Your leters I have received, with 8. hoggsheads of beaver by Ed: Wilkinson, master of y^e Falcon. Blessed be God for y^e safe coming of it. I have also seen & acceped 3. bills of exchainge, &c. But I must now acquainte you how the Lords heavie hand is upon this kingdom in many places, but cheefly in this cittie, with his judgmente of y^e plague. The last weeks bill was 1200. & odd, I fear this will be more; and it is much feared it will be a winter sicknes. By reason wherof it is incredible y^e number of people y^t are gone into y^e cuntry & left y^e citie. I am perswaded many more then went out y^e last sicknes; so as here is no trading, carriers from most places put downe; nor no receiving of any money, though long due. M^r. Hall ows us more then would pay these bills, but he, his wife, and all, are in y^e cuntrie, 60. miles from London. I write to him, he came up, but could not pay us. I am perswaded if I should offer to sell y^e beaver at 8s. p^r pound, it would not yeeld money; but when y^e Lord shall please to cease his hand, I hope we shall have better & quicker markets; so it shall lye by. Before I accepted y^e bills, I acquainted M^r. Beachamp & M^r. Andrews with them, & how ther could be no money made nor received; and that it would be a great discredite to you, which never yet had any turned back, and a shame to us, haveing 1800^li. of beaver lying by us, and more oweing then y^e bills come too, &c. But all was nothing; neither of them both will put too their finger to help. I offered to supply my 3. parte, but they gave me their answer they neither would nor could, &c. How ever, your bils shall be satisfied to y^e parties good contente; but I would not have thought they would have left either you or me at this time, &c. You will and may expect I should write more, & answer your leters, but I am not a day in y^e weeke at home at towne, but carry my books & all to Clapham; for here is y^e miserablest time y^t I thinke hath been known in many ages. I have kno[=w] 3. great sickneses, but none like this. And that which should be a means to pacifie y^e Lord, & help us, that is taken away, preaching put downe in many places, not a sermone in Westminster on y^e saboth, nor in many townes aboute us; y^e Lord in mercie looke uppon us. In the begining of y^e year was a great [216] drought, & no raine for many weeks togeather, so as all was burnte up, haye, at 5^li. a load; and now all raine, so as much sommer come & later haye is spoyled. Thus y^e Lord sends judgmente after judgmente, and yet we cannot see, nor humble our selves; and therfore may justly fear heavier judgments, unless we speedyly repente, & returne unto him, which y^e Lord give us grace to doe, if it be his blessed will. Thus desiring you to remember us in your prayers, I ever rest Your loving friend, JAMES SHERLEY. Sep^t: 14. 1636.