Deare because fewe the like to me, and truly noble beinge one of the Lords Worthies, your letter of July last was much welcome, in that it brought tidings of your recouery, and your thriuinge in the wildernes of N: E: I cannot as yet satisfie your desire in sending ouer to John Samford as I would, for you would wonder what discoragements the diuell putts in most mens mouths against your plantations, some that you are all comminge home, others that you are all gone or goinge for Virginia. for my parte I shall and will by gods leaue endeauour to continue towards you and the worke semper idem; here inclosed you shall find a booke of the probabilities of the N: West passage,2 not in the 60 or 70 degree of N: latitude, but rather about the 40th. I sore suspect the Hollanders will haue the glory and benifitt of the passage about Hudsons R. yet God the Author and Finisher of all good works will (I belieue) that all shalbe for the good of his Saints. I heare the french haue this summer transported a company of priests and Jesuits and such vermine to Canada; but how longe they will staye there, it is a question. I conceiue the land to cold for theire hott natures.

The vernish for clothes to keepe out wett, I cannot yet learne, but as soone as I can, the next shipp after shall aquaint you with it; As for my vsuall characters they are that wherewith I conceiue you haue bin formerly acquainted vizt. Mr. Arkisdens, whoe hath sent you a letter here inclosed in John Samfords. I thought good to send you his character for feare you should haue forgotten it, as thus

A a b c d e f g h h i k l m n o p q r r ſ s t u w x y z

Select image view for page 94 to see cipher.

they are approued of in Cambridge to be the best as yet invented, and they are not yet printed nor comon. you may abreuiate them thus, c. for Christ, Ч. God, . Jesus, ⋂ king, ⋃ lord, ⨀ people, etc. / stands alwayes for the, /˙ for thee, ’ for w. or wh. a little vse will make perfectnes; send me word whether you like it and I will send you more direccions.

I thanke you Sir, for remembringe soe farre of when Mr. Saltonstall was with you; by your meanes and good words of me to him, I haue obtained a most singular sweete frind of him. Euer since Michelmas last, haue I had inward familiaritie with him; he perswadinge me it was your desire that I should imparte my selfe vnto him, on your behalfe, and for the good of N: E. I had enlarged myselfe, but that my master called me to write vnto you for him; wherein you shall heare most of our latest newes; I praye you remember my humble seruice vnto your noble father, my most honored frind, and his right vertuous wife, and thanke him, for that he hath bin pleased to regard the good will of his poore seruant, in sending him a letter of encoragement, which was more welcome to me, then any guift besides; remember my loueing salutations to your Sister Feakes and her husband though vnknowne thanke her for her lettre and tell her that I went with hir brother in lawe to Mr. Kirbys and procurde in my master his absence, the monie vpon the bill of exchainge; remember me alsoe to your brother Dudley and his louinge wife, and all others to whome you please to recommend my loue. Thus though in the last place; yet not in the least place, my harty loue and affections to you and your best beloued remembred, with daylie prayers for your healths and prosperities, I rest Tuus ex animo et adyto

Here I haue sent you a taste of the famous and farre renouned English man of our Tymes Dr. Fludd,2 whoe as you may remember published a booke in defence of the weapon salue before you went ouer, but that is nothinge in comparison of these here menconed, which are all folio bookes, and full of brasse peices, the like I neuer sawe, for engines, fortificacions, and a touch of all opperatiue workes, as you may conceiue by the titles; yet let me tell you this, that the titles, nor my penn, is not able to expresse, what is in those bookes, as they are, noe more then you in a map of a sheete of paper, can exactly describe the riuers, creeks, hills, dales, fruite, beasts, fishes and all other things of your contrie; for I thinke it almost imposible for man to add vnto his macrocosme and microcosme, except it be illustration or comment, and that hardly too; his bookes are so bought vp beyond sea, we can gett none brought ouer. Fetherston, the Latine warehowse, nor all London, could within this moneth, shewe these all together to be sould. I layd out all this last longe vacation for them at Hills in Little Brittaine; whoe laid out for them for me and brought them me home compleat as here you see the titles which I could with all my harte wish the bookes themselues were in your hands as certaine as any thing you haue.

I had nowe sent you a catalogue of the marte bookes, but that I would not take any mans busines out of his hands. The iiiili xiis I had deliuered to Mr. Kirby ere nowe, but that he said he had none vse of it vntill the springe; he called to me for it, about a weeke since, when I not dowbting it, had lent it out, but I gaue him then xxs and haue since receiued xxli out of which I intend to pay the remainder as soone as I can goe to him, or see him; I had thought there with (by your leaue) to haue purchased Dr. Fludds works for 97you for I doubt within this xii month they will hardly be gotten for xli. Vale in Christo. Your assured faithfull frind in life till death