Chelsea, June 18.

On asking Mr. Gunnel to what use I should put this fayr Libellus, he did suggest my making it a kinde of family register, wherein to note the more important of our domestic passages, whether of joy or griefe—­my father’s journies and absences—­the visits of learned men, theire notable sayings, etc.  “You are ready at the pen, Mistress Margaret,” he was pleased to say, “and I woulde humblie advise your journaling in the same fearless manner in the which you framed that letter which so well pleased the Bishop of Exeter that he sent you a Portugal piece.  ’Twill be well to write it in English, which ’tis expedient for you not altogether to negleckt, even for the more honourable Latin.”

Methinks I am close upon womanhood.  My master Gonellus doth now “humblie advise” her he hath so often chid.  ’Tis well to make trial of his “humble” advice.

...As I traced the last word methoughte I heard the well-known tones of Erasmus, his pleasant voyce, and indeede here is the deare little man coming up from the riverside with my father, who, because of the heat, had given his cloak to a tall stripling behind him to bear, I flew upstairs, to advertise mother, and we found ’em alreadie in the hall.

So soon as I had obtayned their blessings, the tall lad stept forth, and who should he be but William Roper, returned from my father’s errand overseas!  His manners are worsened, for he twice made to kiss me and drew back.  I could have boxed his ears, ’speciallie as father, laughing, cried, “The third time’s lucky!”

After supper, we took deare Erasmus entirely over the house, in a kind of family procession.  In our own deare Academia, with its glimpse of the cleare-shining Thames, Erasmus noted and admired our cut flowers, and glanced, too, at the books on our desks—­Bessy’s being Livy; Daisy’s, Sallust; and mine, St. Augustine, with father’s marks where I was to read, and where desist.  He tolde Erasmus, laying hand fondlie on my head, “Here is one who knows what is implied in the word ‘trust.’” Dear father, well I may!  Thence we visitted the chapel, and gallery, and all the dumb kinde.  Erasmus doubted whether Duns Scotus and the Venerable Bede had been complimented in being made name-fathers to a couple of owls; but he said Argus and Juno were good cognomens for peacocks.

Anon, we rest and talk in the pavilion.  Sayth Erasmus to my father, “I marvel you have never entered into the king’s service in some publick capacitie.”

Father smiled.  “I am better and happier as I am.  To put myself forward would be like printing a book at request of friends, that the publick may be charmed with what, in fact, it values at a doit.  When the cardinall offered me a pension, as retaining fee to the king, I told him I did not care to be a mathematical point, to have position without magnitude.”

“We shall see you at court yet,” says Erasmus.