Yours per Wm. Hamond I received, acknowledging my self so muche bounde to you, that you are pleased to take all occasions to manifest your good will to our Colonye, and to myself in particular: that I would gladly have bestowed much paynes in Satisfieing your desire concerninge the estate of our Countrye and Affaires, and I did hope vpon the discharge of my place, to have good leysure to that end, but our new Governor (my brother Dudly) dwelling out of the waye, I am still as full of Companye and business as before. But for the natives in these parts, Gods hand hath so pursued them, as for 300 miles space, the greatest parte of them are swept 172awaye by the small poxe, which still continues among them: So as God hathe hereby cleered our title to this place, and those who remaine in these parts, being in all not 50, have putt themselues vnder our protection, and freely confined themselues and their interest within certain Limitts.

For your counsell of Conforminge ourselues to the Church of England though I doubt not but it proceeds out of your care of our wellfare: yet I dare not thanke you for it; because it is not conformable to Gods will revealed in his worde: what you may doe in England where things are otherwise established, I will not dispute, but our case heere is otherwise: being come to clearer light and more Libertye, which we trust by the good hand of our God with vs, and the gratious indulgence of our Kinge, we may freely enioye it: so desiringe you to excuse my brevitye, and to continue your good will towards vs, I commend you with your good Lady and all yours to the gratious protection and direction of the Lord, and so I take leave and rest at your service in the Lord

Whereas by order of the last generall Court Commissioners were appoynted viz. Roger Ludlowe Esq. the Deputy Gouernour and Mr. Israell Stoughton gent. to receave my accompt of such things as I haue receaved and disbursed for publique vse in the time of my Gouerment In all due observance and submission to the order of the said Court I doe make this declaratory accompt ensueinge.

First I affirme that I never receaved any Monyes or other goods comitted to mee in trust for the Comonwealth otherwise then is hereafter expressed.

Item I acknowledge I haue in my custody certaine Barrells of common Powder and some match and drumeheads, with some things belonging to the Ordinances: which Powder, being landed att Charles Towne and exposed to the Iniury of the weather, I tooke, and bestowed first in a Tent which I made of myne own broadcloth, (being then worth viijs the yard, but in that service 173much spoiled) after I removed it to my store howse att Boston, where it still remaines save that some of it hath bene spent in publique service and fyve barrells deliuered to Dorchester and foure to Rocksbury, and three barrells I solde to some shipps that needed them, which I will allowe Powder or money for. the rest I am ready to deliuer vpp to such as shalbe appoynted to receave them.

I receaved also some meale and pease from Mr. White of Dorchester in England, and from Mr. Roe of London, which was bestowed vpon such as hadd neede thereof in the seuerall Townes, as also xli gyven by Mr. Hewson. I receaved also from Mr. Humfry some ruggs, freese suits, shoes and hoose, (the certaine valewe whereof I must knowe from himself) with lettres of direccion to make vse of the greatest parte thereof as giuen to helpe beare out my charge for the publique. I paid for the fraight of theis goods, and disposed of the greatest parte of them to others, but howe I cannot sett downe. I made vse also of two pare of carriage wheeles which I will allowe for. I hadd not medled with them but that they lay vselesse, for want of the carriages which were lefte in England.

For my disbursements I haue formerly deliuered to the nowe deputy a Bill of parte of them, amounting to neere 300li which I disbursed for publique service dyvers yeares since for which I haue receaved in Corne att vjs the bushell (and which will not yeild me above iiijs) about 180li or neere soe much.

I disbursed also for the transportacion of Mr. Phillips and his Family, which was to be borne by the generall, till he should bee chosen to some particular Congregacion.

Nowe for my other Charges by occacion of my place of Gouernour it is well knowen I haue expended much, and somewhat I haue receaved towards it, which I should haue rested satisfyed with but that being called to accompt, I must mencion my disbursements with my receipts, and in both shall referre myselfe to the pleasure of the Court.

I was first chosen to be Gouernour without my seekeing or expectacion (there being then dyvers other gentlemen whoe for their abilityes euery way were farr more fitt) being chosen I furnished my selfe with servants and provisions accordingly in a farr greater proporcion than I would haue done, hadd I come as a private man or as an Assistant onely; In this office I contynued foure yeares and neere an halfe, although I earnestly desired, att euery eleccion to haue bene freed. In this tyme I haue spent above 500li per annum of which 200li per annum would haue mainetained my Family in a private condicion Soe as I may truely say I haue spent by occacion of my late office above 1200li. towards this I have receaved by way of Benevolence 174from some Townes aboute 50li and by the last yeares allowance 150li and by some provisions sent by Mr. Humfry as is before mencioned about 50li or it may be somewhat more.

I also disbursed att our comeing away in England for Powder and greate shott 216li which I did not putt into my bill of charges formerly deliuered to the nowe deputy etc. because I did expect to haue paide myselfe out of that parte of Mr. Johnsons estate which hee gaue to the publique but findeing that it will fall farr shorte I must putt it to this accompt.

The last thing which I offer to the consideracion of the Court is that my Longe continuance in the said office, hath putt mee into such a way of vnavoydeable charge, as wilbe still as chargeable to mee as the place of Gouernour will be to some others. In all theis things I referre my selfe to wisedome and Justice of the Court: with this protestacion that it repenteth mee not of my cost or labour bestowed in the service of this Comonwealth: but doe hartyly blesse the Lord our god, that hee hath pleased to honour mee soe farr, as to call for any thing hee hath bestowed vpon mee for the service of his Church and people here, the prosperity whereof and his gracious acceptance shalbe an aboundant recompense to mee I conclude with this one request (which in Justice may not be denyed mee) that as it stands vpon record that vpon the discharge of my office I was called to accompt, soe this my declaracion may be recorded also: least hereafter, when I shalbe forgotten, some bleamishe may lye vpon my posteritie when there shalbe noething to cleare it etc.