That you are pleased amonge your many and weighty imployments to spende so many searious thoughts and good wishes upon vs, and the worke of the Lord in our hands, I must needs acknowledge it amonge other the speciall favours of God towards vs, and an vndoubted testimonye of your sincere Love towards us: which makes me the more carefull to satisfie your desire, of beinge truely informed of our estate (this being the first safe meanes of Conveyance since I received yours in October last) you may please therefore to vnderstand that first, for the number of our people, we never took any surveigh of them, nor doe we intend it, except inforced through vrgent occasion (Dauids example stickes somewhat with vs) but I esteeme them to be in all about 4000 soules and vpwarde: in good health (for the most parte) and well provided of all necessaryes: so as (through the Lords speciall providence) there hath not died aboue 2 or 3 growne persons, and about so many Children all the last yeare, it being verye rare to heare of any sick of agues or other diseases, nor have I knowne of any quartan Ague amonge vs since I came into the Countrye. For Our subsistence heere, the meanes hetherto hath beene the yearly access of new Commers, who have supplied all our wants, for Cattle, and the fruits of our labours, as boarde, pale, smithes work etc: if this should faile, then have we other meanes which 167may supple vs, as fishe, viz: Codd, basse and herringe, for which no place in the world exceeds vs, if we can compass salt at a reasonable rate: our grounds likewise are apt for hempe and flaxe and rape seeds, and all sorts of rootes pumpins and other fruits, which for tast and wholesomeness far excede those in England: our grapes allso (wherewith the Countrye abonds) afford a good harde wine. Our ploughes goe on with good successe, we are like to have 20 at worke next yeare: our lands are aptest for Rye and oats. Our winters are sharpe and longe, I may reckon 4 monthes for storeing of Cattle, but we find no difference whither they be housed or goe abroad: our summers are somewhat more fervent in heat then in England. Our Civill Government is mixt: the freemen choose the magistrats everye yeare (and for the present they have chosen Tho: Dudly esqr. Governour) and at 4 Courts in the yeare 3 out of each towne (there being 8 in all) doe assist the magistrats in making of lawes, imposing taxes, and disposing of lands: our Juries are chosen by the freemen of everye towne. Our Churches are governed by Pastors, Teachers ruling Elders and Deacons, yet the power lies in the wholl Congregation and not in the Presbitrye further then for order and precedencye. For the natives, they are neere all dead of the small Poxe, so as the Lord hathe cleared our title to what we possess. I shall now acquaint you with a sadd accident which lately fell out between our neighbours of Plimouth and some of the Lorde Saye his servants at Pascataqua 2 They of Plimouth having engrossed all the Cheif places of trade in N: E: viz: Kenebeck, Penobscott, Narigancet, and Conecti-cott, have erected trading houses in all of them. The Lords Pinace going with 3 men and a boye to trade at Kenebeck, were forbidden, and persisting in their purpose 2 of the magistrats of Plimouth viz: Jo: Alden and Jo: How-lande and about 9 more, came vp to them in their pinace and sent 3 men in a Canoe to cutt the Cables of the Pascataqua pinace (her master one Hockin having given them provoking speeches) and stood in their owne pinace with their peeces charged and ready to shoote: after they had cutt one Cable, Hockin came vp, and asked them if they ment to caste away his vessell etc: and sware withall that he would kill him that should come to cutt the other: wherevpon (the Canoa being driven away with the strength of the streame) they took out him that steered her and putt in another, and sent them againe to cutt the other Cable, which while one was doeing, (for it was cutt) Hockin shott one of them in the Canoa dead, vpon which one of plimouth men out of their Pinace shott at Hockin and killed him vpon the place, whervpon another of Hockins company coming vp vpon the decke one of Plimouth  168men asked Howland if he should kill him allso, but he forbade him saying he feard there had been too many killed allready: the pinace being then driven on shoare and in danger, the Plimouth men saved her, and putt one of their own men into her to carry her homewards toward Pascataqua vpon the reporte of this we were muche greived, that suche an occasion should be offerd to our enemys to reproache our profession and that suche an iniurye should be offered to those honourable persons who for loue of us and for furtherance of our beginnings here, had so farre engaged themselves with vs, so as we wrote to them to knowe the truethe of the matter, and whither they would advowe it: the wrote to vs againe relatinge the matter in effecte as I have expressed, with iustification of the facte etc: yet declaringe their sorrowe, that it had hapned so sadlye, otherwise then they intended: but they did not doubt but their Grant would beare them out: vpon this, we refuse to holde communion with them, till they give better satisfaction, and havinge the said Alden before vs, at a general Court, we took security of him for his forthcoming and wrote to them what and wherefore we had done it: and upon their answeare, that themselves would doe iustice in the Cause, we remitted him to them, as having no iurisdiction in it, to trye it ourselues. All that we ayme at is that they may come to see their sinne and repente of it: which if they shall doe, I would intreat you to intercede with the Lords for them, that the iniury and discourtesy may be passed by, vpon such satisfaction as they can make.3 I can think of nothing more at present to acquaint you with: so desiringe the continuance of your care and prayers for vs, as we wish and reioyce in the successe of your like vndertakings to the Southward I take leaue and rest Yours ever to be Commanded in the Lord

I praye bringe me a paire of mill stones peake stones seaven foote broade and of thicknesse answearable. they are for a windmill and vpon 169sight heereof this shalbe sufficient warrant to my brother Downinge to deliuer you monye for them. so I rest Your loving freind