in old King _Henry's_ days. Moreover, he is of far kin (yet not
so far, neither) unto my most worthy Lord of _Oxenford_. Now, sithence
I am to write my thoughts, I must say that I would _Father_ had a better
nose. I cannot speak very truth and set down that I did ever admire
_Father's_ nose. But he hath good white teeth, and a right pleasant
smile, the which go far to make amends for his nose.

_Mother_ was right fair when she was a young maid, and is none so ill
now. She is graceful of carriage, very fair of complexion, and hath the
sweetest, shining golden hair was ever seen. Her eyes be pale grey
[blue], right like the sky.

Of us three maids, _Edith_ is best-favoured, and all that see her do say
she is right the very picture of _Mother_, when she was young. Next her
am I; for though I say it, I am a deal fairer than either _Anstace_ or
_Nell_, both which favour [resemble] _Father_, though _Nell_ is the
liker, by reason she hath his mind as well as his face. Now, _Nell_ is
all ways slower than _Edith_ and me, and nothing like so well-favoured.

But for beauty, the least I did ever see in any man is in Mynheer
_Stuyvesant_, which hath a flat nose and a stoop in the shoulders, and
is high and thin as a scarecrow. Cousin _Bess_ is metely well,--she is
rosy and throddy [plump]. For Aunt _Joyce_, I do stand in some fear of
her sharp speeches, and will say nought of her, saving that (which she
can not deny) she hath rosy cheeks and dark brown hair (yet not so dark
as _Father's_), and was, I guess, a comely young maid when she were none
elder than we. As for _Ned_ and _Wat, Ned_ is the better-favoured, he
having _Mother's_ nose and the rest of him _Father_; but _Wat_ (which
favoureth _Mother_ of his colouring, yet is not so comely) a deal the
courtlier.

Now when they shall all come to read this same, trow, shall they know
their own portraits? or shall they every one cry out, "This is not me!"

So now I leave the rest to Mistress _Helen_, till it shall come to me
next month, when I will say what I think yet again.

SELWICK HALL, OCTOBER YE V.
(_In Helen's handwriting_.)

Dear heart, but what hath _Milly_ been a-doing! I could not think last
night where was my book, but I was rare sleepy, and let it a-be. And
here this morrow do I find a good two pages all scribbled o'er of
_Milly's_ writing. Well! 'tis not my fault, so I trust shall not be my
blame.

And it