and that the said day should be observed thence forward just as Holy days are in shutting up all Courts of Indicature in making vacation in the several closses and causing all shops to be close shut up Monday following of June the term begun again for performing the usual exercises in the Colledge and Monsieur Des Cartes continued his Study of Ethicks The Logick he studied the Winter foregoing was the only one of all the parts of Logick whereto as he afterwards declared he applied
himself the most in the Colledge From that time he perceived that Syllogisms and the greatest part of the other instructions of your School Logick serve not so much to understand things which one would fain know as to explain those one knows to others or else to prate without judgement of those whereof a man is ignorant which is the effect they ascribe to Ramond Lullies Art Of all the dictates he received from his Masters he retained none but the four Rules which served afterwards whereon to ground his new Philosophy the first is Not to admit any thing for truth that he did not clearly and distinctly know to be so The second To divide things as far as possibly one could the better to resolve them The third To regulate a Mans Thoughts orderly beginning with the most simple objects on purpose to come up by degrees to the knowledge of the most compound ones The fourth is To omit nothing in the anumeration of the things whose parts he is to examine But at that very time he compiled a singular method for himself of disputing in Philosophy which mightily pleased his perpetual director Father Charlet as it did likewise his Tutor Father Dinet altho' it put him that moderated to his Trumps When they came to propound an argument in the disputation he at first asked several questions de definitione nominum then he asked if they did not agree about certain received truths known of which he made them agree and consent to Thereupon he composed only one argument from which it was very hard to get clear without pussing The Study of the Morality of the Schools stood him in stead chiefly to make him distinguish that of the Heathen and of the Moral honest man of the World from that of a Christian but we are at a loss to know certainly whether or no he was beholding to his Masters Papers for the four Maximes wherein he makes all his particular Morality to consist The first of these Maximes was To obey the Laws and Customs of his Country sticking close to the Religion in which God was pleased he should be born The second to be stedfast and resolute in his actions and to adhere as constantly to the most dubious opinions when he should once be determined to follow them as if they were most certain The third to labour rather to conquer himself than Fortune To change his desire rather than the Order of the World and to persuade himself that nothing is absolutely in our power but our Thoughts The fourth To determine and propose something to himself without blaming other Men in their Employments and different occupations to determine and propose to himself the business of improving his reason and to search out the truth of all things all his Life long The year following which he spent in the Study of Metaphisicks was less satisfactory to him than the Study of Logick and Ethicks At that very time he perceived himself perplext with errous and doubts instead of that clear and distinct knowledge of whatsoever conduceth to the benefit of Life which they bore him in hand he should discover in his Studies The further he proceeded the more he discovered his own ignorance he saw by the Lectures of his Masters and the reading of their Books that Phylosophy had been cultivated and improved from all antiquity by the men of the most excellent parts that ever appear'd in the World and yet for all that there was not any thing in the World of which men did not dispute and call in question and consequently nothing but what was doubtful All the esteem he had put upon his Masters could not stock himself with presumption to hope that he could hit on it better than others considering the diversity of opinions maintain'd by learned persons touching the same subject matter there being never more than one of them that could be true he had already accustom'd himself almost to repute whatsoever was but probable for false If he had never had but one Master or if he had never been acquainted with these different opinions amongst Philosophers he protesteth he should never have had occasion to sequester himself and withdrawn from the number of such who must be content to follow other mens opinions rather than to find out others themselves But having learnt even when he was in the Colledge they are his own expressions that one cannot imagine that thing so uncouth and wild that hath not been advanced by some Philosopher or other he pretends he could by no means make choise of any one guide whose opinions could appear to him much to be prefer'd before the opinions of others this was that which put him upon cutting out himself a new road in process of time and to undertake the conducting and manageing himself In despight of all the rubs his tow'ring Spirit met with in the pursuit of his Philosophy yet was he to come to the end of his course in the same time as the rest of his fellow Students did that never found any quaeries to put nor any difficulties to remove in the transcripts of their Masters they made him proceed after that to the Study of Mathematicks to which he alloted his last years residence at La flesche the delight he took therein paid him with interest for the vast trouble and pains the School Philosophy had put him to and the progress he made therein was so extraordinary that the Colledge of La flesche hath acquired it self by his means the glory of having produc't the greatest Mathematician they ever yet saw Amongst the parts of Mathematicks he chosed the Analysis from Geometry and Algebra to make the subject of his particular application on purpose to purge them from what was unprofitable and hurtful in them and to bring them to perfection this is that he laboured about at the very time he was in the Colledge without depending either upon his Master or fellow Collegians if we give credit to those who would make him the Author of that sort of Algebra which they call the Key of all the Liberal Arts and of all Sciences Which they esteem as the best method that ever saw the light to discern truth from falshood The dispensation he had obtain'd from the Father Principal of the Colledge not to be obliged to practise every punctilio of the School Philosophy supply'd with an opportunity and means to follow it as closely as he could reasonably desire Father Charlet Rectour of the Colledge had conceded to him amongst other priviledges that of lying long in Bed as well by reason of his weakness of disposition as for that he observed in him a mind naturally inclin'd to meditation Des Cartes finding when he awaked all his Spirits recollected and his Senses much composed and sedate after his Nights rest improved all these favourable conjunctures for to meditate this practice turn'd so into a second nature that it was his usual manner of Studying all his Life after And
examine Princes Courts to frequent the company of persons of different conditions and contrary humours He Studyed moreover to make a Collection of several Experiments as well upon the natural Productions of several Climats he past through as upon politick matters which he observed amongst People in respect of their Customs Manners of Lives and Inclinations This is what he calls the Great Book of the World Wherein he maketh account to find out true Science dispairing to find it any where else except in this Volum opened to every ones view and in himself according to his perswasion that the Seeds which God hath Sown in us are not so totally stifled by ignorance or other effects of sin According to these principles he intended that these Voyages and Travels should serve him to make trial upon himself in the Accidents and Occurrences fortune should propose to him and that they might put him upon making Advantagious reflexions upon every thing that presented it self and became profitable to him for the Conduct of his Life For he flatter'd himself with the hopes of finding more of truth in the reasoning private persons use touching their own concerns than in those which a great Schollar shut up in his Study useth upon Speculations which ordinarily produce no other effects than Vanity and Haughtiness and sometimes he prides himself the more in them by how much they are for the most part more dissonant to common Sense after he hath labour'd and set all his Wits upon the Rack to make them probable But to speak the truth when he applyed himself only narrowly to survey the manners of other Men he found very little in them whereby he could make himself sure of any thing He perceived in a manner as great a diversity in them as he had before met with in the Opinions of Philosophers So that the greatest Advantage that occurred to him by that inquiry was that seeing several things how extravagant and ridiculous soever they may appear to us yet do not cease for all that to be commonly received and approved of by other People he learnt at last not to believe any thing upon slight grounds and not stifly and peremptorily to stand up for that which both Example and Custom had formerly perswaded him to be right Leaving Hungary he took another turn into Moravia where he joyned the Emperors Forces under the Count Bucquoy He visited Selesia the utmost parts of Poland Pomerania â—he Coasts of the Baltick Sea the Marquisate of Brandenbourg and descended into Holstein from whence after he had turned off his reâ—â—nue he Embarqued but with one Man-Serâ—ant for East-Freez-Land when he had examin'd it in a few days as he had done the other Provinces of Germany he put again to sea with a Resolution to go a shore in West-Freez-Land the principal places of which he â—ong'd mightily to see likewise that he might do it with the more freedom he hired a small Boat for himself and so much the rather because it was a short cut from Embden to the first Landing place of West-Freez-Land But this putting things in order the better to provide for his own Convenience was like to have proved fatal to him he had to do with a crew of the most Clownish Barbarous Mariners that ever Man see amongst People of that profession It was not long before he understood that they were a pack of wicked Rogues but after all they were Masters of the Boat M. Des Cartes had no other to converse with but his valet with whom he spoke French The Marriners who took him rather for a foreign Merchant then a Cavallier thought he must have good store of Money about him this made them take a Resolution which was by no means favourable to his pocket and that they might deprive him of means to tell Tails they had thoughts of making him away They perceived he was a Stranger come from some remote Country who had small acquaintance in the Country and that no Body would prosecute them if he chanced to be missing they found him of a very sedate very patient humour and judging by the mildness of Countenance and the Civility he shewed them that he was a person of no Experience in the World from these circumstances they concluded they should have his Life at 〈◊〉 cheaper rate they made no scruple to hold their Counsel before his Face not knowing that he understood any other Language besides that in which he Discourst with his valet de Chambre at last the result of their Deliberation was to knock him on the Head to fling him into the water and divide the Spoil Monsieur Des Cartes seeing they were in earnest starts up all on a suddain puts on another Countenance draws his Sword with that stearness they little expected speaks to them in their own Tongue but with such a Tone that frightned them out of their Wits and withal threatning to run them through if they durst but hold up a finger against him It was upon this occasion that he perceived what resoluteness of a Man may do upon your pittiful Low-spirited Souls Such a resoluteness as is above a Mans power to execute a resoluteness which upon other occasions might pass for a meer Bravado such an one as he shewed upon this occasion produced a wonderful effect upon the Spirits of these wretches the cruel fright they were seized with was followed with amazement that they knew not how to make use of their Advantage but brought him without any more adoe to the â—lace whither he was bound as peaceably as â—e could wish V. From West-Friez-Land he stept into Holland where he past a good part of the Vinter expecting the event of the two Sieges of Juliers and Sluise formed by the Spaniard or Fleming who had taken up Arms again against the Hollanders five Months after the Truce was expired In the Month of February ensuing he past into the Catholick Netherlands whose principal Cities he had a great mind to see from whence getting into France he went straight way to Rennes in Britany to his Fathers House towards the middle of March. He was at that time 26 years of Age Compleat and his Father seeing him present took occasion of his being at Age to settleupon him his Mothers Joynture of which he had given two Portions to Monsieur La Bretailliere and to Madam du Crevis that were elder than he seeing that all his Estate was in Paictou he had the curiosity to go view it on purpose to see how he could improve it to the best advantage he departed for that Province in May and at that time fain would have a good Chapman to have bought it that with that Money he might buy some place suitable to him he returned about the latter end of Summer to his Father the year slipt away before any one of his kindred could make him any overtures concerning what kind of life he should betake himself to Having little or nothing
that he was not capable of accomplishing it alone fought for if one may so say Adversaries rather than Approvers to the end that the Obligation to answer them and sift their Objections might render him more and more exact and might be a means to make him open his Eyes upon that he was not able to know before In order to this he hopefully expected the Objections the Jesuits of La Flesche Louvain Lifle and some other places had promised him by their Letters but he was somewhat surprized to learn by some of them that they wonderfully approved of him that they desired nothing as to what he was pleased to explain but only in that which he would not write and that they demanded of him his Physick and Metaphysick with great Importunity VI. In France the reading of his Book operated upon the Spirits of Men according as they were well or ill prepared There were but few things in all that he had writ that did not appear dubious to some and Novel in respect of others the true knowing Persons did not boggle at all they found new which could not render the Author odious but to such who were fond of their own Prejudices yet they took an occasion from what seemed dubious to make some Objections against him M. Mydorge had been one of the most fit Persons in that respect if so be he had not been beforehand of the same Opinion with him in several things from the very first time they saw one another in Paris He might have been able at least to propound some difficulties to him concerning divers Passages in the Sixth Book of his Dioptricks where he treats of Vision in a quite different manner from that he was wont himself to explain this matter he was content to mention such a business to Father Mersennus who gave Monsieur Des Cartes notice of it in Writing He did not take ill some Advices the Philosopher gave him in his Answer to this Father After that he had no other Objections to start to his Friend nay he was so far from fatigueing him with many others upon that score that one may say he plaid the Des Cartes in Paris in taking upon him to answer for his absent Friend all the Objections which they had not a mind to send into Holland He was not alone in studying to render him friendly Offices in Paris Monsieur Des Argues who already was very busie with Father Mersennus to make the Priviledge of his Book effectual against the disobliging Practices of the Sieur de Beaugrand was wanting in nothing wherein he could be serviceable to him with Cardinal Richelieu and to give Credit to his new Speculation of Dioptricks amongst those who were about his Eminence He let him understand by Father Mersennus that the Cardinal was pleas'd to give ear to the Propositions they had made to him of endeavouring to make Spectacles and Prospectives according to the Rules he had Prescribed in his Dioptricks Monsieur Des Cartes thought it stood him upon to cross this Understanding and to that effect he desired Father Mersennus to declare to M. Des Argues and others that had an hand in this Business that he was extreamly obliged to them for the good Opinion they had given to the Court of his Dioptrical Inventions but that he did not believe that the Cardinal's thoughts ought to stoop so low as to a Person of his Rank It was not out of an unseasonableness that he resisted the purposes of these Gentlemen it was out of timerousness lest they might not successfully compass their End in his Absence and lest they might lay the Workmens fault at his door for he judged his presence necessary to direct the hand of Turners and to give them new Instructions according as they proceeded or failed VII Amongst the Virtuoso's of France that would fain have tried a touch with Monsieur Des Cartes there was none of them found more diligent than nor more capable to do it than M. de Fermat a Counsellor of the Parliament of Thoulouse one of the Chief Men in the Age for fine Endowments of Mind and especially in respect of Mathematicks The Month of November he sent to Father Mersennus some Objections against M. Des Cartes his Dioptricks and this Father received an Answer to them in the Month of September notwithstanding the distance of places that might have afforded a pretence for delays At the same time Monsieur Petit then Commissioner of the Artillery and the King's Ingeneer who was since Surveyor of the Fortifications started likewise some Objectious against the Treatise of Dioptricks which Monsieur Fermat found to come but little short of his own Mr. Fermat before he had received an Answer to his Objections caused to be dispatched to Monsieur Des Cartes by Father Mersennus a Pamphlet of Geometry of his Composing De Maximis Minimis i. e. of the greatest and least quantities and that he might conceal his Name again from Mons Des Cartes he made use of that of M. de Carcavi one of Lyons a Friend of his being then his Collegue in the Parliament of Tholouse This Present Monsieur de Fermat sent to Monsieur Des Cartes was not only a Token of his esteem and grateful acknowledgment but also an Advertisement of what he believed Monsieur Des Cartes had omitted unawares or forgotten unseasonably in his Geometry That occasion'd a new difficulty to arise in the clashing Mons Fermat begun which he believed to be in a capacity to decide in a few days But it was no such easie matter to extinguish these first sparks the fire of the Dispute got ground by the Zeal of those who were willing to enter upon it at length two material Points one relating to Dioptriques the other to Geometry became the main Subject of their Debate Here you may take notice of the cause of that famous Quarrel which continued even after Monsieur Des Cartes his Death this is that Monsieur de Fermat stiled his Skirmish with Monsieur Des Cartes or sa petite guerre contre Mons Des Cartes and that which Monsieur Des Cartes calls son petit proces de Mathematique contre Mons de Firmat VIII Whilst Monsieur de Fermat amidst his great business in pleading Causes and Domestick Affairs appli'd himself tooth and nail to the Answer Monsieur Des Cartes made to his Objections about Dioptriques Father Mersennus receives Monsieur Des Cartes his Observations and Animadversions upon his Treatise de Maximis Minimis but instead of sending them directly to Monsieur de Fermat in conformity to Monsieur Des Cartes his intent he thought it convenient to shew them to a couple of this Magistrates particular Friends in Paris the one was Monsieur Pascal the Father heretofore President in the Court of Aides in Auvergne the other was Monsieur Roberval Mathematique Professor in Paris These Gentlemen supposed themselves obliged to espouse the Qurrel of
Cartes might perhaps have done very well to have withstood the desire of those who induced him to refute it that he might not have made himself suspected of resentment But he was quickly recovered of this weakness by revoking his permission of Printing this Refutation and by separating it from his small Piece of Geostatiques the publication of which he did not intend to prohibit XIII XIV XV. It was at the same time that there was started a Question amongst the Mathematicians of France the famous Question de la Roulette whereof one could not trace the least footsteps neither among the Antients nor in the Books of any of the Mathematicians that lived till that time notwithstanding nothing is more common than this Line and no less frequent in the business oâ— motion than the right and Circular Lines La roulette the rowling is nothing else but the way in the Air the Nail of a Wheel describes by its ordinary motion from the time the Nail begins to rise from the Earth till the continued motion of the Wheel hath brought it back again to the Earth after having finisht a whole entire round Yet in this definition it must be supposed for the convenience of Geometrical operations that the Wheel is a perfect Circle that the Nail is a point marked in the circumference of the Circle and that the Earth which toucheth this point beginning and ending its round be perfectly even or plain Father Mersennus was the first that took notice of it and who gave it the name of Roulette He had a mind afterwards to understand the nature and properties of the same yet not being so fortunate in resolving your fine Questions as framing them so had he not â—enetration enough to compass this This put â—im upon propounding to others Monsieur Roberval was the first that demonstrated the â—he space of the Roulette is triple of the Wheel that describes it After that Monsieur Fermat and Monsieur Des Cartes demonstrated it and their respective Solutions are not only found different from one another but also from that of Monsieur Roberval Father Mersennus having acquainted Monsieur Des Cartes that Monsieur Roberval found his demonstration too â—oncise to be good he thereupon received â—uch Elucidations as he desired Monsieur Des Cartes sending him an ample explication of his demonstration of La roulette advertised him â—hat there was nothing to be altered in this demonstration and withal that the Elucidaâ—ions that he adjoyn'd thereto were not spun â—ut to that length but only that they might â—e understood by those who did not make use â—f Analysis others needing no more but three â—rokes of their Pen to find it out by calculation Amongst divers Questions depending upon that of the Roulette there were a great many things whereof Monsieur Roberval profest himself in a manner ignorant Now for his Instruction Father Mersennus must hye to Monsieur Des Cartes his ordinary Refuge and received all the Solutions he and Monsieur Roberval could wish or desire With the help of this the latter made two more Solutions one of which was The dimension of the solid of the Roulette round about the basis The other The finding out of the Tangents of this Line But for all these kindnesses of Monsieur Des Carte he was not so obliging or grateful as onâ— might have expected His dissimulation aâ— the indirect proceedings of his behaviour did 〈◊〉 disgust Monsieur Des Cartes that he would 〈◊〉 longer concern himself in what past since touching the Roulette At the end of Septeâ—ber he did all he could to get himself diseâ—gaged for good and all and without eveâ— pretending to the glory of this Invention which with all his heart he relinquisht to Monsieur Roberval that he might apply himself 〈◊〉 somewhat else he writ to Father Mersennâ— to the end he might acquaint all the Mathematicians that had hand in the business thâ—â— he would desist XVI The reason he alledgeth for desiriâ—â— to be dispens'd with for labouring any moâ—â— about the Roulette was that he had bid adiâ— to Geometry in earnest These Mathematicians of Paris that were of the number 〈◊〉 his friends were not pleased at these news And Monsieur Des Argues above all coulâ— not forbear to testifie his dissatisfaction foâ— the same Monsieur Des Cartes took it kindly at his hands and that he might deliver hiâ— from his trouble he gave him to understanâ— by Father Mersennus that his leaving off waâ— only in respect of abstracted Geometry Buâ— that he would persist in improving anotheâ— sort of Geometry conversant about Phoemâ—mena's of Nature as he had done in that 〈◊〉 had writ of Meteors c. He studied to shew more precise marks of esteem for this friend for understanding that â—he passages of his Printed Geometry whereâ—n he had affected to be obscure did a little â—uzzle him he was pleased himself to give explanation of them in a Book that he writ expresly to that intent to let him know how far his Zeal for to serve him had transported â—im Besides these explanations upon some hard passages propounded by Monsieur des Argues he gave his consent that an Holland Gentleman one of his friends should draw up a regular Introduction followed by his Geometry on purpose to facilitate the understanding of it to â—all sorts of Readers It was so excellent and concise that most believed he was the Author of it Those that complain'd of the brevity of this Writing were desired to consider it was an Introduction and not a Comment yet one might afford the Title of Comment to the excellent Notes Monsieur Beaune Councellor in the Presidial of Blois made this year upon Monsieur Des Cartes his Geometry There was nothing in it but what was exactly conformable to the Author's Notion and according to his Intention The joy Monsieur Des Cartes conceived at it increas'd yet more when he perceiv'd the profound penetration wherewith Mons de Beaune was able to tell the meaning of things that he had only inserted in his Geometry in a very obscure manner Moreover one may reckon in the number of the chief Occupation of Mons Des Carteâ— this year the Exercise which the two moâ— eminent Arithmeticians M. de St. Croix and M. Frenicle put him upon touching several Questions of Numbers But the Answer he gave to those M. de St. Croix put in June did so much fatigue him that he conjured Father Mersennus to send him no more of that nature be they what they would He endeavoured also to rid himself of the Problems and barren Objections of others under the most plausible pretences he could possibly imagine Thus wearied out by bearing the burthensom Title of an Oracle he dispens'd to answer more before the latter end of the year 1638. and was content to draw up a Trinity of the best Objections that had hitherto been put to him and of the most curious Problems that had
Answers Monsieur Des Cartes gave him This saying chanced to escape from him that his Physicks were nothing else but Mechanicks and he declared something to him as his Confident that he would not otherwise have told because that the proof of it depended upon his World Monsieur de Beaune suffer'd this Advertisement to persist He used many instant Intreaties to prevail with him to publish his World which the accident that befel Galilaeus had made him to keep close under Lock and Key But not being able to accomplish his desire altho' he was at that very time the only He of all his friends to whom he was mosâ— unlikely to refuse any thing Monsieur Des Cartes had quitted his abode at Egmond some time ago and was retired 〈◊〉 Haderwick Regius finding he was still too 〈◊〉 distant from him thought with himself thaâ— if he did but once peep out of his Solitude 〈◊〉 North-Holland any other place would be indifferent to him Wherefore he begg'd 〈◊〉 him that he would please to come neareâ—â— Vtrecht as well for the satisfaction of several of his friends in the City as for another greaâ— convenience he should have of consulting him nearer hand He came therefore some few Months after to lodge in a Country-house near that City in the Neighbourhood of the Castle Renoud the dwelling-place of Monsieur de Haestrecht his friend But whether it was by reason the Winter was vehement in the Country or that he apprehended Voetius practices I know not but away goes he at the beginning of the Year after to live at Leiden where he had yet more friends than he had at Vtrecht Besides Monsieur de Hooghland a Catholick Gentleman and some Magistrates he might have well reckoned the half of the Professors the chief of which was Golius Schuchen and Salmatius Son to a Councellor in the Parliament in Bourgundy without forgetting Rivet who was of Poictou with another Minister of the place called Abraham Heide alias Heidanus This last who was in high reputation in the Country was not subject to usual faults of other Protestant Ministers And altho' Monsieur Des Cartes profest to be a friend to none of them the extraordinary merit of Monsieur Heidanus made him presently except him out of the number He was not only satisfied to be a follower of his Philosophy as others were but he was also the Protector and Supporter of it having the name of the most Eloquent Preacher in the Country so he most advantageously improved it to instill into his Auditors the value he himself put upon this Philosophy from which he deduc'd his Arguments Comparisons and Explanations that made him be cry'd up and admired It did not fare so with Rivet who crackt to be a Cartesian without understanding the Wriings of Monsieur Des Cartes All his friendship consisted in nothing else in a manner but in a kind of an itching humour he had to speak of him continually in his Letters and in his Company The least Toys in the World were Subjects good enough for him to write to Father Mersennus to Monsieur Gassendus and other Virtuoso's of France provided he could but bring Monsieur Des Cartes in by head and shoulders He it was that inform'd them concerning the so much talk't of wager about Mathematicks between young Wasseneur and Stampion where Monsieur Des Cartes was present drawn in by the indiscretion and ill-will of the latter notwithstanding Wasseneur's Victory was very glorious for our Philosopher who went publickly for his Master yet he managed this business but as a piece of Merriment which was not worthy of Rivet's disturbance nor the curiosity of the Mathematicians of France In the mean time there was a Book past the Press at the Hague writ against Monsieur Des Cartes it was the first of all the Works that had ever been undertaken to ruin his Philosophy That the Author should come off well in the matter was a business of great consequence to the end that other Adversaries that were to bring up the Reer might from thence take a good Omen The Author run a risque in appearing first in the Combat Yet had he the discretion to conceal his Name that he might not expose himself as a Laughing-stock in case of bad success The Event justified his Prudence The Book came abroad for a New-years-gift in the year 1640. The great Name of the Man that he attaqued provok'd the curiosity of some to see it and it was not long before it was in the hands of the ingenious in France and England the business prov'd the Glory and Renown of Monsieur Des Cartes they dispens'd with the Author as to his Name only they took it very ill to see that this Anonymous Fellow had not answered the Expectation of those that required something besides idle Stories against a Philosopher who was brought in question and was to be confuted in good earnest Mons Des Cartes seem'd to be the same Man he was for all that and even let this Mist vanish of it self Voetius in the interim cast about in Vtrecht how he might accomplish his design to undo Monsieur Des Cartes as to his Reputation and to have him declar'd an Enemy to the Reformed Religion and Protestant Churches â—ay and by those too that honoured him most with their kindnesses He had caused Acts to be kept a second and third time wherein he had rubb'd up the old Sore reviving the Scandal of Atheism against him on purpose by little and little to prepare the Spirit of the People and to cause the Magistrates at length to change their good disposition towards him But now to effect this design Regius was mark'd out for Ruin this is what he mainly laboured after canvassing his Lectures and Writings to find something that might bear an Action He begun at the Examination of the new Opinions which Regius vented in his Chair where he read Physick and laid to his charge before his Colleagues whatsoever was amiss and not conformable to the Antient Physicians and Philosophers established and allowed on in the Universities of Holland his Complaints broke out at 〈◊〉 upon the account of an Act or Publick Disputation the Professors were to keep the Tenth day of June concerning the Circulation of Blood which he taught according to the Hypothesis of Harvey and Des Cartes which still past but for an Heresie amongst the ignorant and opinionative He went so far as to make the most part of the Professors to revolt from this Sentiment Insomuch that the magnificent Rector Bernard Scotanus who otherwise was one of Monsieur Des Cartes his Friends and Regius his particular Friend could not withstand the earnest Intreaties to hinder him from reading in favour of these Innovations The Rector laid the matter before hiâ— in such a manner as if he meant only barely to exhort him to look about him take some course to prevent the murmuring of his Colleagues and
nothing else but a very imperfect roughâ—raught of that which Monsieur Des Cartes â—esign'd to perform upon this Subject After â—he winning of his Cause at Groninguen the deâ—ire of putting his grand design in execution made him set about Anatomical Operations with fresh Application At this time of being thus busied he was visited by a Gentleman who desired to see his Library he shewed him nothing but a Calf which he was going to dissect From the Knowledge of Beasts he proceeded to that of the Humane Body by the help of his Experiments and begun in the Autumn of this Year 1645. his single Treatise de l'homme of Man And also that De la formation du foetus altho' he had not finish'd his piece of Animals He gave a little diversion to this Study by reason of his being ingaged with the most eminent Mathematicians in Europe to make one in that famous difference that arose this same Year between Longomontanus and Pellius touching the Quadrature of the Circle He had been a long time convinc'd that it was impossible and after he had tried it by means of his Method and Analysis he would have nothing more to do with this Operation as a thing impracticable and of no use At the beginning of October he sallies out of his solitude to go imbrace his Friend who pass'd by Amsterdam for Swedeland in quality of Resident of France There he got Acquaintance with Monsieur Porlier who belong'd to M. Chanut's Company who during the Four days he sojourned at Amsterdam took singular delight to hear the recital of divers particulars fit to destroy the Slanders of our Philosopher's Enemies Monsieur Des Cartes returned very much satisfied the Tenth of the Month to Egmond where he pass'd the Winter being very severe that Year then he composed two little Works to pass away the time because the Plants in his Garden were not yet in a Condition to supply with Experiments necessary for the Continuation of his Physicks The first of these Works was the Answer he at first refused to the Book of Monsieur Gassendus his instances translated by M. Clensellier into French with softer Expressions in behalf of the last whom he desired to bring to an Agreement with our Philosopher the other was a small Treatise of the Nature of the Passions of the Soul His design was not to make a thing that was in all Points so compleat as to deserve to see light but only to exercise himself upon Morality for his own Edification and to try if his Physicks or Natural Philosophy might be as serviceable to him as he hoped for the establishing of sure and certain Foundations in Morality VIII In this interim Mons Roberval forgetting by little and little the resolution he had taken up to live in good intelligence with Monsieur Des Cartes after the honour he had received from one of his Visits in Paris return'd insensibly to his restless Genius He spoke hit he miss he of what he knew and what he knew not with very little precaution Monsieur Des Cartes had notice of it by some who peradventure represented Monsieur Roberval more in the fault than he really was without ever considering that there was more of weakness than malice in his behaviour and deportment He had advice at the beginning of 1646. of two main Points concerning which M. Roberval boasted he could baffle and run him down The first was concerning the Question of Pappus of which he proposed no new difficulty at that time The other was about Vibrations that is as much as to say what bigness every body of what figure soever must have being suspended in the Air by its extremities to make its turns and returns equal to those of a Plummet hanged at a thread of a length given The Question of Vibrations was propounded to him by Father Mersennus which he answered the 21st of February and the 2d of March and after that by M. Cavendish then at Paris He sent the Solution of this Question to that Noble Person the 30th of March whereupon Monsieur de Roberval made some Observations which M. Cavendish did not fail to dispatch to Monsieur Des Cartes He received an Answer to them some time after Now Monsieur Des Cartes seeing that M. Roberval relied chiefly upon his Experiments he sends Father Mersennus word that he durst not presume of himself to undertake at first dash to give a sufficient Reason for all that one might have experimented But that he believed all the Cunning in examining Experiments consisted in choosing such that depend least upon divers Causes and such whose true Reasons might be the most easily discovered Monsieur Des Cartes could have heartily wisht to see a timely end of this Dispute which he perceived degenerate at last into unprofitable needless Questions But M. Roberval was pleased to prolong them beyond the Years end This Conduct of his together with his Fopperies about Pappus his Question brought an old house upon his head by the censure of his Aristarchus that is to say a Book of his touching the System of the World together with a Judgment upon the Intellect and Capacity of this Geometrician which Monsieur Des Cartes sent to Father Mersennus Much what about the same time that he examined Seneca's Book De vitâ Beatâ of an Happy Life in favour to the Princess Elizabeth his Scholar who had desired him to furnish her wherewithal to divert her being out of favour at the Spa where her Physitians had debarred her of all Study and serious application of Mind the judicious reflection the Princess made upon the said Work engaged him afterwards to handle divers of the most important Questions of Morality with her touching Summum bonum or Soveraign Good the Liberty of Man the State of the Soul the use of Reason the use of the Passions of virtuous and vicious Actions and touching the good and bad things of Life Nothing at that time interrupted the Joy he received from that happy Communication of Moral Philosophy with this Princess except Regius his Book Intituled The Grounds of Phisicks he believed he was obliged publickly to disown them for the Reasons we have mentioned Therefore he inserted his disowning them utterly in the French Edition of his Principles which came out shortly after IX At the very time that Regius broach'd his Schism against Monsieur Des Cartes M. Hoogheland a Popish Gentleman renowned for his Vertue and Charity his Landlord 〈◊〉 Leiden and his Correspondent gratified the Publick with tokens of his strict alliance with him which he made appear by his publishing a Book that he dedicated to him concerning the Existence of God the Spirituality of the Soul and its Union with the Body besides the oeconomy of the Body of the Animal mechanically explained The Civility and Courtesie of the Author in acknowledging how much he was beholding to Monsieur Des Cartes made him point-blank
and Customs of our Church upon which Philosophers and Wits do usually play and make sport the respect that he entertained for the Gospel-Ministry of the Protestant Divines never made him utter a word that smell'd of Complaisance or favour for Schism or Heresie The Caution whereto he had confin'd himself upon his first entrance into Countries professing a different Religion had made him so discreet and reserved that he scarce ever opened his Mouth without edifying nor without causing some impressions of respect and esteem for the Religion he profesâ—'d His carriage and behaviour was no less edifying than his discourse he did not make all the Duties requisite to a true Christian to consist in an inward worship only as most part of your Philosophers do no he was extraordinary careful to accompany it with all the exercises of a good consciencious Catholick nay and he acquitted himself of all his Obligations as exactly as one of the humblest and plainest of Believers would have done He frequented more especially the Sacraments of Pennance and Eucharist with all the dispositions of a contrite heart and humbled spirit as far as is permitted to refer our selves to the honesty and truth of Confessors who had the cure of his Soul in Holland and Sweden His adhering so closely to the whole Body of the Church whereof himself was a Member was kept up by a sincere submission to its authority without any reserve He declared no small deference for whatsoever bore the Character or but the Name of the Holy See He harboured very great esteem for the Sorbonne that is to say for the whole Faculty of Divinity in Paris that he respected as the Depository of the Key of Science Knowing that the Key of Power was in the hands of the Pope and of Bishops which made him firmly believe that his Conscience should be secure so long as he should have Rome and the Sorbonne on his side His Submission to the Holy See did extend even so far as to have some respect for the Roman Inquisition although he was no where in a Praemunire whereby to become liable to its lash He was not ignorant of the difference one ought to put between the Pope's Authority and that of the Congregation established at Rome for prohibited Books yet did he not fail to testifie respect for it and to say out of Civility that it's Authority had little less power over his Actions than his own Reason had over his Thoughts and he took all measures necessary not to write any thing that might incurr its displeasure it is more than probable that this Congregation would have spared him if it could have got clear from the Intrigues of a particular Author who had cunningly slipt one part of his Works into the Index Expurgatorius amongst a Catalogue of other Books prohibited by a Decree of the 20th of November 1663. X. It is possible they could not devise a more specious pretence to censure and reject him than that of Novelty which men believes might have amounted to a Crime this perhaps amongst all those they could impute to him is the only one wherewith they could most reasonably have charged him To speak the truth he did not so much boggle at Novelty as they do who fondly adore the Ancients he judged that in Philosophy where the business is only the research of natural Truths that have not hitherto been Discovered it might be pardonable to employ new means especially since the Ancients have had the ill luck not to discover them to us Besides his Spirit was not of the temper of those upoâ— whom two or three Thousand years are capable to impress a Veneration for Error He was sure that the ancientest things that have been received by Posterity were new at their first appearance and if Novelty had been an Obstacle to their Reception one should never have received any thing into the World But since men are engaged upon honour not any longer to confound Novelty with Falshood nor Antiquity with Truth Envy that could not endure that Monsieur Des Cartes should pass Scot-free hath gone about to change the Scene and invert this order to bring him in guilty his defenders that pleaded his Cause that they might retort the Objection of Novelty did take upon them to make appear that his Opinions were not so Novel as they would make them and that several of them had been defeated before him those that envied him who thought all to be new till that time were not wanting to make their best advantage of this Overture and have been ready to accuse him for having robb'd the Ancients nay and the Moderns too who went before him for it is the opinion of some that he stole his Method of Algebra from one Harriot an Englishman The multitude of those who seem to have had before him sorry Sentiments resembling his may very well serve to inhaunce the value of his Philosophy and serve to let men judge of the importance of the new things he hath superadded both to Correct or Perfect that which was but only rudely drawn or but ventured at before his time without any Method without any Principles But this signifies nothing to prove him to be the Plagiary of so many Authors the most part of which it is well known were utterly unknown to him This Multitude I say makes us the more inclinable to believe that he found out more than all these Philosophers put together and that he hath been more happy and successful than them all in matter of Probability and Solidity for the establishing his Principles and the curious Connexion of his Consequences His System is in all respects so compleat and so well furnished that one must not think it strange that whatsoever hath been the most plausibly fancied by both Ancients and Moderns is there couched and rectified that there is little need of feigning that he borrowed it from their Writings Monsieur Des Cartes agreeing to what is commonly objected that what he said might possibly have been said by some other before him judged that his Case was the same with a man whom they should tax for having plunder'd the Alphabet and Dictionary because he might not have made use of any Letters that were not in the former nor of any words that were not found in the latter But he adds further That those who should please to own and acknowledge the neat Concatenation of all his Conceptions that do so necessarily follow one another would be induc't presently to confess that he might be as innocent of the Felony laid to his charge as an excellent Oratour that might be condemned for a Plagiary of Calepin or old Evander for having borrowed Words from the one and Letters from the other The main and only difficulty that remain'd to be removed out of the way by the Cartesians consisted in alledging that a man comes a Day after the Fair in his Invention of a thing when it hath been