Catalogue description HENRY CHADERTON to his cousin, JOHN COTTON, at Warblington.

--I have received together your two letters of July 12 and September 14 (being the feast of the Exaltation Sancti Crucis), the former declaring "the great joy you took in the happy arrival of my young daughter Marie and your most dearly beloved friend at this place, and your good hope that he who hath so safely conducted her hither will give her a perfect consummation of all her good desires," the other of the comfortable news of her happy admittance and of the unspeakable joy, contentment and comfort you took therein. And I make no doubt that you shall daily receive more and more, as partly you may perceive by my letter of October 8 last, of her far more happy enclosure. "And truly, neither the cold, stormy winter, hard lodging, bare wages, strict silence, short continual fare, yet now more short and slender (their Advent on All Soul's Day taking entrance) than before, doth make her one "ioytt" to shrink, but doth daily proceed with greater contentment and comfort than ever before. Neither must you think that all these do any whit impoverish their strength of body (as their continual holy exercises and daily labours do testify) or blemish their countenance of favour. A virtuous gentlewoman, coming hither this summer, desired to see her two enclosed daughters, professed the one a year, the other two years since, she having heard before of their short and hard diet but not having seen them until that time; beholding them said: 'Seeing they are so fair, so fat, and so well-coloured, I will now never take further care of them.' Even so is it with your and my little friend Marie, although they never make but one meal the day, except Sundays and Christmas day only (and never flesh usque ad mortem) and that so slender that you would think God and not their meal do feed them; neither will they at any time much amend their diet. Example--Your uncle G[age] sent them, against Christmas last was twelvemonths, forty shillings to make them a feast on that most festival and joyful day. But reverend mother, receiving it, answered the messenger, 'this 40s. shall feast us this month,' and so in verity I think it did, (24 persons) notwithstanding it was Christmas. But to conclude, you, myself, and little friend Marie are all of us exceeding greatly beholding to Reverend Mother and to all the blessed company and community (without the consent of whom she [the Mother] can do nothing, nor they without hers) for receiving her, with those natural imperfections whereby she only is not or ever will be (without miracle) able to join with the rest in the holy office of the Church."

But keep this secret to yourself, for the Mother would not have it known, lest some of her best friends should demand the like of her, which she will never admit again on any condition. "One English, with the like, was received in the other Convent at St. Om[er] many years since, but here not any one, although myself have seen seventeen persons professed and clothed since my coming to this place, besides four lay sisters."

As to the 40s. of which I wrote on October 8, reverend Mother will not have you pay it, and says she will satisfy me herself, because Sister Marie came so well provided of money &c.

If you can send my Works of St. Augustine and other books (church books excepted, which you may keep, for we have no need of them here) up to London I will willingly pay the charge of their carriage and of a chest to hold them. My daughter Marie tells me that you and my cousin have had three children, all daughters. You would be glad, I doubt not that the rest God sends should be sons. You will say this is as God sends them. True, but human observances may be used. My grandmother held, and taught many (with whom it never failed), that if the mother lieth on her right side, her child will be a boy, and if on her left side a girl. Now it is the common custom of most to lie and take their rest towards the bed's board, and as I remember your chambers at Warblington, both your wives lay at the left side of the bed, towards the chamber door, wherefore, according to the above observation, both have had all daughters (save only your one son by your first wife). I would gladly know how your sister, my cousin Emy, doth, and what children she hath and what her husband's name is, which I have forgotten. I remember that his father once said to me that his son might have had a wife with a thousand pounds more than he had with her; "yet, said he, if they have sons, that my name fail not, I shall rejoice and they shall want nothing."

Postscript.--I have prayed for the souls of my two dear friends Ma: Cot[ton] and Ri. Bru: my kinsman, et die obitus observari scripte. Very closely written.

Endorsed by the Archbishop.