let me first craue pardon for not writinge to you till now. I protest I was hindred by many occasions. I thanke god I like the country very well and can follow my study close without any hindrance wheras in the colledge I was too apt to be led away with company to the neglect of my study. I haue good bookes and nothinge to troble mee at all. I make bould to keepe your booke I pray you be not offended for I am goinge on a pace with it and when I have done I will bringe it you with many thankes for it and other your kindnesses let mee intreate you to remember my duty to my tutour. I hope to see him aboute Whitsuntide and to walke with him for all that I want now is such conferance as I was wont to haue with hime remember mee to your Aunt and Mary Hoyle3  313with all my frendes in the colledge as Will Vsher4 with the rest of them to whom I did read and soe with my prayers for you and all them I rest Your lo: frend

I beseeche the Lord God Allmighty to blesse thee and prosper this course which thou art, by his prouidence, entered into, and to returne thee home in safetye in his good tyme, which though I thinke longe for, (and shalbe still more greved at thy absence, if thy uncle and aunt should returne into England before winter,) yet when I weighe all considerations rather by judgment then affection, I had rather thou should continue still till the springe, or till thou maiest obtaine a degree,2 without which (for ought I can learne) this tyme wilbe loste: neverthelesse if your uncle shall thinke fitt, and your selfe shall desire it, I shall give waye, and be gladd to have you heere. I received no lettre from you since the 18 of maye: I must needs blame your want this waye: I expected to have had many Latine Epistles; but vix vnam et alteram accepi, vsq; vulgari penitus sermone exaratas. Si quid aliud in coniecturam incideret praeter communem causam ignauiam, paternus Amor facile excusationem suppleret: sed si alio perfugio vti non possis, quid restat quin Culpam agnoscas et redimere studeas. My true desire is that you may be a good proficient in your studyes, but my most earnest prayers and wishes are, that you and your studyes may be consecrated to Christ Jesus and the seruice of his church; for which ende, I beseeche the Lorde to furnishe you with all meet giftes, and to sanctifie you throughout, for I doubt not but, if it please the Lorde, to reveale himselfe once in you, and to lett you taste and see howe good he is, and what the worthe of Christ is to those who finde him, what riches, what pleasures, what wisdome, what peace and contentation is to be founde in Christ alone, you will willingly forsake all to follow him, and with Paul, those thinges which sometymes seemed great advantage to you, to account them lost for Christs sake. I can give you but a taste of 314these thinges, be constant in hearinge prayer readinge and meditation, and the good spirit of God shall reveale vnto you this great misterye of godlinesse and shall shewe you more then any tongue or penne can expresse Amen. Your grandmother and mother salute and blesse you, your brothers and sister are all in health (I prayse God). Your master at Burye3 salutes you, I merveile you never write to him, your good host and hostesse are well and salute you. So with iteration of my blessinge vpon you, and my kinde salutations to your Revd. Tutor, Mr. Downes, and all our frendes I rest Your lovinge father