Before I acquaint you with the occasion of this meeting, I must crave your patience, to prepare you etc.

when the Rubenites and Gadites made that proposition to moses of inhabitinge beyond Jordan,2 vpon the 1: ouerture of it, it was so harsh as moses himself startled at it.

We have had divers meetings about the Comittee, our maine businesse hathe been about disengaginge and orderinge the ioint stock wherein the further we waded, the more difficultys we encountered and thoughe we all aymed at one ende and had little difference about the pointes which arose, yet we founde our founde our selues sic infolded in suche a Laberinthe, as to free the whole bodye from future involvinges we agreed vpon this Course viz.: to have the ioint stocke devided yet so to be ordered as everye adventurer should in tyme have his owne, and yet the plantation to be advanced and strengthened by it.

It may be some will obiect that this is the waye to overthrowe all, and that all divisions in a bodye are dangerous:

I answer 1: we must distinguish of divisions of affections and interest, the first destroys, the other preserves, as in the spoyle of Abraham and Lot.3 So the Lordes parte of the spoyles of the tythes etc: was still devided. 4 2: it is manifest by all experience, suche things that are appropriate to perticular interest etc: two words cancelled yeild more benefite to the Commonwealth and the partys themselues then things which are Common. 3: no seperation is intended, we earnestly move, that one word cancelled that we still be one, and that you will increase your trading amonge vs: etc.

2: obiection why should we forbeare our monye so longe etc.

Answer 1: you have given it to God, and made suche a protestation, as if Godes glorye and the wellfare of the plantation should require it, you would nott onely lende it, but lose it.

2: you may herby doe a good worke, and little hindrance to your selues.

3: if it should proue any losse to you, consider God is able to giue you more then this. Consider that everye man brought to the building of the materiall tabernacle, here is a liuinge to be built.

Consider the difficulty of Plantations, when God himself would transplant Israel into Canaan, he was forced to feed them and clothe them by miracle, and yet one word illegible etc.

you are the foundation and beginninge of this work:

you are as the family out of which it is derived, a father of a family will not send forth a Childe without a blessing and portion.

you are the roote, whence this branche springes, you see it is weak and tender, easyly Crushed and discouraged

Consider the comparison between vs, you are the onely Cytye, the great­176est Churche, etc: this is the onely hopefull plantation whither you consider the persons or the Confederates, God is with vs, his most faithfull servantes are on our side, if our one word illegible and heartes blesse you, God and his one word illegible will blesse you also.

Consider your reputation, the eyes of all the godly are vpon you, what can you doe more honorable for this Cytye, and the Gospell which you profess: then to denye your owne profitt, that we may saye Londoners can be willing to lose that the Gospell etc.

Consider the confidence we have in you: we had some iealousy at first (the peoples voyce made vs afrayd) but now we are so well perswaded of the sincerity of your intentions etc: as we choose to laye downe all weapons and to caste our selues into your arms

Consider the benefit and comfort you may have by it: cast thy bread upon the waters etc:5 if you find it not that waye, yet what comfort will it be to you, when cupps of cold water shall make vp the account of a disciples reward6 what advantage shall your 100 d. 7 and 50 li doe?

I needed not have vsed these Arguments to drawe your consentes to this perticular Agreement, for these worthy gentlemen are so well known to you for their wisdome and integritye, as you have allready consigned your selues to their order, (And here by the waye, I must needs yeild them their due prayse and thanks bothe this worthy gentleman your late governour and the rest, whoe for their good Affection to the plantation and well deservinge of vs we shall for ever love and honor) but my speeche leads cheifly to this end, that being assured of eache others sincerity in our intentions in this worke, and duely considering in what new relations we stand, we might be knit togither in a most firm bond of love and frindshippe, that you may knowe that we need your helpe and desire it; that you may be assured that the labour and cost of your love shall not be lost vpon vs, but that we will preserve it in so thankfull memory, as you may be assured of a kind requitall when God shall give means and opportunity.

not to presume to muche vpon your patience, this is the some of my mind, it is agreed by the Comittee that the ioint stock shalbe turned over to vs charged with the engagementes, we to give you suche securyty as we are able (for I knowe you will not putt vs to impossibilitys) for repayment of the perticular adventures at the end of 7: yeares: everye adventurer to enioye his freedom and lande, and to trade in any comoditye at his pleasure 177that this is our agreement, I desire the rest of the Comittees to declare by holding vp their handes.

That you all who are present may give a free Assent, you see Religion perswades it, nature perswades the law of Contract perswades necessity perswades our naturall relation perswades, and I see that in your faces, my associates Frinds, that you will declare your Consentes by a cheerfull holding vp your handes.

I received your letter by your neighbour, whom I wellcomed into our Society. Wee haue much cause to bee thanckfull for Gods presence still with us. I was with Mr. Downinge this afternoone and agreed uppon the Peticion; Mr. Edsbury2 wee mett withall, who hopes to gett us 20 peece of ordinance and the Charles.3 Touching buyinge of Ordinance ourselves, wee conferred with the master Gunner4 with Capt: Waller5 and Cap: Venn:6 And uppon agitacion wee finde, that the new mettle will quickly heate and reverse, so that we are quite off them, saue only for a Drake or 2; what is determined about them I refer to mr. Pinchions7 narracion, who 178hath beene imployed in the worke since. Touching Mr. Hooker,8 we are not yet resolved what to doe, saue only to write to him, or goe to him, to see whether hee entends to goe or write that wee may doe accordingly. Dr. Ames9 would haue the like respect as mr. Cotton well remembers us off. If others may accompany him, my brother Samuel10 would bee one, who hath beene in those parts with Dr. Ames before. Your sonn would doe very well to bee one but I feare we cannott spare him because he is to studdy fortificacion and Gunnery heere, for after imployment obliterated exctorn that journy would helpe forwards that: should your torn take uppon us to dispose both of you and yours atttorn leasures for the publique. Hee is a very ingenious Gentleman and I am perswaded will be of speciall use to the Plantation. Wee haue writt a lettre to Sir N: Rich11 to gett a lettre from him to Capt: Gosnall,12 that your sonn may by his meanes take a veiw and plott of Harwich fort for us;13 for which I pray you lett him haue Tyme, and the Company will bee thanckfull; and lett him come up agayne as soone as may bee; I received notice from Leicester that diverse Christians are thinckinge to come from thence, and about Manchester one mr. Roote14 a Godly minister and able (if hee had a Call) and 40 with him; Leicester men desire him for their minister. I haue wrote word that if those 2 places can make a Congregacion they may haue him. They sent up a dozen or 13 Queres which haue beene answered.

Touching mr. Peters15 your caution is good, but I hope wee shall give you content, that his place will not be unsupplyed, nor his coming over offensive, nor dangerous. I shall (God willing) speake to mr. Goffe16 about the cowes, and mr. Wright17 about the caske and provisions to supply vs 179etc. For my modesty (as you call it) it is such as I finde needfull to write oft, that you may pray for mee the more, and expect the less; yet what I am I am Yours

Wee had a Court on Tuesday18 att which was 3 or 4 howres debated whither those that added to their subscriptions before should haue it now fully ended, and after 3 or 4 houres strong debate it was concluded against them, so as now wee shall I hope goe securely on with the marchantes. Mee thincks I ended too abruptly with my Paper without expression of loue and affection answerable to the receipt of yours. But I am weary and not very well, therefore entreat you to supply it out of the abundance of yours. I haue sent Sir Nath: Rich his lettre for your sonne which I hope is sufficient. I hope hee will sufficiently informe himself of the dimensions of the fort and all things about it, as likewise of what severall matterialls what kinde of Earths or wood the severall parts are framed off. It is likely he may inquire of some thereabouts, labourers—artificers or artists that helped to make it. Lett him take speciall notice of the thicknes of the walls where the ordinance is layd forth, and how long our ordinance had need to bee in that regard, and send what speedy word may bee with conveniency.

For that wee are advized by some to haue all our ordinance 8t foote and a half from the base hoope to the muzzell; others and the most to haue none vnder 9 foote to bee so measured, In regard that otherwise they will bee in danger to throw downe the walls of the Fort. But heres the difficulty heere are some, I thinck enough: of 8t foote and of 8t and a half uppon the Tower hill, but those of 9 will hardly or not att all bee gott for the first vioage, so that wee are att a great loss; For some thinck better carry but a few now that are fitt and reserve the other for the last ships, then to carry vnserviceable ones and others thinck better to carry our number, for the feare and noyse of them may doe us good; and they may hereafter serve for some use. Thus you see how hardly I was drawne on this side my paper, and yet now how prolix I am. Pray send us your opinion of this, for it much stumbles us. etc.