150l. per annum,—which if you should think fit to increase, I should not stand upon it. Your own Estate is best known to you: but surely your personal Estate, being free for you to dispose, will, with some small matter of addition, beget a nearness of equality,—if I hear well from others. And of the difference were not very considerable, I should not insist upon it.
What you demand of me is very high in all points. I am willing to settle as you desire in everything; saving for maintenance 400l. per annum, 300l. per annum.[1] I would have somewhat free, to be thanked by them for. The 300l. per annum of my old land[2] for a jointure, after my Wife's decease, I shall settle; and in the mean time “a like sum” out of other lands at your election: and truly, Sir, if that be not good, neither will any lands, I doubt. I do not much distrust, your principles in other things have acted[3] you towards confidence. You demand in case my Son have none issue male but only daughters, then the “Cromwell” Lands in Hantshire, Monmouth- and Gloucestershire to descend to these daughters, or else 3,000l. apiece. The first would be most unequal ; the latter “also” is too high. They will be well provided for by being inheritrixes of their Mother; and I am willing “that” 2,000l. apiece be charged upon those lands “for them.”
Sir, I cannot but with very many thanks acknowledge your good opinion of me and of my Son; as also your great civilities towards him; and your Daughter's good respects,—whose goodness, though known to me only at a distance and by the report of others, I much value. And indeed that causeth me so cheerfully to deny myself as I do in the point of moneys, and so willingly to comply in other things. But if I should not insist as above, I should in a greater measure than were meet
