Yours of the (8) 10–43 I haue receaued filled with exsamples of the Judgments of god of the Duch and English that fell by the Indeans2 for the English yow mention their forsakeing the fellowship of gods people and ordenances and the vnseasonablenes of seeking of greate things the lord plucking vp what he hath planted, etc. Though I might render some excuses, yet I forbeare and doe acknowledge my neclecte In not writeing unto yow longe ere this, and returneing a thankefull acknowledgement of your loue in seting before me such graue exhortations tornlemations. let the righteous smite me it shall not torn my head noe it shall be a healeing balsome to torn I haue forsaken yourselfe and others againest my own torn posses in distance of place, yet I hope and liue by his grace never shall in affection till my dyeing day, and the ordenances with yow both in Church and Common wealth are to me the ordenances of the lord Jesus. And the lord hath begunne to let me see by experience that a mans comfort doth not depend in the multetude of those things he doth possese, the lord haueing this last winter taken from me A larg Corne Barne which did cost me aboue, or aboute, 150li building, my farme howse 12 Oxen 8 Cowes 6 other beasts in which howses was my Corne for seed and spending and paying my debts, the fyer breaking forth in the night, neither beeding nore howshould stuffe, nore so much as my servants wering Cloth no thing but the shertes of their backes 490was saued, and liues to the valew of 4 or 500li. And yet blessed be his name, he is the portion of my sowle, I shall not wante, he hathe by one providence or other provided for me a considerable suplye so that I haue enough blessed be his name. And being nowe in writeing, I shall make bould to ade a word to 3 or 4 particulers in yours to mr. Brenton and mr. Balstone (my loueing friends) and in them to me yow desire they much consider in what relation they stand to the Church and Common wealth with yow for the Church to answer for itselfe we being not to torn doe look at that Church meeting at mr. Balstones torn which I was advised to remaine and commended to the grace of god torn christ Jesus in so doeing, and the sermon concerneing of it the torn lord does that wher ther wer not churches to commend ther bretheren vnto ther they might commend them to the grace of god, etc., to carie with it the force of a dismishon which is not my light alone, but of the reverent and larned.3 I desire that this lynne of devishon was remoued, that I might have such free acsesse to all as to see their faces with comfort, and to partake with yow in the ordenances. 2ly. For the Common wealth the difference arose about mr. Wheelwright banishment of which he is releassed (as I am informed) but if it was a meanes in rayseing any vnquietnes in the Commonwealth I shall vpon information indevor to giue satisefaction, the lord so helping me.

3. For Gorton as he came ther to be of the Island before I knew of it, and is here againest my mind, soe shall he not be by me protected. I could haue hartely desired for the good I professe of both plantations that we had not bene reiected in alyence with yow aboute the Indeans, which now the generaletie here will be averse from. the trewth is here is a partye which doe adheare vnto Gorton and his Company, in both the plantations, and Judge them so much strength to the place which be neither frinds to yow nore vs. Now the trewth is I desire to haue either such alience with yourselues or Plimouth one or both as might be safe for vs all. I haue my cheefe intrest the Island it being bought to me and my frinds, and how inconvenient it might be if it were possesed by an Enemye lying in the heart of the plantations and convenient for shiping I cannot but see but I want both Counsell and Strength to effecte what I desire. I desire to heare from yow and that you would burye what I write in deepe silence, for what I write I never imparted to any, nor would to yow had I the least doubt of your faythfullnes, that it should be vttered to my preiudice.

for Morton he was insinuateing who was for the king at his first comeing to Portesmouth, and would report to such as he Judged to be of his mynd he 491was glad he meet with so many Caveleres. to Mr. Hart (as I am informed) of Cohannet he discovered some thing in this way, and after doubted he was not trew, and he had lands to disposse of to his followers in each province and from Cape Ann to Cape Codd was one he did and dispossed of some to Lambert Woodward. my Tenant Gould was his host howse, he being much taken with him, and towld me which I will afferme of my oath that he had land to disposse of in each plantation a torn his son John some Land, and that he had wronge in the bay to the valew of 200li and mayd bitter Complaints therof but Morton would let it rest as he tould me till the Governour came over to right him and did intimate he knew whose roste his spits and Jackes turned etc., but I feare tediousnes and therefor with the tender of my love to the Governour yourselfe mr. Dudlye and who else remember me, I take leaue and rest. yours

Your Lordshipps Lettres by mr. B: I received the 7th of July, which were occasion of Comfort to me, both for your Lordshipps wellfare, and for your constant hearty Affection to our Colony and your undeserved favour to my selfe your most vnworthy servant: which shall so farre oblige me to your good Lordshipp as my poore prayers and indeavours shalbe euer improved for your honor and wellfare.

Now concerninge that which your Lordshipp desires to be satisfied in, I shall truly relate to you the state of the Country and our present Condition therin, so fully and faithfully as you shall not need to inquire any further therabout.

For the Contry it is for the most parte a light soyle black earth aboue and 492sand beneathe: it is very well watered with rivers, brookes and springs, with faire levels of good meadowe in many places, but much of it is full of hassocks and wett, for want of drayning.

The Timber is oak and pine, with some elme and ashe in the swampes, which are not bogge as in Ireland but in the summer they are dry and fine lande. By the sea Coast there is store of salt marsh which is for 3, 4 or 5 foote a meere Turfe, which will burne well, yet it beares very fine benty grasse, which will maintain Cattle well both in summer and winter.

The grounde is most apt for Rye, and summer wheate which afford sometymes 30 or 40 bushells of an acre, yet after 2 or 3 Croppes not aboue halfe so much except cost be bestowed upon it. diverse haue founde by experience that 2 or 3 Croppes of Rye will come of one Seedinge, and without any new ploughing. there is also this yeare great store of pease and barly, as good as I haue seen ordinaryly in England.

All sorts of English fruits and garden stuffe prosper very well heere. we have a Croppe of Corne now vpon the grounde that (in the best Judgment) may be sufficient to serve our people for neere 2 years.

Our Cattle thrive and increace as well as in Engld. and are of a large size.

The ayre is pure and healthfull, which makes it the more hott in summer and the sharper in winter.

Our winters are longe, so as we are forced to provide stover for our Cattle for 5 months, yet many tymes the winter is very milde, and the snowe lyes so little tyme as 3 or 4 months provision will suffice our Cattle.

The sea affords great store of Codd and many other sorts of fish, which may be had (some of them) all seasons of the year. Sea Fowle heere is store, but not so easye to be taken now as at our first Comming. heere are allso Partridge and heathe geese, and great multitude of pigeons, and Deare, but the Country is too full of Coverts for hunting or hawking. yet a man may ride all over the Countrye, except the Swamps which are very vaste and hideous.

Many woulves and foxes heere are which doe vs much damage but heere is no wild beast will assault a man.

For our Goverment it is mixed, the freemen (who are all church members) choose the Magistrates and cheife Officers, and deputyes, who make all the Lawes and levye monyes, and minister Justice, without any Appeale to the people. All our magistrates are chosen anewe every yeare. we have in our Jurisdiction 20 townes, and in euery of them a Company gathered into Church fellowshipp. most of them haue 2 ministers and one or 2 ruling Elders: The ministers are sustayned in some Churches by a treasury raised by a weekly contribution, in some others by a voluntary taxation.

Our Courts are of 2 sorts the general Courts, which are for making of lawes and levying monyes to which every towne sends one or 2 deputyes, and the other Courts held by the magistrates, which are for Judicature.

The Ministers have great power with the people, wherby throughe the good correspondency between the magistrates and them, they are the more easyly gouerned being of illegible general sober and religious etc.