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A LETTER OF ELIZABETH TRELAWNY. 



Contributed by Z,. H. COURTNEY, Esq., M.P. 



Searching at the British Museum many years ago for 

 another purpose, I lighted upon a collection of papers (add' MSS. 

 11,314, fol. 15), containing letters, accounts and memoranda 

 of the Mohun family, of Boconnoc. 



It seemed as if the papers might have been swept out of a 

 cupboard when Boconnoc was sold to Q-overnor Pitt. Several 

 of the papers would be interesting to local antiquaries, but one 

 letter which I copied may perhaps be printed after so many 

 years in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall. I 

 copied it partly on account of its intrinsic merit, partly because 

 I was already interested in the writer. Elizabeth Trelawny 

 was daughter of the first baronet of that name, and was one 

 of the earliest to accept the teaching of George Fox, who often 

 mentions her in his Journals. The first occasion was at 

 Plymouth in 1655, when he writes (vol. 1, p. 315): "At this 

 Meeting was one Elizabeth Trelawny, daughter to a Baronet ; 

 she being somewhat hard of hearing came close up to me, when 

 I spoke ; and she was convinced." This picture of the pious 

 Puritan sitting at the feet of the inspired man may make the 

 letter I now give live again. 

 " My Hono^'« Lady 



and Dearest Grandmother ; allmighty God fill y'' La''^ w*** 

 true comfort and consolation and revive y'^, according to y* time 

 y* hee hath afflicted y", and for y® yeares in w"'' you have suffered 

 adversity and doubtleffe hee will madam ; for God doth many 

 times prepaire his children by castigations & then bestows 

 greate blessings on them y* they might bee y® more saintified in 

 y* inioyem* : david's night of heavineffe saw a morning of 

 Joyfulneffe. Job's unspeakable torture of body; loffe of 

 children & estate is salved w**" double retournes of gods 

 fauour and bounty, as afflictions are testimonyes of gods love 

 unto us by putting us in mind of o^'selves, soe continuall 



