Your Letter by my wiues sonne I received the 6th day of the last weeke being very sorry mine came so unseasonably to your hands. For answere to yours Our Cowncell having weighty occasions this day to meete and confer about divers businesses which much concerne us I imparted your Letter to the Governor and them, who seeing it impossible for the Governor or myselfe to bee at your Court to morrow requested me to write by the bearer and thereby salute your Governor your selfe, and Assistants Concerning your present busines we conceiue it will be simply necessary for you to proceed in the war begun with the Pequots, otherwise the natiues we feare 392will grow into a stronger confederacy to the further prejudice of the whole English. We are very glad to heare that the Munheges are fallen from the Pequots and brought to a professed war with them knowing their inveterate hatred and desire it may be nourished by all good meanes, who are soldiers as well as the other. These best know the Pequots holds and holes and the fittest instruments can be employed and such a people as will also well accord with the Narrohiggansets. But there is one thing of ill consequence which we heare from Coneetncut vizt. that there are some English there that furnish the enemy by way of trade having made a league with them. If you enquire of mr. Jesop who came in the barke with mr. Harding you may receiue particular informacon thereabout That this will be ill taken I dowbt not, yet durst doe no other then informe you. Yet let me commend one thing to your consideracion how dangerous a thing it may proue if the Dutch (who seeke it) and they should close by reason of the Pequots necessity: I speake not this as desiring the benefit of their trade, for we are weary of the worke as we are dealt withall. Concerning things Estward, Capt. Standish is returned who reporteth of the Royall entertainement Shurt hath given Dony at Pemaquid. He saith (being Commander Generall) that if he receiue a Commission he must take him, onely six weekes before he will giue him notice, and in lue thereof tis mr. Shurt hath promised him to informe him of whatever preparacon shall be made or intended against them.2 He further saith that if his Commission be to take the Grand Bay (yourselues) he will attempt it though he should haue no other vessell then a Canoe. But the English are all his Friends except Plimoth: nor is he enemies to any other. Shurt hath undertaken to furnish him with powder shott yea all manner of provisions, And to that end under a colour of gathering vp some debts is come to make provisions for them till his owne ship come. Tis also reported that Sir Ferdinando Gorges hath written to Saco That the French heere are not sett out nor allowed by the King of France but a base people which their estate disclaime, and therefore stirreth them up to informe both you and us that we might joyne together to expell them. One thing more which I had almost forgotten they haue lost their Gaily and a pinnase at He Sable and brought away their people who are at Penobscot where they haue built a pinnase of threescore tunne. The last news is this whereat I am most grieved That all the late differences between mr. Wheelwright and your selues in Church and Court are in writing at Richmunds He where Turlany shewed him six sheets of paper 393full written about them. The Lord in mercy looke upon us and leaue us not to the malice of Satan and wicked men his instruments, but so direct us, by his Spirit as the end may redownd to his glory and our mutuall good.

Sir However I could not come at this sudden warning by reason of our publick occasions and the fowlenes of the latter part of the weeke past yet neverthelesse if you conceiue my comming may be any furtherance in any good accion God giving health and ability mine owne occasions shall giue place, and I shall be ready to doe any service God shall inable me. In the meane time and whilest I haue being my prayers I hope shall be to the Throne of grace for you and yours whom I salute in the Lord and rest Yours Assured

It much refresheth me when I heare from yow but woud more could I have the Happines to see yow. your letter by Mr. Peirce I received and rejoyce in the welfare of your selfe and yours, your frinds of the Ferrers2 though now removed thence one step neerer yow, are I blesse God in good health from whom yow shall heare by the next I have heere in-closed sent yow a letter from your old friend who sent it to me in the winter and should have sent it to you by the first but sliped the opportunity not being sure of a trusty messenger, your Brother mr. Tindall and his are in good health only he hath at this time occasion of Heavines for the Death of his youngest Daughter who dyed the last weeke of a Consumption we haue no Newes worth the sending to yow. yow heare more dayley from us and of us then I know yow desier. lett us still as we have had soe entreate the Helpe of your prayers, remember my best respect to your good wife my cosen John and his wife thus comitting you and yours and the greate worke yow have in hand 394to the guideance and direction of him who is able to keepe amongst yow the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of peace which is and shall be the prayer of him that is your ever loveng kinsman