16^th July 96
Deare S^r
I have yrs of y^e 5^th yt hath been 4 post days coming
if you did not mistake in dateing, for my daughters
[damaged] ^thout date. I am glad you are all well, wondering if
my daughter shold mistake her time so much as you hint
after a fortnights time (w^th much a doe) I have gotten
the {?Decretall} order agre’d by o^r Councell w^ch must be
be delivered the adversarys before it can be signd & for
[damaged] y^e seale who (I psume) will obstruct us as much as
they can, yet hope to have y^e same in good forwardness
before I leave this Towne, yt hath taken up so much of
my time, w^ch I p^rsume will be a sufficient apology for o^r
not calling w^th you before we shall (w^th Gods p^rmission) return
to London w^ch wold {^I am sure} be too greate a trouble for my daughter at
such time. L^d Stanford shew’d me yr Lettr yesterday w^th greate
trouble, assureing me if you declined to serve y^e publick twold
discourage him from serveing yt County, indeed I was
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greatly asham’d to find you so backward abt this
[damaged] w^thout any reason & I am sure none can be
{?besides} answering a {?few pence} w^ch will be a scandal
to yr family, if you shold p^rsist to give honest
{?gent} men, so {?will} an example, can you thinke to be
safe when y^e ship sinkes, doe not expect it, you will
surely find you are greatly mistaken, to yr cost, for
w^ch reasons, I desire yo’l lette consider or y^e [damaged]
made you, least you make yr self y^e griefe of
friends & scorne of yr enimys. M^r Chapman writes
y^e Tenants at Tatsall are wiling to attend to the
heirs, but {^y^e Castle} will not surrender till compeld by law.
I thinke twill be needfull you [deleted] waite on y^e {?Cor^ll}
for seting things in order, as dispar[illeg] {^&c} w^ch will not
only face y^e charge, but make a greate improvement in
y^e rental, to w^ch I find y^e Corll is reconsitd after having
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having dire [damaged]
& I am app^rhensive [damaged] for yong [damaged]
in his sports, after yt twill be time to thinke of paying
off M^r Win y^e Mortgages I have endeavourd to speak
w^th him about it, but can’t since o^r meeting after y^e L^d
Keepers giveing judgment I take him to be a fine man
& twill be of advantage yt the mortgage be taken in

16^th July 96
Dear Sir
I have yours of y^e 5^th that hath been 4 post days coming
if you did not mistake in dating, for my daughters
[damaged] ^thout date. I am glad you are all well, wondering if
my daughter should mistake her time so much as you hint
after a fortnights time (with much adoe) I have gotten
the {?Decretall} order agreed by our Council which must be
be delivered the adversaries before it can be signed & for
[damaged] y^e seal who (I presume) will obstruct us as much as
they can, yet hope to have y^e same in good forwardness
before I leave this Town, that hath taken up so much of
my time, which I presume will be a sufficient apology for our
not calling with you before we shall (with Gods permission) return
to London which would {^I am sure} be too great a trouble for my daughter at
such time. Lord Stanford showed me your Letter yesterday with great
trouble, assuring me if you declined to serve y^e public it would
discourage him from serving that County, indeed I was
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greatly ashamed to find you so backward about this
[damaged] without any reason & I am sure none can be
{?besides} answering a {?few pence} which will be a scandal
to your family, if you should persist to give honest
{?gent} men, so {?will} an example, can you think to be
safe when y^e ship sinks, do not expect it, you will
surely find you are greatly mistaken, to your cost, for
which reasons, I desire you’ll let consider or y^e [damaged]
made you, least you make your self y^e grief of
friends & scorn of your enemies. M^r Chapman writes
y^e Tenants at Tatsall are wiling to attend to the
heirs, but {^y^e Castle} will not surrender till compelled by law.
I think twill be needful you [deleted] wait on y^e {?Colonel}
for setting things in order, as dispar[illeg] {^&c} which will not
only face y^e charge, but make a great improvement in
y^e rental, to which I find y^e Colonel is reconsited after having
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having dire [damaged]
& I am apprehensive [damaged] for young [damaged]
in his sports, after that twill be time to think of paying
off M^r Win y^e Mortgages I have endeavoured to speak
with him about it, but can’t since our meeting after y^e Lord
Keepers giving judgment I take him to be a fine man
& twill be of advantage that the mortgage be taken in