I receiued your moste kinde letter dated in Octo. and your dayntie fruits wich indeed wear as good as ould eng. it selfe affords in theer kinde: but coming from new eng: and from your selfe, they wear rarities indeed: and wee then beinge att graces, I sent for them thither and sir hary and my lady wear much taken with them: sir hary profest it did much satisfie him, that things did prosper so well with you. nowe to giue you acount of our proceedings since my last to you: wee wear in progres from present after midsomer till part of Januarie, half of wich time wee wear at graces: and in the other half att groton, ason, shrubland, maplested, cowne: and whear not: and blessed be god for it in all those places wee both found all well in health, and wear well all of vs, all that time: exsept James a few ague fits: since my cominge home my self and mayds haue had agues: but I bless God for it: it hath leeft me againe and god hath hitherto moste gratiouslie preserued our famylie from the arrow of pestilence: or any other such sad disasters, as for our sins might moste deseruedlie haue imbitterd our liues, or depriued vs of life, and all comfort ere this: and on the contrary, hath he blest vs with many contents: now I know you wish vs noe less good then that thes cords of loue maye vnite vs to the fountaine of loue: in the firmest bands: but for the great cause, moste suddaine and sad is the change in so short a time: I confess a hart very dead might haue bine much rapt with the gratious light in those parts all that time: and in a way of admiration: god graunt that it may proue a gleeme before a storm, rather then a lightinge before the night of death, in this relation, might I spend more time and spirits then my condition will nowe permit, but I may spare: ill newes selldome wants messingers (in our climat) and what was then put in execution in those parts is at this instant calld apon in essex and but a month limetted for answeer: wich answeer its feard will proue a very fearfull sillence: thes are dayes of tryall. pray that our fayth fayle not nowe: I confess could a wish transport me to you, I think as big as I am, I should rather wish to bring an Indyan then a coknye into the world, but I cannot see that god 368hath yet freed vs for that Journie: yet I doupt not but if he call vs to it, wee shall discern prouidence clearlie thearin: and I see more proballitie of the concurrence of things that waye nowe, then formerlie I euer did, both for generalls and perticullers, if god pleas to speare our liues: but maye itt not be more sesonable for one in my condition to breathe my gratefullnes to so faythfull a brother as your selfe for all your surpasinge affections, both to me and myne, and to desire the continuance of your brotherly care of theer best education, wich is a very importunate suit of myne to you, whether I Hue or dye, but especiallie if god should preuent my indeuors theerin. george and his father complye moste cordyally for new eng: but poor boy, I fear the Journie would not be so prosperous for him, as I could wish, in respect you haue yet noe sosieties nor means in that kinde for the education of youths in learninge: and I bless god for it he is yet resonable hopefull in that waye: and it would I thinke as wee saye greue me in my graue, to know that his mynde should be withdrawne from his booke by other sports or imployments, for that weer but the way to make him good att nothinge: its true the collegdes hear are much corruptted, yet not so, I hope, but good frinds maye yet finde a fittinge tutor for him: and If it maye be with any hopes of his well doeinge hear, knowinge your preualency with my husband, and the hazard the boy is in by reson both of his fathers and his owne stronge inclination to the plantation sports: I am bould to present this sollisitous suit of myne, with all earnestnes to you and my nephew winthrop: that you will not condecend to his goeinge ouer, till he hath either attayned to perfection in the arts hear: or that theer be sufficient means for to perfect him theerin with you: wich I should be moste glad to hear of: it would make me goe far nimbler to new eng: if god should call me to it, then otherwise I should: and I beleeu a collegd would put noe small life into the plantation: as things are nowe ellswhear wear my scribship answeerable to my desiers of discourse with you I should be as tedious to you, as I am to my selfe, but in good maners I forbear your further trouble att present: and desireinge your prosperity, and prayers for me and myne, and a hapy meetinge either in this or a better life Your sister to commaund