LEONARD WHEATCROFT, OF ASHOVER. 41 



After numerous visits to Winster, and much correspondence, 

 I>eonard's suit was accepted. His letter of proposal com- 

 mences — 



" My Joy and Dearest Love, 



" My God above knowes I love thee as bone of my bone . . 

 Aye, my love, be no wayes wavering, but thinke on poore me who 

 am yours all over, and will be ' till death vs depart ;' and as vertue 

 doth consist in action, so, both my penne, my hand, my Love, 

 my sword, my life, and all I have, are ready to be imployed and 

 adventured at your command by the servant of your honourable 

 vertues — Leonard Wheatcroft 



Aprill 24. 1657." 



Her answer : — 



" Dear Love, 



I will not omit aney opertunity that I can get to commend 

 my dearest Love unto you, and as a token of my love, I have sent 

 you a band, desiring you to let it imbrace your neck — as willingly as 

 you would imbrace me. So expecting to heare from you 



" I remaine yours ever 



" Elizabeth Hawley." 



Leonard continues : — " I did no little rejoyce to heare and see 

 this her loving answer, after which receipt I warbled forth these 

 lines : — 



" I want a quill out of an Angell's wing 



To write sweet niusick, everlasting praise. 

 I likewise want an angell's voyce to sing 



A wished haven to thy happy dayes. 

 Then since I want both angell's voyce and pen. 

 Let Angells write and sing: I'll say — 'Amen.'" 



The following particulars concerning his marriage are too 

 interesting to be omitted : — " But before the wedding* my Sweet- 

 heart came over to bring some Pewter and other things which 

 we might use ; so, shee staying with mee awhiles, at last returned 

 home, and I awayward with her. So parting with her vpon the 

 wild moors, I went to fetch in some fat wares which I had bought 

 against the wedding : but before I parted with her I told her 

 I would not come over again till I came for her, to which she 



" Fixed for Wednesday in Whitsun weeke, beinge May 20, 1657. 



