To the
Right Honorable, my very good
Lady, the
Lady Bridget,
Countess of
Lincoln.
,--Touching the plantation, which we here have begun, it fell out thus: About the year 1627, some friends, being together in
Lincolnshire, fell into discourse about
New England and the planting of the gospel there; and, after some deliberation, we imparted our reasons by letters and messages to some in
London and the West Country, where it was likewise deliberately thought upon, and at length, with often negotiation, so ripened, that, in the year 1628, we procured a patent from his Majesty for our planting between the
Massachusetts Bay and
Charles River on the south, and the river of Merrimack on the north, and three miles on either side of those rivers and bays; as also for the government of those who did or should inhabit within that compass.
And the same year we sent
Mr. John Endicott, and some with him, to begin a plantation; and to strengthen such as we should find there, which we sent thither from
Dorchester, and some places adjoining; from whom, the same year, receiving hopeful news, the next year, 1629, we sent divers ships over, with about three hundred people, and some cows, goats, and horses, many of which arrived safely.
These, by their too large commendations of the country and the commodities thereof; invited us so strongly to go on, that
Mr. Winthrop, of
Suffolk (who was well known in his own country, and well approved here for his piety.
liberality, wisdom, and gravity), coming in to us, we came to such resolution, that in April, 1630, we set sail from Old England with four good ships.
And, in May following, eight more followed; two having gone before in February and March, and two more following in June and August, besides another set out by a private merchant.
These seventeen ships arrived all safe in
New England for the increase of the plantation here this year, 1630; but made a long, a troublesome, and costly voyage, being all wind-bound long in
England, and hindered with contrary winds after they set sail, and so scattered with mists and tempests, that few of them arrived together.
Our four ships, which set out in April, arrived here in June and July, where we found the Colony in a sad and unexpected condition; above eighty of them
