Catalogue description HENRY CHA[DERTON] to his cousin JOHN COTTON.

--"Your dear friend and mine, Sister Marie [Cotton's daughter], received yesterday her first crown of Probation, and on that day twelve months shall, if Almighty God say Amen, her second crown of Profession. And her third (at her sweet spouse Christ's hands in heaven at his own most holy pleasure) of Glory, for vowing to him her virginity and prudent preserving her lamp full of holy oil, together with six more (in honour, as may be said, of the seven sacraments) prudent virgins her companions. Wherat I wished yourself, that you might have associated other worldly friends with your sweet tears for the worldly loss by enclosure (yet most acceptable to God) of their virgin friends. As concerning the solemnities thereof (which was sumptuous and honorable and adorned by the presence of the most honorable and worshipful not only of this town but also of the next, besides our English who were not few) I will leave to the relation of a friend and acquaintance of yours, Mr. Salisb[ury ?], who was present at all. I will only for the present certify you of a small charge which a R[everend] fa[ther] had laid out about it, and your and my friend's part I satisfied him. The whole for canopies of satin, whereof every one severally had one, with their arms on every quadrant part, carried by four maids of this town and their trains carried by maids most honorable and accompanied with priests of this and nuns of a very honorable monastery of the next town under their canopy on either hand etc. and for rich crowns on their heads and other ornaments; the whole I say came to 17l., whereof for my little friend Sister Marie's part I paid to the fa[ther] forty shillings, (the overplus shall be paid by the best able). . . . If it be sent to your cousin, Mr. John G[age] or to Mr. Francis Harris merchant, of whom you shall hear at Mr. Wm. Helme at Leaden Hall corner, the money will safely come to me.

"I would very gladly receive my books (you know where they are), St. Augustine's works and the rest."

Postscript.--I think I may well write to you by Mr. Frant or George Mathewes, unless you know better. Seal of arms.

Endorsed by Archbishop Abbott:--"Chaderton from Graveling to John Cotton."