Hitherto the letter.[1] By which you may see _what came into my (not square) cap to call_ στιγμὴ _a mark with a hot iron, and that they who told me_ that, did no more tell me a lie than they told you a lie that said the same of στίγμα; and, if στιγμὴ be not right as I use it now, then call these notes not στιγρας, but στίγματα. I will not contend with you for a trifle. For, howsoever you call them, you are like to be known by them. Sir, the calling of a divine hath justly taken from you some time that might have been employed in geometry. The study of algebra hath taken from you another part, for algebra and geometry are not all one; and you have cast away much time in practising and trusting to symbolical writings; and for the authors of geometry you have read, you have not examined their demonstrations to the bottom. Therefore, you perhaps may be, but are not yet, a geometrician, much less a good divine. I would you had but so much ethics as to be civil. But you are a notable critic; so fare you well, and consider what honour you do, either to the University where you are received for professor, or to the University from whence you came thither, by your geometry; and what honour you do to Emanuel College by your divinity; and what honour you do to the degree of Doctor, with the manner of your language. And take the counsel which you publish out of your encomiast his letter; think me no more worthy of your pains, you see how I have fouled your fingers. ----- Footnote 1: Written by Henry Stubbe, M.A. of Christ Church, Oxford, who was, according to Anthony a Wood, “the most noted personage of his age that these late times have produced.” ----- THREE PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY AGAINST DR. WALLIS. TOGETHER WITH CONSIDERATIONS ON DR. WALLIS’S ANSWER TO THEM, BY THOMAS HOBBES, OF MALMESBURY. THREE PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY. ========== TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND OTHERS, THE LEARNED MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY, FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCES. PRESENTETH _to your consideration, your most humble servant, Thomas Hobbes, (who hath spent much time upon the same subject), two propositions, whereof the one is lately published by Dr. Wallis, a member of your Society, and Professor of Geometry; which if it should be false, and pass for truth, would be a great obstruction in the way to the design you have undertaken. The other is a problem, which, if well demonstrated, will be a considerable advancement of geometry; and though it should prove false, will in no wise be an impediment to the growth of any other part of philosophy._