I receiued thy most kinde letter and thanke thee for it I wish thy imployments coulde suffer thee to come home but I must wayt the time till I may enioy thee. though it cannot be without much want of thy beloued presence which I desyre alwayes to haue with me. I see it is the will of god that it shoulde be so which makes me beare it the more paciently, and not any want of loue in my beloued Husband now my deare I haue nothinge to right of to thee but my loue which is all ready knowne to thee, and it ware needeles for me to make relation of that which thou art so wel assured. I will leaue of this discorce for this time. I shalbe glad to heare of my daughter Mary how hir mach goeth forwarde. wee are all heare in reasonable good health I prayse god, which is the best nuse I can right to thee of. I heare that mr. Apulton is dead that lived at Sir R C2 he dyed very suddaynely on saterday being well ouer night, and thus with my best lou to thy selfe brother and sister Downinge my sonne John and daughter Mary I desyre the lord to continue all your healthes and prosper 354all your affayres and send vs a happy metinge. I being sleppy as you may see by my righting bid my good Husban god night and commit him to the safe protection of almyty god and rest—thy faythfull and obedient wife

— I hope it will please our good God now soone to fullfill our desires in comfortinge us in the wished enioyinge of each others presence, which tyme the neerer it drawes the more it ioyes me to thinke of it: for such is my love to thee (my deare spouse) as were it not that my imployment (whereto Gods providence hath disposed me) did enforce me to it, I could not live comfortably from thee halfe thus longe: and I shall now hasten home so soone as my businesse will give me leave, therfore lett John be heer on Saturdaye, and I hope (God willinge) to be with thee on teusdaye. I have nothinge to write to thee of, but that which wilbe the moste wellcome newes to thee, that through Gods mercye I am in health, and all our friends heer, and I trust to heare of the like blessinge upon thee and all our familye. The Lorde make us more truely thankfull: and so with my love and dutye to my good mother, hearty salutations to all our good freinds, Mr Leigh and his wife, brother Gostlin and sister, and all as thou knowest, with my blessings to our children, I commende thee earnestly to the grace and blessinge of our heavenly father, so I kisse my sweet wife and rest alwayes Thy faithfull husband

I did receue your most sweet letter by my brother Goslinge. and doe prayse god for the continuance of 354