| Description | Letter in English, two sheets, damaged; dealing with Beale's affairs in France and discussing books and general matters.
Abstract:
Herbert (who complains that his letters to Beale have been delayed) has been attending to Beale’s affairs in Paris, including the recovery of a trunk. His own “stuff and books” have been “retained”; though of no great value they would have been useful and he particularly regrets the loss of his maps. Ortelius’ book could replace them but the price, he fears, is beyond him – “Plantin’s man selleth it ordinarily for seven crownes”. Belleforest has published a “history of the foure partes of the world” and St. Augustine’s De ciuitate Dei in French, but he has not bought them. He sends Beale a “table”. A Latin peroration indicates that Herbert originally meant to end at this point; he goes on, however, to report the terms agreed, after “mervellous covert” negotiations, for inclusion in the Peace of St. Germain. “Dyuers monsters have ben borne of late in July, twins linged together from the navel downewards; a pigeon with two hedes, foure winges, four fete, a colt with five fete, another with two hedes. Ffoure catts tyed together by ther navel”. Herbert would have sent pictures of them were it not that messengers disliked taking bulky packages. There are also a few other notes on current affairs. [abstract by James D. George]
Dated Paris the sixth of August 1570
Signed Yours most assuredly J. Herbert
Addressed: [T]o my loving frend Mr Robert Beale yeve these
Endorsed (later hand): Herbert Augt. 1570 |