I haue according to your desire aduised with Mr. Downinge and Mr. Hawthorne concerninge Mr. Peter his Voyage for England.2 And we haue imparted our thoughts each to other about it: And we haue (according to the tyme) considered First of the proiect it selfe and 2dlie of the persons to be imployed about it. For the proiect (if we mistake it not) viz. For an agent or agents to be imployed by the Country or Counsell to procure men or money or both for vs from England, wee (submittinge to better Judgments) thinck it may proue more hurtfull then helpefull vnto vs diuers wayes. For First it will confirme my Lord Say and others of his Judgment, that new England can no longer subsist without the helpe of old England; espetiallie they beinge already informed of the forwardnes of diuers amongest vs to remoue to the West Indies because they cannot heere maintayne their families: 2dlie. It is likelie to tend to the dishonour of God, when Ill affected persons shall vnderstand that our necessities are such as we are forced to seeke for Reliefe as before. 3dlie. It may be a meanes (instead of sending over more persons and money vnto vs) of discouraginge and diuerting both from vs; The report of our pouertie having bene alreadie a manifest cause of debarringe most from vs. 4thlie. It is to be feared that vnlesse the money we expect they would sollicit for, be freelie giuen vs, It will rather impouerish vs and so bringe dishonour to God by such ingagements not duely satisfyed Then doe vs good though it should come vppon easie termes. Plimmoth plantacion may giue vs some light heerein. But to looke amongest our selues if there were noe other ground but this, the due consideration how vnprofitablie the monies we haue had haue bene layd out, as namelie in wines and liquours, and English prouisions of dyett and vnnecessarie brauerie in apparell: all which tends to the scandal of religion and pouertie: much more might be said.

Yet thus farre we thinck Gods prouidence might be serued, that if priuately some Godlie wise men in seuerall townes were spoken to (who are well knowen in England, and haue bene men of eminency and esteeme ammongest them, As Mr. Cotton, Mr. Esek: Rogers, Mr. Norrice, and many others such) to 315write to their acquaintances who are likelie to doe vs good, by way of Counsell to aduize them, that it might be pleasing to God to further the worke of the Lord heere by their purses and persons etc. This we thinck wilbe more effectuall then the other:

Touching the persons some of them who are thought to be most fitt to be imployed in this dissigne we thinck (with submission) most vnfitt, which we are assured you will also be of our myndes when we shall speake together, but I forbeare to write for letters may miscarry. Onely in generall to take notice That they are men well-affected to the West Indies. other thinges hereafter. Theise few quaeres I propose to your best thoughts.

1 Quaere. Whither prayinge and waytinge (as the case stands) were not more agreeable to our state and condition then to runne vnder so many dangers to relieue our selues. The Lord hauing hitherto bene verie good vnto vs beyond expectation.

2 Quaere. Seeing it is likelie that the Merchants in England and others are lookinge this way alreadie: whither it be not a forestallinge of the prouidence of God to run before it, and to hasten the worke our selues, which the lord would better effect in his tyme that his hand might be seene in it.

3 Quaere. Whither it be not somewhat preposterous to goe from a place of safetie prouided of God, to a place of danger vnder the hand of God to seeke reliefe for vs.

4 Quaere. Whither it be proper for torn minister to leaue his worke and to attend to secular businesses which may be done by others. Whither it be not something Jesuiticall.

5 Quaere. Whether the noice of procuring money out of England will not procure with it much envy from that State and stirre vp against vs and the godlie there the chiefest amongest them, moneyes being denyed them by such men in case of such danger and waighty affaires in hand there.

6 Quaere. Whither our scarcitie of money leads vs not rather to some more frugall course heere at home and to the strict reformation of the mispending of money then to seeke abroad for more to maintaine vs in our disorders which I feare will hardlie be avoyded.

7 Quaere. Whither there will not be more peace vnto vs and blessing vppon vs in a patient waiting vpon God, then in a (seeming at least) distrust of his prouidence.

Theise thinges I leaue to your more serious considerations, the Lord in mercie direct you in all to whose blessed guidance and preseruation I leaue you with my due and best respects and seruice to your selfe and deare yoake­316fellow and rest Your worshipps truelie and heartily euer to be commaunded

These are to accompany Mr. Knollis. What aduise I gaue at my being there2 Mr. Wilson can informe you, whose letter I would desire you to reade, I being to giue an account to them that sent mee. Now my earnest request is that this bearer and 3 or 4 more of his frends may haue the liberty of sitting downe in our Jurisdiction. hee may be vsefull without doubt, hee is well gifted you may doe well to heare him at Boston.

They there are ripe for our Gouernment as will appeare by the note I haue sent you. they grone for Gouernment and Gospell all ouer that side on the Country. I conceiue that 2 or 3 fit men sent ouer may doe much good at this confluxe of things. These will relate how all stands in these parts. alas poore bleeding soules!

I haue desired Mr. Endecot to write to your gouernour. I thinke this worke falls naturally vnder the Care of the Counsell. If Mr. Larkam say and hold hee hath promised mee to close with vs, but Malè audio. What are men?

I haue a neere Cossen with him a Justice of Peaces daughter with him very hopefull, and as handsome as any in the Country, 200li for present and hopes to haue 100li more I wish your sons any would take her, and it I am now seeking out a husband for her But wish yours farre better euery way. shee is lately by her frends my kindred commended to my care; I am somtymes thinking of Thom: Reade though I haue my feares. if you please you may 317write me a word. Thus with my hartyest and humble salutes I rest yours as your loue hath made me