his honorable Councell for this place, both in reſpect of the peaceable enlarging of his Maieſties Dominions, and alſo of the propagation of the knowledge and Law of God, and the glad tydings of ſaluation, which we and they were bound to ſeeke, and were not to vſe ſuch meanes as would breed a diſtaſt in the Salvages againſt our perſons and profeſſions, aſſuring them their Maſter would incurre much blame hereby, neither could they anſwere the ſame; For our owne parts our caſe was almoſt the ſame with theirs, hauing but a ſmall quantitie of Corne left, and were enforced to liue on ground nuts, clams, muſſels, and ſuch other things as naturally the Countrey afforded, and which did and would maintaine ſtrength, and were eaſie to be gotten, all which things they had in great abundance, yea, Oyſters alſo which we wanted, and therefore neceſſitie could not be ſaid to conſtraine them thereunto. Moreouer, that they ſhould conſider, if they proceeded therein, all they could ſo get would maintaine them but a ſmall time, and then they muſt perforce ſeeke their foode abroad, which hauing made the Indians their enemies, would be very difficult for them, and therefore much better to beginne a little the ſooner, and ſo continue their peace, vpon which courſe they might with good conſcience deſire and expect the bleſſing of God, whereas on the contrary they could not.
Alſo that they ſhould conſider their owne weakeneſſe, being moſt ſwelled, and diſeaſed in their bodies, and therefore the more vnlikely to make their partie good againſt them, and that they ſhould not expect helpe from vs in that or any the like vnlawfull actions. Laſtly, that howſoeuer ſome of them might eſcape, yet the principall Agents ſhould expect no better then the Galhouſe, whenſoeuer any ſpeciall Officer ſhould be ſent ouer by his Maiestie, or his Councell for New England, which wee expected, and who would vndoubtedly call them to account for the ſame. Theſe were the contents of our Anſwere, which was directed to their whole Colony. Another particular
