Blessed be the Lord our good God, that I still heare of the health of thee and our familye, and that he is pleased to continue health and peace to vs heer. I haue nothinge to write to thee of, but hauinge so fitt opportunitye, I could not let it passe without a lettre to my best beloued: I know thou wilt consider how it is now with me in regard of businesse, which so take vp my tyme and thoughtes, as I can no more but let thee know that, I haue a desire still to be writinge to thee; though I cannot expresse my loue so largly to thee, as I was wonte to doe: I hope (if God will) to be with thee the beginninge of next weeke:2 therfore let John be heer with my horses on saterdaye. all our freindes heer salute thee: comende me kindly to my good seruant, and all our freindes: The Lord blesse thee and all our children and companye: so I kisse my sweet wife and rest thy faithfull husband

Before I acquaint you with the occasion of this meeting, I must crave your patience, to prepare you etc.

when the Rubenites and Gadites made that proposition to moses of inhabitinge beyond Jordan,2 vpon the 1: ouerture of it, it was so harsh as moses himself startled at it.

We have had divers meetings about the Comittee, our maine businesse hathe been about disengaginge and orderinge the ioint stock wherein the further we waded, the more difficultys we encountered and thoughe we all aymed at one ende and had little difference about the pointes which arose, yet we founde our founde our selues sic infolded in suche a Laberinthe, as to free the whole bodye from future involvinges we agreed vpon this Course viz.: to have the ioint stocke devided yet so to be ordered as everye adventurer should in tyme have his owne, and yet the plantation to be advanced and strengthened by it.

It may be some will obiect that this is the waye to overthrowe all, and that all divisions in a bodye are dangerous:

I answer 1: we must distinguish of divisions of affections and interest, the first destroys, the other preserves, as in the spoyle of Abraham and Lot.3 So the Lordes parte of the spoyles of the tythes etc: was still devided. 4 2: it is manifest by all experience, suche things that are appropriate to perticular interest etc: two words cancelled yeild more benefite to the Commonwealth and the partys themselues then things which are Common. 3: no seperation is intended, we earnestly move, that one word cancelled that we still be one, and that you will increase your trading amonge vs: etc.

2: obiection why should we forbeare our monye so longe etc.

Answer 1: you have given it to God, and made suche a protestation, as if Godes glorye and the wellfare of the plantation should require it, you would nott onely lende it, but lose it.

2: you may herby doe a good worke, and little hindrance to your selues.

3: if it should proue any losse to you, consider God is able to giue you more then this. Consider that everye man brought to the building of the materiall tabernacle, here is a liuinge to be built.

Consider the difficulty of Plantations, when God himself would transplant Israel into Canaan, he was forced to feed them and clothe them by miracle, and yet one word illegible etc.

you are the foundation and beginninge of this work:

you are as the family out of which it is derived, a father of a family will not send forth a Childe without a blessing and portion.

you are the roote, whence this branche springes, you see it is weak and tender, easyly Crushed and discouraged

Consider the comparison between vs, you are the onely Cytye, the great­176est Churche, etc: this is the onely hopefull plantation whither you consider the persons or the Confederates, God is with vs, his most faithfull servantes are on our side, if our one word illegible and heartes blesse you, God and his one word illegible will blesse you also.

Consider your reputation, the eyes of all the godly are vpon you, what can you doe more honorable for this Cytye, and the Gospell which you profess: then to denye your owne profitt, that we may saye Londoners can be willing to lose that the Gospell etc.

Consider the confidence we have in you: we had some iealousy at first (the peoples voyce made vs afrayd) but now we are so well perswaded of the sincerity of your intentions etc: as we choose to laye downe all weapons and to caste our selues into your arms

Consider the benefit and comfort you may have by it: cast thy bread upon the waters etc:5 if you find it not that waye, yet what comfort will it be to you, when cupps of cold water shall make vp the account of a disciples reward6 what advantage shall your 100 d. 7 and 50 li doe?

I needed not have vsed these Arguments to drawe your consentes to this perticular Agreement, for these worthy gentlemen are so well known to you for their wisdome and integritye, as you have allready consigned your selues to their order, (And here by the waye, I must needs yeild them their due prayse and thanks bothe this worthy gentleman your late governour and the rest, whoe for their good Affection to the plantation and well deservinge of vs we shall for ever love and honor) but my speeche leads cheifly to this end, that being assured of eache others sincerity in our intentions in this worke, and duely considering in what new relations we stand, we might be knit togither in a most firm bond of love and frindshippe, that you may knowe that we need your helpe and desire it; that you may be assured that the labour and cost of your love shall not be lost vpon vs, but that we will preserve it in so thankfull memory, as you may be assured of a kind requitall when God shall give means and opportunity.

not to presume to muche vpon your patience, this is the some of my mind, it is agreed by the Comittee that the ioint stock shalbe turned over to vs charged with the engagementes, we to give you suche securyty as we are able (for I knowe you will not putt vs to impossibilitys) for repayment of the perticular adventures at the end of 7: yeares: everye adventurer to enioye his freedom and lande, and to trade in any comoditye at his pleasure 177that this is our agreement, I desire the rest of the Comittees to declare by holding vp their handes.

That you all who are present may give a free Assent, you see Religion perswades it, nature perswades the law of Contract perswades necessity perswades our naturall relation perswades, and I see that in your faces, my associates Frinds, that you will declare your Consentes by a cheerfull holding vp your handes.