I wrote to thee by my brother Arthur, but I durst write no more, then I need not care though it miscarried, for I found him the olde man still, yet I would haue kept him to ease my brother, but that his owne desire to returne and the scarcitye of prouisions heer, yeilded the stronger reason to let him goe. Now (my good wife) let vs ioyne in praysinge our mercifull God, that (howsoeuer he hath Afflicted vs, both generally and perticularly mine owne family in his stroke vpon my sonne Henry) yet my selfe and the rest of our children and familye are safe and in health, and that he vpholds our heartes that we fainte not in all our troubles, but can yet waite for a good issue. And howsoeuer our fare be but coarse in respect of what we formerly had (pease, puddinges, and fish, beinge our ordinary diet) yet he makes it sweet and wholsome to vs, that I may truely say I desire no better: Besides in this, that he beginnes with vs thus in Affliction, it is the greater argument to vs of his loue, and of the goodnesse of the worke, which we are about, for Sathan bends his forces against vs, and stirres vp his instruments to all kinde of mischeife, so that I thinke heere are some persons who neuer shewed so much wickednesse in England as they haue doone heer. Therefore be not discouraged (my deare wife) by any thinge thou shalt heere from hence, for I see no cause to repente of our comminge hether, and thou seest (by our experience) that God can bringe safe hether (euen the tenderest woemen and the yongest children as he did many in diuerse shippes, though the voyage were more teadious then formerly hath been knowne in this season) be sure to be warme clothed, and to haue store of fresh prouisions, meale, egges putt vp in salt or grounde mault, butter ote meale, pease, and fruits, and a large stronge chest or 2: well locked, to keepe these prouisions in, and be sure they be bestowed in the shippe where they may be readyly come by, (which the boatswaine will see to and the quarter masters, if they be rewarded before hande) but for these thinges my sonne will take care: be sure to haue ready at sea 2: or 3: skillettes of seuerall syzes, a large fryinge panne, a small stewinge panne, and a Case to boyle a pudding in; store of linnen for vse at sea, and sacke to bestowe amonge the saylers: some drinkinge vessells, and peuter and other vessells. and for phisick you shall need no other but a pound of Doctor Wrightes2 Electuarium lenitium, and his direction to vse it a gallon of iuice of sciruy grasse to drinke 304a litle for 5: or 6: morninges togither with some saltpeter dissolued in it, and a little grated or sliced nutmege.

Thou must be sure to bringe no more companye, then so many as shall haue full Prouision for a yeare and halfe for though the earth heere be very fertile yet there must be tyme and meanes to rayse it, if we haue corne enough we may liue plentifully: yet all these are but the meanes which God hath ordayned to doe vs good by: our eyes must be towardes him, who as he can withhould blessing from the strongest meanes, so he can giue sufficient vertue to the weakest. I am so streightned with must businesse, as can no waye satisfie my selfe in wrightinge to thee. the Lorde will in due tyme lett vs see the faces of each other againe to our great comforte: Now the Lord in mercye blesse guide and supporte thee, I kisse and embrace thee my deare wife, I kisse and blesse you all my deare children, Forth, Mary, Deane, Sam and the other: the Lorde keepe you all and worke his true feare in your heartes. the blessing of the Lorde be vpon all my seruantes whom salute from me, Jo: Sanford, Amy etc. Goldston, Pease, Chote etc.: my good freindes at Castlins and all my good neighbours, Goodman Cole and his good wife, and all the rest:

Remember to come well furnished, with linnen, woollen, some more beddinge, brasse, peuter, leather bottells, drinkinge hornes etc.: let my sonne, provide 12: axes of severall sortes of the Braintree Smithe, or some other prime workman, whateuer they coste, and some Augers great and smale, and many other necessaryes which I cant now thinke of, as Candle, Sope, and store of beife suett, etc.: once againe farewell my deare wife. Thy faithfull husband

The blessinge of God Allsufficient be vpon thee euer Amen.

It hathe pleased the Lorde to bringe vs hether in peace (blessed be his name) for the Course of our voyage, and other occurrentes you shall vnderstande them by a iournall2 which I sende with my lettres to your vncle Downing. we had a Comfortable passage, and I founde that loue and re­305spect from Capt. Milburne our master, as I may not forgett: I praye (if he be returned before you come hether) take occasion to see him, and remember my kinde salutations to him and his wife.

It is like you shall heare (before this come to you) how the Lord hathe disposed of your brother Henry the Lorde teache you and the rest by it to remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth, and to improue your tyme to his service, while it lastes.

The vnexpected troubles and necessities which are fallen vpon vs, will bringe a great deale of business and Care vpon thee, but be not discouraged, it is the Lorde who hath cast it vpon thee, and he will vpholde and deliuer thee.

we are forced to send to Bristowe for supplye of provisions, by mr. Peirce, and mr. Allerton, for which I haue giuen them a bill of exchange, you must needes take order the monye may be provided presently for them, for they cant staye, if all means fayle mr. Revell hathe promised to helpe me with 100 li. he hathe a bill also for monye for provisions which I took vp of him heere, so have divers others, which you must take care to see payde.

For the freight for the shippes, you shall receive some billes from Sir Richard mr. Johnson and mr. Dudlye, but it is doubtfull whither their monyes wilbe readye, what you can provide of theirs and mine, be sure the Talbott be first discharged, for they will not tarrye. There is muche likewise to be payd to mr. Beecher, which may staye a while. There are other monyes to be payd to mr. Peirce, which must be provided. if all means fayle, you may trye Doctor Wright: but I hope you haue sould the lande, and then that care is at an ende. For mr. Goffe, he hathe fayled exceedingly in his vndertaking, so as he is in debt to many of vs, and hathe had a great deal more of me then his due, therefore paye him no more. I will sende you the Accompt for him, and the rest whom I vndertooke for.

I shall expecte your mother and you and the rest of our Company here the next Springe, if God will: for directions for your passage I have written about it to your vncle D: and your mother, and I am tyred out with writing and muche businesse. Comende my loue and blessing to your brother Forthe, and your sister M: my neice Matt: and the rest of our familye, and my kinde salutations to all my good freindes and neighbors who enquire of vs, and to mr. Nicolson.

For your sister Winthrop,3 if she will come over, I will provide for her as mine owne, if not, she hathe a bond of 400 li. yet you know there is not so muche due to her, for your brother had muche monye of me, out of the 306400 li. I had of him, besides what he ought to your sister Marye, yet if it be to be had I would paye it her, as it can be raysed but then she must give me a general release.

If monye be brought to you or your vnckle Downinge for goodman Lockwood, let mr. Peirce be payd his bill of provisions for him, and bringe the rest with you.

For Forths cominge over, I leave it to my sister Painter her disposing if they come they shalbe wellcome. these Afflictions we have mett with need discourage none, for the Country is exceeding good, and the climate verye like our owne: onely people must come well provided, and not too many at once. Pease may come if he will, and suche other as you shall think fitt, but not manye, and let those be good, and but fewe servantes and those vsefull ones.

take order that a Coppye of my relation etc. be sent to Sir Nath: Barnardiston, and my excuse of not writing to him and Sir Wm: Springe, with my salutations to them both, and if Sir Nath: hath putt in no monye, let him forbear still.

you must call to mr. Andrewes in Bowe lane for 20 li. which mr. Pincheon hathe appointed for you, and you are to paye it and 30 li. more, to mr. Rich: Andrewes at the mermayde in Cheapeside; but you must first enquire if it were lent to vs, as we were promised at Hampton: it may be payd soone after michaelmas next. There is allso 208 li. to be payd to mr. Cradock or mr. Woodward at his howse in St. Bartholomew neere the exchange September 8. for which mr. Johnson and I stande bounde, but if it be not readye, I think mr. Cradock will gett it continued.

heere is a barrell of meale of Bulbrookes of Wenham, if I did not paye for it, let it be payde.

If you recon with mr. Wall, thus it standes. you received of him by mr. Chamber (to whom I desire to be kindly Commended)

Demand the rest of him and Certifie me of it.

Henry Kingsburye hathe appointed monye to be payd to you by .

John Warren4 hath appointed monye to be payd to you by the bond he left with you. he owes besides 10 li. besides his present provisions.

Demande of Stone and Bragge of Neyland 15 li. you have bonde for it. mr. Goffes and my Accompt standes thus.

I muste ende, the Lord God allmighty blesse you, and sende you all hether in pease. farewell, my deare sonne. your lovinge father

Comende me to olde Ponde,5 and tell him bothe his sones are well and remember their dutye to him he must needes sende his sonne John6 some more provisions, for muche of that he brought was spoyled by the waye. you must demand monye of him. his reconinge standes thus.

For the Country it selfe I can discerne little difference betweene it and our owne. we have had only 2 daies which I have observed more hot then in England here is as good land as I have seene there but none so bad as there Here is sweet aire faire rivers and plenty of springes and the water better then in England here can be noe want of any thinge to those who bring meanes to raise out of the earth and sea.