To the Right worshipfull S r HENRY CROFTS, at his house in little Saxon in Suffolk.
THis is the first opportunitie (since I went out at the beginning of May, to wait on my Master) that I could find to convey any Letters to your hands, by which I can now acquaint you with nothing that is likely to afford you any content or satisfaction, but onely this; That my self, with some other of your friends here amongst us, are in good health; and that indeed is a greater blessing then we deserve; and God make us sensible of his mercie that affords us it to sweeten all our other calamities, which it hath lately pleased him to poure upon us in a very plentifull measure: his will be done, and hallowed be his name; and yet how great soever our sufferings & afflictions have lately been, they are like to prove but the beginning of sorrows, and prologue to that full Scene of miserie, which in probabilitie we shall shortly act: The King being in no condition to [Page] keep the field, he dares not rest in any Garrison for fear of being besieged; we have no strength at all of our own; and there is so much profanenesse and irreligion, so much violence and oppression amongst us, that I know not how to expect any assistance from above, that God can blesse the proceedings of so wicked an Armie, whose sinnes increase with our punishments. We are here now at Wooburn within 26. miles of Oxford, and the Enemie at Nopthampton, with a greater power to get between us and home. We march long and tedious marches to prevent it; yesterday from Huntington, and set not out till eleven a clock; The King is in such a condition that he knows not which way to turn himself: God Almighty may please to manifest and magnifie his power and goodnesse in our weaknesse and sinfulnesse; for I have learned from him that our extremitie is his opportunitie: and truly upon that prop I rest my self, resolved to run the same fortune to the uttermost that it shall please God to send my Master. My attendance on him at this instant calls upon me to break off abruptly, and tell you that I am and ever shall continue