I wrote to thee by my brother Arthur, but I durst write no more, then I need not care though it miscarried, for I found him the olde man still, yet I would haue kept him to ease my brother, but that his owne desire to returne and the scarcitye of prouisions heer, yeilded the stronger reason to let him goe. Now (my good wife) let vs ioyne in praysinge our mercifull God, that (howsoeuer he hath Afflicted vs, both generally and perticularly mine owne family in his stroke vpon my sonne Henry) yet my selfe and the rest of our children and familye are safe and in health, and that he vpholds our heartes that we fainte not in all our troubles, but can yet waite for a good issue. And howsoeuer our fare be but coarse in respect of what we formerly had (pease, puddinges, and fish, beinge our ordinary diet) yet he makes it sweet and wholsome to vs, that I may truely say I desire no better: Besides in this, that he beginnes with vs thus in Affliction, it is the greater argument to vs of his loue, and of the goodnesse of the worke, which we are about, for Sathan bends his forces against vs, and stirres vp his instruments to all kinde of mischeife, so that I thinke heere are some persons who neuer shewed so much wickednesse in England as they haue doone heer. Therefore be not discouraged (my deare wife) by any thinge thou shalt heere from hence, for I see no cause to repente of our comminge hether, and thou seest (by our experience) that God can bringe safe hether (euen the tenderest woemen and the yongest children as he did many in diuerse shippes, though the voyage were more teadious then formerly hath been knowne in this season) be sure to be warme clothed, and to haue store of fresh prouisions, meale, egges putt vp in salt or grounde mault, butter ote meale, pease, and fruits, and a large stronge chest or 2: well locked, to keepe these prouisions in, and be sure they be bestowed in the shippe where they may be readyly come by, (which the boatswaine will see to and the quarter masters, if they be rewarded before hande) but for these thinges my sonne will take care: be sure to haue ready at sea 2: or 3: skillettes of seuerall syzes, a large fryinge panne, a small stewinge panne, and a Case to boyle a pudding in; store of linnen for vse at sea, and sacke to bestowe amonge the saylers: some drinkinge vessells, and peuter and other vessells. and for phisick you shall need no other but a pound of Doctor Wrightes2 Electuarium lenitium, and his direction to vse it a gallon of iuice of sciruy grasse to drinke 304a litle for 5: or 6: morninges togither with some saltpeter dissolued in it, and a little grated or sliced nutmege.

Thou must be sure to bringe no more companye, then so many as shall haue full Prouision for a yeare and halfe for though the earth heere be very fertile yet there must be tyme and meanes to rayse it, if we haue corne enough we may liue plentifully: yet all these are but the meanes which God hath ordayned to doe vs good by: our eyes must be towardes him, who as he can withhould blessing from the strongest meanes, so he can giue sufficient vertue to the weakest. I am so streightned with must businesse, as can no waye satisfie my selfe in wrightinge to thee. the Lorde will in due tyme lett vs see the faces of each other againe to our great comforte: Now the Lord in mercye blesse guide and supporte thee, I kisse and embrace thee my deare wife, I kisse and blesse you all my deare children, Forth, Mary, Deane, Sam and the other: the Lorde keepe you all and worke his true feare in your heartes. the blessing of the Lorde be vpon all my seruantes whom salute from me, Jo: Sanford, Amy etc. Goldston, Pease, Chote etc.: my good freindes at Castlins and all my good neighbours, Goodman Cole and his good wife, and all the rest:

Remember to come well furnished, with linnen, woollen, some more beddinge, brasse, peuter, leather bottells, drinkinge hornes etc.: let my sonne, provide 12: axes of severall sortes of the Braintree Smithe, or some other prime workman, whateuer they coste, and some Augers great and smale, and many other necessaryes which I cant now thinke of, as Candle, Sope, and store of beife suett, etc.: once againe farewell my deare wife. Thy faithfull husband