I ame glad to heare of Mr. Nortons safe arriuall, and should haue bene more glad if it had bene at the baye. I hope he will setle with you; his abilityes are more then ordinary, and wilbe acceptable and profitable to the churches. I haue receiued Prats exposition from Mr. Downing; and in the mayne I finde litle difference therin from his letter.2 I should be glad to be truly informed by you what you conceiue of the soyle, and meanes of subsistance, And whether that exposition agrees with the truth of thinges. I ame sorry to heare of Mr. Williams seperation from you: his former good affectiones to you, and the Plantationes were well knowne unto me and make me wonder now at his proceedinges. I have wrote to him effectually to submit to better Judgments, and especially to those whom formerly he reverenced and admired, at least to keepe the bond of peace inviolable. this hath bene al­241wayes my advise; and nothing conduceth more to the good of Plantationes; I praye shew him what lawfull favoure you can, which may stand with the common good. He is passionate, and precipitate, which maye transporte him into error, but I hope his integrity and good intentiones will bring him at last into the waye of truth, and confirme him therin; In the meane tyme I praye God to give him a right vse of this affliction. Thus leauinge him to your fauourable censures, and you all to the direction and protection of god, with my best respects to you and yours, I signe me Yours affectionate

I am bold to write a few lines vnto you and therby to request a great matter at your handes, wherunto I am encouraged from the vprightnes of my Conscience in presenting the motion vnto you and further by the wayght of the matter both in necessity and profit that I truely apprehend to attend the Cause The summe is that you wold be pleased to sett downe with that plantation begonne there by Watertowne2 The necessity of it is, the weaknes of a company without a head cannot well sway and guide it selfe but is subiect to many errors distractions confusions and what not, which in our vndertakings in this part of the world cannot but proue dangerous to the cause of religion, dismal to the Common state, both in generall and particular, and disturbance if not destruction to the church estate which wee desire may there be established and prosper: The profit wilbe (I am resolued through Gods mercy) not onely the preuention of the former euills, but very great aduantages to the glory of God, much furtherance of his prayse in many thanksgiuings, and the prosperous and peacable estate of that people and soe of all the rest. I had spoken vnto you here but was discourged by the sence of mine owne disabilities to performe any thing that might be satisfac­242tory on my part to such a fauour if you shold be pleased to yeeld it Were I not conscious of mine owne weaknes I shold be exceedingly importunate if not impudent in pressing my request in this case, but mine owne infirmity makes mee (though litterae non erubescunt) ashamed and therefore to say little but leaue this to your louing Consideration and the blessing of God All I will say is that you wold take this in good part and beleeue mee it proceeds from a free and sincere heart And with the tender of my humble respect and true loue vnto you I shal not cease to pray to God to blesse you in whom I remayne yours in all Christian duty and affection