I received 2 lettres from you the one written longe since and putt backe in the Hope: by the other I vnderstande your good Affection to our 200Plantation whereof you desire we should tast the fruits: blessed be the Lord who hath inclined your heart thus towards vs for good, and blessed be you of the Lord for it. According to your direction I spake with Hamond, who tould me that he bestowed part of your mony in vinegre to have made Sturgeon, which being putt aborde the Richard, was forced back again, and so by stoping and putting abord another shippe suffered much loss: I spake with Mr. Trerice the master of the same shippe who affirmed that of 12 hogsheads of vinegre there was lost by leakage about 3 hogsheads: Old Hamonde came allso before the Governor (Mr. Haines) and other of vs and affirmed that there came no benefite of your mony but losse, so that howsoever by the bonde we might have compelled them to have payd the whole 30li yet respecting the losse which (by Gods providence) hapned in the adventure, we were content to take the principall, which the old man hath vndertaken to pay, which when we have received it shalbe bestowed vpon some public worke: in the meane tyme the Governour and Assistants returne you thanks by me.

For our Condition heere, the Lord is pleased still to continue health and peace to vs: and so to increace our numbers (there have come about 30 shipps this summer allreadye) as we are putt to rayse new Colonys about 100 miles to the west of vs, vpon a very fine river and a most fruitfull place, onely shipps cannot come neere by 20 legues: Mr. Hooker is like to goe thither next yeare not for any difference between Mr. Cotton and him and soe reporte for they doe hould a most sweet and brotherly Communion togither (though their iudgments doe somewhat differ about the lawfullnesse of the Crosse in the Ensigne) but the people and Cattle are so increaced as the place will not suffice them: The passingers this yeare (through the Lords speciall providence) and their Cattle are come with such speed and safety as no sickness hath been among them nor above 2 persons miscarried and very fewe Cattle. I might further enlarge but indeed I am so full of business as I can scarce gett leysure to scribble these fewe lines I desire you to beare with me, and to continue still your goodwill towards vs, and your prayers for vs, and so with my Love and due respecte to your self and your worthy Lady I commend you to the Lord and rest At your service