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

I beseech our God and heavenly father throughe Christ to blesse thee and I humbly prayse his holy name, for his great mercie towardes thee hitherto, which is a great occasion of my reioicinge: for there is nothinge in this world that can be like cause of private comfort to me as to see the wellfare of my children, especially when I may have hope that they belonge to Christ, and increase his kingdome, and that I shall meet them in glorie to inioye them in Life eternall, when this shade of Life shalbe vanished. labour (my deare sonne) to have in high esteeme the favour of this God, whose blessinge is better than Life, and reachethe to eternitye; make him thy ioye, by trustinge in him with all thy heart, and nourish the peace of a pure conscience in an vndefiled bodye: I am gladd 289allso to heare that thou declinest the evill companye and manners of the place thou livest in, and followest thy studye with good fruit: goe on and God will still prosper thee, to fall back wilbe farre worse then never to have begunne, but I hope better of thee. your Grandmother and mother brothers and sister, are in healthe (I prayse God) how we doe all heere at London this bearer can tell you; your vncle Fones wishes well to you I would have you write him a lattine epistle at your leysure. you must be carefull to visite your Aunt, and helpe hir to be cheerfull in this tyme of your vnckles absence. Comend me heartyly to your Reverend Tutor: and think not of seeinge England till you may bringe a hood at your backe. It shall satisfie me in the meane tyme to heare of your wellfare, which I dayly pray for, and so I commend thee to the Lord and rest Thy lovinge father