The people which they cary are no men for us, wherfore I pray you entertaine them not, neither exchainge man for man with them, excepte it be some of your worst. He hath taken a patente for him selfe. If they offerr to buy any thing of you, let it be shuch as you can spare, and let them give y^e worth of it. If they borrow any thing of you, let them leave a good pawne, &c. It is like he [78[AV]] will plant to y^e southward of y^e Cape, for William Trevore hath lavishly tould but what he knew or imagined of Capewack, Mohiggen, & y^e Narigansets. I fear these people will hardly deale so well with y^e savages as they should. I pray you therfore signifie to Squanto, that they are a distincte body from us, and we have nothing to doe with them, neither must be blamed for their falts, much less can warrente their fidelitie. We are aboute to recover our losses in France. Our freinds at Leyden are well, and will come to you as many as can _this time_. I hope all will turne to y^e best, wherfore I pray you be not discouraged, but gather up your selfe to goe thorow these dificulties cherfully & with courage in y^t place wherin God hath sett you, untill y^e day of refreshing come. And y^e Lord God of sea & land bring us comfortably togeather againe, if it may stand with his glorie.
On y^e other sid of y^e leafe, in y^e same leter, came these few lines from M^r. John Peirce, in whose name the patente was taken, and of whom more will follow, to be spoken in its place.
Worthy S^r: I desire you to take into consideration that which is writen on y^e other side, and not any way to damnifie your owne collony, whos strength is but weaknes, and may therby be more infeebled. And for y^e leters of association, by y^e next ship we send, I hope you shall receive satisfaction; in y^e mean time whom you admite I will approve. But as for M^r. Weston's company, I thinke them so base in condition (for y^e most parte) as in all apearance not fitt for an honest mans company. I wish they prove other wise. My purpose is not to enlarge my selfe, but cease in these few lins, and so rest
All these things they pondred and well considered, yet concluded to give his men frendly entertainmente; partly in regard of M^r. Weston him selfe, considering what he had been unto them, & done for them, & to some, more espetially; and partly in compassion to y^e people, who were now come into a willdernes, (as them selves were,) and were by _y^e ship_ to be presently put a shore, (for she was _to cary other passengers to Virginia_, who lay at great charge,) and they were alltogeather unacquainted & knew not what to doe. So as they had received his former company of 7. men, and vitailed them as their owne hitherto, so they also received _these_ (being aboute 60. lusty men), and gave [79] housing for them selves and their goods; and many being sicke, they had y^e best means y^e place could aford them. They stayed hear y^e most parte of y^e so[=m]er till _y^e ship came back againe from Virginia_. Then, by his direction, or those whom he set over them, they removed into y^e Massachusset Bay, he having got a patente for some part ther, (by light of ther former discovery in leters sent home). Yet they left all ther sicke folke hear till they were setled and housed. But of ther victails they had not any, though they were in great wante, nor any thing els in recompence of any courtecie done them; neither did they desire it, for they saw they were an unruly company, and had no good govermente over them, and by disorder would soone fall into wants if M^r. Weston came not y^e sooner amongst them; and therfore, to prevente all after occasion, would have nothing of them.