My humble duty remembred vnto you, may you please to vnderstand that, since my last letters,2 which I sent by mr. Allerton, wherin I wrote you word that we had not yet any Chapman for your land, we are come this last weeke to an agreement about it, with one mr. Warren a grocer of this Citty an acquaintance of Goodman Piper, and Goodman Lambert, and by them procured to deale for it he hath but newly carried the writings to his Councell, and therfore we have noe certaine answere whether he will goe through but expect this next weeke, and I hope I shall have occasion to wright you of the conclusion of it before this ship (the Freindship) shall sett saile from Barstable. the price we have agreed for is 4200li wherof 2000li to be paid at midsommer, the rest at six and six monthes my mother to continue in the house till the next spring. since mr. Gurdon broke of we have had 3 or 4 about it but none would offer above 4000li. I have paid mr. Gurdon 200li of his six hundred wherof 100li I borrowed of my vncle Downing, and 100li of mr. Kerby. another 100li I must pay him as soone as I can procure it and the other 3 hundred I shall have till midsommer paying vse for it.

when this ship went first out (which was soone after Christide of which and their comming backe mr. Hatherly the bearer hereof can better informe you) I sent with it diverse letters and a dedimus potestatem, to acknowledg a fine, with advise in my letters of the reason we were forced to a dedimus for a new fine. I give mr. Hatherly directions to enquire out those letters and dedimus and receive them of the master of the ship or whom else mr. Allerton delivered them to but least those letters should miscarry I will againe set downe wherin theire councell find your fine and deed to the feoffees defective they havinge not power to give assurance of the whole estate to the buyer. the former fine couvering most of the land by the name manner, now they say that whatsoever hath beene severed from the manner heeretofore by any Joynters that can not passe vnder the name of manner, therefore we were forced to take out a new dedimus for you to acknowledge a fine in New-England, which was done whilst we weere agreed with mr. Gurdon for it, and therfore made to him: but it is as good though now we sell it to another. 28we sent an other dedimus by mr. Allerton, and reserve one still to be sent by some other ship when there be occation having taken out 3 lest one or other might miscarry. they can make noe full assurance of your land till they receive backe one of them therfore desire they may be sent backe with the first.

we now expect with longing to heare from you of your health and welfare, and of the Company with you, and are much greived that we have beene hindred from our intended voyage this spring. my mother brothers and sisters and all our friends at Groton are well I received letters from them this weeke, but they know not of this occation of wrighting to you for I knew not of it my selfe till yesterday: we are all well heere save my aunt Downing who hath still a quartaine ague but goeth abroad vpon her well daies: my wife remembreth her duty to you: my vncle and aunt Downing remember their love vnto you. thus desiring your praiers and blessing I commend you to the tuition of the allmighty and humbly take my leave. Your obedient Sonne

I am sory that time did so preuent me, as I could not right to thee by the caryer, but haueinge nowe another mesenger I must needs right a word or to, thought I haue no matter of wayte to impert to you, onely an intercorce of loue betwene vs which will take all ocasions to shewe it selfe, wheare it finds good entertainement. I doe very much and often, wish2  29for my deare sonne and your selfe, for my owne comfort, but in regard of his manyfoulde imployments I must the more paciently beare his longe abcence I think now the time the longer the nearer it aproches, for newes from new ingland. I shalbe the more ioyfull when it comes if it be good, or if it be bad the more oppressed with grefe. I hope I shal heare shortly when your horsses shall come vp, if my sonne haue torn setled his busines, but I thinke he cannot torn much before a whole line torn he can heare, he may come downe and bringe you and goe up againe, but I shal leaue it to his own descresion. I thank god we are all heare in health. my daughter winthrop is much imployed in hir surgurye and hath very good succese my cosin Anne is gone home to hir mother, and so my companye is lese in the parler you had neede com home to helpe to increace it againe. my daughter Mary I thinke liked hir coote well I am shure I did and thanke you for it. I am now shortned in time which makes my pen rune fastter then my wit. and thus with my best loue to thy good Husband, my brother and sister Downinge thy owne selfe all the rest of my frends I commite you to god Your louinge mother