| Title: | Letter, Walter Welles To Dury |
|---|---|
| Dating: | 20 September 1630 |
| Ref: | 33/3/3A-4B: 4A BLANK |
[33/3/3A]
Good Mr. Dury
I count my selfe a stranger to you, although perhaps once knowne at Leyden, when you were a childe: yet the singular love once betweene your father & my selfe (if at least that playne harted Mr. Duræus, somtime Christs faithfull minister & preacher to the English at Leyden were indeede your father) and the loue & respect I beare to your name from the mouth of my sincere friend Mr Samuel Hartlieb, togither with the strong affection I beare to the blessed busines you haue in hand, makes mee clayme this acquayntance of you & offer my best service in the worke. Mr Hartlieb hath sent mee a copy of your problemes (or wholesome directions) to be sent to my sincere hearted & judicious brethren in the Lords worke heareabout.)
I beseech the Lord, that hath put those pious purposes into your hart, enable & encourage you & giue you acceptance with the men you are to addresse yourselfe vnto, that it may be speedily be brought to some perfection. Armen.
I vndertake for all Huntingdonshire wherein I dwell, for Bedfordshire, & also for Mr Harris of Hanwell, Mr Whately of Banbury & all their friendes, whether I am sending an expresse messenger vpon another occasion./
I had great feare of the Lutherane side, which Mr Hartlib by his last letter
[33/3/3B]
hath in good part delivered mee of. God be praysed I hope this is the time that the Lord will in part heale vp that breach & reconcile that deadly fude & malice. There was not greater reasons for controversies & writing before then now for peace & reconcilement. This way at first had not bin so seasonable, nor so hopefull. It was fitt men should try the power of arguments & throughly debate the questions + <left margin: + Say what they could for the truth./> Now that is done men haue tryed their strength; they see how litle they prevayle by force; the fire is more kindled & both sides exasperated, now let them sitt downe & coole & in the calme there will be more equall wayghing all arguments & [yealding?] it is likely. Againe wee haue warred as long as it is safe for vs both, the common adversary will now devoure all if wee joyne not in amity. My Lord Byshop of Lincolne is a very wise gentleman, & very able to promote this cause, I am also perswaded hee would, I pray consult whither it weare best to take him & Bishop of Sarum & Exeter in or not, & who els. I can and will open all to our Byshop, if it be thought fitt for I liue close by him & haue full & free accesse to him at all tymes. Hee favours all good busineses: but how farre to trust him, I know not./ I pray God direct all for good./ In whom I am
Yours in the strongest of
Godmanchester. Sept.20 all bondes
1630 W: Welles
[33/3/4B]
[top, another hand:] Welles [smudged] Welles
[Welles]
To my very [page torn]
esteemed [friend page torn]
Dury preacher [lately? page torn]
come from [Elbing? page torn]
be [these dd.? page torn]