but my Aunt not being very well her mind was changed from goeing or else would not as yet, but I being unprovided of some winter clothes and knowing not when I should get home if I staied, resolved to return \home/ with my fathers servants the next day. which I did though they were unwilling to let me goe so soon. I found my freinds glad to to receive me though unexpected and though it did somewhat trouble me that my detreminations cam so soone to now I did purls which I gave to my father an end. yet since it hath beene a comfort to me to thinke that thou Lord providest better for me in my uncle pagetts house, in these two winters I read Dubertus over. for the most part on Evenings which was pleasant to me to read \of/ the nature of things and the more delightfull because I was so well aquanted with the ground of it which was the history of the Old Testement and this I leant by \it/ to admire thy marvilous are thy workes psal 139.13 workes O Lord Great is thy power and thy wisdome is infinite; \psal 147.5/

And now I arrived at the age of 18 in full strenght and vigor of mind and body as ever I remember I was being also through the heat of clearnes of spirit to sing and heare the psalmes sung seemed better to me then ever able as I thought to doe more then my calling forced me to, and being full of that joy which Religion kindeled in mee. through the vehemency of my zeale I offered my affections to thee my God at divers times and through that true content which my God gave me with the health of my body I appeared the more Beautifull desiring that it might be more acceptable to thee (which I thought \therefore/ would be better for me) that I might not marry. and though I thought it would be a hard matter to me in re-garde of my kindred and others who would be earnest with me to the contrary. as David saith in the 39 ps. 3 mine hart was h[ot] within me. and while I was musing, the fire kindled and I spake with my tongue. so in my 11 yere I cared for no other delight [in com]parison of [this]. in the 17. I desired not to marry. and now I wished or spake my tongue that I might not yet I reposed my confidence in the Lord who\m/ I knew was able to perform it though it seemed never so hard: as I take it. one day. my father being at the sessions \of A/ /as\ I was reading my sight began to be taken from me the men bringing up dinner me thought they came with halfe faces or disfigured. I told them I could not well see. but they wished me I should be dishartened which I was not for being well I eate my dinner and was sicke after my sight coming againe. and I was well afore /night\ this summer wee had good company of my cosen Anne my uncle pagitts daughter we spent our time for the most part working and hearing one read my cosen being a good reader I loved to hear: the Bookes wherein she read were, Ovids Metamorfeces . in Sandyes travels of the holy land . and Gods [revenge] against Murther , so wee profited together working and reading and somtimes goeing abroad. a while after Michael-Arch I went with my cosen to London * I escaped some danger by the way for the wind lifted up the hinder wheeles of the Coach upon a brige (and yet wee escaped safely Blessed be God) I now being at London with my uncle, for a while and did not settle myselfe to doe- and after nessisity compelled me I after made me som clothes. did not doe any thing being in a strang place which my u\n/cle perseaving himselfe began to teach me to sing. but having an office to follow let his Kinswoman teach me which taught his daughters. he useing himselfe to sing in parts. with some good Neighbours which he had for he much delighted in mussick also I learned to I had the greatest fit of bleeding that ever I had as if I should have bled to death which I think the journey caused I was somtimes troubled with a mistines of my eyes and sorenes of them after. I stiched a hanckerchef and read in a book of divers nations especially of the Jewes dance. and a little I learnt on the verginolls of my cosen Bess pagitt. I attained not to much perfection in these things. having but three quarters of a yere to learne and they did there best I suppose to teach me as soone as might be; yet this benefit I found of excercise being in a strate place; for my recreation my Aunt Denton sent for me often. and had me abroad with her. she put me in mind of learning frinch. but I had a more mind to latten thinking it more profitable which my Cosen Thomas pagitt taught me. I doe not remember that I learnt further then the declensions of pronounes: for I had not time (to be excellent or) to learne much of one thing having many: yet I thought it made me read or understand English the better: being somtimes foorth in merry company I should be sad thinking of my friends at home the 19 yere takeing care how they did though I h\e/ard almost weekly from them that they were well and from my brother at Cambrige. I then purposed in mine hart to performe to thee my God that if came home safely and saw my frinds in health that I would be \the/ more carefull which in London I could not doe so well having other accations to doe thee service. (in goeing to Church in the weeke daies then I had done which since I praise thee I have bine the more diligent to performe: also to the best of my rememberance I thought I had somwhat to suffer and that I should be well againe, but it should be