A PRECIOUS And most Divine LETTER FROM THAT FAMOUS, AND Ever to be renowned Earl of ESSEX, (Father to the now Lord General his Excellence) to the Earl of SOUTH-HAMPTON, in the latter time of Queen ELIZABETH'S Reign.  
Printed according to Order.   printer's or publisher's device 
London Aug: 14. 1643   

To the READER.  
THis Letter, many Years since received from the hands of a most Honourable Person, eminent in the Court in those Elysian days, (when Honour crowned Virtue, and Virtue was the glory of the Times) I have long stored up for my own private, as a Gem and Treasure inestimable.  
Earthly Treasures waste, but Heavenly increase by Communication! Besides, I fear (with the Lepers of Old) I do not well long to conceal, what all that read will judge to be a Common Treasure. What the Author was for Height and Greatness all know; What for Grace and Goodness (though Envy or Ignorance, have as it were Conspired to Veil over his Orient Lustre) thou mayest take some scantling of by this.  
His Magnanimity and Valour the World knew, as fare as Hercules his Pillars, and the utmost Extent of the Hesperian Pride. His Humility and Plaine-heartednes (which heightened Him above all his Honours) those that knew him were not ignorant of.  
That Noble Hero yet lives in the true Successor of Honour and Virtue, our Noble GENERAL.  (Neque degeneres pariunt Aquilae Columbas.) 
 
His incorrupted Fidelity, Valour, and Wisedonme, are above the reach of Ignorant or Envious Malignants.  
His immovable Resolution (ever, and of late expressed) to deny his Honour, his own Wisdom, yea his life for the Common Safety, shines so bright in the Eyes of all Judicious, that neither the malicious fomenting of Malignant Spirits, nor the weak Clamours of impatient Ignorance, nor the Necessity of Gods most holy Providence, (exercising his Excellency and the Kingdom, I hope for good) I say that none, nor all of these, can justly cloud and Eclipse his Shine and Lustre.  
There is nothing within the Circumference of Political and prudential Arts, that hath more uncertain and various Events then that of War: Eventus Belli incertus.  
The protracting lengthening, shortening, lies in the hand of a higher Excellency, even only his, in whose hand is our Way and Breath, as Daniel told Belshazzar.  
The Greatest and best Commanders that ever the World yet saw, must remember, in whose hand is their Way and Breath, and both they and all Men must with Patience see (for oft it comes to pass) both Months, and Summers spend beyond their Thoughts, Desires, Endeavours, and yet no Blemish to their Wisdom, Valour, Fidelity, or Vigilancy.  
He that is the God of Peace mercifully show us the Paths of it, even of that Peace, which no Man can give nor take from us.   

A LETTER FROM That famous, and ever to be renowned Earl of ESSEX, to the Earl of South-hampton, in the latter time of Queen ELIZABETH'S Reign.  
My Lord,  
AS neither nature nor custom ever made me a man of compliment, so now I shall have less will than ever for to use such Ceremonies, when I have left with Martha to be solicitus circa multa, and believe with Mary, unum sufficit: but it is no compliment or Ceremony, but a real and necessary duty that one friend oweth to another in absence & especially at their seave taking, when in man's reason many accidents may keep them long divided, or perhaps bar them ever meeting till they meet in another world; for than shall I think that my friend, whose honour, whose Person, and whose fortune is dear unto me, shall prosper and be happy where ever he goes, and what ever he takes in hand when he is in the favour of that God, under whose protection there is only safety, and in whose service there is only true happiness to be found. What I think of your natural gifts or abilities in this age, or in this State, to give glory to God, and to win honour to yourself, if you employ the Talents you have received to their best use, I will not now tell you, it sufficeth, that when I was farthest of all times from dissembling, I spoke truly, and have witness enough: but these things only I will put your Lordships in mind of.  
First, that you have nothing that you have not received.  
Secondly, that you possess them not as Lord over them, but as an accountant for them.  
Thirdly, If you employ them to serve this world, or your own worldly delights, (which the Prince of this world will seek to entertain you with) it is ingratitude, it is injustice, yea it is perfidious treachery. For what would you think of such a servant of yours, that should convert your goods committed to his charge, to the advantage or service of your greatest enemy; & what do you less than this with God, since you have all from him, and know that the world, and Prince thereof, are at a continual enmity with him? and therefore if ever the admonition of your truest friend shall be heard by you or if your Country which you may serve in so great and many things, be dear unto you; If your God, whom you must (if you deal truly with yourself) acknowledge to be powerful over all, and just in all be feared by you; yea if you be dear unto yourself and prefer an everlasting happiness before a pleasant dream, which you must shortly awake out of, and then repent in the bitterness of your soul; if any of these things be regarded by you, than I say, call yourself to account for what is past, cancel all the leagues you have made without the warrant of a religious conscience, make a resolute Covenant with your God, to serve him with all your natural and spiritual, inward and outward gifts and abilities, and then he that is faithful (and cannot lie) hath promised to honour them that honour him; He will give you that inward peace of Soul, and true joy of heart, which till you have you shall never rest, and which when you have, you shall never be shaken, and which you can never attain to any other way than this that I have showed you.  
I know your Lordship may say to yourself, and object to me, this is but a vapour of melancholy and the stile of a Prisoner, and that I was far enough from it, when I lived in the world as you do now, and may be so again when my fetters be taken from me. I answer, though your Lordship should think so, yet cannot I distrust the goodness of my God that his mercy will fail me or his grace forsakeme; I have so deeply engaged myself, that I should be one of the most miserable Apostates that ever was, I have so avowed my profession and called so many from time to time to witness it, and to be watchmen over me, that I should be the hollowest hypocrite that ever was borne: But though I should perish in my own sin, and draw upon myself my own damnation, should not you take hold of the grace and mercy in God which is offered unto you; and make your profit of my fearful and wretched example? I was longer a slave and servant to the world and the corruptions of it. than you have been, and therefore could hardlyer be drawn from it. I had many calls, and answered some of them slowly; thinking a soft pace fast enough to come to Christ and myself forward enough when I saw the end of my journey, though I arrived not at it, and therefore I have been by God's providence violently pulled, haled, and dragged to the Marriage Feast as the world hath seen. It was just with God to afflict me in this world that he might give me joy in another. I had too much knowledge when I performed too little obedience, and was therefore to be beaten with double stripes: God grant your Lordship may feel the comfort I now enjoy in my unfeigned conversion, but that you never feel the torments I have suffered for my too long delaying it; I had none but Divines to call upon me, to whom I said, if my ambition could have entered into their narrow hearts, they would not have been so humble; or if my delights had been tasted by them, they could not have been so precise: but your Lordship hath one to call upon you, that knows what it is you now enjoy, & what the greatest fruit and end is of all the contentments that this world can afford. Think therefore dear Earl, that I have staked & bounded all the ways of pleasure to you, & left them as Sea marks for you to keep the Channel of religious virtue; for, shut your eyes never so long they must be open at last, and then you must say with me, there is no peace to the wicked. I will make a Covenant with my Soul, not to suffer my eyes to sleep in the night, nor my thoughts to attend the first business of the day, till I have prayed to my God, that your Lordship may believe and make profit of this plain, but faithful admonition; and then I know your Country and friends shall be happy in you, and Yourself successful in all you take in hand; which shall be an unspeakable comfort to  
Your Lordship's Cousin and true friend, whom no worldly cause can divide from you ESSEX.