I have received yours dated the 10th December, 1635, being very glad to hear of your wellfare, it doth somewhat rejoice my hearte when I 226consider and think what you enjoyne: my hearte is with you. I shall I hope be glad if the Lord make mee a waye which I hope hee will that I may come, see your and behold the bewttye of our God in those gouernings of his in his tempel: Sir, it dyd glad mee to see that you had not forgott mee and more that you would be pleased to take the paynes to wryte to mee. Sir, I have now put off my trade, and as soone as it shall please God to send in my debts, that I may paye what I owe and cleare things so here that I may come away without giving offence, I am for your parte, the Lord make mee a cleare waye: now Sir, seeing you have mee in your thoughts, help forward that Mr. Ransford may be accomodated with lands for a farme to keep my cattele, that so my stock may be preserved; for I conceive I have lost neare £500, as Mr. Willson can certifye you: thus not doubting of your love he rests Who is yours to command

Mr. Jacye deliuer’d a letter to me which was inclosed in a letter to him selfe, which had like to haue miscaried after itt came to his hand, he nott understandinge by the superscription to whom you had directed itt, and in this doubtfulness comminge to enquire of me if I knew of anie such gentleman in Yorkshire or Northumberland that had made anie such aduenture itt fell into his thoughts that the letter was intended to my selfe, and that the direction was purposelie made soe obscure for preuention of discouerie in case the letter had miscarried, and theyrfor he intreated me to reade the letter, and to consither itt: and then, I did (prima facie) discerne that itt was to my selfe. The reasons why I relate all these circumstances are these, first to shew you that letters are in uerie greate dainger of miscarriage by such obscure directions and secondlie though they fall butt into the handes of friends, yett I had rather haue the free enioyment of my owne thoughts and purposes to my selfe then that all should lye open to theyr eyes: Sir I beseatch you mistake me nott: for I infer nott from hence that I conceyue anie fault in you att all, for I know well, the cause of this proceeded from my owne tenderness, butt onelie to aduertise you of the inconuenience which I finde and the dainger of miscariage which may arrise this way: this is all I meane, onelie to intreate you 227that for better certaintie, as alsoe that my owne brest may be the sole Cabinett of my affayres (which I desire nott to communicate with anie butt your selfe and your worthy Father: nor that anie other should haue anie intelligenc from you of anie thing that concernes my owne particular) theyrfor that you would be pleased to direct your letters to my selfe well seald onely this if itt please you inclose them in a letter directed to Mr. Henrie Darley att the signe of the Lamb in Grays Inn Laine because it is a knowne place and he will deliuer them to me: for the Cowes, my desire is to preserue the increase by all the means that may be for I shall bringe ouer a greate Familie and if itt were possible I would be soe well furnished with that I might haue Beeues to kill as soone as I comm: What charge you haue beene att with them hitherto with them I will thankfullie returne you upon the receypt of your noates of disbursments: Sir I doe acknowledg my selfe exceedinglie obliged to you for all your paines and care for me. giue me leaue I pray you still to repose myselfe upon you; your trowble is like to be the greater because I haue soe few acquaintance in your Contry, butt my thankfulness shall be the greater if euer I haue an opportunetie to express itt:

I intend (if the Lord giue leaue) for ought I yett know, to send ouer a carefull and a painfull godlie seruant, if not two, besides somm sheepe from Holland and Goates from hence: I pray you if the seruants comm lett them haue your best helpe and direction, and when the sheepe or Goates comm lett them be carefullie disposed of for I feare whether my seruants cann comm att the same time: I desire to heare from you as often as possibly you cann how my stocke prospereth and I shall long to heare how they haue increased this yeare.

I pray you aduertise me what course I shall take for prouidinge a house against my comminge ouer, where I may remaine with my Familie till I cann be better prouided to settle my selfe; and lett me haue your best assistance and withall I pray you lett me receyue aduice from time to time what provitions are most commodious to be made theyr or to be sent from hence that soe I may make the best aduantage of my time before I comm, as alsoe what things will be moste expedient for me both for my necessarie use and benefitt theyr to bring ouer with me when I comm: Thus confidinge in your loue I rest Your euer assured friend