Deare daughter
After we parted company (I bles God) we came safe,
& in good season to Lifton; where we found good Lodging w^th good
meate & drinke, & tolerable Sack, the snow very thick specially
in the downes, but we were informd the snow was so deepe
{^farther yt} there wold be no pasing pasing on in o^r journey, but being
both {^to stop} we pceeded as far as Bridgstow, & there were inform’d
yt M^r Calmadys Coach yt came to yr parish from Wenbury
intending w<sup>th a {?get} man for Exon, the Coachman viewed the
downs, & not dareing to goe forward, left his coach behind, & wth the
horses went forward wth his cargo. as we went up Bridestow hill
we came to a deepe place, fild wth snow, & were forst to com out
of ye Coach, & thrusting after the 6 horses {?standing} hard, we got up
yt place, & tooke or seates againe, & pceeding in or resolutions
met Mr Boassets coachman, coming into Cornwall wth a new Coach
empty, had made a shift in two days to reach Oakhampton, from
Exon, teling us the snow was deeper becon Oakhampton; being
unwilling to returne, or stand still we are come safe to this place
intending to pceed in or journey, wth ye good pvidence of God, & hope
[new page]
(being in or caling, & way) we shall get safe to ye end of
or journey, in a longer time, then was hoped at first.
After I have told you this story, we are in paine to hear
how you (wth all ye Company) pceeded in yr [deleted] {^journey}
being inform’d at Lifton, by a prson yt came from the
north quarter, the snow was so thick yt twas not possible
for you to get there in yr way to {?Holtworthy}, we are
all well thankes be given to God, & shall be very glad to
heare ye like from you, & yt Mr Ffortescue will be on
his journey to London according to his pmise, please to accept
of or services & misses duty wth love to ye little ons by ye hand
of
yr affectionate father &
Sert
H Boscawen
Crockaton Well
Friday 18th Nor 98

Since writeing I am informd by a {?yarn} {?joler/jober} yt came to this place from
Exter yt ye ways to that place are wonderfull bad, & ye waters by reason of ye [illeg]
not passable at {?Stonysons} {?chst} & other places beyond yt place wch troubles me
very much, not knowing how to goe forward.</sup>

Dear daughter
After we parted company (I bless God) we came safe,
& in good season to Lifton; where we found good Lodging with good
meat & drink, & tolerable Sack, the snow very thick specially
in the downs, but we were informed the snow was so deep
{^farther that} there would be no passing passing on in our journey, but being
both {^to stop} we proceeded as far as Bridgstow, & there were informed
that M^r Calmadys Coach that came to your parish from Wenbury
intending with a gentleman for Exon, the Coachman viewed the
downs, & not daring to go forward, left his coach behind, & with the
horses went forward with his cargo. as we went up Bridestow hill
we came to a deep place, filled with snow, & were forced to come out
of y^e Coach, & thrusting after the 6 horses {?standing} hard, we got up
that place, & took our seats again, & proceeding in our resolutions
met M^r Boassets coachman, coming into Cornwall with a new Coach
empty, had made a shift in two days to reach Oakhampton, from
Exon, telling us the snow was deeper becon Oakhampton; being
unwilling to return, or stand still we are come safe to this place
intending to proceed in our journey, with y^e good providence of God, & hope
[new page]
(being in our calling, & way) we shall get safe to y^e end of
our journey, in a longer time, then was hoped at first.
After I have told you this story, we are in pain to hear
how you (with all y^e Company) proceeded in your [deleted] {^journey}
being informed at Lifton, by a person that came from the
north quarter, the snow was so thick that twas not possible
for you to get there in your way to {?Holtworthy}, we are
all well thanks be given to God, & shall be very glad to
hear y^e like from you, & that M^r Ffortescue will be on
his journey to London according to his promise, please to accept
of our services & misses duty with love to y^e little ones by y^e hand
of
your affectionate father &
Servant
H Boscawen
Crockaton Well
Friday 18^th November 98

Since writing I am informed by a {?yarn} {?joler/jober} that came to this place from
Exeter that y^e ways to that place are wonderful bad, & y^e waters by reason of y^e [illeg]
not passable at {?Stonysons} {?chst} & other places beyond that place which troubles me
very much, not knowing how to go forward.