476 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. 



they continue still running and unhealed, though better 

 than they were before, so that I am encouraged to repeat 

 again the same medicine, and do hope, through God's 

 blessing a good effect of it. So I take my leave, and rest, 



Sir, 

 Your affectionate friend and humble servant, 



JOHN RAY. 



For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, 

 at Montague House, London. 



[Amongst the MS. of Sir Hans Sloane in the British 

 Museum are the following letters from Mrs. May, 

 which, although not strictly coming within the scope 

 of this work, possess an interest on account of their 

 connexion with the history of the family of John 



Mrs. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, .... 1704. 



SIR, My dear deceased husband always esteemed you 

 one of his best and truest friends, and this you manifest to 

 me his mournful widow in your kind letter, for which I re- 

 turn my most humble and hearty thanks ; and do entreat 

 the favour of you to use your interest with Sir Thomas 

 Willughby to allow me this half year's salary towards the 

 charges of my husband's sickness and funeral ; it is true 

 I cannot demand it, and he hath always been kind to 

 Mr. Ray, which I gratefully acknowledge hath been the 

 support of the family ; but being left with three daughters, 

 of which the eldest is about twenty years of age, and the 

 youngest sixteen, and nothing near so much left to main- 



