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2    Sweet Harte I haue sent by this bearer fourteen woodcockes and a brace
3of feasants which came to me by chance very fortunately. If you will,
4you may send them to my Lady Knyvett, which if you doe, I pray lett
5this bearer cary them and remember my humble servis to my Lor: and
6Lady. I came home on friday nighte betimes sumwhat wery, but nowe
7am very well and doe hope to see the this weeke if it be possible. I
8pray remember my servis to S^r Tho: Holland and my Lady. So my
9deerest affection to thyselfe; I commit the to the protection of the Almighty
10god and rest
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24    the cause of my not writing to thee the last week was becaus I thought
25to haue been at home with the before my letter, and therfore I cannot chose
26but condemne y^r to rashe censure of my forgettfullnes; which although
27it proceeds from y^r infinite love, yet the assuered testimonies of my
28affection to you haue bene such as showld rather have layd the fault
29vpon something else, for I protest to god I love nothing but onely thee,
30and so rest assuered. For my busines, if I had not come vp when I did
31I thinke I had lost my mony, for certainely my Lo: mayor meanes to
32breake assoone as his yeare comes out, but I thanke god, I have got good
33securitie for my mony, and assoon as ever all things be finished betwixt

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34vs I wilbe with the, god willing, the next day, which wilbe, I hope the
35next weeke. Till when and ever I rest
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60    Sweet harte I am forst yet to send the shaddowe of my selfe, the true
61affection of a substance that loves you aboue all the world. My busines
62I hope wilbe effectually dispatcht presently and god willing I will be
63with the before you are aware. I haue been to look for stufe for y^r
64bedde and haue sent downe paternes for you to choose which you like
65best. Thay are the neerest to the patourne that wee can finde. If you
66lack anything accept sic my company you are to blame not to lett me
67knowe of it, for my selfe being only yours the rest doe followe. Thus in
68hast Intreating the to be merry and the more merry to think thou hast

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69him in thy armes that had rather be with you then in any place vnder
70heaven; and so I rest
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85    Sweet harte my entire love remembred vnto the. It is no litle joy to
86me to heere of thy wellfare, and our children. I pray god continue it.
87I doe purpose god willing to be with the on saturday nighte. My
88busines with Jones falls out still vntowardly, ther being a compacte of
89knavery amongst them to defraud the creditors but I hope to prevaile
90for my mony notwithstanding in a short time. I haue made inquiry of
91the land of Starbourg, and haue spoken with Beareblock, which M^r.
92Seriant Richardson did take very ill, fearing least I had made an agreement
93with him for his statute, which I would to god I had. I cannot
94tell yett how we shall agree but as neere as I can I will deale to our best
95advantage. My Lo: Knyvett lyes very weake still but thay that are
96about him saith he is much better since sunday then he was, which god
97increas and, if it be his will, restore him to his former health againe to
98our comforts. Y^r gowne and things are a making, but will not be done
99against whittsunday, which fault I must confess I deserue to be chidden
100for, but I hope it wilbe but gentill when I come home. All y^e weare at
101court is plaine white aprons, among the great Ladys.
102    Thus deer harte commending vs both and all ours to the protection of
103Almighty god I rest
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121    I received thy kinde letter, and returne the as true love and affection
122as can lodge in the hart of mortallitye. I thanke god I got safe to London
123on saturday the fornoone, and am very kindely intertaind of my cousin
124Knyvett and his wife with good cheer and good Lodging. I might have
125stayd my Journy a while longer if I had knowne it, for my cousin and
126my selfe going to the steward of Lambeth, we found that by Judds and
127my vncles vnderhand dealing, the Jury haue given in ther verdict and
128found my vncle heier to the moitye, but as yet he is not admitted,
129and the steward hath promised vs that he shall not be admitted till a
130certaine time be past which we desirde. It is like to prove a very troublesome
131busines, if we doe not agree quickly, but my cosin is absolute of the
132opinion that my cousin Abrahall shall not recover against me. I am
133going this afternoone to m^is. Hamden. I doe purpose to see y^r mother
134also. My Journy into Spaine is stayd, for the neewes heer is that the
135Prince is comeing home with all speed, and this is certaine that 2 shipps
136with horsses and Tilting provision are sent after and stayd. Some say the
137Prince is alredye married, other say noe. It is sayd that the Queen of
138Bohemia is in a pitifull case, almost distracted sinc the Princes going
139over. I pray god comfort her. Thus praying god to Bless the and thy
140houshould, commending my servis to my Aunt Bell, I rest
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158    in great hast I commend my best love to the. I haue stayd till I feare
159the post showld be gone for things to send you, but I cannot gett them
160to send this weeke, but the next week you shalbe suer of them. I am
161going presently to y^r mother, whoe is going to morrowe morning to the
162Bathe. I heear say Anthony Knyvett is with you. I pray send him vp
163with all speed, for ther is one busines which he must doe before I can
164come downe; it is about y^r wardshipp which if it be not lookt after may
165turne vs to a great deale of trouble and charge. I have had 2 meetings
166with my vncle but what shalbe done yet I knowe not because my cosin
167Abrahall is not in towne. I pray tell Gorge Keeper I would have him
168sell the wood in middle woode to the best advantage, according as he writt
169me worde. I am glade to heer of the kinde Answeare of my mother. For
170Clarkes kine I pray if thay be good, take them, and he and I will reckone
171for them at my retourne. I pray send mony for the horss to Horsnell.
172I have sent you with this letter 12 ounz. of counterfeite ose; if thay be
173not of the right sise I can have them changd. Send me word which
174of the twist you will have of. Thus in hast commend my respect to
175my Aunte Bell, I rest
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180May 1623
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186    My deere harte, I cannot forgett the obligation that I am bound in to the,
187that is to write to thee, which is the beste expression of my true affection
188that I can afoorde thee in my absence. I have seen my mother, who
189I thanke her have yeelded me more respecte then she haue vsed to doe. I
190hope in god time will wear out all vnkindnes. I was also to see y^r mother
191whoe it pleasd not to give me a sighte of her, but it was happines inoughe
192for me to convers with y^r sister Drury, who talkt at a strange rate, but

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193I had temper to heer her and so parted vpon fayer termes, onely wishing
194them a happy retourne, hopeing the Bath water would coole ther bloods.
195The onely happy newes that I can send you of y^r kindred is that y^r
196cousine Bourh is lately come over with great honor. He was the last
197sunday at Greenweech with the Kinge, who conferd the honor of Knightwood
198sic vpon him, but what eles he haue done I doe not heer. I hope
199to make an end of all my busines this weeke, and to be with thee the next.
200I haue sent divers things heer in a bundle, some for you and some for
201my Aunte Bell. I hope I have pleasd you that I may have more of y^r
202costome. The rest of y^r bill is makeing redy and also my sweetharts
203wascote. In the meane time pray her to accepte of that peece of burdseye
204to make a rufe of, falling round with a litle sett, not to deepe is all the
205fashion. I have no skill in buing of lace, therfore I hope she will pardon
206me. I cannot match my Aunts purles in all the towne, but I will have
207some for her if thay be to be got.
208    I did y^r messuage to m^r Towesend, who is grown so brisk, as no
209grownd can hould him. Y^r Nurss Keeper will be redy to wayte on you
210at the time appointed. S^r Francis Lee and S^r Phillippe Cary are harde
211at it for that wich was truly meante to thee and me, but (gods will be done)
212I hope he hath in store for vs sufficient. I have no more to say, but my
213everlasting love rest with thee, and that love that makes me but halfe my
214selfe till I be with the, and thus praying for a blessing for thine and mine
215I rest
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2195-11 May 1623
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235    Sweet
236Harte (thankes be god) we are come safe to London And I am very sory
237I came no sooner to have heard the cause between S^r Phillipp Carye
238and S^r Fra: Lee, which began on thursday last and held till saturday, and
239it is ordred very well for S^r Phillipp, for the land is to be devided between
240the chilldren, whether it be a match or no. S^r Fran: is not so much
241deiected as cast downe, and swears he will never goe to Lawe againe.
242James Pepper and olde Doll have browght m^is Hambden into a faier
243case for shee is like to loose Stanwell presently. She hath caried her
244selfe very partially in this busines, for which she will goe neere to smart,
245for she hath lost S^r Phillipp Cary, and he doth propose to prosequte her
246lease presently. Little Cromwell hath lost his parte cleane. My Lady
247Knyvetts will was cald in open court Paddyes will, and was almost
248proved so. I could tell thee howe S^r Francis, the night before the
249heering, made a great feast for his councell, and ther the busines was
250debated, and ther it went cleerly of S^r Fr: his side, S^r Randoll Crewe
251being Judge, but the next day the case was altered. Thus we see what
252wrangling ther is for the things of this world, which, if god had seen good
253for vs, might have been ours, but his will be done. Oh god sweet harte
254heer fell out on sunday last the lamentablest accident that ever was
255heard of, at the French Embassadors house in Blacke Friers, a great

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256number of Papist being at masse and to heer a sermon preched by an
257english Jesuite whose name was Wrighte. In the midst of his sermon the
258house fell downe and slewe aboue a 100 persons in the place, besides a
259great manye that weare mained sic , and some dead since. The Preest
260that preached was beaten all in peeces. Ther wear divers of good worth
261in the house, but we cannot heer certainely what thay weare, onely 2 Ladyes,
262one the Lady Webbe and the Lady Hutton. Doctor Moore, a Phisition,
263a great Papist was slaine ther. It was a most fearefull Judgment of god.
264God of his mercy give vs grace to make good vse of it. Yet for all this
265the papists gives out that it was a plotte of the puritanes, so insible sic
266are thay of the heinous offence committed against our good god, but suer
267I am it will be a great blowe to the Catholicke cause, for many that wear
268that way affected are stricken with a great amazement. Ther wear divers
269that went onely to heare and see the manner of it, of which some escaped,
270that wear perswaded to goe heer the sermon, because it was in english.
271His text was out of St. Math: Thou shalt not come out thenc till thou
272hast payde the vttermost farthing. So much for this fearfull accident.
273    For other newes I can tell you y^r Nephewe Brooke is married to a fine
274gentlewoman, my Lo: Dacres his sister, but what portion I cannot tell.
275Y^r sister Drury hath recovered 100^l per ann: and 400^l in mony out of
276her husbands estate. Y^r 2 Neeces m^is Carr and lusty Bess hath recovered
277one 3000^l, and the other 2000^l, but from whome I cannot tell. These
278are strange things, and I would have you wonder at them the more because
279thay be very true. Thus wishing all happines to thee and thine I rest
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301    Sweet harte I am very gladde to heare of all y^r good healths. I thanke
302god my busines goes on resonably well. My cosin Knyvett is so delatorye
303otherwise I showld soone have beene at home againe, but I hope to be
304with the about Saturday come senight at the furthest. Heer is no neewes
305worth the sending. I tould my cosin Hunne of my Auntes desire and he
306says he saith he hath not spoken with Pettus yet. I pray send me word
307whether Bishoppe hath payde the monye or no. I would not have that
308mony payde which Kinge writ for vntill I knowe whether it be due or
309on sic . I am in great hast, therfore I can not write so much as I would.
310Wherfore praying to our good god to blesse vs and all our actions, I rest,
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