Some of their neighbours in y^e Bay, hereing of y^e fame of Conightecute River, had a hankering mind after it, (as was before noted,) and now understanding that y^e Indeans were swepte away with y^e late great mortalitie, the fear of whom was an obstacle unto them before, which being now taken away, they begane now to prosecute it with great egernes. The greatest differances fell betweene those of Dorchester plantation and them hear; for they set their minde on that place, which they had not only purchased of y^e Indeans, but wher they had builte; intending only (if they could not remove them) that they should have but a smale moyety left to y^e house, as to a single family; whose doings and proceedings were conceived to be very injurious, to attempte not only to intrude them selves into y^e rights & possessions of others, but in effect to thrust them out of all. Many were y^e leters & passages that went betweene them hear aboute, which would be to long here to relate.
I shall here first inserte a few lines that was write by their own agente from thence.
S^r: &c. Y^e Masschuset men are coming almost dayly, some by water, & some by land, who are not yet determined wher to setle, though some have a great mind to y^e place we are upon, and which was last bought. Many of them look at that which this river will not afford, excepte it be at this place which we have, namly, to be a great towne, and have comodious dwellings for many togeather. So as what they will doe I cannot yet resolve you; for this place ther is none of them say any thing to me, but what I hear from their servants (by whom I perceive their minds). I shall doe what I can to withstand them. I hope they will hear reason; as that we were here first, and entred with much difficulty and danger, [212] both in regard of y^e Dutch & Indeans, and bought y^e land, (to your great charge, allready disbursed,) and have since held here a chargable possession, and kept y^e Dutch from further incroaching, which would els long before this day have possessed all, and kept out all others, &c. I hope these & such like arguments will stoppe them. It was your will we should use their persons & messengers kindly, & so we have done, and doe dayly, to your great charge; for y^e first company had well nie starved had it not been for this house, for want of victuals; I being forced to supply 12. men for 9. days togeather; and those which came last, I entertained the best we could, helping both them (& y^e other) with canows, & guids. They gott me to goe with them to y^e Dutch, to see if I could procure some of them to have quiet setling nere them; but they did peremtorily withstand them. But this later company did not once speak therof, &c. Also I gave their goods house roome according to their ernest request, and M^r. Pinchons letter in their behalfe (which I thought good to send you, here inclosed). And what trouble & charge I shall be further at I know not; for they are co[=m]ing dayly, and I expecte these back againe from below, whither they are gone to veiw y^e countrie. All which trouble & charg we under goe for their occasion, may give us just cause (in y^e judgmente of all wise & understanding men) to hold and keep that we are setled upon. Thus with my duty remembred, &c. I rest