Sir:

I understand how I have bin used in Oxford, both in this particular concerninge Wadham Colledge, and som other things. I have not now leasure to answeare the particulars of your letter, I thinke I shall doe that best, by respectinge those men, as they have respected me.

I am sorry Mr Harrington should doe himselfe thus much wronge. I hope if hee doe not beleive the Coppies hee will beleive the Instrument and the seale. And I presume that you shewed it him, when you caled hime before the Seniors. Howsoever if you did not, you have yet tyme enough to do it, if you meane to make him soe much the more inexcusable. And if you will, you may call him againe, and shew him these my Letters, that his Majestie hath recal’d his Commission, and that I accordinge to my Citation will looke for him att the day appointed, and if hee come not, att his perill be it. Soe with remembrance of my Love to you, and that whole Societie, I leave you to the grace of God and rest

Your very Lovinge Frend

Guil: Batho: et Welle:

White-hall. December. 28. 1627.

For their Comission, return’d or not return’d, I care not, for his Majestie hath recal’d it: yet if you can, learne that it is return’d, send me word to whom, or wheather, if you can.

When Mr Harringtons day of appearance comes, I shall not advise you to come up your selfe unlesse som other occasion of your owne require it: or that you can spend som tyme heere to attend such delayes as a man unwillinge to be tryed may make.

To the right worshipfull my very lovinge Frend Doctor Smyth Warden of Wadham Colledge in Oxon these delivered.

The Appeal and Preparation for the Third Crusade

The cataclysmic defeats of the forces of the Kingdom of Jerusalem at Cresson and Hattin and the subsequent loss of Jerusalem to Saladin in October 1187 reverberated throughout the Latin West. The news was said to be so disturbing that Pope Urban III suffered a fatal heart attack on hearing the reports. Yet despite the significance of the Holy Land to the West, the new pope Gregory VIII's appeal for aid came at a time when internal political strife in Europe threatened any call for a crusade. The conflict between King Louis VII of France and King Henry II of England, and Emperor Frederick I's support of anti-popes had previously frustrated attempts to aid the Holy Land, while the death of Thomas Becket had further jeopardised Henry's departure. In 1172 papal legates secured an agreement that Henry would provide 200 knights and take the cross personally, but his departure was further impeded by revolt in England in 1173, the uprising of his sons, the spreading of hostilities to Normandy, and insurgence in France.

Despite the non-aggression pact between Louis and Henry in 1177, neither king's participation in a crusade was forthcoming. The renewal of the treaty of Ivry in 1180 which secured a formal alliance between Philip Augustus and Henry II did not resolve this situation; the crusade clause remained conditional not absolute. Moreover, the conflict between King Philip of France and Count Philip of Flanders exacerbated this political disharmony and caused further damage to the prospects of the crusade. Relations between France and Flanders remained strained because the young king resented the influence that Philip of Flanders had exerted over both King Louis VII's final years and the early stages of Philip Augustus’ own reign. The count had exploited conflicts between the French and German rulers and acted unofficially as the young king's guardian. In 1182, Philip Augustus’ alliance with Henry II alienated both Flanders and Champagne. In the early 1180s Philip of Flanders joined forces with Baldwin V of Hainault and Frederick Barbarossa against Philip Augustus, although in 1185 these allegiances broke down and the Fleming was forced to accept the French king's terms under the peace of Boves. Following these events Philip Augustus made a concerted effort to erode the autonomy of counties such as Flanders, and to assert his own royal authority.

Sir.

Mr Escott and another gentelman with him have bin with mee in the name of yourselfe and Wadham College for which paynes of theirs I heartily thanke boeth you and them. It hath pleas’d god and his Majesty to double my relations to that howse; for whereas before boeth in regard of Dr Fleminge and yourselfe I had the relation of a true and a loveinge friend, whose office I was ever more reddy then able to performe: for now I am come under the relation of a Visitor, which as it layes a duty upon mee, for I shalbee reddy to attend it, to the good and the honor of that Society, and of every member thereof in particular to my power. In the meane time I shall not forgett that which your letters desier, which is to afford you all such freedome with mee ether concerninge the College businesses or your owne as shalbe any way fittinge their dispatch. I thanke you and that whole Society for your welcominge mee into this place: and that a great deale more for the scholler-like Letter was sent mee then for that which put the howse to charge, which I shall ever desire may bee spar’d. I have nothinge to desire of you and the fellowes, but that you will continewe, as you have done, in Unitie, and a studious course, that gods blessinge may bee upon the Colledge, and I may thereby receave an addition to my contentment in the place I beare. I pray let my Love and thanks bee represented, as I tender them boeth to yourselfe and the company. Soe I leave you all to the grace of god, and rest

Your very Lovinge friend

Wil: Bathon: et Welle:

Westminster. September 18. 1626.

To the right worshipfull my very loveinge friend Dr Smith Warden of Wadham Colledge in Oxford bee these delivered.

In his own time, Babbage's reasoning is understandable. The best machinemaking shops were by then highly organized and equipped, and manifestly innovative. Even so, Babbage qualified his view: extremely rare were ‘the more beautiful combinations … found only amongst the happiest productions of genius’. And, he noted, while inventions amounted to ‘a vast multitude’, many failed ‘from the imperfect nature of the first trials’. A larger number, while mechanically successful, proved non-viable in practice, for ‘the economy of their operations was not sufficiently attended to’.

A long road had been travelled towards institutionalizing mechanical innovation. Whether that made the process more efficient, how effectively creativity was managed, how sparks of brilliance and initiative channelled into something workable and economical, are questions to consider. The history of inventions, thought Mantoux, ‘is not only that of inventors but that of collective experience, which gradually solves the problems set by collective needs’. Finding a solution involves producing a design that can be executed into a working mechanism. Equally important is that a machine is functional and cost-effective in local circumstances. Mantoux, his focus the eighteenth-century high point of ‘productive association’, offers a non-specific definition, tied to neither time nor place. But what became of the innovation process after engineering was largely absorbed into factories, and apparently separated from its surrounding community?

The spurs to innovate remained broadly the same – speed, quantity, quality, efficiency. Each advance tended to knock-on, requiring change to other processes. Invention indeed bred invention. Engineers’ customers had little choice but to keep up. Hence Benjamin Gott persisted in trying to make Joseph Bramah's press work for him in 1802:

Salutem in Christo

Worthy Sir

I thanke you hartily for making staye of the two Murgatrod's Pardon of Yorkshyre. I had some speech with his Maiesty about it yesterday, and feare there hath been some misinformation given therin. But his Maiesty will speake with my Lords Grace of Yorke, and then you shall heare farther what his pleasure in this Particular. And in the meane tyme I am commanded to signify unto you, that it is his Majesties pleasure, that nothing be done further in it yet, untill he be better informed, at which tyme you shall not fayle to have notice accordingly. Soe with rememberance of my love, I leave you to Gods grace, and rest in hast

Your assured Freind

W: Cant:

Lambeth. October. 27. 1634

To my very worthy Freind Sir John Bankes Knight his Maiesties Attorney Generall, at Greys Inne. These.

Salutem in Christo.

After my hearty Commendations etc

I received toward the end of June last a Petition from you in the name of both your severall Congregations in Norwich concerning the iniunctions given by my vicar Generall in my visitation for the natives conforming of themselves to the English Liturgie, and resorting to their severall Parishes respectively. In this Petition of yours there wear severall branches, and in them divers allegations why it might be thought very inconvenient to command the natives to the English Churches and the observation of their discipline all which according to my promise to you I made knowne to his Majestie and the Lords in Counsell, and they commanded me to give you this answere, to each severall particular conteined in your Petition

And first in generall, his Majestie is resolved that my iniunctions shall hold, and that obedience shalbe yeelded unto them by all the natives after the first descent; but for them I told you att your being with me I had preveiled with his Majestie and the Lords that the natives of the first descent might continue in your Congregations, to the end, the aliens may the better looke to the education of theire children: and that your severall Congregations might not be too much lessened at once.

1. 1. And this gives answere in part to the first branch of your Petition. For if there had been any intention either in myselfe, or the State, utterly to dissolve your Congregations, I would never have desired this Favour for you, nor would the State have graunted it. Soe that heerby you may be well assured, there is nothing meant towards you, but good what soever apprehension you may have had for the present. And wheras you add that if the natives be taken away, the aliens being fewe, and of the poorest, will not be able to mainteine theire Ministers, and Poore. To this (which you have reason to take care of) you shall receive a very full and satisfactory answere heerafter to the 6th particular in your Petition.

2. 2. The second is utterly disliked, that men that are natives should be soe bredd, and brought up as not well to understand the English tongue.

Mye Lord:

I have receaved your Leters of the 4/14 of Januarye and they wear verye wellcome to me. And I doubt not but you will be as good as your word: That is since your services have bine hitherto acceptable to his Maiestye, you will not make your Conclusion shame your promises.

I doe somewhat wonder you should saye you had noe answear in Mr Secretarye Cokes Leter to your demands. For as far as I remember He was directed to give you an answear which had not bin often beaten over. But if anye thinge wear mistaken bye hime I can saye nothinge to that. ‘Tis true the answear went a little slopinge, but that Could not be helped, the offer of the Hessen troops interveninge between that of his, and mye former Leters to you. But your streight is I confess verye great beinge to answere M. Salvius propositions, and they such as from which he maye not depart.

I thanke you for sparinge the Repetition of your present dispatch, which hath ben verye fullye Considered of at the Committye. And nowe you shall receave from Mr Secretary Coke (if you have not allreadye for he was Commannded to make hast) a most cleare and full dispach what you ar to doe, both in the Treatye with the Kinge of Denmarke, and the other with M: Salvius. But the Expression I leave to Mr Secretarye whoe is intrusted with it. And I thanke you for the paper of M: Salvius his Reasons and Resolution which I have receaved.

You doe rightly stile it the accursed distempers of Scotland, or rather of some in Scotland, for I hope yett the Kinge will have a good Considerable partye thear, which with Gods blessinge maye keepe it from beinge Nationall. But an accursed busynes it is, and I hope God in Justice will returne it upon their owne heads. Howsoever ‘tis noe wonder that Salvius attributs his Jealousyes to it, since all our Neighbours make their use of it to his Maiestyes disadvantage.

Salutem in Christo

After my hearty Commendations

I have received your letters of December 7th and by which I perceave that you have brought your busenes to some conclusion. And I pray God it may be finall and a settlement of peace amongst you; which I have much laboured for and should at last be glad to find.

For the two Conditions, which Mr Helyar insisted upon you may seeme to have given full satisfaction to the first, by allowing him and his that proportion of fyne by your Act, which belong's unto him. But yet I must needes say you fall short in this; For you give him being a verie aged man noe other security for his ninth part, but a Chapter Act; which a new deane should God send one before the bargaine be Compleat, is not bound to stand to; but upon repayment of soe much money as is received may alter the bargaine, and leave Mr Helyars heire or Executor (if the old man dy there while) without that which now iustly belongs unto him. In this behalfe he hath written unto me very ernestly And in my iudgment his desire is not uniust. Namely that he may have that part which belongs unto him presently paid him or at least security given him for it to be paid him within five or six moneths. And for the avoyding of clamour and that you may the more freely proceed in this great busenesse of all your leases I would give you Counsell to see Mr Helyars ninth part paid within the tyme and in the way he desires; for by this meanes you shall quiett the busenes. And the thing desired (what er’e it may seeme) is noe great matter. For of the summe which is to be paid at our Lady day he is to have his ninth part, as alsoe of that which is to be paid at Michaelmas. And these two make upp his share of the moity of eight thousand pounds.

Salutem in Christo.

My very Good Lord.

I thanke your Lordship heartily for your Care of the Provost; And I had understood before by my Lord Deputyes Letters, which Came a little sooner to my hands, then yours, That upon some alterations there the Provost was to be Bishop of Corke and Rosse. And because of the Dis-union of Cloyne from them, my Lord I Thanke him, sent a minute of Letters That so Things might be drawne up without Error, or mistake. And I hope They are done accordingly. As for the Provosts keeping the College still, at least for a tyme, my Lord Deputy hath not so much as mention’d in his last Letters. And therefore I shall doe the best I can here, and then leave my Lord and the Provost to doe what they please there.

I am very Glad to heare your Lordship hath soe Good Evidences for Cloyne. And I make noe doubt, but you will make as Good use of them. My Lord thinkes as you doe, that Deane Sing will be the fittest man for Prosecution of this Busines. And I shall trust your Judgments, and so proceede for him. As for your Accompt, I must desire you to make itt as perfit as you can, And for my Lords whole tyme. But I shall give you that Leisure, which yourselfe hath desired.

If you see your Harvest as greate as e’re it was, you must finde some way to follow your worke the closer. And now you see how theire Dispositions are, which sitt at the Boord, it must bee your Wisdome to make use of Them as far as you Can, while the state standes as it does. And to prevent as much future hurt as you can against the tyme shall come that the face of that State shall not looke so favorably upon the Church, as now it does.

I am very sorry for the Omission of Bishops in the Committee for Plantation. But since ‘tis past Remedy, I shall reserve it in all the silence yourself desyres. Only I pray, Consider, May it not be Remedyed in the Plantations for Ormond, and Clare, though it be past in Connagh?

Sir:

I received your letters the last weeke, and this weeke Mr Harrington hath come to me by petition. Hee pleades not much to mee more then a grant from the Foundress; and that I presume you and the Fellowes would not refuse, if hee could make full proofe of it. Towards the proofe hee desiers to bringe witnesses yet rather for the avoydinge of trouble and chardge hee proposeth whither it will not bee sufficient to bringe the Testimonye of his Witnesses in writinge under a publicke notarys hand? I wish’d him to aske that question of you, whoe was to be satisfied for the Colledge, and of some Lawyers that might satisfye mee. I have bene this daie sollicited about him in Court, and I doe not find as yet that you have done your selves any greate wronge in the business, then by not puttinge him to the Statute sooner But howsoever two things I thinke will nowe be requisite. The one, that either your self or some Fellowe deputed from the Colledge come upp and drawe the Business to an issue. The other that the party which comes for the Colledge may bringe mee the Words of your Foundation which inable mee as Visitour to examine any of the Fellowes upon Oath: and whither they be in that Latitude, that if I may examine a Fellowe upon Oath, I may likewise examine any such Witnesses, as shalbe produc’d though they be not Members of the Colledge. And for the business it selfe I thinke it very reasonable you should leave Mr Harrington with his state unimpeachd untill such tyme as his cause be heard; provided that hee make noe delaye but joine present issue with you to have it determined. I desier you therfore to drawe it to an head as soone as you cann; and I shalbe reddy to laye bye any business that is but my owne to serve your occasions. Soe I leave you and that whole Society to the grace of God, and shall ever rest

Your very Lovinge Frend

Guil: Batho: et Welle:

Westminster. October. 18. 1627.