XVI. To my brother Mr H. P.
Brother,
MY brain was ore cast with a thick clowd of melancholy, I was becom a lump I know not of what, I could scarce find any palpitation within me on the left side, when yours of the first of September was brought me, it had such a vertue, that it begot new motions in me, like the Load-stone, which by its attractive occult quality, moves the dull body of Iron, and makes it active; so dull was I then, and such a magnetic property your Letter had to quicken me.
Ther is som murmuring against the Shipmon•…•…y, because the tax is indefinit; as also by reason, that it is levied upon the Countrey Towns, as well as Maritim, and for that, they say N•…•… himself cannot shew any record: Ther are also divers Patents granted, which are mutter'd at, as being no better then Monopolies: A∣mongst others a Scotchman got one lately upon the Statute of levy∣ing twelve pence for every Oath, which the Justices of Peace, and Constables had power to raise, and have still: but this new Pa∣tentce is to quicken and put more life in the Law, and see it ex∣ecuted. He hath power to nominat one or two, or three, in som Parishes, which are to have Commission from him for this Public Service, and so they are to be exempt from bearing Office, which must needs deserve a gratuity; And I beleeve this was the main drift of the Scot Patentce, so that he intends to keep his Office in the Temple, and certainly, he is like to be mighty gainer by it; for who would not give a good peece of money to