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SIR THOMAS BARRINGTON, 29 DECEMBER 1629

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TO HIS MOTHER

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5    Madame My first knowledg of this bearer's journye towards
6you made me differ my intentions of sending purposely to you, and by
7him to present you with so much balsom as I could gett in London,
8which allthough it be not answarable in quantitye to my desyres and
9indevors, yet the qualytie may render som answarable satisfaction,
10haveing with som labor obtained it of a freind who hath made greate
11tryall of it; that which wants tharefore makes the worthe of the
12remaineder the greater. I wish and praye for a merrye new yeear unto
13you, and your safe and comfortable being emong us in it, and so many
14as God shall see best for us to enjoy such and so greate a blessing. The
15children of theire owne ernest desyre have presented you with theire
16owne, and that meearly so in matter and forme too, even to
17my sonn Oliver who would not so much as have it lookt on till he had
18finished. You will please to thinke I would not perswade them so much
19to trouble you, but I was unwilling to discorage them in that loveing
20indevor which was so meearly spunn oute of theire owne good natures.
21My wife offers her dewtie and love to you, humblye desyreing your
22excuse for her not wrighting, for that in good truth her present toyle
23is verye greate.
24    My brother Riche remembers you lovingly, who hath ben heear
25theise two dayes oute of his love and upon a busines relateing to my
26neice Alltham which you shall know shortly, one Mr St. Johns (but
27it must yet not be imparted to anye because the success is
28doubtfull). He is religious, honest, of sweetness in nature, discreet, his
29estate in land som 300^li by the yeear, his practise I beleive neear
30double, handsom for person, probable to rise, my Lord Bedford's only
31favorite, who promises that nothing shall hinder it for joyncture if his
32estate will make it good. I thinke it's not to be slighted considering his
33present meanes are so competent by his prefession and his likelyhood
34to rise so greate, considring how he is befreinded. I desyre to be
35remembred, and so doe my wife and sisters, to owr brother Gerard
36and our sisters, and my neice and uncle, and cosen Brewster, who I
37assure me is now with you. And thus I kiss your hands and pray to
38God to bless you and us all and am allwayes

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