your last lettres which cam this passadge with mr. Peirce (though they brought the newes of mr. Johnsons and some others death) haue much refreshed my hart and the myndes of manie others, welwishers to the good worke you haue vndertaken, for much more was feared, then the good lord through his mercy hath laid vpon you, in that soe few haue dyed, and that now there is hope you wilbe able to subsist and proceede to lay the foundacion of a plantacion, whereas yt was the Iudgement of most men here, that your Colonye would this winter be dissolved partly by death through want of Food, howsing and rayment, and the rest to retorne or to flee for refuge to other plantacions, but blessed be God that hath maynteyned his owne Cause and preserved you alive to helpe further forward this great worke.

I am glad you haue begunn to remove and plant some what higher vp the river into the land among the woods I meane at watertowne It is my dayly prayer that the lord would give me leave to goe vnto you, which I hope wilbe next spring, vbi animus, ibi homo. you haue my hart, and I doe mynd nothing for this world more then to prepare for my goeing vnto you and when I shall see the lords providence opening my way I shall make litle stay here. I thank 31you most kindely for your lettres booke and plotts. tis tearme and I haue had yet scarce tyme to pervse your lettres and plotts; I must be troublesome to you about my Cattle and Corne whereof my Cosen Winthrop writes vnto you. I pray excuse me that I write noe newes herein for I haue not tyme, but this rest assured of that you may be secure from any trouble from Spayne or France for they haue theire hands full here soe with my Comends to all my freinds with my wives and my dayly prayers for you I rest yours

My humble duty remembred vnto you, may you please to vnderstand that mr. Peirce with all his company arrived heere in health and safety yesterday being the 29th of this present, by whome I received the Joyfull and welcome newes of your health, and welfare to my great Comfort. your letters were the sesonabler to give satisfaction to many, that they were of soe fresh date, and brought relation of a winter wholy passed. my vncle Downing is very well satisfied with your reasons you give him for the Country we had once made an agreement with some merchantes and Captaine Cleyborne2 for to deliver 100 tunnes of Indian wheat from Virginia to you, which they had covenanted to deliver before or soone after harvest, the Copy of which agreement I thinke mr. Humfries sent over by mr. Allerton, which was intended but hath not yet beene sealed by vs. my vncle Downing mr. Humfry and my selfe were the vndertakers in it, but now the ship having delaied her setting forth so long so as we could not see it possible to be delivered so soone, we have broken of that covenant, and my vncle Downing and my selfe doe covenant with them for fourty tunne, wherof 20 is for your selfe the other 20 is for my vncle Downings owne accompt which if it be delivered vnto you he desires you to keepe his 20 tunne safe till you heare further from him. mr. humfry will likewise send twenty tunne and mr. Cottington 20, likewise mr. Cradock 20, and others, but we shall wright you particularly therof by the 32ship that bringeth it, which is the Affrica, wherof Capt: Cleyborne is Commander. he and the merchantes that set him out offer vs to bring what corne we will for fish, and for this would take fish of you if you could provide it for them this Corne we vnderstand they buy of the Natives there for trucke. there is great store all alongst the coast, from a little to the sothward of you to florida and beyond etc. and to be had for toyes, beads, Copper, tooles, knives, glasses and such like.

Concerning your land I can add little to that I wrote about a fourtnight since, which I suppose will come to your hands with these by mr. Hatherly. we expect all the Feoffees in towne together this weeke, then I thinke we shall make a full Conclusion, with mr. Warren, or breake of: our occasions requiring monies for the satisfying of such monies as are owing and the want of full power in the Feoffees for the giving of assurance in the whole, and the vncertaintie of the tyme of the returne of the fine from you, puts vs vpon much disadvantage in the sale. mr. Peirse is very earnest to have vs goe over this summer, and we are all as earnest, and desirous to goe, but I feare it wilbe so long ere the fine I sent to you doe returne, that it wilbe too late in the yeare.

my mother, brothers and sisters, and the rest of our freinds at groton are well we heard from them this weeke, they have yet scarce the letters from you. I sent them away yesterday as soone as I received them. my wife hath beene heere with me awhile but is now going downe againe having acknowledged satisfaction to the Court of Aldermen for her portion. she remembreth her duty to you. I should be larger and write of other things but I feare the ship may be gone, or my letter otherwise miscarry before it commeth to mr. Hatherly, for day is past which they apointed to be gon, but I would howsoever adventure these that you might vnderstand of the receipt of yours, and those other particulars. Thus with my duty againe remembred desiring your praiers and blessing I commend you to Gods protection and rest your obedient Sonne