IF YOU FIND THIS AND I, NED FERRYMAN, HAVE NOT RETURNED FROM THE FOREST PLEASE TO SEND IT TO MRS. ALINOR REEKIE / REEKIE WHARF / SAVOURY DOCK / SOUTHWARK VILLAGE / LONDON.

SISTER ALINOR

GOD BLESS YOU. I AM WRITING THIS IN CASE OF MISCHANCE BEFORE I GO INTO THE WOODS HUNTING WITH MY DOG. IF IT SHOULD GO AMISS FOR ME THEN SOMEONE WILL HAVE FOUND IT AND SENT IT TO YOU. THIS IS FAREWELL AND GOD BLESS YOU, SISTER.

YOU SHOULD COLLECT MY GOODS. I HAVE SOME BEASTS THAT SHOULD BE SOLD AND THE VALUE SENT TO YOU. I WOULD THINK ABOUT £10. MY LAND AND CABIN WOULD BE WORTH ABOUT £40. YOU COULD ASK THE MINISTER AT HADLEY MR. JOHN RUSSELL TO FORWARD YOU THE VALUE. TELL HIM PELTS OR GOODS NOT WAMPUM.

OR YOU COULD KEEP THE HOUSE AND FERRY AND JOHNNIE MIGHT DO WORSE THAN TO COME HERE HIMSELF IF HE’S NOT TOO GRAND TO KEEP A FERRY. IT’S NO HARDER THAN MAKING A LIVING ON FOULMIRE, AND SOMETIMES, WHEN THE MIST COMES OFF THE RIVER AND ALL THE BIRDS ARE FLYING LOW, I THINK IT IS VERY LIKE OUR OLD HOME. SOMETIMES THE RIVER COMES OVER ITS BANKS INTO THE SWAMP AND THE ONLY WAY THROUGH IS THE LITTLE PATHS THAT THE SAVAGES KNOW—THAT I AM LEARNING. I SEE FOULMIRE AGAIN EVERY DAWN HERE.

I DON’T REGRET COMING HERE THOUGH I WAS DRIVEN BY YOUR SHAME AND THE DEFEAT OF MY CAUSE. I STILL THINK THAT HIS LORDSHIP WAS NOT FIT TO JUDGE YOU AND NO MAN IS FIT TO RULE ME. I LIKE THIS LAND WITHOUT KINGS OR RULERS BUT MEN WHO WALK QUIETLY IN HIDDEN WAYS.

GOD BLESS YOU, SISTER—AND IF I DON’T RETURN KNOW THAT YOU WERE ALWAYS LOVED BY YOUR BROTHER—

NED FERRYMAN