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
against Regius which made him stand upon his Pantofles My Friend saith he M. de Hoogheland hath acted in Opposition against Regius in as much as he hath Writ nothing that he did not borrow from me and upon that account contrary to me whereas the other hath writ nothing which is properly mine yet there is nothing against me forasmuch as he hath followed the self-same Principles But the World would not be put off with a Declaration they suspected to be made only the more generously to recompence the honour this Friend had done him the very Front and through the whole Body of his Book nay they were so far perswaded of the contrary in Rome that upon the relation of the Business two or three Years after by Father Magnanus to M. Carcavi some were apt to take the Name of Hoogheland for a Stalking-Horse by which Monsieur Des Cartes had a Mind to make surer of his Game to publish a new Piece The Condition of other Friends with whom Monsieur Des Cartes kept Correspondence especially at the Hague was somewhat discomposed and put out of order at that juncture of time by the retirement of the Princess his most Illustrious Scholar Several of those who were Retainers to her got out of the way of their own accord very few of them were permitted to accompany or follow her in her Journey Some again were retain'd by their Settlement and Employment about the Prince and Princess of Orange M. Becklin staid to wait upon the Princesses Sister to the Lady Elizabeth M. de Pollot was preferr'd to a Chair of Philosophy and Mathematicks at Breda in the P. of Orange's New Colledge as was M. John Pell heretofore Professor at Amsterdam M. Sampson Johnson that pass'd at Paris for Princess Elizabeths Tutor but was only Chaplain to the Queen of Bohemia her Mother was also admitted into the same Colledge to be Professor of Divinity All these Professors who took a Pride to follow the Cartesian Doctrine made their University otherwise called Schola illustris all over Cartesian at its very birth by the good likeing and favour of the Curators Mons Rivet Almoner and Chaplain to the Prince and Mons Huyghens second Son to Monsieur Zuitlichem educated in the Principles of Monsieur Des Cartes Amongst those that continued at the Hague there was none more considerable than Mons de Brasset a French Gentleman his Correspondent and since that Resident of France to the States General with M. de Burggrave de de Dhona the younger Governour of the City of Orange who for all that persisted in the exercise of the Cartesian Philosophy with the absent Princess Besides so many subjects of satisfactions Monsieur Des Cartes received also all the year long divers Complements from the Jesuits of France and the Low-Countries The business was so much the more delightful to him because these Fathers seem'd to be the persons in the World who should think themselves concern'd in the publication of a new Philosophy nay and who according to him should have pardoned him the least for so doing if so be they had found any thing to blame in it He was likewise much pleased to perceive some of those in Germany and Italy to be recovered of their prejudice and particularly Father Athanasius Kercherus who intreated him to grant him his friendship by the intercession of Father Mersennus He was also inform'd by the reading of two Tracts of Physick that Father Stephen Noel Rector of the Colledge of Clermont in Paris presented him with That the Fathers of the company of Jesuits did not so much tie themselves up to Ancient Opinions as not â—o dare to propose new ones likewise Father Noel was so much his friend that the next year he thought himself obliged to undertake his defence against young Paschal before ever he was quite brought over to the Cartesian Party Much about the same time he received the Philosophy of Father Fabri the Jesuit Mathematical Professor at Lyons this Philosophy had much reputation to be a good one notwithstanding it was contrary to that of M. Des Cartes Men past the like Judgment in a manner upon another Piece of this Father's that came to light that year concerning Local Motion Monsieur Des Cartes upon the receipt of these two Pieces had advice that the same Author had some thoughts to Compose a Course of Philosophy to oppose his that which moved him to the resolution of contradicting his Notions was in case he might be backt by his Society and that it should appear that the Jesuits would be pleased to adopt his Doctrine But the Event let him understand that Father Fabri had not then got the approbation of his Society In September that year M. Des Cartes lost a friend by the death of Father Niceron a Minim but he gain'd another in the person of M. Le Comte Controuler General of the War who was already friend to M. Clersellier Chanut and Porlier he deserved his acquaintance by some Objections he started concerning his Book of Principles which Abbot Picot and his second self were pleased to Answer X. Scarce had Monsieur Des Cartes done with his new Friends M. le Comte and Monsieur Porlier but he was necessitated to Answer M. Chanut about one of the most material Questions in the World and prepare to satisfie the Queen of Sweden's desire suitable to the high opinion of him wherewith this Resident had possess'd that Princess The last Letter he writ from Stockholm concerning the rare Perfections of Christina The discourse he held upon the same Subject with M. de la Thuillerie at his return from his Ambassy of Sweden and the example of his illustrious Scholar the Princess Elizabeth suffer'd him no longer to question the possibility of all these wonders that Fame had published of that great Queen not yet above 19 years of Age. The gusto M. Chanut had already inspired into her for his Philosophy made her demand his opinion concerning a Question of Morality that was bandied about between her and this Resident in November 1646. The Question was to know when a Man makes a bad use of love or hatred which of these two irregularities or bad uses is the worst M. Chanut in beseeching Monsieur Des Cartes in the Queens behalf to send her his Sentiment upon the Question sent him word that the Queen and he were of two different opinions without telling him which was the Princesses which his Monsieur Des Cartes that he might afford Queen the Satisfaction she demanded drew â—p presently that is at the beginning of the â—ear 1647. a fine Dissertion upon Love which we have in the first Volume of his Letters in that Tract he discuss'd three things 〈◊〉 his usual Method First what Love is Secondly Whether or no pure Natural Light â—eaches us to love God Thirdly Which of â—he two Irregularities of Love or Hatred is the worst This Piece was sent into Sweden in February the reading of
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
one may safely say that the World owes to his Morning Meditations in Bed all those fine important productions of his Brain both in Philosophy and Mathematicks VII Having finished the course of his Studies in the Month of August 1612. He quits the Colledge of La flesche after eight years and half being Resident therein and returned home to his Fathers House with the accumulated Praises and Good Word of his Masters or Tutours There remain'd to him all his whole Life after a great stock of thankful acknowledgment for the obligation they laid upon him and he had a great kindness and esteem for the Colledge which he was wont to extol above all others whether it was because his own experience had afforded him a more particular knowledge of it or else because we are natural and commonly induced to commend the Place of our Education equally with that of our birth and to boast of our Masters as of our Parents But altho' he might be satisfied with his Masters upon his leaving the Colledge yet was he by no means satisfied with himself It seem'd to him that he had got nothing by his Studies but a greater knowledge of his ignorance all the advantages he had gained in the Eyes of the World and which were bragg'd of as so many wonders were all reduced according to his own opinion to embarras and perplexity to doubts and troubles of mind The Laurels wherewith his Masters crowned him thereby to distinguish him from his fellow Students appeared to him but Thorns If we do not belye nor undervalue the judgment of those who were well acquainted with those times we should not deny but that he abundantly deserved a stripling as he was that Rank the Publick bestowed on him even at that time amongst the Able Learned Men of the Age. But it was never a more dangerous time to be lavish of the quality of a Wise and Knowing Person for he was not content only to reject this quality which Men would have fastened upon him but willing to measure other Mens Corn by his own bushel it was ten to one but he had taken those who bore the same quality for no real Knowing Learned Men and his undervaluing of whatsoever Men Term Sciences was very like to have discovered it self The displeasure he conceived to see himself disabused of the mistake wherewith he flatter'd himself to be able to acquire A clear and assured knowledge of whatsoever is profitable to life Was like to have precipitated him into despair seeing besides that the Age he lived in was as flourishing as any of the preceeding and phancying with himself that all the Men of Parts of which this Age was very fruitful found themselves in the same predicament he was in although peradventure they were so sensible of it as himself he had a shrewd Temptation to believe that there was no such thing as a Science in the World in every respect such an one as they made him hope for The result of all these tedious vexatious Deliberations was that from the year 1613. he would forsake and discard all Books and totally rid himself of the Study of Learning By this kind of forsaking he seem'd to imitate the greatest part of your Sparks of Quality who are not necessitated to Study whereby to subsist or to get Preferment in the World Yet there is this difference that these in bidding adieu to Books dream of nothing else but to shake off that Yoak which the Colledge had rendred insupportable to them whereas Monsieur Des Cartes would not have packt off his Books for which he had otherwise a great love for but only because he found not in them what he sought for upon the Credit of those who ingaged him to ply his Study Although he was sensible how much he was obliged to his Masters who omitted nothing within the verge of their power for to satisfie him Nevertheless he did not believe himself at all beholden to his Studies for what he afterward effected for traâ—ing of Truth in Arts and Sciences he did not stick to say to some Friends that although his Father had not brought 〈◊〉 up a Schollar yet he would not for all that have forborn writing in his Mother Tongue the self same thing he has written in Latin VIII He spent the Winter at the latter end of 1612. and beginning of 1613. in the City of Reimes or Rennes in paying visits to his Family to learn to ride the gaeat Horse to learn to Fence and other such like Exercises suitable to his quality one may guess by a little Treatise of his concerning Fencingâ— whether or no he mis-spent his time in that Exercise His Father who had already caused his Elder Brother to apply himself to the Law seemed to have some thoughts of designing him for the Service of his King and Country in the Army but his tender years and the weakness of his Constitution would not permit him to expose him so early to the Toiles of War He judged it adviceable first to let him see the World to that purpose he resolved to send him to Paris towards the Spring but perhaps it was a great over-sight in him to Abandon him to his own Conduct and leave him to himself without affording him any other Governour but a valet de Chambre and not any to inspect him besides a Lacquey or two he relyed too confidently upon the wisdom of a Youth of 17. years void of Experience and of all helps but his own proper strength to wrastle against all occasions of undoing himself Yea and he had power enough to guard him from grosser Debauches not to be overtaken by the Disorders of Intemperance but he found he was not proof against Companies that hawled him away to take a walk now and then to Gaming and other Divertisements that pass in the World for indifferent in themselves that which contributed much to make him more particularly addicted to Gaming was that he came always off with great Fortune especially in those Games that depend more upon industry than chance But the worst improvement he made during this idle time was the renewing his Acquaintance with divers persons whom he had seen at La Flesche and the Friendship he Contracted with some Persons of worth who served a little to reclaim him from that aversion that had seized him for the Study of Books The most considerable of his new Friends was that Famous Claudius Mydorge Treasurer of France and of the generality of Amiens Son to a Counsellor of the great Chamber and Successor to Vieta in his Reputation of the chief Mathematician in France during some time M. Des Cartes who was younger by almost eleven years found I know not what in this Acquaintance Whether for his humour or the Character of his Mind which united them so close in such strict bonds of Friendship that nothing could have separated them but Monsieur Mydorge his Death It was about the
understood by his Note that his Name was Isaac Beekman and that he was Principal of the Colledge at Dort no sooner was he return'd to his Quarters but setting himself to examine the Problem of the unknown Person after the Rules of his Method he found out the solution of it with much ease and readiness as Vieta once did in resolving in less than three hours that famous question propounded by Adrian Romain to all Mathematicians under the Cope of Heaven Not to fail of his Word away he goes next day to Beckmans Lodging brings him the solution of the Problem nay and offers to give him the construction of it if he desired so much Beckman seem'd surprised but his wonder increased when beginning to discourse on purpose to pose him and sound the parts and capacities of the Young Man he found his Abilities much beyond his own in the Sciences wherein his whole time had been taken up for several years He craved of his amicable correspondence and offered him his and beâ—eecht him to consent that they might maintain a mutual commerce of Studies all the remainder of their Life Monsieur Des Carâ—es answered all those Civilities with all the effects of unfeigned amity notwithstanding â—e was younger than he by near thirty years â—nd that he might give him evidences of the confidence he reposed in him he chearfully consented that he should be his correspondent for Holland as he desired he might Whilst Count Maurice came to be P. of â—range upon the Death of his Brother which happened the 20th of Feb. 1618. and was just going through the Provinces and Cities with â—ome Troops to reduce the Armenians Monsieur Des Cartes had a mind to stay at Breda where he imploy'd his time in compoâ—ing some Writings amongst which that which is best known is his Teatise of Musick â—e composed it in Latin for he had acquired a notable knack of Conceiving and Writing ex tempore whatsoever came into his Mind He was willing to entrust him with the Original at whose request he had composed it â—ut with this Proviso that he should let no body see because judging it very imperfect he fear'd lest it should become publick either by Printing it or by Multiplication of some Copies Beeckman who was reckoned amongst the prime Mathematicians of the Age found it not too imperfect for him and thinking Des Cartes had disown'd and laid no claim to it he thought fit to get some credit by it as tho' he had been the Author of it Monsieur Des Cartes believed he was obliged to bring down his Pride and to let him understand what a base thing it is to acquire himself a little reputation at the expence of prejudicing the Truth His Friends could never get his consent to publish this Treatise whilst he was alive his Enemies having come by a Copy of it not so perfect as should be sought for an occasion to be revenged of him after his Death But they laboured to their own shame and were so far from disgracing his Memory that they drew upon him the admiration of all who knew that it was the composure of a Youth of 22 years old To tell you Truth the publick does not at this time judge it such a mean piece as the Author would make them believe it to be the multitude of Editions and the Translations into English and French warrants its being approved on XI Beekman leaving to the Ministers and Divines the care of holding their National Council in his City comes to Breda to spend the best part of his Time with Monsieur Des Cartes to exercise himself in the Mathematicks with him and to propound questions to be resolved by him Monsieur Des Cartes did not acquiesce in the answers he made to them He left behind him also divers pretty works that would have past their Word that he spent his time well if he would but have let them see the light Amongst this juvenile Works one finds his opinion concernâ—ng the Souls of Brutes or of Machines Writ twenty years before he published his â—rinciple touching the distinction between a Thinking Substance and a Substance extendâ—d He had not so much as perused at that Age St. Augustin or Pereira nor any other Author that was capable to afford him any â—â—sight into this Sentiment nay it moreover â—ppears that he never in all his Life had seen â—ereira and that it was from some of his Friends and some who envied him that he â—ad the news that they found some resemâ—lance between his opinion and that of this â—paniard Nevertheless Monsieur Des Cartes not findâ—â—g that variety of occupation under the Prince â—f Orange that he promis'd himself upon his â—aving France sought for an opportunity to â—emove from the Low Countries to serve â—omewhere else The news that was brought â—o Breda of the great Commotions of Germany â—wakened his Curiosity of being Spectatour of the most considerable affair that past in Euâ—ope They talked of a new Emperour they talked of the States of Bohemia's Revolt against their King and of a War commenced between the Papists and Protestants upon this â—ccount Monsieur Des Cartes having a mind to leave Holland made use of this pretence viz. The little exercise the Cessation of Arms afforded him which was agreed on between the Prince of Orange his Forces and those of Marquess Spinola which was to continue two years longer conformable to the Conventions of Truce His resolution was to pass into Germany that he might serve in the Papist Armys yet before he would determine to enter into any ingagement he long'd to be present at the Coronation of the new Emperour which was to be performed in the City of Francford XII He departed from Breda in the month of July Anno 1619. he got to Madstricht and from thence to Aix la chapelle where he learnt the State of Affairs of Germany and the preparations that City were accustomed to make for the Coronation of the Emperours Being come to Mentz he understood that John Schwichart the Elector had summoned all the other Electors of the Empire according to the usual manner and had ordered them to meet at Francford on the 20th of July to proceed to the Election of a new Emperour He was in this last City against the time that Ferdinand II. arrived there as King of Bohemia and Elector of the Empire this Prince was Elected King of the Romains the 28th of August and was Crowned Emperour the 30th of the said month according to the old stile that is to say the 9th of September according to our account Monsieur Des Cartes did not appear at the first Ceremony that respected the Election of the King of the Romains by reason that an order was issued out to all Forreigners and Strangers that is to say to such that neither belonged to the place â—â—or to the Electors retinue to void the Town yet was he present at the second Ceremony that concern'd
grudge his time to Instruct him because he thought he should not be sorry for it as ill spent The Importance of the Queries and Difficulties he propounded to him hindered him to take care to put him in a condition of establishing his Principles Their main hinge was of the difficulty of the nature of Angels upon the nature of man's Souls of its Union with the Body of the Soul of Beasts and Plants of Life Motion of the the Heart and upon the Circulation of the Blood Monsieur Des Cartes had brought this last Question into great request amongst the learned and he had wonderfully establish'd the credit of Harvey upon this account having been basely abused and decry'd by the Satyrs of divers Physicians in the Low-Countries the most part ignorant or fondly valuing themselves upon the ancient Maxims of their Faculty that which could be plausibly brought against this Opinion was objected 18 Months before to Monsieur Des Cartes by his Friend Plempius a Physician of Louvain Now altho' this last seem'd to remain satisfy'd with his Answer yet did he afterward an Action unworthy of their Friendship he thought fit for the inhancing the splendour of his own Reputation to mention in a Book that he was 〈◊〉 going to put out what had pass'd between Monsieur Des Cartes and he touching the two Questions of the Motion of the Heart and of the Circulation of Blood He to this effect gave all the gloss that was necessary to the Objections he had made to him but when they came to the Answers to them that he received he was so far from behaving himself towards Monsieur Des Cartes as a Friend who deserved to be respected that he was not so faithful to these Answers as is requisite even in Adversaries that confuâ—c one another and look upon one another as Enemies Regius was exasperated at such unhandsome Carriage and having confronted his Book with the Answers Monsieur Des Cartes had made to his Objections he could no longer smother the indignation that made him snatch up his Pen to signifie his resentments to Des Cartes He set out the ingratitude and deceitful dealing of Plempius in such lively Colours that one cannot express in any Language as he spoke them without running into the like transports of Anger against such a dirty smooty Behaviour He says That as for the places where Monsieur Des Cartes discovers the most hidden Secrets of Nature wherein consisted the main stress of his Answers Plempius hath been so malicious as to play the Mute or at least to pass by the greatest part of them and as for those which he doth relate he so maims them that he quite spoils the sense of them That in the place where he treats of the Circulation of Blood he is content only barely to relate the difficulties as if no body had answered them altho' the Answers Monsieur Des Cartes made to them were very convincing ones That in the place where Monsieur Des Cartes relates several Causes which being joyn'd together produce the beating of the heart Plempius introduces but one of them which is heat If Monsieur Des Cartes after he has alledg'd Reasons necessary for the evincing a thing add thereto some others less convincing in order to a great Illustration of the Point Plempius is so treacherous and unfaithful as to insist only upon this last Reason as tho' it had been produced for an Essential or Fundamental one and leaving you to suppose that this might be the only one that could have been alledged by Monsieur Des Cartes he labours to make him ridiculous which he goes about to do in places he doth not understand Plempius hath now forgotten what formerly he writ that he did not believe one could be able to charge Mons Des Cartes of having ever uttered any false thing or but an idle trifle But if he thought good to revoke the Praises he gave him it was sorry pittiful retraction to blot them out with injuries Mons Des Cartes seem'd not at all concern'd at such uncouth behaviour and was once of the mind only to oppose them by silence Regius did not judge so he reveng'd his Masters Cause in such a manner that probably made Plempius open his Eyes seeing he hath altered his Opinion about the Circulation of Blood to embrace that of Mons Des Cartes VI. In the Month of November in the same Year Father Mersennus being return'd from some Journeys gave Advice of a Prodigy that lately appear'd in Paris This Prodigy was that a young Lad of Sixteen years had Compos'd a Treatise of Coniques that was matter of astonishment to all the old Mathematicians that ever were shewn it This Youth was Son to Monsieur Pascal Intendant of Justice at Rouan And men thought it no piece of flattery to publish that he had been more successful than Apolonius in some Points Mons Des Cartes that admired almost nothing dissembling his purpose answered that he did not think it such an admirable thing that some should be found that could demonstrate Coniques more easily than Apolonius but that one might propose some other things about Coniques that a Child of Sixteen would have much ado to resolve Not having a mind to refer himself to any concerning the matter of fact but to the Testimony of his own Eyes for Mersennus was to send him a Copy of the Treatise He had not read the half of it but he judged that Monsieur des Argues had share in Composing it upon pretence that he was there quoted Understanding after clearing of some doubts touching the matter in hand that there was no likelihood that his friend Monsieur des Argues had the least hand in it he rather believed that Monsieur Pascal the Father was Author of it than be perswaded that a Boy of Sixteen Years could be capable of Composing such a strong Piece of Work This great Man's doubt proved much more glorious to this Prodigy in Nature than the admiration of all those who are certain of the matter of fact His Incredulity was not only grounded upon the want of Age and likelihood it had another foundation still even the Project of a brave Design about Coniques that Monsieur des Argues had lately got Father Mersennus to send him But he did not in the least suspect Monsieur Mydorge to have contributed his Assistance or Name to young Monsieur Pascal altho' they see his four Books of Coniques come out of the Press that same year and tho' he was ignorant what this friend had already done upon the same Subject some years before At the same time Monsieur de Beaune who was no less one of his friends than Monsieur Mydorge and Monsieur des Argues put him upon the Solution of divers Questions that he propounded to him about Mathematicks and under a pretence to discourse with him upon his own designs he endeavoured to pump out the Communication of his in one of the
nothing but to trouble the Schools as for his Des Cartes he would have him pass for an Enemy of the Protestant Religion a Spy sent out of France against the Interest of the United Provinces not judging the Writers of his Religion in his own Country sufficient to exterminate him he thought good to find out some amongst the Catholicks and that too in the middle of France To find such it was necessary to change his Language He went about to perswade them that they had to deal with a common Enemy and in all their concerns to defend Religion in general against a Sceptique and an Atheist wherein the Catholicks were no less interested than Protestants He went to sollicit Men of Parts as far as the recesses of Cloisters in Paris and had even the Confidence to attempt Father Mersennus upon pretence that this Father was already train'd up and vers'd in making his party good against Atheists and Deists with whom he had enter'd the lists â—y divers Works he represented to this Faâ—her that being besides a good Philosopher â—nd Geometrician an undertaking of this naâ—ure was worthy his eminent Learning and Subâ—lty And to engage him the deeper by more â—revalent Expressions he tells him That haâ—ing shewed himself all along the Defender of Truth in his way of Treating of Divinity He â—eeded not to question but the same truth â—all'd for his assistance to secure it from the â—exatious insults of this new Philosopher This is perhaps the first time that ever any â—ody heard the Protestant Ministers congratulate the Roman Catholicks and what is more even the Monks for having successfully stood up for and guarded truth in matter of Theology The thing was yet something the more remarkable because Voetius a man would have thought should have been the â—ast from whom one might have hoped to have heard such a like Confession having without any cause taken a great liberty to oppose the Roman Church upon other occasions yea and falling out with some Ministers who were not able to endure his excessive flyings out and impostures But considering the Catholicks conn'd Voetius but little thank for this Confession and because the Protestants did not lay it to his charge Men looked upon it as the consequence of his disorderly Spirit to which the one and the party were pretty well accustomed there needs no other sign of this irregularity than the malignity wherewith he affects to make Monsieur Des Cartes pass for an Savage Jesuite thaâ— he might decry him and render him odiouâ— another way Father Mersennus feigned that he let himself be allured by the Charms of Voetius hiâ— Discourse and to demonstrate that he waâ— still more a Friend to Truth than to Monsieuâ— Des Cartes he promised him the service of hiâ— Pen provided they could supply him with Matter and Reasons sufficient to attack the Opinions of that Philosopher Some pretend the Monk spoke in earnestâ— Voetius was so far perswaded of it that immediately he noised it abroad that Mersennus was a writing against Des Cartes Afterwards he sought up and down for Materials and waâ— very importunate with all his Friends to dispatch relief to Father Mersennus yet a whole year was spent without being able to get the Father to make his words good save only in a Comparison that he made between Monsieur Des Cartes and Vaninus desiring him to make much of this as an important Piece and to display the Parallel of the new Philosopher with that Impious Wretch who was Burnt at Tholouse Without doubt they had a better opinion of Monsieur Des Cartes at the Court of France Seeing King Lewis the 13th commanded to send him word at the latter end of this Year that he would publickly gratifie his Merit This Prince informed by Card. Richelieu or by those that presented him with his Book that this Ornament to the Kingdom would â—e always out of its Element so long as he â—hould be out of his Realm had thoughts of preferring him to some eminent place either 〈◊〉 Court or in the Parliament thereby to â—ender him conspicuous to all his Subjects â—nd to grant him a great Pension suitable â—o his rank and able to support it But â—here were no sollicitations powerful enough â—o wean him from his retirement He regarded the Delights and Pleasures of Court â—nd the most glorious Occupations of Counsels and Parliaments as equally prejudicial â—o the repose and leisure that were requiâ—re to serve Mankind in the Profession he â—ad chosen and putting infinitely a greater value upon his King 's good will towards him than upon all the Honours and Riches that â—e would have pleased to heap upon him â—e wisht rather to live alone content with the perpetual acknowledgment of his gracious offers than to expose himself to hatard of losing the advantages of his Philosophy under pretence of being desirous to bear the heavy weight of those Honours and to justifie the choice of so great a Prince BOOK VI. From 1641 till 1644. I. IN the Year 1641. began to appear in publick the second Works of Monsieur Des Cartes with the priviledge of the King and approbation of the Doctors of Paris intituled Meditations touching the first Philosophy wherein is discovered the Existence God and the Immortality of the Soul But you must observe thaâ— it was not the Author's intent that they should insert the word Immortality instead of that of Immateriality This Work the publication of which he pretends to be purely owing to his own Conscience was of a more Antient Composing than his Essays being the very first fruits of his retirements in Holland The importance of the subject matter prevail'd with him before it went to the Press to let the most able Divines of the Roman Church see it nay and other Learned Men too of other Communions who past for the most subtile Wits in Philosophy and Metaphysicks to the end that he might profit by their Censures answer their Difficulties and cause their Objections and his Answers to be Printed together at the same time with his Treatise His Manuscript was in order hereunto above a year in the hands of Father Mersennus who had a Commission from him to find out Censurers or Approvers for this Book of all faculties whilst he in the mean time did the same in the Catholick and Protestant Netherlands Yea and he had some intensions to dedicate it to the Doctors of the Sorbonne that is to all the Faculty of Diviâ—ity of Paris because saith he the cavils of some persons had made him resolve to guard himself henceforward with the Authority of others since Truth is so little regarded when it is alone He recommended this business to Father Gibeuf Father of the Oratory his friend who by his great Capacity had gain'd a great Esteem and Credit 〈◊〉 the Sorbonne and amongst Men of Wit and â—ngenuity and left Father Mersennus to order all the rest II. Whilst this Father searched for
was indued with that Modesty as no where to assume the authority of positively deciding or ever to assert any thing for undeniable Altho' what he intended to offer under the Name of Principles of Philosophy was brought to that Conclusion that one could not lawfully nor reasonably require more for the perfecting his design yet did it give some cause to his Friends to hope to see the Explication of all other things which made people say That his Physick was not compleat He promised himself likewise to explain after the same manner the nature of other more particular Bodies that belong to the Terrestrial Globe as Minerals Plants Animals and Man in particular After which he proposed to himself according as God should please to lengthen out his days to treat with the same exactness of all Physick or Medicine of Mechanicks and of the whole Doctrine of Morality or Ethicks whereby to present the World with an entire Body of Philosophy He dedicated his Book of Principles to his most Illustrious Disciple the Princess Palatiné Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to that Unfortunate Prince Frederick V. Elector Palatine chosen King of Bohemia The Princess had been Educated in the Knowledge of abundance of Languages and in whatsoever Learning is comprised under the name of Litterae humaniores or Politiores but the elevation of and profoundness of her genius and natural parts would not suffer her to dwell long upon these Arts by which the greatest Wits of her Sex who are satisfied with desiring to seem somebody are commonly limited She desir'd to proceed to those parts of Learning that the strongest Application of Men had advanced and accomplish'd her self with and became a great proficient in Philosophy and Mathematicks till such time as seeing the Essays of Monsieur Des Cartes his Philosophy she conceived such high esteem and affection for his Doctrine that she look'd upon all she had learn'd till that time as good as nothing and so put her self under his Tuition for to raise a new Structure upon his Principles Thereupon she sends to him to come and see her that she might drink in the true Phiâ—osophy at the Fountain Head and the great desire to do her Service nearer was one of the reasons that drew him to Leiden to Eindegeest Never did Master more happily improve the docibility aptness penetration and withal the solidity of a Scholar's Mind Having accustomed her insensibly to the profound Meditation of the grand Mysteries of Nature and sufficiently exercising of her in the most abstracted Questions of Geometry and the most sublime ones of Metaphysicks There was no longer any thing abstruse or mysterious to her and he ingeniously confesseth and owneth that he had not yet met with any besides her he excepted Regius in another place that ever arrived at a perfect understanding of the Works he had published till that time By this Testimony that he bore to the extraordinary Capacity of the Princess he intended to distinguish her from those who were not able to apprehend his Metaphysicks altho' they might have some insight into Geometry and from those that were not able to understand his Geometry altho' they might be pretty well vers'd in Metaphysical Truths She continued to Philosophise with him Viva voce till a certain Accident obliged her to absent herself from the Presence of the Queen of Bohemia her Mother and to quit her abode in Holland for Germany then she changed her Acquaintance into an Intelligence by Letter which she kept afoot with him by the Ministery of the Princesses her Sisters III. According to the measures M. Des Cartes had taken upon his return from Poictoù to reach Holland before the Frost he reduc'd himself to the necessity of staying no longer than Ten or Twelve days in Paris They were all taken up in continual Visits that he was fain to pay his Friends he had never seen since the Siege of Rochelle and to those his reputation had acquired him in his absence His greatest care was to be sure to visit the Jesuites of the Colledge of Clermont where was performed the last Ceremonies of his reconciliation to Father Bourdin his old Adversary who that his friendship might be active and not consist in a parcel of words offer'd to be his Correspondent for the Letters he should send to the Fathers of the Company in any Province of the Realm and into Italy and also for those that he was to receive from them He visited also besides the Duke de Luines and Monsieur Clerselier who translated his Meditations Monsieur Chanut whose desert had reach'd his Ear by the Commendations of Father Mersennus This Friend was pleased to introduce him into the Chancellor's Company who received him with all Testimonies of respect that one could possibly expect from a Magistrate who favoured Men of Parts and Learning that loved the Sciences and was already advantagiously prepossessed with a good opinion of our Philosopher by the readâ—ng of his Essays of Philosophy He entertain'd likewise frequent Conferences with Sir Kenelm Digby an English Cathoâ—ick then in Paris and reckoned in the number of one of his chief Friends for many years together but altho' he confin'd himself to see those Friends he had never seen the number of them was too great and the term he had prescrib'd for his abode too short to give them all the Satisfaction he could have wish'd Yet he thought himself obliged not to pass by Monsieur Robervall unsaluted he desired to assure him how much he valued him offered him his friendship afresh and declarâ—â— to him Viva voce that all the Impression of their petty Paper-scuffles were perfâ—â—â—ly razed out of his Spirit Monsieur Robervall strain'd hard to Answer the honour Monsieur Des Cartes did him and he protested freely how much he was disposed to pay what he ought to his Worth and to his Quality but the small Coherence Monsieur Des Cartes observed in his Discourses gave him quickly to understand the truth of that Idea he had conceived of his Interiours it was no hard matter to judge that the amity of this Geometrician was a benefit that would soon perish Nevertheless he did him the justice to believe that there was less malice and affectation than nature and disposition in his unpolite rough-hewn disobliging Behaviour and he received his friendship however the best that he could give without taking his Bond to warrant it either more solid or durable than it was Leaving what Copies of his Principles he had to Abbot Picot's disposal at whose House he lodged who had already translated the better part into the French Tongue he departed for Holland about the end of October And Father Mersennus that had nothing leâ—â— at this departure that could retain him in Paris took a Journey into Italy which he was obliged to do for the matter of Eight or Nine Months IV V. The News of Monsieur Des Cartes his return dissipated the trouble he had
become strenuous maintainers of this new Philosophy Heereboord's Zeal in â—is first Lessons was not perhaps heated to that â—egree as was that of Regius at Vtrecht yet it â—eemed to be more circumspect cautious and â—etter regulated So was it also of a longer continuance and an answerable success It had been very well for Monsieur Des Cartes Regius had followed the same course â—r that he had persevered at least in the same first tractableness and docibility in respect of Monsieur Des Cartes since he hath ventured â—o dogmatize upon his own head concerning â—he Union of the Humane Soul with the Boâ—y and upon some other nice Points he put Monsieur Des Cartes to a great deal of trouble who by his particular Exhortations Correâ—tions of his Theses's and other Works enâ—eavoured to keep his Spirit within due â—ounds Regius since that fell away strangely â—nd insensibly and either because he had reâ—overed his first Genius or that he searcht out â—ome middle way to get again into the favour â—f his Friends of Vtrecht and by that means â—ecure himself of the peaceable possession of â—is Professor's Chair he drew up during Monsieur Des Cartes his Travails certain Essays â—f a Philosophy of his own making to which he pretended to give the name of Fondemens de Physique the Foundations of Physicks The Experience he had of Mons Des Cartes his Kindnesses made him believe this Work would have gone down with him Just as he had composed it he â—ends it him to peruse and examine rather not to give over his old Custom all on a sudden than to make any advantage by his Mr's reading of it Monsieur Des Cartes was not so complaisant as he flatter'd himself to find him he observed in this last Writing of his more License than he had observed in all the rest and instead of sending Regius the Corrections of the places that required them as his constant practice was formerly he writ to him and told him roundly That he could not nor would not afford a general Approbation to this Work He added withal That if he doted so much upon his own private Sentiments not to follow the advice he had given him to suppress or reform it that then he should be obliged to disown it and so undeceive the World who thought all along that he entertained no other Sentiments but his Regius who had already taken his part and obstinately stood it out against all sorts of Remonstrances did nevertheless thank Monsieur Des Cartes for his advice but instead of following it as formerly he did what he could to excuse his Work and to shew the neat Contrivance and Excellency of it to his Master as if these particulars had escaped his Reflections He commended to him more especially his Method of Analysis and that curious â—way of his to define and divide But to avoid the inconveniencies Monsieur Des Cartes had given him notice of he sent him this Model of an Advertisement to the Reader with which he intended to conclude the Preface of â—is Book For to undeceive those who might be â—pt to imagine that the things contained in this Work might be the meer Sentiments of Monsieur Des Cartes I am willing to give notice to the World that there are indeed several Passages wherein I do ex professo adhere to the Dictates of that excellent Person but that there are others â—lso wherein I am of a quite contrary Opinion â—nd some others again upon which he hath not â—hought good to explain his meaning That he might endeavour to prevent the publick dissaâ—isfaction and disowning of it wherewith he â—hought himself threatned by Monsieur Des Cartes He offer'd him to add moreover in his Preface whatsoever he should judge convenient because he apprehended this disownâ—ng as a Confutation of his Work capable of â—tifling or decrying it at its very birth but at the bottom he talked not a word of altering or mending it Monsieur Des Cartes sent him word that he mightily approved of his manner of treating of Physicks by way of Definitions and Divisions provided he would adjoyn thereto the necessary proofs But let him understand withal that he did not appear to him sufficiently vers'd in Metaphysicks nor in Divinity to undertake to publish any thing about them And that if he were fully bent upon the Publication of of his Foundations or Grounds of Physick he should do well at least to reâ—rench what related to the Soul of Man and Divinity and not to falsifie any thing he borrowed from him In a word that he should do him a kindness not to make him a partaker in his mistakes and extravagant notions in Metaphysicks nor in his Visions in Natural Philosophy and Medicine This last Letter caused Regius to pluck off his Mask and being resolved to Sacrifice his Master's Honour to his own he quite and clean renounced his Discipline by a Declaration written 23d of July 1645. after such an hectoring huffing manner that what they tell us of Aristotle's ingratitude to Plato and of Maximus the Cynick's insolence to Gregory Nazianzen is not incredible Regius went far beyond them by this insult and lost by his Schism that Glory which involved him in such Dangers and Persecutions that had like to have made him the Proto-martyr of the Cartesian Sect. Nay and he joyn'd Injustice and Unfaithfulness to his Revolt for retaining the best part of his Master's Doctrine thereby to get the same Honour as he did before he disfigured and spoil'd it as he pleased And under pretence that Monsieur Des Cartes refused so long as he lived to acknowledge it to be his because of that forreign outside He seized upon it after his Death suppressing even his Name so unworthily and basely that men look upon him as much to be the first Plagiary of his Doctrine as the first Schismatick of his Sect. Monsieur Des Cartes answer'd all the affronts and outrages of Regius with so much wisdom and sweetness that might have been capable to have made an Apology for him if he had needed one and he would not make an end of keeping a Correspondence with this ingrateful Wretch until he had given the most wholsome advice that one could possibly expect from a good Master and true-hearted Friend VII The most odious part of the Robbery which denominated Regius Plagiary of Monsieur Des Cartes consisted in certain Memoirs that he had composed ever since the Edition of his Principles with a design to make a Treaâ—ise of Animals the Copy which Regius by what â—unning took I know not was very deficient â—nd out of a piece of indiscretion that helpt to â—etray him he had almost inserted it all into â—is Book of the Grounds of Physicks or Natuâ—al Philosophy without being able to understand the meaning as well because the Figures were wanting as because what Monsieur Des Cartes had done was not quite fiâ—ished In effect what Regius intended to produce was