I have wanted opportunitye to write vnto thee of our arrivall and successe. I prayse God we came safe hither on fridaye at night and have euer since continued in healthe, but have doone nothinge in our businesse because the Court was farr from London at Theobals, and now is remoued to Hampton Court, whither we are goeinge this morninge, and because we can goe and come by water, we have sent backe our horses, for we suppose we shall not be dispatched yet this weeke. I praye God send vs good successe, that we may each of vs returne to our owne home with ioye and thankfull heartes to him who hathe kept and prospered us: yet we have cause to feare the worst, in regarde that all thinges are so farre out of order, and that the sinnes bothe our owne and of the whole lande doe call for iudgementes rather then blessinges: but our comfort is that our God is riche in mercie, and that his thoughtes are not our thoughtes etc, therefore his will be doone: I shall thinke longe for our dispatche that I may returne, for my heart is with thee and thy companye. my brother Fones hathe been very ill of the gowte, but (God be thanked) he is now somewhat amended, she growes very bigge, they bothe desire to be remembred to thee and to my mother, so dothe my brother Downinge: we remember Groton every meale, and in our best imploymentes we are not unmindfull of you: The Lord guide all our heartes to seeke him and trust in him allwayes Amen.

For newes heere is little certaine: there came one out of Spaine on mundaye, who brought word to the Kinge that the Prince was within 2 dayes iournie of the Shippes when he lefte him, and that he is neither maried nor contracted:2 heere is muche speeche of the change of many 287great officers, which wilbe knowne within this weeke, and I hope to write3 to thee againe within these fewe days. And so for this tyme beseechinge our good God to blesse and keepe thee and all our familye, and to give vs opportunitye to meet with comfort and to make better vse of his mercies, to love and serve him as we ought, with the best remembrance of my true love to thy sweet selfe and our deare babes, with my love and dutye to my mother, and kinde salutations to Mr. Sandes and all our good neighbours, I embrace thee in the love of a faithfull husband and will ever remaine Thine onely

thy sweet Lettres without date how welcome they were to me I cannot expresse: both in regard of the continuance of thy health and thy little ones, my mother and our whole familye, for which I humbly blesse and prayse our good God and heauenly father, and doe heartyly begge of him and trust in him for the continuance of the same mercie to thy selfe and all the rest, as also in respect of the manifestation of the constancie and increase of thy true Loue, wherein (I seariously professe) I doe more reioyce then in any earthly blessinge: O; how I prize the sweet societye of so modest and faithfull a spouse! O; that I could be wise to be thankfull and improue it, accordinge to that esteeme which I haue of it, when I want it! I am heere where I haue all outward content, most kinde entertainment, good companye and good fare etc: onely the want of thy presence and amiable society makes me weary of all other accomplementes, so deare is thy Loue to me, and so confident am I of the like entertainement my true affection findes with thee: O that the consideration of these thinges could make vs raise vp our spirites to a like conformitye of sinceritye and feruencie in the Loue of Christ our Lord and heauenly husband; that we could delight in him as we doe in each other, 288and that his absence were like greiueous to us; But the Loue of this present world, how it bewitcheth vs and steales away our hearts from him who is our onely life and felicitye; but I must breake off this discourse: The blessed protection and fauour of the Lord be still with thee and all our familye, and bringe vs togither againe in peace: thou and the rest are kindly remembred of all heere, remember my duty to my mother and my loue to all thou knowest I wish it. my brother Fones is gotten abroad againe, my sister is as she vseth to be, the rest of vs are all in health (I prayse God) our businesse goeth on tho’ slowlye as matters vse to doe at Court. my brother sendes Richard home this daye and meanes to stay awhile himself, to see further successe. Let Sam: come vp on monday and bringe my horse, for I will leaue my brother heare awhile, let him be heere on teusdaye betymes, for I would goe out of London the same daye. heere is no newes but of the princes beinge at sea, where he hath bin wind bound a great while: Thus embracinge thee in the true affection of a faithfull husband, I will so remaine thine