IF you knew my néed, you would not deny me, spe­cially knowing the good you may doe me. Your ex­cuse may proue more wit, then loue, and, my want, more gréeuous, then I hope your good will would me: that which will hurt you little will help mee much, and what my remembrance shall be of your kindnes, shall rest in my thankfulnes: If protestations be not idle, you will performe the part of a friend, to put your will to your power, to pleasure him once that will loue you euer: In Summe, leauing my hopes comfort to your kinde answere, I rest:

I Will not deny you, though I cannot help you, in that measure of comfort, that may answere your expectation: for, my purse is not euen with my Credit, though I will not complaine of po­uertie. Come therefore to me, and know me, that, Truth hath no Trickes, and I will not falter with a Friend: as I know my estate, I must manage my affaires; if I hurt my selfe, I can not help my Friends, but since bare words yéeld little comfort, you shall finde better fruits in my affection: I know you are wise, and hope to find you kinde, in being perswaded of my loue, to be as ready as able to performe more then I will protest: so expecting your presence, in assurance of your patience, till I see you, and alwaies, I rest:

HOnest Will, I Condole with thée in thy discontentments, though I cannot ease thee of thy sorrowes: but though my comfort be little, let not my Counsell dislike thée, to tell thée what I thinke, that will not be amisse for thee to thinke on: The Tra­ueller must not giue ouer, till he come to his iourneys end, and till the daies worke be done, there is no looking for wages: deepe waters are dreadfull to them that feare to wet their feet, but, wisedome will through though shee wade vp to the Chin; be­leeue it, it is the Euening praiseth the Day, and he is only happy that holds out to the end: stand therefore to your tackling: For though your crosses are greeuous, yet surely is your blessing great, in being so well able to goe through them: and therefore fight the good fight, and your conquest will be comfortable, and if not héere, yet in Heauen: shortly, God willing, I will see thee, and till then, pray for thee, that thy faith may neuer faile thee: and that I may find thee in such rest, that I may ioy in thy Reso­lution: till when, and alwaies, I rest.

KInde Robin, I am sory you are sory for me, because it will doe you more hurt, then me, good: yet am I so far comforted in your Counsell, that if I could be my selfe, I should be much benefited by your instructions: but if oppression make the wise­man mad, beare with the imperfection of Fooles: and know that when patience is put to her strength, passion, puts Grace to her Triall, I speake not this in dispaire of mercy, for God is all-suf­ficient as well in Comfort, as Correction: but, crosses abroad, and crucifyings at home, vnkindnesse of kin, vnfaithfulnesse of friends, breaches of vowes, delaying of times scorns of beggars,[Page]and scoffes of fooles, with frustrating of hopes, in prayers of faith and teares of repentance, haue almost broken my heart, which onely liues in the Grape to know an end of my griefe: yet will I tarry the Lords leasure, and till then rest full of griefe.

GOod Vnkle you writ vnto me, to know what fruit I haue made of my study: To tell you truth, in reading ouer my Alphabet, I found in all the Crosse Rowe, the worst letter was, O: especially when I, went before it, and V: followed after it: For there finding that I o u, and can not yet come out of your debt, I cannot be agrieued, that you are di [...]contented, that I o u, and can not help it, yet thus much I gaine by my reading, to finde in my conscience, the charge of my debts, which I will dis­charge with all the spéed that I am able, and in the meane time entreat my friends to that patience, that shal be nothing to their disprofit, among whom holding your loue in no little account, as­suring you ere long to héere from me, and in the meane time not vnthankefull for your kindnes: I rest.

GOod Cosen in your Alphabet you say you find o, the worst Letter, now, with me it is not so: for I finde it rather in h: which I féele not in my Toe, for I am not so Rich as to haue the Gowt, nor in my head, for I thanke God, I haue reasonable good health of body, but it is onely at my Heart to thinke of my vnhappinesse to haue so ill comfort of my kindnes: yet, let mee not write this to trouble you, your Debt beeing but a Trifle; and therefore knowing your honest heart, I leaue the time, to your best abilitie, and in the meane time hoping of your loue, I[Page]wish you not to hurt your selfe to help mee; for though I am poore I am no begger, and will not be vnkind to them I loue: in which, be yow assured, I will rest, during life:

WOrthy Lady, if I could not dissemble I were a foole, but if I would I were the more foole, knowing your wisedome to know craft to be the greatest folly, and your vertue to allowe onely Truth, to be the best Elequence: In plaine Truth there­fore, giue me leaue, to lay the seruice of my heart, at the feete of your fauour, where if the desarts of my endeuour may not bee disdained, your Honor shall not be embased, where your vertue is honored: so crauing pardon for my presumption, in the Hu­militie of affection, I humbly take my leaue.

SIr I haue receiued your Letter, and by the Contents gesse at your content: but giue me leaue to tell you that protestati­ons are perilous shadowes, and the Diuell neuer deceiues more then when hee comes like an Angell of light: I speake not this with an ill coniecture to wrong a good minde, but the world is so full of Treason, that Truth is crept into a little Corner: To honour vertue, I cannot denie you, and to deserue well I can not disswade you, but in the happinesse of my fauour your hopes may bee deceiued, though thus farre, I subscribe to your petition, that I will disdaine no honorable affection, but wish I were a more worthy Mistris of so worthy a Seruant:[Page]and so in that care of my discretion, that may be no touch to my reputation. I rest.

THe Pellican kills her selfe, to feeed her young chickins: an vnkindly brood to bee the death of their breeder: the Cuc­koe kills the Sparrow that hatcht her: Oh vnnaturall bird to be her death, that gaue her life! and the little Snakes eat out the belly of their damme ere they come abroad: Oh most hatefull worme to bee of so hellish a nature. Now seeing the shame of these, wilt thou like a shadow follow their substance? with thy disordinate life to bee the death of thy father? I loue thee dear­ly, and wilt thou greiue me deepely? doe not so good Sonne: turne the glasse of thy disgrace, to a course of better comfort: Leaue the world and come home to mee: I will meet thee halfe way with my roabe and with my ring, I will wed thee to my loue, and the fat Calfe shall bee killed to make a feast for thy comming: so beseeching God so to blesse thee that I may see the fruits of his grace in thee, till I see thee or heare from thee, to the Lord of Heauen I leaue thee.

MY déere Father, I most humbly thanke you for your kind Letter; which hath so wrought in my loue, as hath almost Metamorphos'd my mind from the humor it was in: for since that Grace hath opened the eye of my vnderstanding, to discerne betwixt good and euill, I finde him worse then a De­uill that feareth not God, and a Child to be loathed that loues not his Father: pardon therefore what is past, and feare not[Page]what is to come. You inuite me to your house, that am worthy to be driuen from your doore, and will méete me halfe way, that merit banishment from your presence, and make me a feast that deserues euer to be kept fasting: but this shewes, loue descends before it ascend; God came to Man, ere Man could come to God; your loue called me to comfort, before I could come to re­ceiue it: In summe, your kindnesse hath bound my loue in an in­dissoluable duty, in which I hope shortly to see you, and till then euer to pray for you, that all happinesse may befall you: and so humbly rest.

SWéet Creature, if the World did not hold thée faire. I should thinke my selfe blind: and if the wise did not admire thée, I should not so much honor thée: but since, thy worth deserues more honor then I can giue thée, giue me leaue onely to pray for thée, that no black spot of pride may staine the faire white of thy vertue: but that, continuing in thy goodnesse, thou mayst enioy the fulnesse of thy happinesse: and for my selfe, that in the desert of thy fauour, I may be a Seruant of thy command: in which, more hoping in thy vertue, then presuming of my fortune: I rest.

KInd Sir; I would be as loath to be the gaze of the Worlds eye, as the subiect of your fiction: and for the honor of wise­dome, it should bee rather in the Heauens then the Earth: for your prayers, I thanke you, though I hope they are more chari­table then necessary: and for your seruice, take it not vnkindlie,[Page]that I wish you a more worthy Mistris: and so intreating you to giue me leaue, to leaue you to your selfe, whom you haue most reason to make much off; I rest.

IF you were as wise as Salomon, yet if you were not more ho­nest, I would not giue a penny for your wit; if you were as rich as Craesus, yet if you want grace, I would not giue an halfe penny for your wealth; and if you were as faire as Venus, yet, if you want vertue, I will not giue a point for your painting: Counterfeit modesty, is plaine hypocrisie, and to flatter for gaine, is the common course of the world: Babies in gay coats are Childrens sports, and fooles Idols: For my selfe, I haue knowne you long, and began to loue you, but finding your folly, I haue with-drawne my affection; and to play faire with you, vpon euen tearmes. I had rather giue ouer my game with a lit­tle losse, then haue a bare stake to set my rest vpon: so wishing you henceforth to make your best match for your aduantage, and not deceiue your selfe with hoping after a fooles fortune, mea­ning as little as I can to trouble my thought with your idle hu­mors. As I found you, I leaue you: and so rest.

VVHat you thinke of your selfe, I know not, and what your estate is, I care not: it séemes you are well read[Page]in names, but lack iudgement in applying their natures: they that feare not God are worse then the Diuell, and they that want grace are in a pittifull taking; for vertue, it is so rare, that thinke Venus better fits your humour: for your pence, halfe-pence, and points, they are but Pedlers ware, and therefore I haue nothing to doe with such Chapmen. Hypocrisie mistaken, may take Iealouzie in an idle humor, and as good be a painted Baby as a péeuish Bowby: for your gaine, if you be not pleased, you may change your Card or be content with your fortune, and for your franke play you are so fresh a gamster, that I thinke losse of time will be all that will be gotten by you: and so wish­ing you to keep your money in your purse, play with children for Apples, that you may eat your part of them, if you loose: like a white God-sonne, I wil leaue you to your mothers blessing: and so rest: till I sée you, which I hope to doe, neuer.

COzen how kind you haue found me, you know, and how vn­thankefull, I haue found you, I would I did not know: to be so long from me, and in your silence to forget me: in the notes of a good nature, I finde no such ill disposition: but lest I may wrong you, and my selfe, with a false suspition of vnkindnesse, not knowing the cause, that may be excusable, I pray you write vnto me by this Bearer: for if the cause of your silence haue bin sicknes, I am sorie for it, if your Letters haue béen lost, or inter­cepted, we are both wronged, howsoeuer it is something is a­misse, which I wish kindely to be amended: not to trouble you with a tedious Letter, the Contents perhaps discontentiue, till I heere from you, which I expect presently, in the nature of a kinsman and loue of a friend, without great cause to the contra­rie: I rest.

MY good Vnkle, how kinde so euer I haue found you, I now finde you contrarie, when in the Construction of dis­positions, exprobation, and vnthankefulnesse make a hard Choise, which is the greater Cut in vnkindnesse: you thinke it long, since you heard from me, and I heere from you to soone, when, in your writing, I finde you so farre from your selfe: for, could I not be my selfe, I should forget you: but, if a Carde come crosse, shall the game be giuen vp? and if there fall out a mischance, shall it giue suspition of an ill minde? I hope not: well the cause knowne of my silence, I leaue so the report of this bearer, to whom I know you will giue trust: and by whom, I send you an other written long since, how miscar­ried and returned, being tedious to write, I will leaue to his deliuerie: so hoping, that when you finde where the fault is you will there lay the repentance, in the true assertion of a Na­turall kinsman, rather willing to deserue a good turne, then to heere of it: I take my leaue.

MY good Daughter, thou art now going into the world, and must leaue to be a Child, and learne to be a Mother, and to looke to a family, rather then to the entertainement of a friend: and yet, both necessarie in their kindes: finde the disposition of thy husband, and in any wise moue not his impatience: Let thy kindnesse binde his loue, thy vertue his comfort, and thy Huswiferie his commendation: auoide fatling Gossips, yet be kinde to thy Neighbours, and no stranger to thy kindred, bee gentle to thy seruants, but not ouer-familiar: haue an eye to[Page]the doore, and a lock to thy Chest: keepe a Bit, for a Beggar, and a Bone, for a Dogge: make much of the Bée that brings home the honey, and loose not the Cock that makes much of his Chickins, take heed abroad of the Kite, and within of the Rat: pray to God for his blessings to all thy proceedings, and haue a religious care of thy modest gouernment, and rather for charitie then praise giue reliefe to the poore: if at any time thou hast need of any good I can doe thee, be assured while thou hast a mother, thou hast a friend: so, hoping in thy kindnesse, thou wilt take care of my Counsell, beséeching God so to blesse thee that I may euer haue ioy in thee, with my hearts loue, to his tuition I leaue thee: And so rest.

MY good Mother, you haue passed the yéeres of a Child, and know the Care of a Mother: and therefore, for your kinde aduice for my cariage I humbly thanke you, and what benefit I will make of your lessons, you shall finde in the fruit of my obser­uation: I am but newly come into the world, and God knowes, when I shall goe out of it: and am yet scarce warme in my house, and therefore hardly know yet how to goe through it: for my husbands humor, if he alter not his Nature, I do not doubt, we shall liue as Doues: while care and kindnes shall continue content: my seruants shall finde me, both a Mistris and a friend, my Neighbours no stranger, and idle Gossips no companion: thus in the dutie of loue, with thanks for motherly care in prayer to the Almightie, to blesse me with his Grace, and to liue no lon­ger, then in his loue and yours, I take my leaue: for this time, but rest during life.

MY Sonne, for thée to spend carelesly, that which with great care I haue gotten, may be as much thy disgrace, as my griefe: when I would doe thée good, and shall not be able to per­forme it, and thou shalt doe thy selfe hurt, when I cannot help it: I can be content to encrease thy exhibition, but to maintaine Riotousnes, is to Nurse iniquitie: yet let me not be bitter in my reprehension: but, let my kindnes be thy correction: Let mee know thy wants, and I will supply them: but let them not ex­ceed my abilitie, least I be short to relieue them: I know thou hast wit to consider of my writing, and I hope thou hast Grace to make vse of thy vnderstanding: and therefore, to be briefe, in the loue of a Father, I leaue thee to thy heauenly Father: who, I hope, will so blesse thee, that, I shall haue ioy in thee: so, hoping to heare from thee, and that good of thee, that may make me glad to know it, in thee: till I see thee, and alwaies: I rest.

MY good Father, your reprehension was to kind for so vn­gracious a Sonne, and yet the mildnes of your Counsell, hath so wrought in my loue, that the limits of your direction, shall be the passage of my life: and such shall be henceforth my care of your comfort, as I shall rather, wish my graue, then your griefe: I haue called my wits to account, and in the expence of Prodigalitie, I finde so poore a reckoning, that the summe will bee all in miserie, where sorrow hath little comfort: I haue cut my finger, but not wounded my hand, and a little Salue will make all hole: my wants are not great, but I wish rather to want life, then grace to be thankefull to God, for his goodnes, and to you for your kindnesse: so, in the due and true obedience of loue, praying for your health, and hearts ease: I rest.

HOw you haue wrongd me you know, but how you will right mee, I know not: Patience is a vertue, also would I quit a villanie in a true kinde: good wordes will hardly excuse ill actions: I know you are cunning, I wish you were honest: to abuse any man, is but the Badge of an ill minde, but to wrong a friend is a proofe of a vile Nature: which how I can disgest you shall finde as it fals out: and least sufferance may be thought Cowardice, let this suffice, giue mee a speedie satisfaction, or to haue your wages for your good worke: and so till I heare from you, to a better end then I ex­pect: I rest.

IF your rage were not aboue your reason, I should thinke to satisfie your discretion; but let me tell you, the truth, in being to credulous vpon report, you may wrong your selfe and your friend: I speake not this in feare of your threates, but to cleere my conscience of a false accusation: I know no wrong I haue done you, and how I am resolued to right you, when occasion shall serue you shal, finde what is in me: if you will be at quiet with your selfe, your friends will not trouble you, and he that is your seruant pay him his stipend: for mine own part, I am no­thing in your debt, but for a few foule words: which I will bury in obliuion, except necessitie of occasion, wherein yet I will ob­serue a methode not to passe the course of good maner: so hoping ere long to find you in a better humor: I rest, as I haue reason.

GOod Cosen, I heare you are in loue, I wish it with all the world: and that your affection is forcible, I hope it is in vertue, but that it is with a woman, which makes mee to feare your weakenesse: either in some touch of her vnworthi­nesse or your owne: I speake not this to disswade you from marriage, for the course is honourable: but if there be a crosse to content, it may proue discomfortable: what euer it bee, I wish it, to the best, but let mee entreat you, not to conceale from my Loue, vpon what ground you haue builded the house of your hopes comfort, that if I like the platforme, I may the better pray for your prosperitie, and in the hope of your good husbandry, bee glad of your thrift: I know not your ob­iect, but what euer be your subiect, make not your selfe an ob­iect: in briefe, acquaint me, I pray you, with your procéedings, that when you draw your deeds my hand may doe you no hurt: so wishing you first to serue God, and then to looke to your selfe, and to know Diana, before you bee to busie with Cupid, in the heartie loue of a true Kinsman, till I heere from thee, and alwaies: I rest.

MY good Vnkle, I thanke you for your kinde Letter, and touching the Contents, I hope my Answere shall not dis­content you, that I am in Loue, I doe not deny it, but with all the world I wil not confesse it, for the Reprobates are out of the Rule of Charitie: that my affection is of force, I grant it, for so had I rather haue it, then fantastick, and with a woman be­leeue it, for shall wee abandon their loue, by whom wee haue[Page]our breeding to life? I know it is not your meaning: for my weakenesse, in vnworthinesse, you must leaue that to the blessing of Grace, whereon building the house of my hopes comfort, the foundation well laide I the lesse feare the fall of it: in the Subiect of mine Obiect can be no Abiect, when Diana's Cupid knowes neither Vulcan nor Venus: but if Pallas and Mars make a coniunction Copulatiue, in an Accident vnsepe­rable, the ioy may be vnspeakeable: I write not this out of the Arte, but the heart of loue, where there is more hope of faith, then a poeticall fiction. To grow towards the matter, that I know you most looke at, let it suffice you, that shortly I will sée you, and then acquaint you with that I hope shall not dislike you, but to the confirming of comfort, at the houre of conclu­sion, in ioining hands vnto hearts you will bee rather a father then a friend: in hope whereof, and prayer for which, I hum­bly rest.

IF I were rich, I would be beholding to no beggers, and if wise, I should trouble no fooles: but he that is plagued for his sinnes must haue patience with his crosses: yet spight of the Di­uell, God will blesse his Seruants: when Christmas comes we shall haue Holy daies, and though the Lent be long, Easter fol­lowes Good-Friday: I know to well you vnderstand mee to ill: but hauing knowne you to long, to finde that I doe in you at last, meaning to trouble you no more, except with my fight a­gainst my will, I rest as I haue reason.

HE is poore whom God hateth, and he rich that is contented: he is wise that knowes himselfe, and he vnwise that mis­construeth an other: punishments of sinne are the trials of pati­ence, and afflictions well taken are the tokens of loue: twixt fea­sting and fasting are daies of indifference, and who wil not work must take the profit of idlenes. Your knowledge to well may be taken to ill: but if your presence may be troublesome, let me en­treat your absence: so neither angry, nor well pleased, till I heare better of your humor: I rest.

IF I know where to finde you, I should know how to send af­ter you, for what I think of you, I should know how to write vnto you, but I thinke you are like a Bird, to flye vp and down, where you list, or like a Cameleon, to change into all manner of colours: I am sorie to see how your vnseasoned braine sets your wits a wool-gathering: but would you once be your selfe, your friends would be glad of you, for there are good things in you, howsoeuer you make vse of them: If I had not heard of you now, I thinke I should neuer haue heard of you, for I could not deuise almost what should become of you, very strangely you went from me, but if more kindely, you would come to me, your welcom should be in better then bare words: & therfore, if I may entreat you, and not to trouble you, when you can conueniently, let mee see you, that wee may speake of something, that is ne­cessary to be spoken off: bee you assured, I will not hurt you, and what good I can doe you, you shall finde before I will tell you: and thus with my hartie commendations to your[Page]kinde acceptation, in hope shortly to heare from you, and not long after to see you: till then and euer, to the Lord of heauen I leaue you.

IF you were not estranged from that I left you, I should know how to finde you: but beeing as you are, I know not what to say vnto you: you haue not heard from me a long time, and me thinkes to soone at last, considering the com­fort I finde in your Commendations: For you would seeme kinde, and yet in words shew the contrarie, when in the manner of your writing, the bitter ouercomes the sweet: if the good be marde, what should you doe with the euill: and if my wits be out of temper, what should a foole doe among wise men: I haue no Birds nor Beasts to figure your fan­cies, but an Ape is no man, though hee be nimble in his con­ceits: and hee that bites like Diogenes, deserues a name of his Nature, your hurt I feare not, and your good I seeke not: but if I chance to come, neere you, it is a chance, but I will see you, when as I finde my welcome, you shall enuie my company: till then, rather to quite your courtesies, then to moue your discontent, in the Answere of your Letter, loth to bee in your debt for an humour: in more loue then idle talke, as I was and will be: till I see you, and alwaies.

IF all Birds were Nightingales, the Owle would not make such a noise, whose feature is as ill fauoured as her Note is vnpleasing: yet such deformed things are in Na­ture, that perfection may be the better esteemed: her feede is most vpon vermine, except shee light on a Birde in her sleepe: when hauing filde her gorge she fals to pruning of her fethers, til shee leaue nere a good one on her backe: now if you vnderstand not this figure goe no further then your selfe, in whom being all that vnworthinesse that may deserue all vnhappinesse, in the same I leaue you, as I found you, and so I rest till I heare better of you.

IF all Beasts were Horses, an Asse would not kéep such a braying: whose shape is as vnhandsome as his flesh is vnholesome: yet such creatures there are to serue the vse of a Clowne, onely to beare either burthens, or blowes: now if you vnderstand not my meaning, looke but vpon your pic­ture, and you shall see the proportion: in which being no­thing, worth any thing, in as little regard as may bee, till I finde better cause of liking; I rest as I was, and will be.

YOur coy lookes condemne you for little noise, & your sharp spéech of no swéet disposition: it is pitie so good apparell should haue so ill lining, if I had not mine eyes I should wor­ship an Idol, but when it know coulours, I can gesse which is in graine to be short, I will giue honor her right, and vertue her Grace, beauty her praise, and wisedome her honour, but where I finde conditions of a contrarie Nature, I will re­gard them accordingly: the best is I am not the first that hath been deceiue [...] nor shall bee the last that shall be deluded: and yet though this be no excuse for my folly, it shal be a warning to my discretion, in the placing of my affection, in which not ouer bootes though ouer shooes, not gone so farre but I can come home againe: I rest.

IF you look for hearts in eyes, you may be out of the rule of loue, and let me tell you that your crabbed writing shewes a crooked disposition, for your apparel and the lining, if I were acquainted with your Tayler, I should the better know the measure of your meaning: and yet if I mistake not your fi­gure it goes no further then your selfe, whose out side is better then your inside: if you deceiue your selfe, blame no body but your selfe, and if you deceiue mee; I will snap vp mine owne sorrow: if you haue done amisse, know how to excuse it, or a­mend it, and when you finde a good warning, make your best vse of it: In briefe, howsoeuer you trouble your selfe, I pray you trouble me no more: for which kindnesse, I shall rest in much thankefulnesse.

KInde Anthony, thou writest vnto me to know how I doe: and though perhaps it may bee grieuous to thee to know it, yet being truth, to thy loue I will tell it: if thou aske how I fare? as hard as any man to liue, if what I doe? shed teares for my sinnes and pray for mercy, sigh to thinke of the follies of my youth, and sorrow to see the misery of mine age: If how I passe my time? in the passions of the mind: if where I liue, in the ma [...]e of griefe, where till I get into my graue, I thinke I shall neuer get out: if how I liue so neere the na­ture of death, as if one may liue dying, I dye liuing: for may I not offend the heauens maiesty to speake it, I think neuer course of life came neerer to the thorny Crowne about Christs head which prickt him round about: so is it with me; crosses abroad and crucifyings at home, in body and mind, puts pa­tience to a high point: Oh my torments are innumerable and almost intollerable, but that his goodnes that gaue me them, giues me grace to beare them: for in briefe, if want to supply necessities, vnnaturall kindred, vnfaithfull friends, vncon­scionable Creditors, vnquiet neighbours and a most vncom­fortable wife, méet all together to the tryall of a heart, whe­ther it will hold or not, thinke if thou canst, in what perplex­ity is my spirit: and pray in thy heart for my ease or end of it: And thus assured, if thou canst do me good, to find it, till I heare from thee, and till death, I rest.

HOnest Henry, I am sorry in my heart for thy heauines, and to ease thee of thy greefe could bee content to beare part of thy passions: but let this comfort thee, that thou art not alone in thy calamities; for euery man hath his crosse, carry it as well as he can: and for my selfe; though my shooes be finely made, yet they so wring my toes, that they giue me many a twing at the heart: and yet I must commend my Shoomaker and conceale my paine, because the fault is in my feet: if wee had not our sinnes wee should not haue our punishments: beleeue me Henry, aflictions are the Badges of Gods blessings, if they bee borne without murmurring at his will: hee that keepes a house may haue many euill birdes about it, but I must confesse within doores the night Rauen is the worst, whose continuall croking is many times vncom­fortable: but haue patience, it is a spirituall salue, that hea­leth all the sores of the heart, and a Tenure by which wee haue possession of our Soules, which guift of grace, God of his goodnes, in his mercy grant mee, and thee, and all his seruants: deliuer vs from our miseries and make the ioy of our liues in the feeling of his loue: to which prayer, ho­ping thou wilt say Amen, till I see thee, and alwayes: I rest.

AT my last being in your company, your countenance gaue me some immagination of your discontent: if you be angry, I would know with whom, and for what: if it be[Page]with your selfe, you know how to mend your selfe, if with me, I know not why, nor care I wherefore; if it bee your na­ture, I will not seeke to alter it, and if but your humor, I would wish you to purge it, and so wishing you to satisfie me, if you haue any skill in Astronomy, whether wee shall haue faire weather or foule: as I heare from you I rest.

MY occasions of my countenance are secret to my selfe: at which, if any take exceptions I wish me out of their company: your condition I know not, nor desire greater to bee acquainted with: for any hurt that is done the amends may bee soone made; if you be desirous of quarrels you may haue your handes full of mischeefe, but if you will be at peace with your selfe, I know no man that meanes to trouble you, soe loath to bee at cost with any Almanacks, to looke into the rules of Astronomy, come what wea­ther will, welcome by the Grace of God: and soe I rest.

MY good Vncle, I haue occasion to trauell some few miles, further then (I feare) my feet will easily carry me, if therefore I may intreat you to lend me your horse, for some few dayes, I will trauell him easily, tend him carefully, and feed him sufficiently: his safe returne you shall not doubt,[Page]nor my thankfulnes for your kindnes: so loth to vse needlesse complements till I heere from you, and alwaies I rest.

IF I should lend you my horse you might thinke me an asse knowing your horsemanship, and his quality: but let this satisfie you, three thinges I will not lend, nor can I spare: my wife, my horse, nor my sword: the one from my bed, the other from my stable, the third from my side: the one for my pleasure, the other for my defence, and the third for my ser­uice: but, that you shall not think I will be altogether vnkind, I haue sent you heerein enclosed a piece of gold, to hire you a Nagge: so hoping of your discretion, to haue patience with my deniall, I rest.

MY good Sonne, I find by thy writing that thou art deter­mined to leaue the vniuersity, and to looke abroad into the world; and being perswaded, that I haue seene somthing in it, desirest my counsaile for thy carriage through it: to sa­tisfie thy request, let this suffice thee in a few wordes, that I set thee downe for a caueat in all thy courses: if thou bee a Courtier, beware of cost, if a Lawyer of Conscience, if a Marchant of Credit, if a Trades-man of craft, if a Church­man[Page]of error, if a Souldier of blood, if a Trauailer of thy way, and whatsoeuer, of thy estate; and that the world may not ouergoe thee, pray to God so to blesse thee, that his grace may euer guide thee, and then haue thine eyes about thee, & feare no hurt to come neere thee: but for that all nations are not of one nature, nor all men of one mind, make vse of thy obseruation, according to the place of thy passage: auoyd grossenesse, and nicenesse, least the one may proue as disgra­tious as the other displeasing: cloy not thy selfe with friends and purchase no foes: take héed of subtill wittes and smooth tongues; for they are the closest pick-pockets in a common-wealth: take heed of dead bones in nimble fingers, and haue no loue to play with painted pappes, least when you looke for your stake, you find a bare boord: sort with the best spirits, practise the best excercises, and loue the best people: let God bee euer before thee, and his blessing bee euer with thee: Soe, ready in any kindnesse, to performe any thing that may doe thee pleasure, to the vttermost of my power, I rest.

MY good Father, touching your Compendium, for my car­riage through all courses, how kindly I take it, you shall know when I am able to requite it: in the meane time, I will make that vse of it, that in much thankfulnes shall make mee thinke of your kindnes: for I finde it like Ramus his abridge­ment of Aristotles Logicke, where in a little roome a man may run ouer a world: it is a little nose gay, but full of swéet flowers, and in the sent I finde such comfort, that I will like, semper viuens, haue it euer fresh in my memory. While I liue I will keepe it as the Apple of mine Eye, and if I liue to haue a Sonne, I will learne it him as a[Page]good Legacie: for my selfe I take it as a portion of much loue, which while I liue I hope not to part with: In briefe not to vse ceremonious complements, with so iudicious an vnderstanding in the thankefull heart of an honest minde: till I see you, and alwaies: I rest.

GEntle Cosen, I feare you are more full of conscience then wit: for if you follow your precise course, you will proue either a silly Asse, or a holy Begger: for let mee tell you, while we are in the world, we must vse the world, and neither to wish to be out of it, nor to be idle in it: bee not of the Family of Loue, without a working Faith, least while you looke vp to heauen, you be shut out of Gods house: to be religious I allow you, and commend you [...]o be zealous, but in the musique of the Soule goe not a Note aboue Ela, lest you be quite out of tune: and when your Braine swimmes in Humors, you be drownd in the depth of errors: were you a Churchman, the commoditie of your Altar, might giue you leisure to contemplate: but beeing in an other pre­dicament, you must looke about you in an other [...]ature: In briefe, Gods prouidence must be no excuse for idlenesse: you are commanded six daies to labour, not onely with the mind, but all the members: heare then the word of God, and doe thereafter: take h [...]ed of Hypocrisie, it is the high way to hell: from which God keep you, and leade you in the way of Truth, that in the patience of your paines, you may see the fruits of your labours: in which you shall best please God, profit your selfe, and bee no charge to your[Page]friends: So in my prayers for you, hoping to heare well of you, to the tuition of the Almightie, I leaue you.

MY good Cosen, I feare you haue more wit then con­science, to looke more into the world, then your com­fort aboue the world: wee are all Gods Beggers, for who hath any thing that hee hath not receiued? and better I hold it to bee a silly Asse, then a subtill Foxe, and a holy Begger, then a hellish liuer: you wish mee religious, and commend my zeale, and yet while I am in the world I must bee a worldling: how greeth this together: wee cannot serue God and Mammon: Martha was full of businesse, but one thing is necessarie, and Mary chose the good part: I con­fesse, want may be grieuous, and pouertie disgratious in the world, but the couetous GOD hateth: though I bee no Chaplin shall I not bee of the Church? and in Gods house I hope wee loue all one an other: Now for the worke of Faith, can the Spirit bee better exercised, then in hea­ring of the word of God? and when Meditation helpeth memorie, may not contemplation be comfortable? Good Co­zen deceiue not your selfe, in misdeeming of mee, be you as farre from heresie, as I am from hypocrisie, and if your Braine swimme in the delight of Truth, you will neuer drowne in the depth of error: To conclude, haue a charitable opinion of my disposition, and I wil pray for your perfection: so hoping on Gods prouidence, that I shall bee no charge to your purse: wishing you so cleere a sight, that you may haue a most happy séeing: in the true Loue of a kinsman, I rest.

HOnest Henry, now I am come to the place that I haue taken vpon mee, I haue many occasions of employ­ments of many seruants, among whom I want one of that sufficiencie that I know to bee in thy selfe, whom I would willingly proferre to place of good profit: For know­ing thine insight into the world, how to manage businesses, in their best Natures, thou shouldest ease mee of much trouble, and bee a meane of thine owne good. Strictnesse of conscience, may bee hurtfull in curiousnesse; and secrecie, with sufficiencie make a great proofe of wit. In briefe, I know you can vnderstand me, and therefore if you bee not otherwise bestowed, let mee know by your answere, how you like of my offer: which howsoeuer shall not dislike me, because I know you loue mee: So wishing you what you wish your selfe, till I heare from you, I rest.

VVOrthy Knight, I reioyce in your aduancement, and am assured you can not want fit seruants for your employment, more worthy then my selfe of your pre­ferment: but in my humble loue giue mee leaue to tell you the truth of my opinion: that there is nothing puts more home to the heart of an honest minde, then to runne any course that may giue a wound to the Conscience: which while wit would excuse, wisedome layes open, when if the[Page]soule finde grace in Repentance of sinne, the heart cannot but bléed in the sorrow of iniquitie: but God is all-sufficient in all things: and therefore knowing your vertuous dispositi­on, to his gracious protection leauing your most happie pre­seruation, in prayer for the same, with the encrease of all comfort, in the bounden dutie of my loues seruice, I humbly take my leaue.

VVOrthy Knight; at my last beeing with you, you spake vnto mee to doe my best in helping you to a Seruant, that you might employ for your Steward: Now if it please you at my hands to accept the bearer hereof, beleeue it you shall finde his sufficiencie so fitting your content, that I dare vndertake you shall not neede to seeke any further: I haue knowne him long, and such euery way his disposition, as may deserue good regard in a very good vnderstanding: he is honest, and wise, and able to liue of his owne, yet in do­nour of your worthinesse desireth to follow your fauour: for his Truth you shall not doubt it, and for his behauiour, I know you will like it: for his wages I will leaue it to your wisedome in his desart: so with his dutie commending my seruice to the command of your kinde loue, till I sée you, and alwaies: I rest.

MY good Cosen, among many courtesies, I thanke you most kindely for my man, who in my great content, hath answered the Contents of your Letter, for such hath beene his carriage as hath gotten good will, not onely of all my house, but of such of my friends, as haue occasion to know his seruice: lesse vice, and more matter worthy loue, haue I not seene in a man of his sort: yea such hath beene his desert of my loue, as except for his better prefer­ment, I will not part with him in hast: For in earnest in many true Rules of Ciuilitie hee may be an example to good Iudgements: In briefe, as I neuer found you to faile in a­ny kinde care of my good, so in this I haue great cause to thanke you: and wherein it may lye in my power to re­quite you, be assured you shall know I loue you: in which, I rest assuredly.

SWeet Sister, I heare thou art going from home to a high place, from the countrey to the Court, beleeue it thou wilt finde it a place of danger, for the preseruation of thy best comfort: for there is honour both to bee got, and lost: but for a caueat in thy carriage, reade what I heere [Page]haue written vnto thee, and lay it vp in thy memory, it will doe thy vnderstanding no hurt: Take heed of the Mewing of Muske Cats for they watch but for a Mouse, and when they haue their prey, they are all gone away: Let not the fa­ding glosse of gay clothes dazzle the eyes of thy spirit, nor faire tongues rob thee of thy fame: for a good name is not like a garment: for if it once be broken, it will neuer bee set toge­ther againe: there are many hands that will bee plucking of flowers, whose hearts neuer care how the stalkes grow, or wither: but if you will be your owne friend, let no man take the fruit without the Tree: beleeue no idle vowes, nor vaine protestations, for many times the tongue and the heart are farre asunder: when the best words haue not the best meanings: Nor let ambition bewitch thee, for the sinne is all one with the Lord or his Lackey: the Ice once crackt will crack more, and what is the face that hath lost the beau­ty of the minde? sweet Sister, I write not this that I feare thy imperfection, but to forewarne thee from euill: And what good is to bee gotten, seeke it by that vertue that may keepe thy colour without staine, when a Maiden blush is the beauty of modestie: serue God, and hee will blesse thee: pray to him, and hee will defend thee? loue him, and hee will keep thee, that no hurt shall come neere thee: bee constant in thy Religion, loyall in thy Allegeance, courte­ous in thy behauiour, and vertuous in thy loue, so no doubt but the Court will grace thee, and the King of Kings will so aduance thee, that though she be no Lady on earth, thou shalt be an Angell in heauen: To which happinesse in prayer for thee, to his tuition I leaue thee.

MY most louing Brother, I most kindely take your most louing Letter, which I will lay vp for your sake, and mine owne good, not in my pocket nor my Cabinet, but in the inward Chest of my heart: and will dayly reade it, as the rules of true wisedomes direction: but to bee a little merry with the answere of your figures, let Muske Cats Meaw where they will, I hope to bee no Venizon for Vermine, and for the Garden of my fauour there shall no hand plucke aflower, except hee take the Roote and stalke to his keeping: for the glosse of gay coates, they may bewitch Babies eyes, but the eye of vertue, lookes after no vanitie, and for false hearts and faire tongues, they are easily discerned, they goe so commonly together: be­twixt pride and basenesse there is a carriage of ciuilitie, which I hope to hit on without touch of dishonour, so leauing Lords to their Ladies, and their Lackeyes to lower Creatures, beseeching the Almightie to blesse mee heere with his Grace, and hereafter in Heauen to make the least of his Hand-maides rather then the greatest Princesse on the Earth with all the pleasures of the world: to which prayer hoping you will say Amen: in much thanke­fulnesse for the care of your kindnesse: I rest.

GOod Cozen, I vnderstand by your Father, that you are determined shortly to leaue the Vniuersitie: but yet withall that you haue bent your minde onely to the stu­die of Diuine vnderstanding, and leauing the world, be­take your selfe wholly to the Church, and in the Ministerie of the word to doe good vnto Gods people: I commend your determination, but with you, if I might aduise you, to spend some few more yeeres in the Vniuersitie, for your further hearing and reading, for your better confirmation of your resolution: not that I feare the blessing of your Spi­rit, but that it is a function of great charge, care, and la­bour. Charge in regard of the Talent, beeing out of the Treasurie of Heauen, the riches of the Soule, then for care in the wisedome of the vse of the same, to whom, at what time most fitting for his Glorie that gaue it, and their good, that shall receiue it: and for labour that you bee not found idle, when you shall bee called to account to yeeld vp a rec­koning of your Stewardship: yet let mee not disswade you from a good worke in respect of your young yeares: For Iohn was the yongest of the Euangelists, and Timo­thy was yong in the Church of GOD; and therefore I feare not his gracious blessings to thy proceedings: In hope whereof, and prayer for which, I rest.

WOrthy Knight, I know you expect by this bearer to heare from me: to write you newes into a forraine na­tion, I know not how my letters may bee intercepted: and then if I should write any thing either false, or vnfitting, my hand would witnes against my will: and yet let me say thus much of my obseruation of the world, that in these latter times, I find nature in so strange a course, almost in the car­riage of a world of Creatures, that, had not the Creator of the earth a hand of mercy ouer it, surely the sinnes of the Creatures would call for a new deluge: but what shall I say, my selfe beeing as a Cipher among figures, or a shadow a­mong men, to see the world at such a passe, as that I hold him happy that is well out of it: but the best is, when night is past, that maskers will be gon, and when the Sunne sends forth his beames, the Owle will not dare to looke abroad: not to trouble you too long with little better then trifles, giue me leaue only to Loue you, and to wish I were with you, which if your returne be not the sooner, may hap to bee ere you be aware: till when, in the seruice of my heartes loue I rest.

YOu dare not write vnto me in thee, sparts for feare either of your own mistaking in your writing, or misfortune in the deliuery of your letters: but happe what will I haue written to you of the occurents of this time, where betwixt[Page]the Masculine and Feminine Gender, a coniunction copula­tiue is of such a force as puts downe all the speaches of the world, yea there is such fluttering among these birdes, as if euery day were Saint Valentines: and touching the wheele of the world, it runnes such a whirlegigge, that if nature mend not her course, she will be quite out of credit; in the Courts such enuy, betwixt Mars and Apollo, that a song som­time puts a seruice out of countenance: in the Citty such iea­lousie betwixt Vulcan and Venus, that Mercury hath much to doe to saue Cupids bow and arrowes: In briefe all the pow­ers of hell are so busie in the world, that if God did not blesse his seruants, the Diuell would haue a shrewd day: but hee that is gratious hath not to doe with the vitious; and he that trusteth in God, hath no feare of the Diuell: to bee briefe, if thy leasure will serue thee, make a steppe ouer to mee, thou shalt make thine owne welcome, and thy charge shall bee no­thing: so longing to see thee?, till I heare from thee, and al­wayes I rest.

GOod Cosen, I vnderstand thou art determined to tra­uaile, let mee intreat thee to take heed to thy way: for mountaines are laboursome to clime, and a valley may bee of a deadly length, woods may bee full of wild beasts, and the high wayes haue vnhappy holes; the Riuers may haue swift streames, the Seas are full of rockes and sandes, and the best shippe may haue a leake: learne therefore thy compasse before thou runne thy course, least if thou light among the Sirens, thou bee drownd ere thou swim: Fortune helpeth the bold but seldome to a blessed end; and what a wo is it to wit when[Page]had I wist sees the wheele, that threw him headlong from his happinesse: I speake not this to disanimat thee, for ad­uentures are honourable, so the cause bee according, but if immagination bee deceiued, how is discretion impaired? I would not yet like a Snaile haue thee liue alway in a shell, but know thy way and then take thy walke: betwixt Scilla and Charibdis the Channell is narrow, and hee that lookes not with both his eyes, may be dec [...]iued on one side: but what euer thou doest, do all to Gods glory: Loue him aboue all, and feare nothing at all: but from him onely, haue all that is ne­cessary in all: so loath to make a long booke of a few lines for thy instructions, let this suffice that I haue written: bee wary in thy passage, and passe not wisedome in those limits: when thou beginnest to reade, in all the letters of the row the Holy Ghost bee thy speed: a little token of my loue I send thee, and so with my prayers for thee, to the Lord of heauen I leaue thee.

GOod Cosen your kind Letter I take most kindly, and let me tell you what answere I make to your admoniti­ons: no man knowes his way till hee haue learned it, and hee that best knowes his compasse may yet run his course awry, when sodaine stormes may wrack the best shippe: aduentures and labours are the passages of mans life, and mountaines and vallies are the walkes of the world: hee that lookes to his feet need not feare a hole in the way, and hee that feareth a beast is not fully a man: for the riuers, strong Oares will goe against swift streames, and a cunning Pilot will keepe the channell, where the passage is narrow, there is the more need of heed, and if the shippe be tight, there is the lesse feare [Page]of her sailing: for the songs of Sirens they are the fictions of the Poets, but the figures are good warnings to beware the mis­cheefe of wantonnes: hee that will winke when hee should see, may blame himselfe for his blindnes, and yet the cleerest eye may be deceiued in a coulour: Immagination must breed hope, before happines bee attempted, and where the intent is vertuous, the voyage is like to bee gratious: all is in the will of God, vpon the hand of whose mercy, building the hope of my comfort: assuring my selfe of your prayers for the pro­sperity of my trauailes: till my returne and alwayes: I rest.

VVHen Lords begge of Kinges, I hold it the lesse base­nesse to begge of Noblenesse: and though this booke begging be a disgrace to learning, yet since, Paupertas non est vitium, and, Honos alit Artes, I hope your honor will rather releiue afliction then rebuke presumption: in the few lines that I héere humbly present your honorable patience, I haue written that my heart is burst,, and yet to set it together a­gaine, what I cannot doe, if I should dye in not doing of it: vouchsafe my good Lord to read them, and me in them: & with a few of your golden Angells, deliuer me from a world of in­carnate Deuills: which with siluer daggers seeke to stab the heart of my liberty: which, beeing a great part of my life, doe a Noble deed to saue it: God himselfe will requite you, and I shall bee bound to pray for you, that all the[Page]good, that the heauens will, and the world can giue may befall you: So hauing long knowne and euer loued your Honor, beseeching the Almightie to blesse the same, with encrease of aduancements, in the worthinesse of true Noble­nesse, at the feete of your fauour, laying downe the seruice of my hearts loue, crauing pardon for my presumption, I humbly rest, during life.

YOu write vnto mee for Newes, and mee thinkes it is Newes you write vnto mee: For not hauing heard from you thus long, I wonder I haue heard from you at last: And yet though I am merrie with your silence your Letter is welcome, for I rather feared your health then your vnkindnesse: but to answere your expectation, let mee tell you that the occurents of this time are such as are either false, and then vnfit to write: or if true, not worth the writing: onely this I dare tell you, that rich men play with the world, and make a kinde of paradice vpon earth, while the portion of the poore is most held in patience: For my selfe I am as you left mee, neither beholding to friends, nor fearefull of enemies, and for the world I am so farre in loue with it, that I could wish I were well out of it, and for your selfe I wish rather your continuance of your home louing friends, then to hunt heere after fortune a day after[Page]the faire: To conclude, if I come neere you, I will see you, where so euer you are I will loue, and so to the Lord I leaue you.

OLd wagge of the world, I see thou art neuer out of thy humour: I am glad to heare from thee, not of thy dis­contents: but to see now thou setst them downe, which in a manner is as musique, when I am sometime melancholy disposed, but for the rich let them be proud only of their time, for the poore may happen meet with them at their graues, and proue better men in an other world: For thy selfe I held thy happinesse greater in thy Contemplation then many misers in their large possessions: And in briefe when thou art weary of the world come to me, and let vs talke of that which all the world shall not heare of: so longing for thee, till I see thee, or heare from thee, I rest.

KInde Anthony, I am sure thou doest not maruell a little at my long silence: I could make sufficient excuse, were it not to tedious to write: But let this suffice, that a trou­bled minde is not alwaies in temper: and the world is at such a passe, that the wise are amazed at it, and for my selfe, such I doe finde it, that as I can not get out of it, so I scarce know what to doe in it: for wisedome is watch't, whether [Page]her workes bee like her faith, and folly is much in fauour, because shee pleaseth the common people: so that I thinke I must turne foole, if I will feed on fat meat: and yet it greeth so ill with the nature of my spirit, that I had rather liue as a shadow among men, then bee the substance of a monster: oh my good Anthony how happy a life doe you lead? that may heere the Birdes sing in your woods, see your Ewes suckle your Lambes in your fieldes, catch a fish with a worme, a Cony with a Ferret, and a hare with your Greyhound, and by the way as you come home, contemplate more comfort then the earth can giue you: for he that hath a heart to lift vp his eyes, will bee of Senecaes opinion, that the mind of that man is brought into a streight, that can bee contented with earth: and hee that were in his right wits would hold it the greatest misery in mans life to desire to liue, though in mise­ry: For mine owne part I wish I were not out of it, but so in it, that I may not loue it: but I will neither hasten my death nor prolong my life in this world, but attend his plea­sure that will call me out of it; and the little time that I haue in it, I would I could spend it in thy presence, not to ease my charge, nor to charge thee, but that in true worth, I know not a more worthy friend: and thus till I see thee, which shal hee as soone as I can conueniently, in the affection of an honest heart: I rest.

HOnest Robin, thy silence was not so discontentiue, as thy letter was comfortable, for thou writest not like the world, bare words for matter, but alwayes like thy selfe, the fruites of true iudgement: thou saiest well of the world that it is a strange passe, when, let the wisest heads haue the most[Page]honest hearts, yet will the eyes of wickednes, be prying into their procéedings, while fooles craft is soone seene, when they most seeke to deceiue themselues: but let the fat Bulies of Bashan, feed with Diues in his delicates, pore Laza­rus will haue a time to bee farre merrier then meat can make them: Oh Robin the monsters of this age see not their owne deformities, and better bee a shaddow among men, then so vumanly a substance: while blessed bee the spirit, that hates the course of iniquity: for my happines I confesse it is more then I am worthy of: but most in contemplation aboue pos­session, when the Spirit aboue Nature, sees Grace aboue Reason, shewing it a better world then this where it liues: yet while in this little time wee passe the pilgrimage of a few dayes, more pleasure is in the least creature of life, then the fairest dead Idoll: if I catch a Trout with a flie, & a Night­ingale with a worme, the one serues me in my dish, the other sings in my Chamber, and are not these comforts more con­tentiue, then to hang on friends, and hope of fortunes, while the witts are dead weary, ere trauaile find comfort: well bee the world what it will, come thou to mee when thou wilt: and command what thou wilt, for though I say it, beleeue it thou hast not a more louing friend, that will approue it: so longing to so thee, that I may haue my fill of discourse with thee, with all the happines a heart can wish thee, to the Lord of heauen I leaue thee: and so rest.

COsen, vppon your last lookes, I lookt a little into my selfe, where I find it too true, that hee that is cursed in the cradle, can hardly be blessed in the swaddell, and yet God is too strong for the Deuill, while Fortune is but the fic­tion of fooles: Patience goes against the heare with Nature[Page]but yet where grace guides the Spirit the way is not hard to heauen: the fore-horse goes straight, because hee sees on either side, and the wilde goose rase makes more hast then good speed: I know there is a difference betwixt running and creeping: and yet who is surest footed may take a fall; excu­ses are more ready then foresights, and yet the wisest may be ouertaken ere he be aware: In summe, he that cannot be him­selfe, must be subiect to others censures, and therefore to conclude with my crosse, this shall be onely my comfort: that hee that is at warres with the world shall haue peace in Hea­uen; to which ioy after sorrow God send mee, and all his ser­uants, among whom hoping to finde your name in the booke of life: in more loue then I found in your bookes, I rest.

WHen you were faire I loued you, for then you were not painted: and when you were wise I honoured you, for then you were not inconstant, but when Art married Nature, and varietie shewed but vanitie, I was aggrieued at my fol­ly to haue grounded my affection on so little Grace; yet when I see all true Birds haue fethers, I must let them take their flight: but yet rather heare them in the woods then féed them in Cages: yet will I not shut them out at my windowes nor hurt them, if they come in my house, but regard them in their Natures: and so hoping that you vnderstand the figure in the honor of your best substance, I rest.

GOod Cosen, doe not wrong affection with a false iea­lousie: Nature is euer her selfe, and I will bee no changeling: what my lookes were I know not, but what my loue is you may know: Curses and Crosses differ much in construction, and punishments for sinne are no plagues vnto patience: God is euer good, and will help his seruants while the fictions of fortune, are but the fruits of idlenesse: Hee that builds his hope in heauen, may the better carry his crosses in the world, which bred in the Cradle, will be bles­sed in the Saddle: And therefore my good Cosen, not a lit­tle reioycing in the resolution of your disposition, command my loue, though I cannot command my lookes: and wher­in I am my selfe feare mee not to be yours: for pouertie is no vice, where vertue deserues honor: and so wishing thee much good, and ready to doe thee any good, in the best nature of good will: I rest.

VVHen you were wise I did esteeme you, for then you were not humorous, and when you were faith­full, I did loue you, for then you were not iealous, but since imagination marde discretion, and iealousie ouer-topped loue, I will quit you with your owne Carde that I am sory in my affection to be so mistaken in a friend: but since beasts are most of a hayre, though not all of a hewe, I will rather looke on them in a field then leade them in my hands: and[Page]yet will I not hunt them from my ground: nor driue them from their field: and so hoping that your skill in Arithme­tique will discerne a figure from a Cipher: I rest.

SWeet Cosen, I know you are both religious and lear­ned, and therefore hope I shall need the lesse reasons to perswade you to that patience that may best make proofe of your disposition: I am sorie for your sorrow, and not your losse of your deare and worthy beloued little Sonne: For know this hee was but lent you, till bee that hath him would send for him: yea your selfe are not your own, but onely his that lets you haue heere a being, till hee will haue you bee in a better place: Good Cosen I knowe Nature is of great force, yet where Grace gouernes Reason, all is referred to the will of God. I am assured that you pray day­ly that his will may be done, and will you grieue that his will is done? Farre be it from you: you know it is written, and I am assured you beléeue it, that whosoeuer loueth Father or Mother, or Wife, or Child more then God, is not worthy of his loue: Take héed therefore not to offend the Creator, with to much louing his Creature; and loose not your selfe, in loosing his loue, that you haue for his loue that you cannot haue: he is among the Angels, and would you haue him among men? Yea, he is with God himselfe, and are not you glad that he is with him? Furthermore, if you were alone in your griefe, you were the more to bee lamented, but when thousands are in your predicament let not passion exceed Reason, but humble your will to the will of God, to whose heauenly protection, leauing your most happy preseruation: I rest.

MY good Cosen, I thanke you for your kinde Letter, in which I haue receiued no little comfort: but let mee tell you that a collop cut out of the flesh puts neere home to the heart, and therefore so farre as a man may not offend God, giue me leaue to be my selfe, but yet I beséech him of his mer­cie, I may not passe the limits of his loue: I reade that Iacob sorrowed, for the onely imagined death of Ioseph, and shal not I grieue to sée my boy in his graue? and yet this is my com­fort, his yeeres were to yong to commit any actuall sinne, and in the election of loue I am assured he was a Lambe of the Lords flocke: it is written, that GOD would haue yong Lambes for his Sacrifice, and my boy could not be to good for his Altar: No, let not my soule liue, but in the seruice of his loue: though I loued him on earth, yet would I not wish him from heauen: for there is no Iewell so safely kept, as that which is [...]aid vp in the Lords Treasurie: I haue read it, that sorrow may tarry for a night, but ioy commeth in the mor­ning: then if the night bee long there is a time of mourning till morning, and therefore blame not Nature in beeing her selfe, though the power of Grace shall worke in her patience. In summe, I hope so to manage my affec [...]ion, as shall not imp [...]ach my discretion, nor loose his loue that is the ioy of my life: to whose gracious blessing leauing our eternall com­fort, in prayer for that patience that may qualifie vnfitting passion, in much thankefulnesse for your carefull kindnesse, wishing with conueniencie to see you, and often to heare from you, in more affection then protestation: I rest.

TO deny a Friend may bee a touch of vnkindnesse, to deceiue a Friend a proofe of ill Nature, but to betray a Friend to plaine a villanie: Cheaters are set downe in the orders of euill persons: Pandars are base Rascals, and the scum of the earth: but Traitors are most hatefull villaines of the world: Among the twelue Apostles there was but one Iudas, and wilt thou leaue the Saints to follow one Diuell? If thou wilt runne his course thou maist runne to his con­fusion: Wilt thou mistake GOD for Gold, and sell thy Soule for a little Siluer? What will be thy end? Shame on earth, and sorrow endlesse: What shall I say to thee? but thinke what will become of thee, beeing a horrible Hypo­crite, take thy portion among them: Heauen will abhorre thee, and while the world hates thee, hell stands gaping for thée: but GOD in his mercie, if it be his holy will, forgiue thee: and so neuer meaning more to looke on thee, but to giue all my friends warning of thee, to the will of the Al­mightie: I leaue thee.

AN vnwilling offence may be an excuse acceptable, what I spake of a sodaine, I repented at leasure: for beleeue if no gaine could haue made me so vngracious: but yet the occasion of your discomfort, can not but grieue mee in vn­happinesse, though farre be it from my thought to doe so[Page]wilfull a wickednesse: be not therefore so bitter in your in­uectiue against my basenesse: For if I were of Iudas his Nature, I wish no other then his end: place me not there­fore among Hypocrites, for I hate them in my heart, and desire not to liue, to deserue that imputation: be you assu­red my griefe is greater for you then I will shew, till in the fruit of my labour, I may make proofe of my Loue, wherein I will not cease till I haue effected something to some issue in your good, in which you shall see how farre it is from mee to bee so vnhonest as I was vnhappy, and how farre my euill hap was from the Nature of an euill minde: and so entreating your patience, so suspend your iudgement, I hope ere it be long to haue you write in an other humour: till when beseeching the Almightie to blesse you with health, and my heart with happinesse, to bee a meane of your com­fort: till then and alwaies I rest: howsoeuer you esteem me, in the affection of an honest heart.

FRiend William, I heare that you are shortly to take a Wife, or rather to bee taken of a Wife: and that for a little times pleasure you will sell your liues libertie: but if the matter bee not so farre gone with you, let mee tell you a little of my minde, to make you looke about you: for touching your choise, note what I say vnto you: if your wife [Page]be to young she knowes not how to make her ready, & if too old shee must haue one to helpe her out of her bed: if shee be faire, shee will giue you cause of iealousie, if foule, she will bee a­noyance to thee: if full of talke shee will bee troublesome, if sullen shee will bee irkesome, if of honorable Parents you must make courtsie to all her kindred, if base you must pro­uide for a generation: If rich she will bee proud of her porti­on, and he kept accordingly, if pore still calling for necessities and sometime more then needes: if wise, shee will thinke to gouerne thee, if foolish she will disgrace thee, if Barren shee will be vncomfortable, if full of children shee wil be chargea­ble: if you trust her not with all you haue, shee will grow suspicious of your loue to her, if you trust her with all you haue, she wil make you a seruant to her: if she neuer loued a­ny, shee wil not know how to loue you, and if she haue loued other, she wil not leaue all for one: furthermore, if a man buy a house, or land, he wil suruey it, ere he purchase it, and if he do not like it when he hath it, he may find means to part with it: but for a wife hee must take her at all aduentures, & once had during life must neuer part with her: and therefore if thou canst fine a woman neither young nor old, wise nor foo­lish, ritch nor pore, kinde nor froward, honorable nor base, talkattue nor sullen, let me see her, that I may commend thy choyce in her, but til then make stay of the Bells, they may not ring to thy Bridall: but if thy affection bee setled and not to be remoued, then in Gods name, goe on with Gods bless­ing: So till I heare from thee how the world goes with thee, wishing thee either a good wife or none: in my prayers for thy prosperity, I rest.

FRiend Samuell, your Caueats to my marriage I haue lookt ouer very carefully, and am sorry to see your course so farre short of such comfort: for in the election of Grace, it is an holy ordinance of God, for the good of his people: and in the world what companion can equall a kind wife? If I were as nice in my choyce, as you are in your notes, I might haue a long dreame, and awake find nothing: but come to your selfe, when you dye what issue will you leaue of your loue? & if you liue how vngodly is your course? for my selfe I am fully resolued rather to aduenture the hope of vertue, then to runne a vainer course, and to nourish mine owne family then to feed on another mans trencher: In briefe, when the Bells ring, you shall know what busines is at Church: and if you come to my house, you shall be heartily welcome: till when wishing you as to my selfe, I rest.

COsen, I am sorry to heare that I doe of you: how you haue vsed me you know, how I can disgest it you know not, I would willingly forget vnkindnes, but if my patience nourish your presumption, who deserueth to bee blamed if one folly beget another? you are my neere kinsman, I would you were not so farre from me in kindnesse, but I feare the Prouerb proues to true in you, to vse mee more like a kins­man then a friend: but I can bee angry and not sinne, or ra­ther be sorry and not angry: for if you will come to mee, and acknowledging your fault make it a warning to your fur­ther[Page]euill: the euill past shall not be remembred, and the good to come not vnregarded: and so wishing to see you, and the sooner the better, till then I rest.

MY good Cosen, were I not as neere vnto you in loue as in Nature, I should reuerence your yeeres, but scarce haue patience with your humour, and indeede I should take your vnkinde Letter as it is written: vpon a false supposition to touch mee with an ill condition to wrong him at all, whom I loue so much mee thinkes goes much a­gainst the Note of good Nature: For let mee tell you, I neuer vsed you ill, nor will vse you but well: and if any man haue otherwise reported, vpon his face, whosoeuer, ex­cept your selfe, I will approue it: I thinke no man so disho­nest as to deuise it, but if it bee a woman, though her wic­kednesse shew her weakenesse, yet I wish her tongue had not such strength with your eares as to put such an imagi­nation into your heart, to bee so needlesse a trouble to your minde: to see you I feare not, and the sooner for mine owne satisfaction, that where the fault is found it may bee con­fessed: And so leauing to your discretion to consider of my de­sert: in irremoueable affection, I rest: till I see you, and alwaies.

SWéet Loue, how I grieue for thine absence, thy presence when I sée thée, shall make proofe: the Seas may separate bodies, but not minds; and there is no Nation in the world that can alter the nature of loue: Mistrust not therefore my frailty; for, my affection is fixed, and suspect not mine infi­delity, for my vow is euer before me: if my businesse were ouer, it should not be long ere I would be with thée: and bee perswaded, so soone as I can I will sée thée: in the meane time, by this Bearer, a token of my loue I haue sent thee: by whom, I make no doubt, to heare happily from thee: so praying for thy health, and our ioyfull méetings, till then, and euer.

SWéet heart, I haue receiued thy Letter louingly, thy loue kindly, and thy token thankfully: beléeue it, if it might be no trouble to thée, the Seas should not kéepe me from thée: for, wheresoeuer I am, my heart is with thée: of thy loue I am not iealous, though I would be ioyfull of thy company: for me thinkes I liue, as a kind of dead body without thée. By this Bearer, I returne thée a requitall of thy kindnesse, and wish my selfe had as swift a passage to thy loue: In briefe, not knowing the trouble of thy businesse, I will only pray for thy health, till our méeting make our happinesse: and so rest full of vnrest, till I may rest during life, in most faith­full loue.

MY second selfe, whom if I could, I should loue more then my selfe, knowing thy Affection, and being assured of thy Faith, I wonder at nothing more then, at what kéepes thée from me: I expected thée long since, and haue now sent to thée on purpose, to know how thou doest, and why I doe not sée thée: thou knowest my Estate, yet am I poor without thee: for vnder heauen, I haue no life but in thy loue: to which I hartily commend the hope of my worlds comfort: let therefore, all excuses laid aside, thy presence hasten my happinesse, and send me word by this Bearer, when I shall expect thée whithout faile: till when, holding euery houre an yeare, my mind being desirous to bee disburthened of some matter that I will not commit to Paper: In hope of thy health, and prayer for thy happinesse till I sée thée, and euer I rest.

MY more then my selfe, most worthy beloued and honou­red Mistris, I am sorry for nothing, but that you should be sorry for any thing: and especially, that in me should rest the occasion of your discontent; but such haue béene my bu­sinesse, as haue so crost me in my comming, as when I haue had my foot in the stirrop, haue brought mee backe from my horse: but the heat is well ouer which hath troubled my mind, that though I haue no disease, yet am I so much disea­sed,[Page]that finding my heart written ouer with the Letter Y, and féeling small comfort in the Vowell O, haue onely wish­ed for my health, to bee with the blessed Sillable V: Your Estate is your selfe, vpon whom vnder heauen, is the stay of my happines: shortly I intend to sée you, and if your messen­ger make not the more hast, to bee with you before him, till when, and during life, I rest.