I receiued your loving Letter in Mr. Halls behalfe: I was neuer against his having a lott amongst vs nor to my remembrance haue spoken anythinge 216to hinder him, only the company that he brought to towne and his manner of cominge before the towne knew any such thinge was obserued and disliked. I neuer heard sillable of that yow mention in your letter concerning a mayde in Ireland till the tyme of opening your letter att that instant Mr. Dudley was telling me of it. I dare not beleeue empty rumours aganst any man: I am and shalbe tender of young and hopefull men, and ready to incourage them. I am bold to say I am and haue bene and shalbe so whateuer is reported to the contrary. our Towne of late but somewhat too late haue bene carefull on whome they bestowe lotts, being awakned therto by the confluence of many ill and doubtfull persons, and by their behauiour since they came in drinking and pilferinge; I pray if you speake with Mr. Hall advise him to suffer no priuate drinking in his howse, wherin I heare lately he hath bene to blame.

The reasons which moue our freemen to be very considerate in disposall of lotts and admission of people to vs are thes: First we conceiue the lesse of Satans kingdome we haue in our Towne, the more of Gods presence and blessinge we may expect. 2ly we haue respect to the creditt of our Church and Towne, from which we heare there are too many vniust detractions in the bay to serue their owne ends. 3ly we consider our Towne as a sey or port towne of the land remote from neighbours and had neede to be strong and of a homogeneous spirit and people, as free from dangerous persons as we may. Lastly, our Thoughts and feares growe very sadd to see such multitudes of idle and profane young men, servants and others with whome we must leaue our children for whose sake and safty we came ouer, and who came with vs from the land of their nativity their freinds and many other comforts which their Birthright intitled them to, relying vpon our loue wisdome and care to repay them all in this wildernes either in Specie or Compensations: but I must Confesse it sinks vs almost to the graue to looke vpon the next generation to whome we must leaue them and the fruite of our adventures labours and counsells: we knowe this might haue bene easily prevented by due and tymely care of such as had the opportunity in their hand, and if it be not yet remedied we and many others must not only say with greif we haue made an ill change, euen from the snare to the pitt, but must meditate some safer refuge if God will afford it, but I hope he will cause light to shine out of darknes and glorifie his strenght in the weaknes of men, and do that which seemes to be past all doing. We haue our eyes upon yow magistrats to helpe vs, and now Good Sir giue me leaue with patience to tell yow, as I did before yow went to England, that your absence hath bredd vs much sorrowe, and your still going from vs to Connecticote doth much discourage vs. I feare your tye or obligation to this state and in speciall 217to this towne is more then yow did well consider when yow ingaged your self another way, and I feare your Indeauours that way will not be operae ac spei pretium. I am in a dreame att least not awake if it be the way of God for so many to desert this place turning their backs vpon vs and to seeke the good of their cattell more then of commonwealth, and my thoughts are that God doth iustly rebuke our state by the losse of so many men vessells and victualls in a tyme of dearth, for their facility in giving way to their departure: for your part we looke and long for yow here and are in a misery for the want of yow. The Lord bring yow in his season and in the meane tyme afford yow his presence and blessing where euer yow are: and so I rest Your worships in all truth of loue

my humbell Serves is remembred. hauinge soe fitt a mesenger I canot but right a word or tow this is to certifie your worshipp this mesenger was at Canaticoatt and can tell you how the case stands for my parte it is a greefe to me but the truth is I canot nor could not do no mor in it I did vse the best consell and did vse wat meayns I could in the busnes for your good but mr. whitt comision was to be one side of the river, mr. stilles one the other2 and after I had vsd meyns when mr. whitt and mr. stills went 218and could not get a man to go by no meayns and as soonne as I hurd the went not forward in the busnes I put myselfe vpon it agayne and at last got a man to go to measur it out at a dear ratte and when he came ther ther was not ground neather for medow nor ariball or pastur gronds that would geue your worshipp content that the men darst not laye it out the shuld a done your worshipp ronge in the same seinge that dorchester men had taken vp the best place befor and plimmoeth men sente a letter3 to discharge our men for medellinge with it sayinge it was ther right: for I conseaue that mr. ludloe was the cheffe man that hinderd it he was the onli man of dochester that sett downe ther I hope that this barer mr. woodcock man4 will sertifie you how it is I haue riten manie letter for this purpose other things I haue bine large in letters I am loath to be tow trobellsome to your worshipp in the lik expresures mr. hooker hath expressd some thinge that waye the lord direct you and advise you for the best and further your ofrings for his glorie and your good and all ours thus with my Serves agayne I commit you to the only wise god and rest your poor Servant to the vtter most of my power to command.