I receiued yours of the 15. I am sory to hear matters are so ill, but it is easier born att distance, then in near relation. I hope it will shortlye appeare more euidently whear the mallady lyes, an the discouerers to appear more inocent. The good lord assist his poor seruants in his owne worke, for the enemy is still vigilant to peruert and blemish by one means or other, what is of god.

Your good sister2 is gone to visit the bay and it seems was more willinge boston should haue her brauery then poor salem, but was at present a little preuented, but I doupt not but hauinge possesion she maye and will in short time attayne her ends, and why she should be molested in it is much disputed and Mr. Peters much censured and condemned in crosinge his deed to her, but whilst men make our lawes they are fitest to jugd of them. but certaynly the woman is daungerously affected, and they that haue experience will finde noe less. I hear she hath an intent to present my sister with a gowne, and tould the party she heard her former present was acsepted, therefore if she could giue, she would try her power to sell. I hope some piggions are come to your hands and more had bin sent if I had had a larger thinge to put them in, but if you pleas to return the cage it shall be filld agayne. so with my best seruis to my good sister and cosens all, I rest yours to command

my humblest seruice remembred to you: I now with much consideratione (and thinkinge of all thinges, and businesses) doe write to you. First of all; my father sent mee to this countrie verie hastelie, (and ouer-much inconsiderately) indeed it is a sore greife to mee, that I 344should charge my prudent and most deare father with the euill of rash doeinge of thinges: but yet beinge compelled in this time of straighteness, I must say itt. My father sent with mee provitiones enough for to serue mee a yeare or towe; as Meale, Flower, Buttar, beefe. I haueinge lost my meale and flower was compelled to sell the rest of my provicion, and indeed being counselled soe to doe, I immediately did itt; Then Mr. Eaton, and Mr. Dauenport haueinge noe direct order what to doe; wished mee, and sent mee vnto Mr. Eaton the marchants brother to be instructed in the rudiments of the Lattine Tongue (in which, with practise, I shalbe prettie skilfull). I liued with him about a moneth, and uerily in that space he spake not one word to mee, scilicet, about my learninge, and after he went awaie, I liued an idle life, because I had noe instructour. After all this: I was sent (by Mr. Bellinghams order) vnto Mr. Willis of Linne, the Schoole-maister: and theire I liueing priuately gott the best part of my lattine-tongue, but yet not by his instructiones, butt indeed onelie by seeinge his manner of teachinge, and gatheringe thinges of my selfe, and alsoe by bribeinge (or giueing gifts to) his sonnes for patternes; of which Mr. Willis neuer knew, as yett: This last half yeare hath binne spent in receiueing instructiones frome Mr. Dunster, whoe (blessed be god for itt) hath binne a guide to leade mee onne in the waie of hummane litterature, and alsoe in diuine: Thus much for my cours in this lande: Seeing Sir you out of youre fountaine of wisdome, doe adiudge that it is my fathers will and pleasure that I should betake my selfe to one thinge, or other, whereby I mighte gett my liueinge (O Tempora O Mores!) why! for my part I shall be willinge to doe anie thinge for my father (God assistinge mee) att Quille-piacke, as to help to cleare grownde, or hough upp grounde, quia enim, qui humiliatur, is uero tempestiuô exaltabitur: But I pray you Sir to make the waie cleare for mee to goe to England, soe that I may speake more fullie to my father; and with my freinds, soe that and if my father hath caste his affectiones off frome Mee (which if I had but one serious thought that waie, it would be the distractinge of my spireite all the daies I haue to liue. the curse of the parent is the greatest heuiness and burden to soule of a childe that is, my father neuer made anie such thinge knowne to mee) that I might not loose those opportunities that are offered to me by one of my Vncles, whome I am certaine will doe mee anie good, and if that my father be offended with mee, then if I be att London I feare not but that my Vncle will pacifie my fathers wrathe. thus I end. your obseruant seruant