About y^e begining of Aprill they heard of Captain Standish his arrivall, and sent a boat to fetch him home, and y^e things he had brought. Welcome he was, but y^e news he broughte was sadd in many regards; not only in regarde of the former losses, before related, which their freinds had suffered, by which some in a maner were undon, others much disabled from doing any further help, and some dead of y^e plague, but also y^t M^r. Robinson, their pastor, was dead, which struck them with much sorrow & sadnes, as they had cause. His and their adversaries had been long & continually plotting how they might hinder his coming hither, but y^e Lord had appointed him a better place; concerning whose death & the maner therof, it will appere by these few lines write to Gov^r & M^r. Brewster.
Loving & kind frinds, &c. I know not whether this will ever come to your hands, or miscarie, as other my letters have done; yet in regard of y^e Lords dealing with us hear, I have had a great desire to write unto you, knowing your desire to bear a parte with us, both in our joyes, & sorrows, as we doe w^th you. These are therfore to give you to understand, that it hath pleased the Lord to take out of this vaell of tears, your and our loving & faithfull pastor, and my dear & Reve^d brother, M^r. John Robinson, who was sick some 8. days. He begane to be sick on Saturday in y^e morning, yet y^e next day (being the Lords day) he taught us twise. And so y^e weeke after grew weaker, every day more then other; yet he felt no paine but weaknes all y^e time of his sicknes. The phisick he tooke wrought kindly in mans judgmente, but he grew weaker every day, feeling litle or no paine, and sensible to y^e very last. He fell sicke y^e 22. of Feb: and departed this life y^e 1. of March. He had a continuall inwarde ague, but free from infection, so y^t all his freinds came freely to him. And if either prayers, tears, or means, would have saved his life, he had not gone hence. But he having faithfully finished his course, and performed his worke which y^e Lord had appointed him here to doe, he now resteth with y^e Lord in eternall hapines. We wanting him & all Church Gov^rs, yet we still (by y^e mercie of God) continue & hould close togeather, in peace and quietnes; and so hope we shall doe, though we be very weake. Wishing (if such were y^e will of God) that you & we were againe united togeather in one, either ther or here; but seeing it is y^e will of y^e Lord thus to dispose of things, we must labour w^th patience to rest contented, till it please y^e Lord otherwise to dispose. For [140] news, is here not much; only as in England we have lost our old king James, who departed this life aboute a month agoe, so here they have lost y^e old prince, Grave Mourise; who both departed this life since my brother Robinson. And as in England we have a new-king Charls, of whom ther is great hope, so hear they have made prince Hendrick Generall in his brothers place, &c. Thus with my love remembred, I take leave & rest,