Finis.
SOME BRIEF COLLECTIONS
&c.
Some brief collections out of a letter that Mr. Higginson sent to his friends at Leicester.
THERE are certainly expected here the next spring the coming of 60 familyes out Dorcettershire,[5] who have by letters signified so much to the Goverour to desyre him to appoint them places of habitations they bringing their ministers with them. Also many families are expected out of Lincolnshire[6] and a minister with them, and a great company of godly Christians out of London. Such of you as come from Leister, I would counsell you to come quickly and that for two reasons. 1st, if you linger too long, the passages of Jordan through the malice of Sathan, may be stopped, that you can not come if you would. 2dly, Those that come first speed best here, and have the priviledge of choosing choice places of habitations. Little children of 5 years ould may by setting corne one month be able to get their owne maintenance abundantly. Oh what a good worke might you that are rich do for your poore brethren, to helpe them with your purses onely to convey them hither with their children and families, where they may live as well both for soule and body as any where in the world. Besides they will recompense the cost by helping to build houses and plant your ground for a tyme; which shall be difficult worke at the first, except you have the helpe of many hands. Mr. Johnson out of Lincolnshire and many others, have helped our godly christians hither to be employed in their worke, for a while, and then to live of themselves. We have here about 40 goats that give milke, and as many milch kyne; we have 6 or 7 mares and an horse, and do every day expect the coming of half a score mares more, and 30 Kyne by two shipps that are to follow us.[7] They that come let them bring mares, kyne, and sheepe as many as they can: Ireland is the best place to provide sheepe, and lyes in the way. Bring none that are in lambe, nor mares in foale; for they are in more danger to perish at sea. Of all trades carpenters are most needful, therefore bring as many as you can. It were a wise course for those of abilityes to joyne together and buy a shipp for the voyage and other merchandize. For the governour would that any man may employ his stocke in what merchandises he please, excepting only beaver skins, which the company of merchants reserve to themselves, and the managing of the publique stocke. If any be of the mynde to buy a shipp my cousin Nowell’s[8] counsell would be good. Also one Mr. [Beecher] a very godly man and the master of the ship we went in, and likewise one Mr. Graves the master’s maite dwelling in Wapping may herein staund you in stead. The payment of the transportation of things is wondrous deare, as 5l a man and 10l a horse and commonly 3l for every tunne of goodes: so that a little more than will pay for the passage will purchase the possession of a ship for all together.
No man hath or can have a house built for him here unlesse he comes himselfe, or else send servants before to do it for him. It was an errour that I now perceive both in myselfe, and others did conceive by not rightly understanding the merchaunts meaning. For we thought that all that put in their money into the common stocke; should have a house built for them, besides such a portion of the land; but it was not so. They shall indeed have so much land allotted to them when they come to take possession of it and make use of it, but if they will have houses they must build them. Indeed we that are ministers, and all the rest that were entertained and sent over and maintained by the rest of the company, as their servants, for such a tyme in such employments, all such are to have houses built them of the comyanies charge and no others nor otherwise. They that put money into the stocke, as they do a good worke to helpe forwards so worthy a plantation, so all the gayne they are likely to have, is according to the increase of the stocke at 3 years end, by the trade of beaver, besides the lands which they shall enjoy when they will.
All that come must have victualls with them for a twelve month, I meane they must have meale, oatmeale and such like sustenaunce of food, till they can gett increase of corne by their owne labour. For, otherwise, so many may come without provision at the first, as that our small beginnings may not be sufficient to maintayne them.
Before you come be carefull to be strongly instructed what things are fittest to bring with you for your more comfortable passage at sea, as also for your husbandrey occasions when you come to the land. For when you are once parted with England you shall meete neither with taverns nor alehouse, nor butchers, nor grosers, nor apothecaries shops to helpp what things you need, in the midst of the great ocean, nor when you are come to land here are yet neither markets nor fayres to buy what you want. Therefore be sure to furnish yourselves with things fitting to be had before you come; as meale for bread, malt for drinke, woolen and linnen cloath, and leather for shoes, and all manner of carpenters tools, and a good deale of iron and steele to make nails, and lockes, for houses, and furniture for ploughs and carts, and glasse for windowes, and many other things which were better for you to think of them than to want them here.
Whilst I was writing this letter my wiffe brought me word that the fishers had caught 1600 basse at one draught, which if they were in England were worth many a pound.