After our harty commendations whereas it appeareth that greate Numbers of his Maiesties subiects haue bin and are euery yeare transported into those parts of America, which haue bin graunted by patent to seuerall persons; and there settle themselues, some of them with ther families and whole Estates, Amongst which Numbers theire also many idle and refractary humors, whose only end is to liue as much as they can without the reach of authority, We hauing according to the power wherwith we are Intrusted by his Maiesties commission for matter of plantations seriously considered how necessary it is for diuers Weighty and important reasons to take carefull and effectuall order for the stopping of such promiscuous and disorderly parting out of the Realme, doe therfore in his Maiesties name expresly charge and command you the officers of that port not to suffer any person being a subsedyman to imbarke himselfe in the port or any the members thereof for any of the said plantations, without Licence from us his Maiesties commissioners, nor any person vnder the degree of a subsidyman without an attestation from two Justices of the peace liuing next the place where he dwelt last or where he dwelt before, if he hath dwelt but a while there, That he hath taken the oath of Supremacie and Allegiance, and the like Testimony from the Minister of the parish of his conversation and Conformity to the orders and discipline of the Church of England. And we do in like manner charge and command you to returne to vs every halfe yeare a particular and perfect list of the names and qualities of all those that haue in the meane time imbarqued in that port or 181the members thereof for any of the plantations before mentioned, in the performance of all which you are in no sort to faile, as you will answer the neglect thereof at your perills And so we bid you hartily Farewell. Your louing Freinds

As the most magnificent structure aboundently bewtefyed, with noe lesse speculatiue ornaments then with dilectable curious conceites for humane contentments: yet the same wanting its due proportion, declyneth the principall of its worthy Commendacions. Soe in all pragmaticall imployments, the Fownedacions to be disposite, that the peraedifications (with much wisdome in weighty matters) may orderly be proceeded in: is a thing necessarely Required. The Geometricall delineacion of the dimension belongeth only to the Circumspicution of the personally present. Only a fewe things a farre of may be thought fittinge briefly according to your proposicion.

First. Suppose the Towne square 6 miles euery waye. The Howses orderly placed about the midst, especially the Meetinghouse, the which we will suppose to be the Centor of the wholl Circomferance. The greatest difficulty is for the Imployment, Improuement of the parts most remote, which (yf better directions doe not arise) may be thus.

The wholl being 6 miles: the extent from the Meetinghouse as the Centor, wilbe vnto euery side 3 miles: the one halfe wherof being 1500 paces rownd about and next vnto the sayd Centor, in what Condicion soeuer it lyeth, may 182well be distributed and employed vnto the houses within the Cumpas of the same, orderly placed to enioye compfortable Communion. Then for that grownd lyeing without the neerest circumferance may be thought fittest to be imployed in farmes: into which may be placed skillfull bred Husbandmen, many or fewe as they may be attayned vnto to become farmers vnto such proportions, as ech of them may well, and in convenient tyme Improve, Imploye, according to the proportion of Stocke, ech of them maye be intrusted with: And that for some convenient terme of yeares for a setled condicion on both parts: and at such Rates as may Christianly be considered of: provided allwayes that the Farmer may haue share in the proffit ariseing out of euery parte of the stocke: that when he looketh vpon his owne, the wholl may be the better regarded, and both parts by Gods blesseing compfortably benefitted And heerin also is the farmer to be considered, because he shall haue none other temporall benefit for his aduenture in the voyage.

Some men of greate estates haveing much stocke, requireing large portions, which being well layd together may be devided into seuerall parcells, and soe committed to sundry farmers, for the more spedy improument which in tyme to come being Improued may be reduced into one or more as occasion may serue. Suppose an example. One man hath an inlargement of 400 acres lyeing together with out the aforesayd Circomferance, and admit he devideth the same into 4 partes, and buildeth 4 Farme houses twoe and twoe together for Compforte in vicinitye, and stocketh all these farmes for a convenient beginning: conceiveing that the Improuement of the grownd may euery yeare become (by Gods blessing vpon carefull husbandry) sufficient for maynetenance of the stocke soe yearely increased.

In which proceedings let it be vndoubtedly concluded, that one of the 4 Farmers shall in the ordinary way of Gods providence produce more benefitt to the Common wealth and more proffitt and compforte vnto the owner, then he shold haue attayned vnto by imployment of the wholl 400 acres with servants. More peace of Conscience lesse danger vnto his estate, and speedy Improvement of all his sayd grownd: which is one of the principall claueses of that grand Charter made by the greate Lord of the wholl earth and King of Nations vnto Adam: Replenish the earth and subdue it. And the same after the deluge confirmed. And therfore I cannot yet se that any man hath Theologicall Right vnto any possession without a faithfull practicall care of the performance of this principall Condicion of that Grand Couenant assigned vnto him: what pretence of Civell Right soeuer he may challenge vnto himselfe concerneing the same.

In which respect it is well to be considered howe vnwarantable the greate 183extent of Townes, or other portions in present practize beyonde all hope of Subdueing, or any Improuement of the same, in any such limitacion of tyme convenient, as is necessarely and conscionably required: considering also that many others haue need of that which is like to lye still waest: as might largely be manifested, but of the judicious it is easily vnderstood.

The former Rule of Farmes maye be extended vnto all the wholl division betwene the aforesayd Circomferance and the outwardmost bownds, which is soe supposed to be in bredth other 1500 paces rownd aboute: In such manner as euery man may haue his due proportion, more or lesse according vnto his present or apparent future occasion of Imployment; and soe the meane ones not to be neglected. For 30 or 40 acres of Ground any thing answerable, and by a skilfull farmer well husbanded, may produce much benefit as formerly (provided allways that the medowe grownd may be wisely and conveniently proportioned) And doubt not, it will by experienced farmers be soe contriued, that all the wholl Towne within, as well as particuler owners, in a shorte tyme may be furnished by the Farmers without, of soe much and such diuersety of mandable provision as is of many not vnderstood nor well conceived of. And noe smale benefit by easeing of Maiestrates of such burthens, the better to regard as well the fructefying as also the ripening of the affayers of a greene Commonwealth soe vndertaken by them: which wilbe enough for their wholl study, and best Industry. And is not the rule and charge therof sufficient to require the wholl tyme of the wysest that shall vndertake the same, to waite vpon that office (as Paul exhorteth concerneing Church officers) Neither shall others which want skill in husbandry damnefye the Common wealth, nor endanger their owne Estates. In all which respects it is necessary, to seeke out faithfull, skillfull, honest husbandmen, and well to regard them: For they are the tressells of the Tables, of all the Kings of the earth: as Salomon saith The King also consisteth by the feild that is tilled. If it be obiected that these wilbe too farre from the assemblies. The answer is easye out of Farmers and husbandmens experience considering the order propownded will not laye out any farmehouse aboutt the wholl towne, to be aboue 2 myles distant from the Meetinge which being Geometrically measured may by such as are hardye and thervnto well accustomed right well be induered. And though the Winter be somewhat more tedious, yet the good order may make it more easy, then that we se in other Plantacions further distant by a confused condicion much worsened.

In the interim (vntill such husbandmen may be atteyned) all industry to be vsed vpon such grownds, as are within the Circomference neerest the Centor amongst the houses soe seated: by all meanes preventing tyme in the 184first beginnings, for in likelyhoode ther may be neede enough: And that thus, for the better expedicion according to the necessety, Seing fewe haue wholl draughts sufficient for a plowe, diuerse may joyne together to make an wholl draught: And soe to sett soe many plowes aworke as all the beasts fitting in the towne may be Imployed, and that by the skillfullest men in the towne: wherby euery mans turne, one after an other, may be speedely serued, at convenient rates, and that sine expilatione, the common Exprobration of the wholl Newe England. I wold I could exempt Newe Towne: but I hope wisdome shall be Iustefyed both of her Children and in her Children; ther is good vse to be made of the voyce of an enemy, to quicken the watch of the Citty.

When the number of the Inhabitantes are rightly resolued vpon: then it may be necessary that the wholl towne be set out into portions, by dooles, as may be thought fitting, without more afterinlargments. For though ther be none expectacion of sudden incloseing, yet it will be such a Goade in the side of the Industrious to drawe in and make the spediest and best imployment of his knowne proportion: that others will of necessety be drawne on by his good example, to their much benefit and compfort on euery side. For as it is an Axiome in all science to doe a thing, first Perite, then Expedite, so it is most necessary in all Plantacions which haue soe many dependances but especially amongst Christians whoe for the improueing most precious tyme in all things to the best, are bownd with the suerest Ligaments. And though in the Interim it must lye common: yet he that knoweth the benefit of incloseing, will omit noe dilligence to brenge him selfe into an inclusive condicion, well vnderstanding that one acre inclosed, is much more beneficiall then 5 falling to his share in Common. As also by this meanes shall noe man make waest of timber but vpon his owne portion, soe assigned out vnto him: though for the present (only concerneinge the feede vntill it be fenced in) it lyeth in common.

One thing more I am bould to suggest vizt. That concerning Swampes and such Rubbish waest grownds within Compas of the wholl towne, which harber Wolues and such noyesome beasts and serpents may be suppressed, and gradatim at some generall charge become of all the lowe growne stuffe cleered: which may be well soe performed. Or rather it may be soe conveniently ordered, that vnto euery mans Lot, ther may according to the contents by the acre be given, an answerable proportion, with an iniunction, that euery such parte must within 2 or 3 yeares be wholly of such harboring stuffe (by cutting downe) cleered, and torn for euer maynteyned, which by a dilligent hand may without torn be accomplished: And the benefit will soon be perceived.

It is a thing not vnnecessary to be considered, but well performed. For howe much damage other plantacions haue susteyned and may still expect by such rauenous vnsatiable creatures hath ben too much experimented, haveing also begonne with greate beasts, and shall we thinke that in tyme they will not fall vpon men. And why shold such a thing be neglected, seing soe many lawes and practises (as of our owne soe) of many other nations are gonne before vs, wherby we might be Incoraged: First to depriue them of all their harbours, then of the heades of soe many as shall come within our Compas, which may without greate difficulty be performed. Rewards haue generally ben ordered, and ought in all such Cases still to be given.2 The lawe of Dracho gave one tallent for a yong wolfe, and 2 tallents for an old Wolfe. The auncient Rewards of our owne cuntry have ben diuerse, and some greate, which I thinke are well knowne. And it hath in some other Cuntries ben accounted a shamefull misery to induer the tyrany of such spoyleing beasts without laboring for Resistance and Revenge. Therfore in Lumbardye beyonde the Alpes, yf a Wolfe came but into the cuntry: presently the Bells are runge, and themselues armed for Resistance, neuer giveing ouer vntill they haue killed or expelled him the wholl cuntry. much more might be spoaken of this but I am allredy too long. only thus much more: that I haue often hearde (by seemeing credible men) that Wolues are much more increased since our Nation came then when the Indians possessed the same, and a Reason rendred, that they were dilligent in destroying the Yonge. And is not this a dishonor vnto our Christian newe Common wealth: to the very name of our nation yf not to the nature of our proffession.

Thus haue I ben ouer long to soe smale purpose in answering your desier for a litle improuement of my single pore tallent which I shall euer desier to be imployed vnto better inlargement, yf any smale advantage might any wayes proceede from it. In the meane tyme I rest assuered of your curtious acceptance: And soe for the present I take my leave, humbly intreateing of you, one peticion amongst your fervant supplications, even for me, the vnworthiest of all the vnworthy: vnto which the Lord Allmighty (your ever guider) may ever saye Amen. Amen.