Haueinge Receiued your letter and heareinge that you are not yet gone I make bould to wright these few lines vnto you wherin my wife and I desire to present our Seruis to yow and all soe to be thankfull for all those many vndeserued kindnesses we haue from time to time receiued from yow. Loueing Sir these are to let yow vnderstand, that the Lords hand hath laine very heauy vppon my wife euer since I came into England, but especially since I came from London that now she is in such a weake Condition that I much Question whether she will liue tell this letter come to your hands. She hath a stronge Consumtion with an extreeme Cough of the Longes, and a great feaver that she is worne away to nothinge but skinn and bonnes, that if yow should now see hir yow would wonder it is now att the rightinge hereof 12 or 13 nights since she tooke any rest. I knowe the Lord is able to raise hir vpp againe, but in the Judgment of men there is but smale hopes she hath beene vnder the doctors hands, and he hath giuen hir vp what the Lord will doe we know not as yet. the Lord helpe vs to submitt to his Chastisinge hand with patience, yet I blesse2 the Lord she wants nothinge, that canne there be gott for hir Comfort. att first indeed when she tooke hir bed 375it was somethinge hard with vs, that we was faint to sell our flocke bedd and other thinges to make mony to helpe vs, but then I entered in to Corronall Finnes Seruis, which is only a messengers place for the City, to runne of messeges for him and the Counsell of warr and that hath beene my subsistance and is at this present. all the helpe that I could heare of both by phisicke and other meanes I haue had for my wife but I cann see noe amendment at all. I intreat yow Sir to let my freinds vnderstand our poore destressed Condition, and intreat them, if they euer did intende to be helpfull to vs to shew it now in Contributing to our necessety, for it cannot be in a more seasonable time, and for our goeinge to New England this yeare it cannot possible be expected, though we desire to giue yow humble thankes for your Loue and kinde profers in that respect, and in the meane time we shall desire your prayrs to god for vs, desireinge the Lord to guide and prosper yow in all your vndertakinges and rest Your poore servant to command

Received 5th May 1643 of Mr. Jno. Winthrop the some of Fifty pounds in part for passage of men and goods to New England

Though A stranger A long time to your person, I am no stranger in my thankefull harte (to the All glorious Maiesty of Heauen) for such as you: you whose knowne worth and inward candor, nor frownes, nor flatterie, could euer force from its trew goodnesse for the generall good. Monster Ingratitude cannot say I flatter wittness not only this colloneys approbation, 376but all forayners that hath dealte or conuerst here. your constant Zeale for the things of God and man, may trewly intitle you to be the Father, and first Founder of this flourishing coloney and will haue the happiness to leaue behind you a lasting memory, but such as Honour God he will Honour: I Sam. 2: 30: (Right worthy Sir) It hath not bine out of neglect in not addressing my selfe vnto you by letter, in Answer of yours, but feare of troubling your more weighty Affayres with my vnnessasarie Lines. I tacke my selfe to be obliged that you are pleased to giue me notice that I lye vnder Jelousies of some of my neibours, and that they suspect my Affection, and Integrity towards them: Two things A man ought to respect whiles he liues here: his Inward Integrity: and his outward righteousnesse his piety towards God and his Reputation towards men: To haue euery man speacke well of me is vnpossible: because howsoever I carry my selfe: some Cynick will barke at my course. who can scape the lash of censure: If I should camelion licke, change my selfe to euery object, I might well be censured for A timorist, yes surly: and that Justly. I would if I could please all, but I had rather please one good man then content A thousand bad ones: How is it possible I should be loued of some, since diuersityes breed nothing but disvnion: and sweete congrewity is the mother of Loue. I will neuer professe what I will not striue to practice: and will thinke it better to be but crocked Timber: then A strayte blocke, and after lye to stumble men, as my Accuser hath done, for A supposed honest man being found lewde: is hated as A growne monster, but he that keepeth his mouth, sayth the wise man keepeth his soule: Perhaps the reporters are honest, and then I feare I haue deserued it: If it be so, I will labour to shacke off that corruption: and be glad I haue so by your meanes discouered it, and indeauor to win them by humanity, and gentilnes: Our blessed Sauiour hath taught me to love my enimyes: and to ouercome euill with good, and by loue to serue one Another but wee all know nature to be so composed that wee see more of others then ower owne, but trewly (Sir) I am sensible of my owne vnsufficiency (for maney respects) to haue Any charge or trust in the managery of Any office in your colloney, and therfore, as before, so yett, they would be pleased to passe me by, and macke choyce of some fitter man to doe them seruice. you desyre to know wherin you might pleasure vs, and that you are carefull for the weale of Pascattaque, then thus, as when the Romans indennizond any nation they commonly Adrest themselues to some select senator for ther patron, (So Sir) we apply our selues to you and therfore I am once more A suter, that you would be pleased to give your Ayde and Assistance vnto Mr. Parker our Deputy in the confirmation of this necke of land intire, for A townshipe, and that it may not be 377curtayled on the syde, by the pattentees of the greate house, or mangled on the other, by them of Douer, therby vtterly to macke it vnfitte to mayntayne ether A ministery or the inhabitants now living, or to come on it. Douer men vppon A treaty frely yelded vp the necke, prouided they might inioy that marsh which they haue propiety in, and to hould the sayd marsh of this Township which wee condesended to, but here only wee differd, and that them and thers would neuer pay any Rates for the sayde marsh: Accept then (vertuous Sir) this my good will, tacke it from him, who (leauing you and yours, all your fayre Actions and occasions present to the all Pure God which neuer leaues his) Remaynes Euer Deuoted to your Worthey vertues