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LETTER

TO THE

COUNTESS OF LINCOLN,

MARCH, 1631.

WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES,

BY DR. JOHN FARMER, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

WASHINGTON:
PUBLISHED BY PETER FORCE.

P. FORCE, WASHINGTON, 1838.

NOTE.

GOVERNOUR DUDLEY was one of the five undertakers of the Settlement of Massachusetts, and came over with the Charter in 1630. The following Letter, addressed to the Countess of Lincoln, in whose family he had been steward nine or ten years, was written nine months after his arrival, and contains the events pertaining to the Colony during that period. It has never to the knowledge of the copyist been published entire. A part of it was printed more than a hundred years ago, and this portion of it was reprinted in 1802, in the 8th volume of the Collections of the Mass. Historical Society. Very material parts, it will be seen by comparison, are omitted in the printed copy. This copy is made from a MS. one, judged to be at least 180 years old. A part of it, which describes the Bays and Rivers, and a few lines which gives an account of the Indian Sachems, is missing, but the most valuable portions are preserved almost entire, and have been copied with scrupulous care in retaining not only the orthography, but the abbreviations and division into paragraphs.

J. FARMER.

LETTER

FROM GOVERNOUR THOMAS DUDLEY, TO BRIDGET, COUNTESS OF LINCOLN, WRITTEN NINE MONTHS AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF THE EMIGRANTS IN THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

"To the righte honourable, my very good Lady,
the Lady Brydget, Countesse of Lincoln.

MADAM,

Your l'res (which are not common or cheape,) following mee hether into New-England, and bringeing with them renewed testimonies of the accustomed favours you honoured mee with in the old, haue drawne from mee this narrative retribucon, (which in respect of your proper interest in some persons of great note amongst us) was the thankfullest present I had to send over the seas. Therefore I humblie intreat your honour this bee accepted as payment from him, who neither hath, nor is any more, than your honours old thankful servant, THOMAS DUDLEY,"

"Boston in New-England

March 12th 1630," i. e. 1631.

"For the satisfacon of your honour and some freinds, and for vse of such as shall hereafter intend to increase our plantation in New England, I have in the throng of domestick, and not altogeather free from publique businesse, thought fitt to comit to memory our present condition, and what hath befallen us since our arrivall here; which I will doe shortly, after my usual manner, and must doe rudely, haveing yet no table, nor other room to write in, than by the fire side upon my knee, in this sharp

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