Briefwisseling van Hugo Grotius. Deel 17

977A. [1625 mei 9]. Aan E. Herbert of Cherbury.¹

Optime semper convenit iustitiae cum veritate. Quare mirari non debes, si pro iustitia scriptus liber confugit ad nobilissimum veritatis patronum. Si non sublimi spiritu nostra se erigit oratio, si contenta saepe est humi serpere,² facile haec tu condonabis, Harberte amplissime, si cogites non tantum quid Harbertus Grotio praestet, sed et quantum distent legatus et relegatus. Quanquam enim literarum studia adversus Fortunae insultus magnum nobis praesidium promittunt, illa tamen impotens domina³ nos quantumvis reluctantes vim suam sentire cogit, ita ut etiam invitis nobis in nostris operibus suae violentiae imprimat vestigia. Accedit quod iampridem ingenti calamitatis meae solatio careo, tuis alloquiis, quanta humanitate, quanta sapientia imbutis dicere apud te non audeam. Sed si veritatem clientem illam tuam mihi cordi esse credis, - et ut credas simplicitate mea mereri me arbitror - velim existimes neminem esse qui te magis colat ac veneretur quique a te amari pluris aestimet.

Ex matrimonio regiae hic sororis cum rege nunc vestro bona omnia tum orbi christiano, tum patriae imprimis nostrae ominamur.⁴ Faxit Deus et te Britanniae tuae ornandae sospitem diu praestet,

tuae Nobilitati observantissimus,
H. Grotius.

1 Hs. Londen, Public Record Office, PRO 30/53 (Powis papers) vol. VI, nos. 69-70, eigenh. oorspr., met een vertaling in het Engels (bijiage). Vgl. Catalogue of valuable printed books, including books from the libraries of Edward, first Lord Herbert of Cherbury (1583-1648), including the presentation copy of Grotius's De iure belli ac pacis ..., which will be sold by auction by messrs. Sotheby & co. (20-21 Maart 1967), p. 27 (sign. Den Haag, KB, Vc 9188). Beantw. d. no. 1025 (dl. II). Edward Herbert (ca. 1582-1648), Engels ambassadeur in Frankrijk, was in juli 1624 teruggekeerd, nadat hij in Parijs zijn De veritate had gepubliceerd; vgl. CSP Ven. 1623-1625, p. 350 en 401; D.A. Pailin, ‘Herbert von Cherbury’, in: Die Philosophie des 17. Jahrhunderts, III England, p. 224-239. Grotius en Daniel Tilenus hadden Herbert tot publicatie van zijn werk aangezet (J.M. Shuttleworth, The life of Edward, first Lord Herbert of Cherbury written by himself, p. 120 en 149). In december 1624 werd Herbert Lord Castleisland (Kerry, Ierland) en in mei 1629 Lord Herbert of Cherbury (Shropshire, Engeland).

2 Horatius, Ars poetica 28.

3 Zie voor ‘impotens’ (teugelloos, tyranniek) als epitheton van Fortuna: Seneca Minor, Agamemnon 247 en 593; vgl. O. Zwierlein, Kritischer Kommentar zu den Tragödien Senecas, Mainz etc. 1986, p. 460-461 (ad Octavia 377).

4 De huwelijksplechtigheid van Henriëtte Maria en Karel I van Engeland vond plaats op zondag 11 mei 1625 (CSP Ven. 1625-1626, p. 35 en 44).

Lutetiae.

Adres: A monsieur/monsieur Herbert, chevalier.

Bijlage:

There has allways been the nearest affinity between right and truth. 't Is no wonder therefore that a treatise upon the rights of nations should fly to the protection of one who is the chief support of truth. Tho' this treatise does not soar in the sublime, but rather

[p. 267]

creeps in an humble style, yet you can readily make reasonable allowances, most noble Herbert, if you will be pleased to consider not only the great difference between a Herbert and a Grotius, but betwixt an ambassador and an exile. I mention this because, tho' application to learning is generally attended with a security from the severity's of fortune, yet in spight of us she will exert a tyranny over us, soo that her influence will appear even in our very writings. Add to this that I am now deprived of your conversation, which was once my support under my aff[l]ictions. Your modesty checks me when I think of mentioning the agreeableness, the humanity and the great learning which ran thro' every part of it, but if you believe I am a lover of that sincerity which is your favourite qualification, - and I own I have assurance enough to think you believe thus of me - I desire nothing more than your placing me amongst the first of your friends and my having the happiness of your friendship.

The match between our king's sister and your king promises much happiness to christendom in generall, but particularly to our country. God prosper it and protect you for the sake of Brittain,

yours most devoted,
Hugo Grotius.

Paris.

Bovenaan de vertaling staat: A letter of Hugo Grotius to the lord Herbert, who was ambassador in France, but written to him when in England and sent together with a treatise he had wrote on the rights of nations.