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MADAM,
GIve me leave to tell you, that I write this Letter with no Small Difficulty, for though I sit so near the Fire, as I have Burn'd a part of my Clothes, yet the Cold is so Furious, as it doth not only Freez the Ink in the Standish, but in the Pen I am writing with, so that I am but a Cold Writer, nay, the very Thoughts seem to be Frozen in my Brain, for they Love very Slowly, as if they were Stupified, only my
Love to your Ladiship keeps Warm in my Heart; indeed, your Love doth help to main∣tain the Fire of Life; I know not how Cold it is at the Poles, for I never was there in Person, but in my Imagination yet, it cannot be Colder there, than it is here at this present time; for my part, I could almost think, that this Cold hath Travell'd from the Poles hither, but this thought of mine would be Contradicted through two Reasons, the One, that Cold Moves Slowly, although to bring Reason a∣gainst Reason, it seems Probable that Cold is very Quick, for it catches every Mankind by the Fingers, and by the Noses, as Soon as it comes near them, even as Soon as Burning Fire would do, and much Sooner; the Other Reason is, that Cold in the Long Journy would get it self a Heat, and so Wast by the way; but lea∣ving these Reasons, Though the Senses know not from what Places, or Parts, Cold comes, or what it Causes, yet they know that we have here at this time Cold with all its Po∣tent Strength, as an Army of Flakes of Snow, with Ammunition of Hail for Bullets, and VVind for Powder, also Huge Ships of Ice, which Float in the Main Sea, and Stop up all the Narrow Rivers; also Cold and its Army Shooting forth the Peircing Darts, which fly so Thick and Fast, and are so Sharp, as they En∣ter into every Pore of the Flesh of all Animal Creatures, whereby many Animals are Wound∣ed with Numbness, and Die Insensibly, al∣though
Mankind bring what Strength they can get against Cold, as an Army of Furs, where every Hair stands out like a Squa∣dron of Pikes, to Resist Cold's Assault; and Ammunition of Coals serves for Bullets, and Ashes for Powder, with great Loggs for Cannons, Billets for Muskets and Carbines, Brush Faggots for Pistols, where the Bellows as Fire-locks, make them fly up in a Flame; also great Pieces of Beef for Ships for Men of VVar, with Cabbage for Sails, Saw∣sages for Tacklings, Carrots for Guns, and Marrow-bones for Masts, Ballasted with Pep∣per, and Pitch'd or Tarr'd with Mustard, the Card and Needle being Brewis and Neats Tongues, the Steers-men Cooks, besides ma∣ny Pinnaces of Pork, Mutton, and Veal, and Flying Boats, which are Turkies, Capons, Geese, and the like, all which Swim in a Large Sea of VVine, Beer, and Ale; yet for all this we are Beaten into the Chimney-cor∣ner, and there we sit Shaking and Trem∣bling like a Company of Cowards, that dare not stir from their Shelter; and many in the Sea-fight have been Drowned, from whence some have been taken up Dead-Drunk, then carried and Buried in a Feather-bed, where, after a Long Sleep, they may have a Resurre∣ction, but how they will be Judged at that time they Rise, whether Damned with Cen∣sure, or Saved by Excuse, I cannot tell. Thus, Madam, I thought it was the part of a Friend
to give you a true Relation of our Cold Con∣dition, but in all Conditions or Extremities I shall alwayes be,
Madam,
Your faithful Friend and humble Servant.