Another opportunity offering it self I can do no lesse then write, hoping I am not trowblesom therein, for if I be I should be much more if I lived neer you in often discourse. Since the receipt of yours who intimate enlargement if time had permitted, I understand by mr. Prence who had it from an Indian of good esteem amongst them, that the Narr. prepare for war, that the Mowhakes haue promised to aide them with a thowsand men in the spring, that when they come neer they will make a 428stand, that so Vncas may haue notice of it; whereupon they conceiue he will flie to the English; that done they purpose to send a message to the Engl. and demand Vncas; and as they receiue answere so to proceed. Since this we heare from the Dutch that they haue an army of an 120 men Engl. and Dutch against the Indians. These seeke them and haue slaine 20 Indians with the losse of 2 Engl. they haue also taken 4 Indian prisoners whom they make per force to be their guides. That Captain Patrick is slaine by a Dutch man being probably suspected to haue a hand in directing the Indians in their late mischiefe, The manner thus, Patrick having holpen them to an Indian guide to bring them to a Fort, led them amis the whole night, at day knowing where they were, went again to Patricks howse, where a Dutch man called Patrick traytor. he returned the lie and spet in the Dutch mans face whereat he bent his pistoll and shot him in the head so as he fell down dead and never spake more: the delinquent was committed to the safe custody of Capt. Vnderhill but since escaped.

Concerning Morton, our Governor gaue way that he should winter heer, but begon as soon as winter breaks up. Capt. Standish takes great offence theerat especially that he is so neer him at Duxburrow and goeth sometimes a fowling in his ground. he cannot procure the lest respect amongst our people liveth meanely at 4s per week and content to drinke water so he may dyet at that price. But admit he hath a proteccion yet it were worth the while to deale with him till we see it. The truth is I much question his pretended employment: for he hath heer onely shewed the Frame of a Common weale and some old sealed Commissions, but no inside knowne. As for mr. Rigby if he be so honest good and hopefull an Instrument as report passeth on him he hath good hap to light on two of the arrantest known knaues that ever trod on new English shore to be his Agents East and West as Cleves and Morton but I shall be jealous on him till I know him better and hope others will take heed how they trust him who investeth such with power who haue devoted them selues to the ruine of the Countrey, as Morton hath And for my part (who if my hart deceiue me not can passe by all the evill instrumentally he brought on me) would not haue this serpent stay amongst us who out of doubt in time will gett strength to him if he be suffered who promiseth large porcions of land about Newhaven Narrohigganset etc. to all that will goe with him but hath a promise but of one person who is old weake and decrepid a very athiest and fitt companion for him: but indeed Morton is the odium of our people at present, and if he be suffered (for we are diversly minded) it will be just with God who hath putt him in our hands and we will foster such an one that afterward we shall suffer for it. But the messenger 429cals for my letter and I must breake off, and therefore saluting you in the Lord take leaue and remaine Yours ever to be commanded

Memorandum by Governor Winthrop: Jo: Downam Wm. Latham his wife at Duxbury.

I am forced to complayne vnto you of diverse insufferable wrongs don vnto Sir Ferdinando Gorges, his Commissioners and Province, by Mr. Cleiues and his agent, Mr. Tucker, who report that yow protect and countenance there exorbitant practices, which I canot beleiue, for I never yet knew you giue the least encouragement to any sinister practice. Mr. Cleaues having perswaded Mr. Rigby, a worthy gentleman (by report) to buy the Plough Patent,2 which I esteeme no better then a broken tytle, by Mr. Rigby his authority, (and as he sayes by your approbacion,) he hath nominated Comissioners, a Coronell Generall, Provost Marshall, and other officers, extending his goverment from Sackadehock to Cape Porpus, being aboue 13 leagues in lenght, haueing likewise appoynted a Court to be kept in Cascoe bay the 25th of March next, and hath (but this by past weeke) sent his agent Tucker with a paper perswading all such as he findes any way inclyning to innovation, to sett there handes to it, for the better approving of what they haue begun, and allsoe to intreate your worship and the rest of your magistrates to defend them from French, Indians, and other enemyes, which wee construe to be Sir Fard: Gorges Commissioners. neither hath Cleiues, (as he ought) presented any his authority at 430our last generall Court but 2 dayes before our Court tooke a vioage into the bay, and all the way as he went from Pascataquack to Boston, he reported he was goeing for ayde against mee, for that I had threatned him, and his authority, to beate him out of this Province. by this false report, and many other the like, I am held an enemy to iustice and piety. Sir, I proffesse vnto you ingeinously I never threatned him directly nor indirectly, neither haue I seene him since he came out of England. I haue suffered him to passe quietly through our plantacion, and to lodge in it, allthought I haue binn informed that he was then plotting against mee. I am troubled at these seditious proceedings; and much more at his most notorius scandalls of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, a man for his age and Integrity worthy of much honor. him he brandes with the foule name of traytor by curcumstance, in reporting that he hath counterfeited the Kings broade Seale, (if he haue any Patent for the Province of Mayne,) For, sayes he I haue serched all the Courtes of Record, and can finde noe such grant. how could he haue giuen that graue knight a deeper wound in his reputacion, the which I know is more deare to him then all the wealth in America. he likewise still maynetaynes his false report of his death, in his Flight into Walles, notwithstanding a letter dated the 25th of 7ber last from a marchant in london of very good credit, and brought in Mr. Payne his Ship, which letter imports Sir Ferd: Gorges his good health, with the restauracion of his possesions agayne. sir, I haue made bould to lay open our grevances, desiring you to take them into your graue Consideracion, hoping if wee be forced to take such courses with Cleiues, as the necessity, and the equity of our cause requires, you will not thinke wee haue don amisse in it. Yett we will (if possibly we may) forbeare till I heare from you. Now for the Patent that Mr. Rigby hath bought, it is not from our kings majestie as Cleiues reportes, but from the President and Counsell of New-England, as myne and others are wherein Mr. Rigby hath from there Lordships Jura regalia but his majestie takes that away by his royall grant to Sir Ferd: Gorges bearing date the third of Aprill in the fifteenth yeare of his highnes raigne. Now I conceiue Mr. Rigby his agent is but to recover soe much land as the grant specifies, and to relinquish there Jura regalia, as you may perceiue in the last Clawse of our grant herewith sent you.3 I am very confident that Sir Ferd: Gorges hath not as yett disposed of 431his lands here, for without question he would haue given notice of it to his Commissioners, and therefore we ought not vpon the bare reporte of Cleiues to relinquish either his right of possesions or goverment. Yet I did ever, and doe intend, whensoever Mr. Rigby shall send over People to lett them settle peaceably, to ayde and assist them To the best of my power, without questioning of meum et tuum; For this I know, if Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Mr. Rigby meete, all matters wilbe quietly ended, if there be no Incendiaries here. I will endeavour for peace soe far forth as I doe not betray the trust confided in me, by my honored Freind and quondam master. I haue ever found you my worthy freind far beyound my deservings, and haue therefore freely applyed my selfe vnto you, vnto whom I am ever obleiged to remayne your faythfull freind and servant