Dear cuz,

Thank you for editing Masque to Mass, I return the proofs. You will see I have excised the references to Plato. Are you twas him who ranted on about ideal forms of nature residing in some cosmological realm? I thought Aristotle. No matter; you are likely correct and I care not; yawned thru the grecians during my term at College; Romans, more practical, my preference, though they are most vicious brutes once the Republic degenerated to Caesarism.  As though they were born English, and became Spaniards. Laughter. Yet, the point be: Charles loves not what IS, but what he desires IS TO BE; and would seek to force the IS to conform with his notion of TO BE; that is the “nut”, and not so much the historical origin of what's truly when one considers it a perhaps pretty but ultimately pointless idea, with little application to the improvement of commerce or the practice of salvation.

Edmund is returned? He must have caught a good wind; was not expected before September, or so Mother told me.  I've written Mother saying I'm ready and able to render all Christian and brotherly help, etc etc etc. I doubt I'd recognize him, though, if I saw him. Are you sure it is him, rather, is Anne? Could it be a vile imposter who hath murdered him with hopes of obtaining some great inheritance? Laughter.  On the subject of inheritance,  which is to say the lack of same, it's my  hope Anne hinted, gently,  Holyfen and the rectory best left in the Fen.

Recruiting proceedeth well; in spite of the unwillingness of men to leave the harvest, and some to march beyond the borders of the County, we have enlisted some seven hundred, many brave and sturdy yeomen and mechanics.  Have come concern that more than a few neither the best nor most able, that is tavern scum enlisting for the prospect of swag. But proper drill the certain remedy.  Col. Hampden hath some grand officers, inc. Col. Wagstaffe, who served with the French; and Sergant-Major Barriffe, who hath written a book on the proper handling of musket and pike. The arms I secured are arriving; so too the provisions; I am in correspondence with Mr Raymond, in Northhampton, to arrange a depot of supply, etc. there for these Greencoats.

Mother hath sent Sibbes sermons (she could not find Robinson’s), which I am re-reading to my great edification. I understand Dr Owen lectures at St Barts Wednesday; please take good notes, if you are able to attend, and perhaps ask if we might use for Anglia Rediviva.

Thank you for ignoring Mr Halpenny's pleas to tell him where I am.

Your devoted brother in the cause of Christ,

Syd, Beacon Manor, Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire

To: John Hewitt, Lincoln's Inn, London