A copy OF general LESLEY'S LETTER To Sir John Suckling; With Sir John Sucklings Answer to his Letter.  
Printed in the year 1641.   

General LESLEY'S LETTER TO SIR John Suckling.  
SIR;  
I Am heartily sorry for the report I hear of you For in those parts where we here reside, it is constantly r●lated, that you are fled from your country, whether it be out of discontent, or any other intended design, is not as yet certain. Trust me, I ever retained this opinion of you, that your heels were as swift for any action as your head. And if you showed your country a pair of fair heels, you seconded but your action at Newbourne: where we thank you, we received from you more than you intended to give, by leaving with us an Inventory of your clothes: and furnishing us with such a Wardrobe, as if you purposed to do a work of charity, in covering your naked Enemy.  
Now it may be some will conceive you to be a man of action: and that you intend strange stratagems of Stat●: nay, that you will embark your perfumed person in some military service, to recover your lost fame: and make the world ring with the brute of your actions. But this is the least of my fear or thoughts. I know you love yourself too well, to put your tender flesh upon so desperate an hazard. We that can write no strong lines; nor are able to discover our thoughts in any other language, than buff-rhetoric: nor were ever acquainted with your potatoes, eryngoes, caviar, or any such Kix-shawes, are fitter to be employed upon such exploits, than your Civet Carpet honour, whose valour is best displayed in the arms of your Mistress: or hazarding your patience and necessitous fortunes at hazard. Go to Sir; let not your country fear you. My life for hers, you will do her no harm. You may, I confess, present some massacres upon the Stage with your pen: but if ever you commit such outrage with your pike, you deceive the world. For my part I must tell you, I would never desire a more indulgent, nor favourable enemy: For I am steadfastly of this opinion, that the sweetness and affability of your condition infinitely hates shedding of blood. Your addressements, I know well, are for more amorous employments: Such as may satisfy the sense, and close better with the safety of your person. Nay, fear is such a fever, as I am persuaded you are never without it, which will be a means to secure you from those hazardous overtures that we poor soldiers are subject to. You are nimble, I am lame, you may fly, I must stand to't. Thank God for your speed; as I shall for my spirit.  
We are now upon our retreat; and to signify to the world our joy in this happy union, we intend upon our return to regret our country with some pleasant pastoral, or delightful comedy; and if you please in this short vacation from your more serious affairs, to become our Poet, though we cannot accommodate our Actors with such Properties, as you sometimes bestowed on the Globe, yet shall we suit them with such habiliments, as may sort with our country-garbe. Your answer is expected by him, who honours your parts and person.  
Lesley.   

Sr. John Suckling's Answer to general LESLEY'S Letter.  
SIR,  
YOu expect my answer, and I here return it, and in such a Dialect as may suit with a soldier, especially such an one as is no scholar. You are pleased to jeer me with my flight from my country: and I must tell you, it were well for my country, if you would fly into your own. And for my action at Newbourne; it was more noble for me to fly, than it was loyal in you to pursue. I left my clothes, it is true: they were mine own: but you in possessing them, decked yourselves with others feathers, by seizing on that which was not your own. And in it, you say▪ I did a work of charity; and so I account it, for if they knew how to put them on, I am sure they might cover many that were naked. You write unto me, that some will conceive me to be a man of action; and so I am; my thoughts are ever active, nay, shall I speak really to you; they are passive, till you perform what you profess, & leave our country; where report goes, you intend to sojourn and take your repast▪ till your ragged Regiment has brought them in with their Harvest. Your opinion of me, of tenderness and effeminacy shall little move me: when actions of reputation shall invite me, I have a spirit in me to evince that opinion: and make the world know, that I dare do what may fairly close with loyal resolution. For my potatoes, eryngoes, caviar, & such Kix-shawes, you say you were never acquainted with them, and I e●sily believe it: These are too delicate viands for a buff-palate: yet I am confident, should you retire but a season from your military discipline, you would quickly incline to such delicacy, and from the camp become a Carpet Knight, and bestow this weakened Remainder of your time on ease and effeminacy. For my Mistress; If I win her, I deserve to wear her; she shall need no pension from you to supply her. For my Feverish fear, you were never yet so nearly embosom in me, as to know any such passion yet surprise me; if flight from an Enemy deserve such a style; what may he deserve, who flies from his country to prey upon an others state? For my Massacres on the Stage; of a Tragedy, I made a Comedy: and so might you do by disbanding and leaving our country upon your retreat, you intend to regret your country with a pastoral; or some pleasant Comedy: And you would have the assistance of my Poetry: but your Excellence cannot digest strong Lines, some Caledonian Bard then will better suit you, and leave me a daily Petitioner for your speedy departure.  
John Suckling.