<P_55>

<heading:edcomment:28_LADY_ELIZABETH_MASHAM,_N._D.>

{COM:before_18_february_1629}

Deare mother I desire pardon for my longe silenc in wrighting to you ;
(MASHAM-E2-P1,55.4)

indeed I did think to have gon downe this weeke , (MASHAM-E2-P1,55.5)

but haveing gott a very convenient lodging my husband is lothe to lett
me goe away , (MASHAM-E2-P1,55.6)

yett Mrs Perkins is grone soe deare that I was very willing to gett my
husband from thenc , (MASHAM-E2-P1,55.7)

and I doe much desire to be here att the <P_56> fast the next Wedensday
when the sity joyne with the parliment in keeping that day .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,56.8)

I pray God fitt us all ernestly to cry to the lord ;
(MASHAM-E2-P1,56.9)

we never had such need as now we have , (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.10)

we have no other refuge to fly unto . (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.11)

We may justly fare that we shall cry now and he will not here us ,
because we have soe longe refused to here him calling to us ,
(MASHAM-E2-P1,56.12)

and if we doe fall into great misirie we may lay our hand on owr
mowthes and confes he hath bin very gratyus in sparing us so long .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,56.13)

I pray God give us wisdom to prepare for the worst .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,56.14)

I confes I daly se more and more that there is noe hapynes in any thing
but in getting asuranc of $God's love in Christ , (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.15)

and $'t $is {TEXT:'tis} the only thing , I thank God , which I take
comfort in , (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.16)

and I know you will say the like by your self . (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.17)

I pray God increase that comfort which at any time you have felt .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,56.18)

I am very glad to here you are soe well . (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.19)

I desire the continuanc of your comfort both-1 in sole and bodye ,
(MASHAM-E2-P1,56.20)

and shall pray for it as for my one . (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.21)

with my humble duty This {COM:sic} , desiring to be rememberd to all my
frinds with you , I remaine Your ever dutyfull daughter Elizabeth
Masham (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.22)

When I am like to proseed in any match for Jugg you shall here .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,56.23)

We showlde be glad to se you here . (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.24)

My cosin Bowcher hers no more of Mr Archer ; (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.25)

Mr Goodwin is fre as yett . (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.26)

{COM:Endorsed_f.b} To my honourable good mother the Ladye Barrington
these be given (MASHAM-E2-P1,56.27)

{COM:insert_helsinki_sample,_letters_49_and_65}

<P_102>

<heading:edcomment:78_LADY_ELIZABETH_MASHAM>

{COM:november_1629}

Deare mother I have sent this bearer desireing to here of the
continuanc of your health . (MASHAM-E2-P1,102.32)

I showlde be glad to here some hopes of your coming amonkst us againe .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,102.33)

I wolde wilingly waite upon you with <P_103> my coatch to fetch you
home . (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.34)

I shall pray hartyly to God for your safe returne hither .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.35)

I had lately a letter from my brother Knightly (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.36)

and he gives me better hopes of the young man , withall expresing the
younge and olde man's great desire of the proseeding with this match
and hir well aproving of our family , wharupon we will proseed in
further treaty if you think good . (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.37)

His father desiers to meet my husband to make conclusion of matters of
estate , (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.38)

but we desire to do nothing withowt your advise . (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.39)

These $shall $be {TEXT:shallbe} our demandes , which we will stand upon
if you think fitt , maintinanc besides hir one lands and soe much in
joynter . (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.40)

I think it is as little as can be demanded , thay being alowed no borde
with his father . (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.41)

The olde man offers to settle a year upon his sonn and his ayers mayles
, (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.42)

but I think it fit to be settled upon the isue whether maile or female
, specially considering he hath more lande which he may settle upon his
younger sonne if his eldest dye withowt isue maile .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.43)

I pray consider well of these things (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.44)

and send me your opinion by this bearer . (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.45)

I shall desire your harty prayers to God to direct us to doe that which
may be most for his glorye and all our comforts . (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.46)

$'T $is {TEXT:'Tis} a waity busynes (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.47)

and God $can $not {TEXT:canot} be to much sought in it .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.48)

I am now going to wright to my brother Knightly (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.49)

and therfore I must here conclude , with my humble duty and ernest
prayers to God for your happynes here and hereafter ,
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.50)

and so I rest Your dutyfull daughter Elizabeth Masham
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.51)

I beseech you to remember my love to my brother and sisters .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.52)

I have sent you a cople of little pulletts , the best I have at this
time . (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.53)

{COM:Endorsed_f._91b} <bracket> in Sir William Masham's hand </bracket>
: (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.54)

To my much honoured mother the Lady Barrington , these be given
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.55)

<heading:edcomment:79_LADY_ELIZABETH_MASHAM,_N._D.>

{COM:november_1629}

Deare mother I have received a letter from my brother Knightly
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.58)

and it seemes Sir Robert Bevell thinks our demaunds very unreasonable .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.59)

I did write to you what thay ware , a yere joynter added to hir owne
and hir land to hir owne ayer , (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.60)

but he would have it presently asured upon his sonn and his ayers
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.61)

and then he would ad so much joynter to hir owne ,
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.62)

or elce if he may not hav hir lande he would make hir noe joynter at al
, (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.63)

but she showld have hir owne againe if hir husband showld dye befor hir
. (MASHAM-E2-P1,103.64)

I perceive by every one that he is a very worldly olde man ,
(MASHAM-E2-P1,103.65)

he is not willing by any means that his sonn <P_104> sholde live with
him after he is maryed , (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.66)

I know not what the reson is . (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.67)

I woulde be glad to doe as well as I can for Jug ,
(MASHAM-E2-P1,104.68)

for I perseive ther is nothing will come from him but what is agreed ,
(MASHAM-E2-P1,104.69)

for we must have nothing to his curtysye . (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.70)

I desire you seriusly to consult with my brother Garard and to help me
with your best advise ; (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.71)

I will send no answer of my letter till I here from you .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,104.72)

Ther is no perticulars in the letter , but in genrall that we come
nothing neer what he expects in our demandes . (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.73)

I desire your hartiest prayers for the busynes . (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.74)

$'T $is {TEXT:'Tis} a wayty matter (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.75)

and I desire of the lord that if it may be for his glory it may come to
pas , elce not . (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.76)

Thus with my humble duty and my love to my brother and sisters I comit
you to the lord (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.77)

and ever rest Your obedient daughter Elizabeth Masham
(MASHAM-E2-P1,104.78)

Mr Willyams desirs to have his best service remembred to you .
(MASHAM-E2-P1,104.79)

My husband is at Colchester . (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.80)

{COM:Endorsed_f._85b} To my much honoured mother the lady Barrington at
Harrow thisse (MASHAM-E2-P1,104.81)