What construction you may put vpon my silence I dare not conclude, but I hope the best. The wise man saith that a Friend loueth at all tymes, and a Brother is borne for aduersitie. And heere is my griefe, That I cannot shew my selfe either, as I desire or as my dutie binds me. I cannot excuse my not writinge (though not out of neglect). But the present want of a more reall comfort and effectuall expression of my loue and seruice hath hither vnto hindred mee. If I should say I doe not truelie and heartilie reverence and loue you and yours, I should speake against my conscience. Yet I cannot satisfie my selfe with sole verball expressions But I desire to waite vppon God who will in his tyme bring all our matters to passe, and work all our works for vs. I haue had many sad thoughts about your affliccion yet I neuer doubted to this howre of your comfortable deliuerauce. I ame thinking sometimes that the Lord is trying of the whole Countrie, not but that hee knowes their hearts etc. well enough, but hee will haue you to see their loues and affeccions towards you also. Sometimes I ame thincking hee is vppon the tryall of your selfe in the exercise of your faith and patience and other graces: That as you haue bene beneficiall and helpfull all your tyme since you came over, in the course hee had sett you, now hee will make you beneficiall another way to vs all in an exemplarie cheerefull vndergoinge of Gods afflicting hand in wisdom and patience. Sir let mee say thus much to you. That your last Sicknes did you not good alone, but many others also obseruinge the lords guidinge of your spiritt vnder it: I blesse the Lord I can truely say I gayned by it, and I know some others that exprest the same. This I ame confident in The Lord is now louinge of you deerely. And his corrections are the corrections of a louing Father. If hee will haue you to be 189poore for a little while It is to make you richer hereafter, not onelie heere as hee did Job, but for euer heereafter to all eternitie. I ame glad to heere you are chierfull. Yet I know (in respect of others) your cares cannot be a few and I feare griefs also. The lord our good God in mercie cary you through them to his praise and your true comfort. I should haue bene with you at Court, but I ame aduised by all my friends to stay at home this tyme. And I was the more easilie drawen vnto it, because I finde my selfe worse and worse within this senight then I haue bene this moneth: my cold which I haue had this moneth or 5 weekes increasing vpon mee and head out of order vpon euery little wett in my feete. I therefore shall desire you good Sir to excuse mee to the Deputie and the rest of the Court, beseeching the lord in mercie to sitt amongest you and to guide you all in his feare to doe his will. To whose blessed protection I committ you, And rest Your Worshipps truelie and vnfeagned whiles I ame