Sir Robert Southwell to Sir William Petty.
'Kingsweston, 28 Feb. 1681.
'Dear Couzin,—You were not onely my comforter uppon the death of an excellent father, but you excercised greatte skill to prevent his death. And now by yours of the 31th past, you doe not onely console the greatte loss I have sustained in a wife, but you seeme to think it reparable. As to the loss, 'tis true 'twas but of a mortall thing, and soe I must submitt. He that has an unlimited jurisdiction did it; for we wanted nothing that humane ayde could give. But perhaps I ought not to repine, that one whoe had soe many preparations for heaven, was taken to the rewards thereof.
'But when by 19 yeares conversation I knew the greate virtues of her mind, and discover since her death a more secret correspondence with Heaven in Acts of pietye and devotion which before I knew not of, you will allow me att least for my childrens sake, to lament that they have too early lost their guide.
'I have had many other close tryals since my father's death. The loss of a good mother, of an onely sister, two nephews educated by my care, and a beloved son who dyed three years before. And yet I may saye he dyed but even now, for by what steps & motions he declined towards his grave, just the same were now gone over againe by his deare mother, to the observation & sorrow of all that beheld. Soe that a tragedye of the greatest past affliction I ever had, was thus repeated upon me; and I leave you to judge whether I had not loade enough. But I hope all these rugged paths will but conduct me to my journeyes end. 'Tis certain the Earth becomes less worthy for the good whoe leave it. And weake Nature may be allowed to think Heaven the more desirable for their friends who are gone before.
'There is but one strong Motive in me to respite such desires; which is the consideration of 4 young children whoe will hardly find soe good a friend as myself in the whole world. They deserve well from me, & with application may be leade into the Paths of a virtuous life. They are all parcels of their
