_&c._
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_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 5_l_ a man and 10_l_ a horse and commonly 3_l_ 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.