ABSTRACT
Beingmostwillingandrightgladtotakeholdofthisopportunity,wherebyI mighttenderuntoyourselfthattrue,due,andheartythanks,whichIshallever acknowledgeIoweuntoyou,forthatmosthappyandkindvisityouandthatgood companymadetoGidding,andaboveallforthatrichandpreciousjewelyou broughtwithyouandleftwithme,whomIcannotbut[call]mineown(not daughter-in-law)whomuponeveryday'smoreandmoreexperience,suchisher lovely,discrete,virtuous,piousdeportmentthatsheravishesmyheartwithmuch joyandgainstheaffectionsandgoodwishesofallfriendsandstrangersalsothat see,knowandhearofheractions.Happyandthricehappyismydearsoninher consortship,andmyselfblessedinmyoldagetoseeandbeholdandpossessthis noblebrookfromwhence(mydailyprayersare)theremayissue[and]flowermany lovelypleasantsweetvirtuousspringsthatmaybytheirpietyandworthchangethe nameofnowLittletobeGreatGiddinginduetime;tothegreatergloryofGodand
101Foraprintedtext,seeBlackstone,B.(ed.)(1938),TheFerrarPapers,Cambridge:at theUniversityPress.TheoriginalpapersareatMagdaleneCollege,Cambridge.
