Sir,

I begge you to beleive that I would not have beene ten daies returned into England without waiting on you², had it not pleased God to afflict mee by the sickness of my wife, who, from the first day of her coming back into London³, hath layne under a fever soe severe as at this houre to render her recoverey desperate. Which affliction hath very much unfitted mee for those acts of civillitie and respect which, amongst the first of my friends, I should have paid to yourselfe, as hee to whome singly I owe the much greater part of the satisfaction I have met with in my late voyage. Next to you, I have my acknowledgements to make to Sir Samuel Tuke; to whome (when in a condition of doeing it) I shall beg your introducing mee, for the owneing of my obligations to him on the like behalfe. But Sir, I beg you heartilie to dispence with the ceremonie, till I am better qualified for paying it; and in the meane time receive the enclosed, which I should with much more satisfaction have delivered with my owne hands.