Blessed be the Lord who hath preserued and prosperd you hetherto.

I received your lettres by the Blessing which arrived heere the 14 of this present: and is to returne to you with mr. Pincheons goods, so soone as she can be laden: by her I shall (God willinge) write to you of other things which I may now omitt. your wife and all our famyly (I prayse God) are in health. I thinke you will haue no lettre from her till the Blessing come. It hath been earnestly pressed to haue her goe to Virginia for mr. Mavericke and his Corne, but I haue no heart to it at this season, being so perillous both to the vessell (for worms) and especially the persons: I will never haue any that belonge to me come there, if I can avoyde it: but mr. Mayhewe hath taken order the Rebecka shall goe, if she can be mett with.

The Lord in much mercye sent vs a shippe the 12 of this present with provisions, but she had putt in at Pascataqua and sould much there: for she brought onely 39 hogsheads of meale: 25 of pease: 8 of otemeale: 40 of malte and some Beiefe and prunes and Aquavitae, and 18000 of torn. My brother Peter bought it all: and devided it amonge all the last third of the page mutilated.

Queen of Bohemia her eldest sonne is in England, and no speech of any stoppe of shipping hether: nor of the General Governour, more then diverse yeares before. this shipp came in 8 weekes from Dartmouth, and saith, there had not been an Easterly winde in England 14 weekes before.

For home newes, the general Court hath ordayned a standing Councell for life: and quarterly Courts to be kept at Ipswich: Salem, Newtowne and Boston: and 4 Courts in the yeare at Boston for greater Causes, and for Appeals. mr. Allerton is returned, but had a very ill voyage: his Barke lay 10 dayes vpon the rock and beate out all her keele: and so the 2 tyme, mr. Mayhew and he could gett but little provisions and at extreme rates: but 6 hogs­256heads of Bread, and some pease. I can get but one Barrell of pease of mr. Allerton, which I will sende you. some porke they brought but so leane as I haue not seene the like salted: the Indians killed vp all their swine so as Capt. Lovell had none, but you shall haue Beife in stead of it. I have sent to Ipswich for your Cattle and your servant, for it wilbe great losse to keep them there. I will take the others from mr. Mayhew so soone as grasse is vp. Last third of the page mutilated.

I sent you 2 Lettres lately: one by mr. Hodges, and the other by mr. Oldham, wherin I certified you of the death of goodman Bushnell: one whom you will misse aboue all the rest: I had him down to Boston to doe him what honor I could at his buriall. your Carpenter and the other fellowe (who I think truely feares God) are recovering and I hope shalbe able to come to you in the Blessing. I praye sende me some Salt Peter, for I suppose it was a meanes through Gods Blessing to save one of their liues, being farr spent in a feavor.

I purpose to sende you some milch goats and swine. The prunes I suppose you may sell such of them as you cant spende. The Butt cost 10li and should weye neere 1000 li. The Aquavitae was putt aborde by my brother Peters order, without my Appointment, it cost 22li. what you will not spende of it, you may sell to the Dutch for profitt enough.

I sent you two Lettres by mr. Tilly. Your Brother Steph: was desirous to come to you: if you have any imployment for him you may keepe him, otherwise you may returne him back.

This Shipp is bound for the Ile of Sable, if you will sende the Blessinge with her, she may be heere tyme enough a month hence: but 2 things I feare. 1: that heere wilbe no men nor provisions to sett her forth with: the 2: that bothe of them will not be of sufficient strength against the French for this Shipp hath not aboue 14 men: neither would I send any of ours without taking leave of the French. I think the Bark goeth away in the morning: therefore I heere end with salutations to all our frends with you mr. Gardiner and his wife etc. your mother salutes you: your wife writes: the Lorde in mercy preserue guide prosper and blesse you in all your wayes farewell my good sonne.

mr. Hooker and his Company intend to set forth three weekes hence.