Dear Colonel Hampden,

Your petition to Capt-General Essex on the soldiers’ outrages hath borne fruit; to wit, Essex having requested £100,000 to pay his Men, the Parliament hath demanded it of the City. Of which I’m no longer a member, at least, not of a Company; the Merchant Adventurers having banished me yesterday, at the urgings of Mr Halpenny; who is as well seeking to pauperize me through the Courts to recoup sums he claims owed him per the Contract of 1638.

It’s all quite laughable; and I tell you not in hopes of your intervening with (e.g) Warwick, or Mr Pym, so that I may be disburdened of this annoyance while I’m about the business of the Nation, that is confounding the Carolinian designs of Tyranny, but as a means of illustrating (a sort of parable I suppose) that God indeed answereth prayers, and very often in ways that give the appearance of Contrariness to our expectations. Which is to say, it was ever my great Hope to trade on my own account, outside the structure of the Adventurers’ monopolies, with its rules, and its de facto alliance with the Crown as the guarantor and seal of monopoly; and indeed, that hath happened (for which I praise Him!) but in a mode that complicates my circumstances; but will, I must trust, provide ample opportunities for reflecting on the oft-inscrutable means through which Providence accomplishes its Designs.

It would make sense, it seems to me (and Mr Hewitt) that until this matter is resolved in the Courts (likely to my favor, we agree; though it could be a protracted proceeding, My Halpenny having great stature in the City, due to the reputation of his father) it would be most sensible to “place my lamp beneath a bushel,” to which you’ll find in the Strongbox accompanying this letter, the sum of £3000 in Spanish reals, which I would ask you to disburse as you believe best for the liberties of England. (I would have contributed this and more besides were I still a MA). Hewitt and I are exploring several other stratagems to complicate Mr Halpenny’s assault on my property. All would be greatly simplified were Matthew and Mark (the Triangle venture) to make berth soon, and with their purpose of their endeavour realized; for which I of course pray constantly.

In the meantime, I’ve set up an office at my house near St John’s Gate; Paige, the apprentice, hath joined me there; Firth will as well, I believe.

I’ve a letter from Mr Pym’s secretary, requesting I present myself his offices at Parliament; for the Scots business, I assume. It’s my hope this nonsense with Mr Halpenny won’t be a distraction, that is Mr Pym and the others will see the great Contributions I can make to our Aims.

Sydney Holyfen, the Old House, near St Johns Gate, London

To: Col. John Hampden, Regt of Greencoats, near Northampton.