Salutem in Christo

My Lord.

I have receaved your Lordships Letters of November 18/28 and 19/29. And with them, both the virulent Tract concerning Calvin cunningly dedicated to myselfe; and the Answers of the Prince of Denmarke and Dr Earnstius concerning that Tract. For all which your Care, Kindnesse, and paynes, I have noe other New-yeares Guift to send you, then my hearty Thankes; and as hearty wishes that this yeare may bee happie to yourselfe, and your wife, to whom I pray lett mee be remembred.

For my selfe, my strength decreases, and my Busines increases, which is not a Good conjuncture for mee, yet must bee borne. For the Publicke, undoubtedly this yeare must bring forth some great Good, or Evill. And a great part of the Good hoped for, will depend upon the Temper and well ordring of the Parliament which God blesse and preserve itt from private bold Ends and practizes.

The particular Busines contayned in your Letters is all concerning the Prince Elector, and his being detayn’d in France. And for this, you have written very cleerly, and very nobly. But that's all one to them, who out of all doubt have other ends in this Busines, then most men thinke of. And what my Conceipt of it is, I dare not expresse, unlesse I could bee fully assured of the safety of the Comming of these Letters to your hands. The best is. Whosoever hath been deceaved by the French proceedings hitherto, I have not. Your Letter was written soe well in this particular, as that I thought I should doe you a good Office, to shew itt the King. And I did soe; And failed not in my Expectation. For the King having read itt, sayd it was honestly and discreetly and prudently written. But as for the Prince Electour I for my part doe not finde yett, that hee is any neerer his Liberty, then Hee was, when you writt to mee. I pray God sends us to see better Tymes to whose Blessed protection I leave you and rest

Your Lordships very Loving freind to serve you

W: Cant:

Lambeth. January 9th. 1639/40.