my selfe with many others are daily petitioners to god for his grace to abound towards you in New England, that you may encrease in fayth, wisedome, humility, loue, zeale, patience, brotherly kindenes etc. inioying such a competency of outward prosperity as may make you to Hue in the seruice of the Lord the more comfortably. And we are exceedingly gladd to heare of your wellfare, and especially your growths in holines.

Now for myne owne particular, I haue bin much moued of late, as obseruing some passages both in your and our England, to write my slender aduice to some prudent man among you and one gracious with the plantations, and thereby able to giue counsell to them and to prevayle with them in things conducing to gods glory and your owne prosperities.

First, I haue red and heard of sundry lettres written from some with you vnto others with vs (and I feare there haue bin very many such sent ouer to vs into diuerse parts of our land,) wherein there are many weake and some dangerous passages, which if they should come to the eyes or eares of any one of many thousands of your aduersaries, it would afford them matter enough to attempt your vndoing what in them did lye. And it is gods mercy that they are not made knowen, if at least they are not. As, namely, there came ouer not long since a lettre from you to a friend with vs, which, I feare, through indiscretion, the eies and eares of many haue bin made priuy to, to this effect, that whereas it is reported there will be a Gouernour and a Bishopp sent ouer vnto you, he hopeth (or else it was, we hope) that god will giue you grace to stand for his truth, which words will carry a strange construction with our state, howeuer it might not be soe meant by him that wrote it, and it would redound to the preiudice of you all. Another among you writes, that he 398knowes no newse to acquainte his friend withall, but that you are like to haue warrs the next yeere with old England. Others haue written as freely and vnaduisedly about your discipline, writing ouer to vs formes thereof, and the opinions and tenents which you hold, whyther all of them as they relate, or not, we know not, which hath caused a wonderfull disaffection in very many towards you, and which is most grieuous, in many such as are the deare children of god, insomuch that there is like to be, if it be not maturely healed, a greate rent in affection betweene you and them, that though we are like to see sadd times, yet there are, till they be otherwise informed, who are resolued to vndergoe much misery heere rather then euer to remoue hence. And one not of meane ranck and of long approued holines, hearing of your renouncing vs to be a Church, and that you mainteine the opinions of the seperacion contrary to your declaracion at your first going ouer, professed secretely to one that told it me, that he could scarce tell how to pray for you. Not that I (for perhaps not himselfe in cold blood doth) approue such vncharitable speeches, but my Intention is to shew what a rent and alienation there is like to be, and how sadd both myne owne and others harts haue bin made about thes things, not a little fearing the evill consequences that will come heereby both to you and vs from others, and to you and vs. from ourselues, that soe, if it be possible as much as in you lyeth, you may endeauour a prevention of them. Besides, the whole kingdome begins, or rather proceeds, to be full of preiudice against you, and you are spoken of disgracefully and with bitternes in the greatest meetings in the kingdome, the Pulpitts sound of you both at Visitacions and Assises, and the Judges begin to mention you in theyre charges. The Judg in his circuite now lately, in giuing his charge and speaking of Recusants, rancked them into two sorts, some Papists and others of the seperacion, and those of the seperacion were such, he sayd, as preferred Amsterdam before London, and N. England before old. And for these last, he gaue a speciall charge that they should be lookt after, and to that end, that they should take notice of such as inclined towards N. England for they were the causes of error and faction in Church and State. And much more there is, ‘tis likely, that neuer came to my knowledg. I know that the wise among you doe not expect protection from god without a mixture of the serpents wisedome with the doues innocency, and that is as much wisedome (the serpent being the subtilest of the beasts of the field) as may consist with innocency; and as much innocency (the doue being the simplest of the fowles of the ayre) as may consist with wisedome.

Now giue me leaue to propose some few things, of which some perhaps, if not all, may doe you good, i. You may please in some publike meeting to dis­399clayme all such lettres tending to the purpose first mentioned, and withall to establish an order against any that shall euer be knowen to indite and send ouer such lettres to vs, and against any that shall speake among you to such or the like purpose; that soe if any quaestion be made at any time of these things against you by any in our state, (as iustly they may and will if they meete with it) your order and penalty to be inflicted on such offenders may secure you. 2. You may please to haue further cautions giuen in euery plantacion touching writing ouer to vs about your discipline, and how any be censorious of vs heere in theyre lettres to vs, not calling any of vs, as I vnderstand some haue done, doggs and swine, especially those of the profaner sort among vs, nor questioning our ministry and calling to it, as another with you did in a lettre written ouer to a godly minister and friend both of the parties and myne; for your disclaymings of these and the like odious things shall much aduantage you to the preseruation of Brotherly affections and peace with your friends in old England. As you may gather heereby, that your disclayming of Mr. William’s opinions and your dealing with him soe as we heare you did, tooke off much preiudice from you with vs, and hath stopt the mouths of some. Moreouer, you may please that Items be giuen in Plantacions that whosoeuer of them shall at any time come ouer from you to vs, as most yeeres many doe, they would spare to speake of any such or the like matters as aforesayd, yea though they are prouoked, for I heare of one of your men now with vs that disclaymes our Church for a true Church, and shews I know not what booke or bookes to that purpose, which if it be soe, as I heare it reported, it may doe both you and vs exceeding greate hurt. Likewise that all commers ouer from you to vs be aduised to carry themselues meekely and humbly, and not somewhat highly and disdeignefully, as slighting vs in comparison of you, as some haue bin noted to doe. 3. That any with you be aduised how they doe answeare the lettres (such as they may be) of theire friends sent ouer from vs to you; for we heare of a letter that Mr. Cotton should write (how true the report is, I knowe not yet) in answere to a lettre written to him by one Mr. Bernard of Botcombe in Sommersetshire, a man though vpright in the mayne, yet of very greate weaknesses; wherein, as we heare, Mr. Cotton should write, that we are a true Church Implicite but not Explicite, which if it be soe (as you may soone vnderstand) will doe not a little hurt among vs, for besides that much fauour will be graunted vs by the strictest of the seperacion, and might haue bin graunted our church in the dayes of King Henry the 8th, or of Queen Mary, which will be the common exception against that distinction by the most among vs; yet suppose the distinction admitted, we doe wonder if a reuerend and wise minister of Christ 400should vpon the letter, or perhaps prouocation of Mr. Bernard, or indeed of any, send ouer your opinions to vs in such a point, which can doe vs little or noe good, your selues very much disadvantage many wayes. 4. That your ministers, especially they of chiefest note, be persuaded to please to write ouer theire kind letters to theire friends with vs, especially to the chiefest of the ministry with vs in the seuerall parts of the Kingdome, for the preseruacion of Brotherly loue, which otherwise will decay apace, and it is conceiued by many that there is a greate alienacion in you of affeccion towards vs. 5. Aduise may be giuen that any with you be wary how they receaue some such bookes as haue of late bin written in our land which haue more stirred the state then euer I knew it, and after which bookes there is greate inquiry made, and many haue bin bound ouer to the Assises about them, others imprisoned, and not a few are now, as I heare, in the Starr-chamber about them, and if once it be perceaued that the bookes goe likewise ouer vnto you, it will double the Preiudice against you. Of these bookes there are especially two, the one intituled Newse from Ipswitch, the other conteining the Judgments of God which within this two or three yeeres he hath shewen on profaneners of the Lord’s day. For the first of which, it is a Booke of extreame bitternes and farr enough off from the spirit of Christ, wherein the Libeller (for soe he is generally termed) speakes of the Bishops, that which the Ark-Angell would not speake vnto the Diuell; besides that he makes in it an Apostophe to our king, to whom he speakes very vnreuerently; and he pretends the name of Matthew White, and the newse to be sent from Ipswitch, which is noe better then Lying, and pretends, in the frontispice, a third Edition etc. For the other booke, There are very many remarkeable Judgments mentioned in it shewen of late on profaneners of the Lords day, for the Lord hath bin knowen among vs by the Judgments that he hath executed, but the booke is carryed but weakely in the penning, for it is feared that there is a greate fayling in many and chiefe circumstances in the Instances alleaged, if some few of them alsoe were not taken too suddenly on trust and heare-say without well looking after the truth, insomuch that the Judg now lately in open Assises boldly affirmed that all the Instances were eyther altogether or in part lyes, and bad any one in the Audience to say the contrary, if he could. Moreouer there is a Post-script added to the booke touching the remarkeable hand of god on Mr. Noy, which taxeth the whole Starr-chamber, and digresseth farr from the quaestion of the book; and this latter is noe lesse, but rather more heinously taken then the other. The greatest Clothier in England one Mr. Ash of Sommersetshire, a man reputed for honest, is now in quaestion for receauing and dispersing 150 401of these bookes.2 He was bound ouer for it by his Bishop to the Assises, and about 20 more of ministers and others, and besides much spoken by the Judg vnto him and of this matter. He told him that he pittyed him, being one that did soe much good in his Countrey, as setting a 1000 poore people on worke, but he would be made an example to the whole kingdome.

These things I am bold to certify you of, that in your wisedome you may doe that which shall most make for gods glory and your prosperities. Especially our hope is that if euer any bookes should be penn’d by you, they will be farr from bitternes or weakenes, and such as may much profite gods people and not iustly preiudice you; but I suppose your Imployments take you vp otherwise. Lastly, this one thing more, that whereas the hand of God hath lyen vpon vs aboue these two yeeres by a grieuous kind of pox generall through the kingdome, killing many of the ageder as well as others of the yonger sort, and likewise whereas the pestilence hath reigned for aboue this yeere and killed betweene 12 and 20 thousand in London and the suburbs, and euen layd wast New Castle in the North, and is like yet further to continew; by meanes whereof there hath bin a greate stoppage in trading, and much misery throughout all the kingdome, for the Lord is highly displeased with vs, and there is some feare likewise of scarcity, (Oh our sins are exceeding greate!) that you would be pleased to procure a generall publike Fast throughout your plantations for vs, for we stand in greate need of it, afford vs, for the Lords sake, the help and pitty of Brethren, and how doe you know what fauour this may winne you both with god and men? And how would such a pious course answeare for you to very many (and some of them your brethren) who thinke you are gone from vs in affection and brotherly kindenes, as well as in place. And let me speake freely to you, that if soe iust a motion as this should find noe place with you, I feare that God will be angry with you. And O that some pourefull sermon that would endure the reading in old England, preached with you vpon such a day, might come to our hands heere, how ioyfully should we read it, and prayse our God, and how readily should we obiect it to all such as eyther condemne or suspect you of vncharitablenes, and vnnaturall affections!

And now perhaps you may thinke (at least I know many among you would, for I am well acquainted with the spiritts of many with you in this thing) 402that all these things sauour of feare, vnbeliefe and ouer much discretion. But I would answere them, that what I thus write, it is for theyre sakes, and well may I shew loue, but why feare for theyre sakes, I meane distrustfull feare? And whereas my spirit is naturally farr from pragmaticall, inclining rather to the other extreme, I haue bin much moued of late thus to write, and yet whither euer I shall come ouer vnto you, I know not, for I desire to doe the worke of God, and to glorify him heere or there, liuing and dying; and I haue found the Lords speciall presence with me now of late (praise be to his name for euer) in such remarkeable manner, as I neuer found the like before, and I can but inioy his presence in any part of the world. Onely this I say, that if god send me to you, for I wayte vpon him, I shall not vnwillingly goe, and whereas he hath pleased to open a doore of liberty with you for many that haue bin streightned heere, my desire is to vse all iust wayes to keepe it open, both for your and our sakes, and, apprehending you to be our deare brethren, to prevent all such inconveniences, as (without greate mercy from God, who yet will be wayted vpon in the vse of meanes) I plainely see approching towards you. Howeuer you conceiue of me, my endeauour is heerein with Jethro to giue aduise to the people of God in the wildernes, for whom my prayers daily are. And soe long as you hold any correspondence with vs, haue any dependance vpon vs, stand in that relation to vs which you can neuer breake, nor all the waters betweene you and vs wash away, I cannot but thinke my aduise though weake, yet such as may doe you good. There be other things that I might haue written, but I shall be gladd if these may be accepted. I haue not subscribed heerevnto, not knowing whither my lettre may not miscarry. The bearer perhaps can tell you of me. Now the Lord in his Infinite mercy be with your plantacions and his churches with you, and with your selfe in particular, to blesse you and your posterityes after you to the worlds end.

I humbly entreate you to conceale it, that any with vs hath thus written vnto you. There is another thing that I haue noted since I wrote the inclosed lettre, that many in your plantacions discouer much pride, as appeareth by the lettres we receaue from them, wherein some of them write 403ouer to vs for lace, though of the smaller sort, going as farr as they may, for we heare that you prohibite them any other; and this they say hath very good vent with you, non bene ripae creditur. They write ouer likewise for cutt-worke coifes; and others, for deep stammell dyes; and some of your owne men tell vs that many with you goe finely cladd, though they are free from the fantasticalnes of our land.

There is likewise another thing which I haue not mentioned in the lettre enclosed, which I suppose you are not altogether ignorant of, that your Patent is called in and condemned, and the Patentees haue renounced, and they are outlawed that haue not, till they come in and make theyre peace; of whom one of them is my neighbour, and is now riding to London about it.4 You know, I beleeue, the causes heereof, but what the effects of it will be, we are ignorant, but doubt and feare, onely we looke vp to God. I hope you striue to keepe close with the Lord. How earnestly can I pray that you may, and that you may all mind holines, and the things that are aboue, and grow vp in fayth, loue, humility and self-denyall; and that you may be of an Euangelicall spiritt. For if once Pride, Couetousnes, opposicion and contention etc. destroy the poure of holines among you, yea or your being cast into a new frame of discipline take you vp for the most part, diuerting your minds, meditacions and practises from all holy Conuersacion and Godlines, there will soone grow a strangenes betweene you and God, who will then surely bring affliccions vpon you to draw you nearer to himselfe. The good Lord in his infinite mercy be gracious to you. Oh how doe I desire it! I can noe more forget you then my selfe. And the Almighty god vouchsafe that both your Doctrine and discipline worke mightily and effectually vpon your hearts and liues, to meeken and sanctify them throughout. If you please to write any thing back to me, the bearer heereof can tell you how it may be sent and deliuered to me. The Lord be with your spirit. Amen.