I humble thank you for all your fauors whearin both I and myne are sempiternally ingaged allso I humble thank you for the mayde I haue good hopes of her. My cosen nab and she wear fellow trauillers in the ship from eng: nab. giues her the report of a very good carigd theer: allso my brother got2 and his wife wear near neighbours to hir frinds in eng. and they repute them to be people of a very godly conuersation, and many times hereditary blesings are perpetuated and vertue followes them: my mayd abygall is suddaynlie to be maryed to robert Moulton of this towne: and I hope it maye proue a blessinge of comfort to her for the parents and 307sonne are people of a religious peacable life, and prouident in theeir estates: I haue felt more generall weaknes within this fortnight then euer formerly without violent distemper. but I suppose age and constant infermitye can produce noe less. the Lord giue me to liue only by fayth in him, and that will preuent the king of terors force. when our life is hid with him that liues foreuer, why should wee fear a happye appearance. but my death maye produce the more trouble to so dear and noble a frind as your self with myne: but excuse all my bouldnes I pray, and blame me not for makeing the best choyce I can for them, and he that commaunds charitye and promiseth requitall to cups of water, I hope will be your full reward, theer lyes my refuge ells durst I not presume so far apon your patience.

I pray present my seruis and thanks to my dear brother and nephewes whom I should be glad to see: and my seruis to my neec and hapye wishes to her and hers. I rest yours in all seruis obliged

I received your letter concerning Mr. Jenner,2 acknowledging your former Courtesies to my selfe, and for your furtherance of 308a minister for vs our whole Plantacion ar greatly behoulding vnto you. We haue ioyned both sides of our river together for his mayntenance, and haue willingly contributed for his Stipend 47li per annum hoping the lord will blesse and sanctifie his word vnto vs, that we may be both hearers and doers of the word and will of god. I like Mr. Jenner his life and conversacion, and alsoe his preaching, if he would lett the Church of England alone. that doth much trouble me, to heare our mother Church questioned for her impurity vpon every occasion, as if men (ministers I meane) had no other marke to ayme at, but the Paps that gaue them suck, and from whence they first received the bread of life. I wish they would follow the Counsell you giue me in your letter, (To improue that which is profitable to them, and cover the rest with loue,) for why should a Son betray his mothers weaknes. Noah his Son lyes still vnder a curse for discovering his fathers shame his brothers eternall blessings for the Contrary. good sir pardon mee, I hope pardonable; I haue pleaded for our mother, which I beseech the almighty god to purge from her errors.

We haue not pressed Mr. Jenner to any manner of Church discipline but to preach and teach as seemeth good to himselfe. The Sacraments we desire to haue administred amongst vs, as beleiving Christians, although great Sinners. at present we doe not moue him to it, but for my parte I profes my selfe to be an opposite to Church Covenant, and Seperacion, holding it sufficient that I am allready a member of the Church of England, and so consequently of the Church of Christ, and soe capeable of the benefitts of his Sacraments. This is my opinion, till I shalbe therof convinced. I will both loue honour, and cherrish Mr. Jenner in his Calling, both for his Function and worth sake, and allsoe to gratifie your selfe, and the rest of my worthy freinds that by gods providence comended him hether. I must confes that I knew nothing of his comming till I saw him, and doe beleiue I should haue refused him whome now I embrace with intire affecion, had not your selfe and Mr. Humfrey encouraged me thervnto by your letters.

It seemes the governour makes a question that Sir Ferdinando Gorges was not in the French wars in his tyme. Capt. Bonython intreates me to write a word or two therof. I beleiue it was before Mr. Dudley his tyme, Sir Ferd: being now nere 80 yeares ould, and he went to those warres very young, and ther he received his honour; I haue often heard him discourse of those warlike accions, and that the King of France himselfe fetched him of from a breach being wounded, either at the seige of Amiens, or before Paris I know not whether.

Thus ceasing farder to trouble you, with my respectiue to your selfe, I rest, your assured freind and servant