itt is your charrety and not my words that I rely vppon for my fayrest and best Excuse of my seeming neglect and faylings of the dues of loue, yett that you may not bee vnknowing of truths giue mee leaue to tell you, I haue I verely suppose much ill happ for some of my letters and remembrances sent vnto you, for else I know in your last I had from you I should haue found mention of theire 250ariuall, seeing they had surely bin with you long before the date of yours to mee, if I could haue hope that you had them att all. But my last I hope better of, sent by my cossin Gurdon that they haue saluted you and still lett you know how desirous I am to liue in your brest and hould the place I had wont, though I could justly complaine of some accidents that (full ill against my will and hope) might in some construction render mee less deserving your continuing goode Opinion then I hope I deserue: But I avoyde those thoughts that may any wayes mooue mee to a Jelousy of that loue I soe much couett: these lines come now by a meanes which my Brother Barnardiston (now with mee) hath found out, but my time of warning is verry short and difficult for my Enlargment, yett such times and oportuneties are soe scarse as I may not nor will willingly pretermitt any that I cann lay hould of: Neyther is the time with vs heere soe free and sure to vs, as that I dare write you what I think and would you knew, neyther doe I euer expect a time for itt till wee meete in the hauen after our storms are passed: You that are vnder lee I hope forgett vs not that are yett in the storme, nor wee you (as wee may) for the encrease of Gods Blessings: for my particuler you want not a constant memory in my vnworthy servises; I would I were as able as desirous to enlarge my Hart to you: As touching your mention of my kinsman2 and his estate I haue I hope before this time satisfied you, how my affections and abilities stand inclined towards him, though happely soe farr short of his Expectation (I am sure of his demands) as that I cann hardly beleeue I haue any way satisfied him: My cosin Gurdon did vndertake to returne a token for mee towards him, when I neyther had the liberty to write to him nor your selfe: I could much complaine of my ill success with him, in that (hauing disburst euen that which I assure you I haue since wanted for neerer Occasions, and to which I am more Bound) I haue giuen him or my selfe eyther soe little Comfort or Content in itt, as that I reape noe fruites but lamentable Complaynings, Immoderate demands and some vnkinde expostulations, and in generall giues mee cause to judg that nothing I eyther haue done or cann doe, is inough, or to any purpose: Itt almost discoraged mee for altogether, seeing hee writes to mee as if I had none else to respect, or att least not as to one that would bee, (as heeretofore) free in my charety, if I did not plainly foresee, that except I doe prejudice my selfe and my neerer duties and Occasions, (which are farr otherwise then hee conceyues of mee) I cannot come neere the 100 part almost of his requirings: Hee poore man is ignorant of our condition generally and mine in particuler heere now, and minding himselfe only, forgetts his 251freind and his first terms and promises with mee, when could I haue prevayled I had stayd him vntill his strength might haue bin better to vndertake what hee would attempt too headily, and wherein (without my then forwardnes in a way beyond ordenary and his owne Expectation) hee had fayled of all hee aymde att: But I haue writt a few lines to him, and send them heereinclosed presuming of your fauor to lett them bee deliuered to him, wherein I forbeare these particulers purposely, for I desire rather to pitty him then provoke him. what I would haue done for releife this Spring I profess I could not for meanes I could learne none to send by nor now more then this letter: I hope amongst other you finde mee in the matter of seade you writt for God prosper itt: I cann now noe more both for paper and time: vnto that God that disposeth all things by his Will and Wisdome and that to the best for those hee loueth you are dayly commended, and entreated to commend Your faythfull frend and Brother

That kinde respect and fauour yow pleased to shew vnto me, whiles yow was a magistrate of Justice in this our ould England, and I a poore seruant with your deere assosciate and my good Mr. maister Gurdon, doth much encourage me to write two lines vnto yow wherein I desire with all thanckfull acknowledgment to remember my humble seruice vnto yow, with my prayers to god for a continuall supplie of blessinge, to be powred vppon yow and the rest of that christian companie whom it hath pleased the lord to select and sett aparte for the aduanceinge (I doubt not) of his glory, and your eternall welfares; whose tender bodies goods and estates haue not 252beene thought too deere to be exposed to the danger of the merciles waues, soe as our good god might haue a church established amongst poore heathens, and Indians, that neuer yett knew him; manie prayers haue beene and are continually sent vpp to the throne of grace, by your deere fellow breethren in this our poore land for a good successe vppon your godly vndertakeings; the benefitt whereof I trust the lord will make manifest amongst yow. Manie of my good freinds in Darbishire my natiue Countrey (where now by gods proui-dence I liue) haue beene and are yett takeinge their Journey vnto yow, whom I trust yow shall haue cause (for the most parte of them) comfortably to entertaine; amongst the rest there is this voyadge one Mr. Flinte both an able man in estate, as alsoe an honest godly man, who with diuers others accompanieinge him, (togeather with one Richard Griffen a man of very rare parts,) are willinge to take their liues in their hands, not accountinge their estates too deere to parte withall soe as they may helpe to sett forward this godly enterprise so considerately vndertaken; and as wee doe heere (to all our comforts through gods blessinge) with soe much hope of good successe hithertoo continued; lett me be soe bould I humbly intreat you, to craue your countenance and respect for their kinde intertainement, and acquaintance with yow. I trust neither of these two good christians will frustrate my expectacion, nor faile in some sorte to gaine your fauour. there is amongst some seruants Mr. Flinte taketh ouer with him, one James Farren (the bearer hereof,) a plaine youth, but borne of honest christian parents, neighbors in the same towne, where I liue, whose wellwishes and prayers I know are not wanteinge for a blessinge vppon your good proceedings; I pray yow be pleased alsoe to take notice of him, and as ocation shalbe offerred and his indeauours sutable to your good likeinge lett him haue your respect and fauour which I know wilbe a great comfort and incouragement vnto him, in the absence of his deere and tender parents, whose care haue hithertoo beene expressed (to their poore abillityes) in his good and honest educacion. I hope good Mrs. Winthroppe with your sweete children are in good health. Yett what alteracions it hath pleased the lord to make since I saw them, I am ignorant of. much I should reioyce to heere of the welfare of your family in generall; we haue in most parts of this land a great mortality amongst children which dye of the small pockes, and it is feared this summer that the sicknes wilbe very great amongst vs, the tymes haue beene of late soe vnseasonable. the lord in mercy prepare vs for a stroake, for longe hath this nacion beene treasureing vpp wrath, which justly may be feared eare longe will fall full heauie vppon vs. Thus worthy sir hopeinge yow will excuse my bouldnes, I leaue yow and all that belonge vnto yow to the good blessinge and proteccion of the allmighty, who is onely 253able to reward and crowne all that paines and trauell yow haue taken to promote his glory, with longe life and manie happy dayes heere; and a crowne of glory for euer hereafter restinge euer to be Your seruant and welwisher in the lord whiles I am