These are letting You
know, that I was Yesterday on my
Trial, and, after long &and most e-
loquent Pleadings, was brought in
guilty. Really there never came
a more eloquent Discourse out
of Man's Mouth, &and more to the
Purpose, than what my good &and
worthy Friend, Mr Lockheart,X spoke;
&and he would tear xthem all to Piec-
es, if Justice or Law was regard-
ed. I have wrote to my dear
Wife, but did not let her into
the Whole, &and I have recommend-
ed to her, in the strongest Man-
ner, to goego forthwith home &and to
manage her Affairs at home in
the best Way possible; &and I recom-
mend to You both, as ever you
can oblige me (whose former
Favours I can never forget)
that you back what I have wrote
her, &and that you prevail with her
to goego directly home. I never will 75 (75)
will forgive either of you, if you
do not manage this Point; for tho’though
She would come here, ‘tis proba-
ble, She would get no Access, &and
even tho’though She would get Access,
our Parting would be more shock-
ing to me than Death. My Trust
was still on the Almighty's Pro-
vidence, and, as that is still the
Case with me, I hope for yethe best,
&and prepare for the Worst: In a
Word, I am afraid there are few
here will escape being brought
in guilty. Before this Court
there were the most villainous
Proofs laid in against me, by
four of Colonel Lees’s Men &and
a Dragoon, of Facts, that I ne-
ver was guilty of, no the least
Circumstance of what they
charged me with; but may God
stand with the Righteous, for
I freely forgive them. You shall
hear from me as oft as I can; &and,
for God’s Cause, see my Wife fairly 76 (76)
fairly on her Way home. You’ll
make my Compliments to the
worthy Ladies of my Acquain-
tance, &and all other Friends
in general, &and your Selvesyourselves both
in particular; &and I am with the
greatest Sincerity &and Affection,