“Filial love requires us to make use of this opportunity of informing you of our circumstances. When we last wrote to you we were off the Isle of Wight and had a most favourable wind but we were obliged to lay to for more than half a day, before the things which the ship brought us from Deal were taken on board. Towards evening we sailed and by Monday came already close to the Bay of Biscay. In the morning the wind veered about and the captain found himself compelled to return to some harbour. Here the motion of the ship was so violent that I experienced something of sea sickness but only for a few minutes. That day about four we arrived off Falmouth. We were met by two pilots and the captain engaged him who came first to the ship, but the other, on coming up, expressed his great dissatisfaction, not so much because he had not been engaged, as because the other had not conducted us aright. He disputed so long that the first was obliged to go away. This morning we found that the man had just grounds for his displeasure. For when it was ebb tide our ship had not sufficient water but struck frequently against the ground with such a crash as if a gun was fired. At the same time there was a great storm so that we might have sustained much injury if God had not preserved us. Now we praise Him that we were forced to return, for in this storm we should have been in the greatest danger off the Spanish coast. Thus we daily perceive that His goodness preserves us. O that we might always look only to Him, rest in His will and filially resign ourselves to it! Our captain shows us great kindness. For the rest I pray God daily that He would purify my heart more and more from all dross and by His Spirit fit me for the important office for which, unworthy as I am, He has out of mere grace ordained me.”