|
Loving Cousin,
At our arrival in New Plymouth , in New England, we found all our
friends and planters in good health, though they were left sick and
weak, with very small means; the Indians round about us peaceable and
friendly; the country very pleasant and temperate, yielding naturally,
of itself, great store of fruits, as vines of divers sorts in great
abundance. There is likewise walnuts, chestnuts, small nuts and
plums, with much variety of flowers, roots and herbs, no less pleasant
than wholesome and profitable. No place hath more gooseberrries
and strawberries, nor better. Timber of all sorts you have in
England doth cover the land, that affords beasts of divers sorts, and
great flocks of turkey, quails, pigeons and partridges; many great lakes
abounding with fish, fowl, beavers, and otters. The sea affords us
great plenty of all excellent sorts of sea-fish, as the rivers and isles
doth variety of wild fowl of most useful sorts. Mines we find, to
our thinking; but neither the goodness nor quality we know. Better
grain cannot be than the Indian corn, if we will plant it upon as good
ground as a man need desire. We are all freeholders; the rent-day
doth not trouble us; and all those good blessings we have, of which and
what we list in their seasons for taking.
Our company are, for most part, very religious, honest people; the word
of God sincerely taught us every Sabbath; so that I know not any thing a
contented mind can here want. I desire your friendly care to send
my wife and children to me, where I wish all the friends I have in
England; and so I rest
Your loving kinsman,
William Hilton |
