— My duty remembered to your selfe, my mother and grandmother, with my love to my brothers and sister, my uncles and aunts and all our good freinds—may it please you to understand that we arrived at Con­409stantinople2 the 13th day of September all in good health (God be thanked,) hoping the same of yourselfe and all our freinds. When I came to this place I found the gentleman3to whome my letter of credit was directed to be absent, beinge gone down to Smyrna, his returne expected now every day, but have been furnished with monyes from his Assignee;—the bill of exchange I shall not send till his returne. I shalbe forced to take up more then willingly I would, by reason of our going to Venice, where we are likely to stay a good parte of the winter, and our long stay heere, and some places we touch at in the way: What I shall pay a dollar I know not yet, but the dollar goeth very high heere by exchange, being worth 5 s. 4 d. English: By the next vessell I shall God willing write againe, and at Venice shall hope to heare from you. If you write thither, it be best to direct it to Capt: Maplesden. The newes heere is of the Taking in of Esrom4 by the Grand Seignior which was kept by a rebell; the grand Seignior’s forces are now in seige of Bagdat, alias Babilon, which the Persian holdeth. Heere have been lately many fires in Constantinople. One burnt downe twelve thousand houses.5 Thus with my duty againe remembered, desiring your prayers and blessing, I rest Your Obedient son