it torn my soule much to heare of your worthie carriage torn your government. I like it as well, that the wicked speake euill of you, torn the good commend you; the differinge reportes agree to set foorth your praise. The magistrate beinge the minister of god for the vpholdinge of the good, and punishinge and suppression of the badd, if he doe his office well, must needes haue wicked mens mouthes open against him, as good ones will speake for him. Blessed be god whoe hath called you to the worke, and assisted you in it; he guide you still, and as he promised to be with Joshua, as he had bene, with Moses, not failinge nor forsakeinge him, even soe I hope (and shall earnestly desire it) he will be with you, and carrie you through your worke; only (as was sayd to him) be stronge and verie couragious, be not afraid nor dismayed, but obserue to doe accordinge to gods lawe, turne not to the right hand or to the lefte, that soe you may prosper. Weake wicked men wearie of your plantation, send Achans packinge, for they will hinder you in your prosperous succeedinges. Your first goeinge was hard and fatall to many of your companie, partly through wante of experience, not knowinge how to furnish your selues for such a voyage; but god surely had an ouerrulinge hand, by hard beginninges teacheth people to cleue the closser vnto him, to seeke the more earnestly to him, and to know, that they can doe nothinge but by his helpe. But now god goeth alonge most favourably with them that haue followed you; as if he should say, I did but trie your mettall how your faith would beare a discouragement, and now I see you clinge to me, and are carefull to walke with me in courses pleasinge to me, I will magnifie your plantation, and doe you good. This I hope god intendeth, for out of hard beginninges haue come greate matters; the famous kingdomes of Judah and Israell came of a Syrian readie to perish, forced downe into Egipt to soiourne, kept vnder 40 yeares in the wildernes etc. All plantations were meane at the first, yet by continuance of time, the world is peopled by that meanes, and when thinges are come to some perfection, it delighteth people to looke backe to their founders, and they glorie in their worthie interprises. Some are famous for discoueries, some for plantations, others come into their labours and grow great, yet he that brake the yce neuer wantes his honour; soe shall it be 106with you, whoe could neuer haue advanced your name by any worthy actions, as you are like to doe by this; whose honour shall not be like that of heathens and papistes whoe haue taken great paines to fill the with superstition and wickednes, even till they haue ouerchardged that it hath spued them out; but you shall be like Moses and Joshua not only famous for carrieinge a people into a good land through many hard adventures, but for plantinge of gods worshipp in an heathenish place, wherby such a blessinge came vpon the verie land, that it was made the fertilest land vpon earth, though naturally montanus and rockie. I hope you shall carrie a blessinge to your land, and the naturall inhabitants of it, which shall be your honour. If you can first civill the natiues, and then bringe some of them to know god, if you prepare a place of refuge for gods banished ones, you shall haue cause to reioyce that euer god honoured you with this interprise; and this I hope you shall. I promise my selfe much of this plantation, for I can not thinke, but god will honour them, that are soe carefull to honour him. Israell euer flourished whilst gods pure worshipp was vpheld amonge them; That plantation must needs prosper, where god (as I may say) hath an adventure. You haue the countenance and protection of our kinge, as you are his subiects, and goe forth by his license, and shall the kinge of heaven denie his protection vnto you, whoe are his servantes, and haue vndertaken this voiage (as we hope) by his license, and for the inlargeinge of his kingdome? Doubtles (as Azariah sayd to Asa) god is with you while you be with him; therfore I shall desire the Lord to blesse your noble interprizes, and to giue you a large vnderstandinge heart, to goe out and in before the people which daily thrust themselues vnder your winge, that all enemies that desire to speake evill of you, may be ashamed, when your vpright carriage shall be able to giue them the lie. Sir I am so well affected to your plantation, that if I can not enioyce my libertie upon gods tearmes as I haue done, I haue a purpose to make my selfe a member of your plantation, and when I come, I hope I shall not come alone; I pray god direct vs, that we may doe that which shall be pleasinge in his sight, that we may haue him come alonge with vs, as he hath done mercifull by others in that kind. But if our peace be continued (which we desire for the good of our land) then we hold our selues tied heere, and dare not breake loose till god sett vs loose. Thus I have made bould (worthie Sir) to testifie my loue and respect to you, acknowledgeinge my selfe much beholdinge to you for your kind remembrance of me in Mr. Wilsons letters. I forbeare torn busines and his 500li fine for torn church windowes, alsoe the busines of the torn are put in trust to buy in Impropriations, torn hard put at, and may be in great daunger. Alsoe torn of all the hither part of London bridge to the torn open place. 107Alsoe Mr. Prinne his imprisonment in the tower for writinge (as is thought) a new booke. I suppose that you haue friends about London, whoe will informe you of them. Mr. Gurdon of my towne, and his wife remember their loue to you, and to Mrs. Winthropp. My selfe and wife remember our service and respect to you both alsoe. I pray god to keepe you, guide, blesse, and prosper you that you may goe out and in before the people whoe are come vnder you, soe as god may haue glorie, they benefite, and your selfe much comfort and honour, which I comfortably hope for. In much hast I take my leue of you, restinge Your worshipps wellwisher