Articles made (betweene the right honorable the Lord Viscount Say and Seale, Sir Arthur Hesilrige Barronet, Sir Richard Saltonstall Kt., Henry Laurence, Henry Darley and George Fenwick esquiers on the one part and John Winthrope the younger esquier of the other part) the 7th of July, Anno Domini 1635.

First that we in our owne names, and the rest of the Company, doe by thes presents constitute and appoint John Winthrop the younger, Gouernour of the riuer Conecticut in New England and of the Harbors and places adioyninge for the space of on whole yeare, from the tyme of his arriual ther. And the said John Winthrop doth vndertake and couenant for his part, that he will with all conuenient speede repaire to those places and ther abide as aforsaid for the best aduancment of the Companies seruice.

Secondly that soe sone as he comes to the bay he shall indeauour to prouide able men to the number of fiftie at the least for makinge of fortifications and buildinge of houses at the Riuer Conecticut and the harbor adjoyninge, first for ther owne present accommodation and then such houses as may receiue men of qualitie which latter houses we would haue to be builded within the fort.

Thirdly That he shall imploy those men accordinge to his best abilitie for the aduancment of the Companies seruice especially in the particulars aboue mentioned duringe the tyme of his gouernement, and shall also giue a true and just account of all moneys and goods committed to his managinge.

Fourthly That for such as shall plant ther now in the beginninge he shall take care that they plant themselues either at the harbour or neare the mouth of the riuer, that thes places may be the better strengthned for ther owne saftie, and to that end, that they also sitt downe in such bodies together, as they may be most capable of an intrenchment, prouided that ther be reserued vnto the fort for the mentenance of it on thousand or fiften hundred acres at the least of good ground as neare adioyninge thervnto as may bee.

Fiftly that forasmuch as this seruice will take him off from his owne imployments, the Company doe ingage themselues to giue him a iust and deue consideration for the same.

This Indenture witnesseth that Thomas Goad son of John Goad cittisen and skiner of London deceassed doth put himselfe apprentise to Mr. John Winthrop Esquer inhabitting in America neare Mattachushets bay and with him to dwell after the manner of an aprentyse for the tearme of fower yeares from the day of the date heareof hee shall not absent himselfe from his sayd maysters service neyther day nor night hee shall not haunt nor vnlawfull nor forbidden places nor play at cards or dyce or any other vnlawfull games, nor wast or consume any of his sayd maysters goods nor suffer them to bee wasted by any other, but in all things shall behave himselfe as a faythfull aprentise ought to doe, and the sayd mayster shall fynd him sufficyent meat, drinck and apurrell with due correction and good education affording him the pryviledges of the country in as ample and as large a manner as any other aprentyse may or can bee capable off, in witnes wheareof wee have interchangable put our hands and seales this seaventh day of July 1635

I received 2 lettres from you the one written longe since and putt backe in the Hope: by the other I vnderstande your good Affection to our 200Plantation whereof you desire we should tast the fruits: blessed be the Lord who hath inclined your heart thus towards vs for good, and blessed be you of the Lord for it. According to your direction I spake with Hamond, who tould me that he bestowed part of your mony in vinegre to have made Sturgeon, which being putt aborde the Richard, was forced back again, and so by stoping and putting abord another shippe suffered much loss: I spake with Mr. Trerice the master of the same shippe who affirmed that of 12 hogsheads of vinegre there was lost by leakage about 3 hogsheads: Old Hamonde came allso before the Governor (Mr. Haines) and other of vs and affirmed that there came no benefite of your mony but losse, so that howsoever by the bonde we might have compelled them to have payd the whole 30li yet respecting the losse which (by Gods providence) hapned in the adventure, we were content to take the principall, which the old man hath vndertaken to pay, which when we have received it shalbe bestowed vpon some public worke: in the meane tyme the Governour and Assistants returne you thanks by me.

For our Condition heere, the Lord is pleased still to continue health and peace to vs: and so to increace our numbers (there have come about 30 shipps this summer allreadye) as we are putt to rayse new Colonys about 100 miles to the west of vs, vpon a very fine river and a most fruitfull place, onely shipps cannot come neere by 20 legues: Mr. Hooker is like to goe thither next yeare not for any difference between Mr. Cotton and him and soe reporte for they doe hould a most sweet and brotherly Communion togither (though their iudgments doe somewhat differ about the lawfullnesse of the Crosse in the Ensigne) but the people and Cattle are so increaced as the place will not suffice them: The passingers this yeare (through the Lords speciall providence) and their Cattle are come with such speed and safety as no sickness hath been among them nor above 2 persons miscarried and very fewe Cattle. I might further enlarge but indeed I am so full of business as I can scarce gett leysure to scribble these fewe lines I desire you to beare with me, and to continue still your goodwill towards vs, and your prayers for vs, and so with my Love and due respecte to your self and your worthy Lady I commend you to the Lord and rest At your service