I hauinge the 14th of this Aprill receiued of Mr. Barker a letter from your sister myne approued frind, and mr. Drake callinge this morninge to see if I had any letters, (he preparinge to goe for Pascataway and 77soe to you) I thought good, to let you vnderstand hereby that god hath still lent me life and health, the same I hope of you. I pray you thanke your sister for her remembringe of me (mr. Arkisden thinks you haue all forgotten him) and tell your sister I shall endevour to obserue and performe those good instruccions she sent me. I accidentally this morninge or rather by providence lighted vpon my bookes of the ordringe of silkewormes which I could wish with you for I heare you haue store of mulberie trees, doe but send for them if they wilbe any way proffitable or desirable I will with all convenient speede send them; I haue lately come to my hands (made by an excellent scholler and a linguist)—a prophet hath small honour in his owne Contrie—an English written Accedence and grammer of such a rare method that it is admirable to conceiue, which hath beene in obscuritie at least this 14 yeares, and by a speciall prouidence come to my hands I hope for the good of N: E: and the speedy bringinge of English and Indians to the perfect vnderstandinge of our tonge and writinge truly, and speaking elegantly. alsoe I haue of the same mans invention a booke of Characters, grounded vpon infallible rules of Syntax and Rhetorick. I would gladly print them that they might be the better dispersed amonge my frinds with you but that I doubt the mallice of some euely minded may hinder, or take them from me. if you thinke good I will send you some of the cheifest grounds and rules for a tryall; I conceiue it sufficient to teach the Indian children only to read English and to knowe none other, because they may not imagine there is the same confusion of tongues amonge Christians as there is amonge them. mr. Drake stayes soe that I cannot enlarge Thus with my continued respects and Loue to you and all my frinds I remaine Your loueinge frind till death

I humbly and most heartily salute you in the Lord, as also your loving Yokefellow, not forgetting the other Mris. Winthrops, your pious Mother and Sisters, to whom I pray you excuse me, for I want time to write. 78How affayrs go here, may better be related then written. Neither have I time to write the late passages of that worthy Swedish King: And besides I have not the late Corantoes to send you any of them, as I would: (for they ar of late as true as ordinary letters) yet seing like as cold waters to a weary soul, so ar good News from a far Countrie, Pro. 25. 25. I haue therfore sent you the best Corantoes we have in the house, that have things of most importance, though some of them long since, yet may be News to you, of another world. After you have perused them, I pray you send them according to their superscriptions. This I adde. After Tillie’s encounter with Gustavus Horn a brave Swedish Commaunder, a messenger that came from the Archduchesse must needs speak with our King his message was to certify his Majestie that Gustavus Horn had lost 10000 men, which Sir Isaac Ashly presently crossed, who being newly come from the King of Sweden said such a report came at 1 to the King of Sweden which made him very sad for 2 or three hours: then came a post to him from Gustavus Horn to certify him that the said Gustavus had lost 3 or 400 of his men, but had cut off 2 Regiments of the Enemie, and routed another. This being towards Bavaria, the King of Sweden sent thitherward a great Armie, which hath greatly spoiled a great part of Bavaria, making that as the seat of the Wars. Thereabout the Lord hath given that king divers great Victories. about 8 weeks since we heard that our Kings Majestie had a letter wherein was declared how the Forces of Tillie being encamped on the River Donaw, the Sweds came so hotly on them, that they were forced through the River, to escape, to Dunwerken in Bavaria. The King of Sweden having lately took a bridge neer, came upon them thereby quickly, and drove them out of the Town which yelded to him. tis said the King routed the Armie, took al his munition and ordnance, and took 3000 prisoners. Again we hear since, that Tillies forces being entrenched strongly by Donaw, and some othir forces within a few dayes were to joine with him, against the Sweds. Sweden seing their was no adventuring on the Land’s side, profered 10 dollars a peece (1.20s) to his Finlanders to lead the way over the great water, which some of them did, and but 3 of al drowned. Yet Tillie subtilly hath an ambushment against him, which the King of Sweden perceived, and seemd as if he did not, set his ordnance to follow the foot and horse: which being come to the place, and the Ambushment appearing, the horse turne aside one way the foot another and leave them before the mouth of the Canon to play on them. So routed the Armie. Of late the King of Sweden hath had his horse twice kild under him. Yet God preserved him.

The last news we heard was, that the Bores in Bavaria that slew about 300 79of the Swedish forces, and took about 200 prisoners, of which they put out the eys of some, and cut out the tonges of others, and so sent them to the King of Sweden which caused him to lament bitterly for an howr. Then he sent an Army and destroyed those Bores about 200 or 300 of their Towns. Thus we hear.

Great stir is among the Turks, because of the Emperour of them putting a Viseir Basha to death, by an other Basha, which caused a mutinie, the particulars I cannot, nor have I time to relate. Mr. Gurdon with Mrs. Gurdon and their sons and daughter were al wel lately, they having ben now a fortnight at London, and to stay about a 14 day more.

One Mr. Milburn that sets forth a Prognostic under the name of Sofford, says on the 3d of October next wil be a fearful Ecclipse of the Sun in New England, about a quarter before 4 in the afternoon is the midst of it, with us not seen, being about 8 at night with us. So he accounts. He desired me to write to some in N. E. to observ it, so should the Longitude be more perfectly known of N. E. I shal send you his observation of it: I pray you observe it and send me yours, which I shal returne with his, if you please. In great hast, I take my leave, resting Yours in the Lord