Another letter

My noblest Lord and my best patron,

I have done your business as Your Lordship trusted me with, and the morning

after I received, by my beloved friend  Master Payne, Your Lordship’s timely

gratuity. I style it such, for it fell like the dew of heaven on my necessities, it

came so opportunely and in season. I pray to God my work have deserved it; I 5

meant it should in the working it, and I have hope the performance will conclude

it. In the meantime I tell Your Lordship what I seriously think: God sends you

those chargeable and magnificent honours of making feasts, to mix with your

charitable succours, dropped upon me, your servant, who have nothing to claim

by of merit, but a cheerful undertaking whatsoever Your Lordship’s judgement 10

thinks me able to perform. I am in the number of your humblest servants, My

Lord, and the most willing, and do joy in the good friendship and fellowship

of my right learned friend, Master Payne, than whom Your Lordship could not

have employed a more diligent and judicious man, or that hath treated me with

more humanity, which makes me cheerfully to insert myself into Your Lordship’s 15

commands, and so sure a clientele.