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Honored Sr.

Since my last vnto you I have heard the sad newes of differences that haue or are like to arise betwixt the states of our natiue countries what the Lord's will is therein wheather for punishmt to our or both nations, his good pleasure must be obeyd & we must thereunto patientlie submit, yet I must acknowledge that I am trulie grived & affliicted that either debate or warre should arise betwixt them not only in reguarde of that long & antient vnion of loue and peace they haue for many yeares maintained & observed betwixt each other, but that through theyre sides religion will become wounded & the gospell, schandalised to the reioycing & triumphing of the ennemies thereof who will vpon all occasions be ready to adde fuell to the fire: yet Sr, if publique warre should arise betwixt our nations for myne owne prte I doe not only desire but shall vnfainedly indeavour that all loue friendship & neiohbourlie Compliance may be duly observed betwixt us in these prtes of the world & for that end shall vpon all occasions be ready to attend all due meanes that may therevnto conduce & to that purpose haue formerlie written vnto ye worthie Gouemour Bradforde with my intentions of meeting, with the Comissionrs att Plimmouth had Conueniencie serued of the wch I suppose the said Gouernr hath fuly acquainted all ye Commissionrs, togeather with the reasons that moue me therevnto. As first our ioynt profession of our ffaith in our Lord Jesus Christ not differing in fundamentals.

2ly the malice of the natiues who would be glad to see vs att variance heere in these partes that thereby they might haue occasion and opportunitie to worke mischief to either.

3ly the greate seperation & distance from our natiue Countries being here settled in a vast wilderness & left as it were to ourselues amongst multitudes of barbarians & of whose friendship or performing Couenant there is as little hope as dependancie: the wch (to me) calls for a more nearer vnion of loue & friendship betwixt vs yt are in these parts, the wch I haue often written soe now againe for the discharging of that Christian duty I ought to perform towards my Christian neighbours, I reallie prfesse my readynes & willingnes therevnto in all affairs of loue & for that I vnderstand by one Jo: ye Sailmaker of your intentions of writing to me concerning a certaine man suspected to be guilty of murder & that he should be in our Jurisdiction, beleave me Sr neither he nor any other malefactour or fugitive shall haue either protection or Countenance heere & if I may but receiue a line or two from yourselfe to that effect I shall send him or any other to you there to receiue theyre tryiall, Soe Sr with my due respects I rest.

Yr louing friend & seruant.

References

A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.