Salutem in Christo.

My very Good Lord.

I send you here inclosed a Letter of a former Date, and it had come sooner to you; but that your Sonne told mee Mr Griffith was expected here, sooner then that Letter could come to you, which made mee stay the Letter; because there is a Passage Concerning him. But now he comes not, I have adventured to send it.

To your last Letters of November 10th I have little other Answer to give you, then Thankes. And Dr Morton hath a greate deale of Cause, and I hope will thanke you too. He is now in my Judgement better fitted with his Prebend, and 2 Benefices, then if he had Croston. And nothing can make him thinke otherwise, but the greate value of the Benefice, which haveing once swallow’d in his imagination, it seemes he cannot well tell how to come off. But when I consider the Trouble of the Exchange, and the hazard by reason of the Title, and the inconstancy of the Party, with whom he is to deale, and the inconveniences which may arise upon it, though as yet not foreseene, I thinke he shall doe far more wisely, and providently for himselfe to Thanke God and his Freinds for this that he hath, and thinke noe more of Croston. And soe much I pray be pleased to shew him in these my Letters, when he comes next to wayte upon you.

Sir Robert Huddlestone hath beene with me this Terme, and Confesses cleerely to mee, That he hath sold the Inheritance of Croston to a Lyncolneshire Gentleman, and bound himselfe to make good the Title. So if other Things were accommodated; yet how wee shall be able to get over this Rocke, I knowe not; and then Dr Moreton must be Quiet, whether he will or noe; unlesse I were able cleerely to intitle the King, which for ought yet appeares to me, I am not.

The rest of your Lordships Letter is but a Protestation of your true, and loving respects to mee; which I doe verily believe, and as kyndly accept as yourselfe can wish. And shall (God willing) as I may have Opportunity, be Carefull to see your Sonne that is at Brazen-nose provided for, if you doe not rather desyre to Place him neerer you in those Parts.