s, but Gods ordinance for your good, not
being like y^e foolish multitud who more honour y^e gay coate, then
either y^e vertuous minde of y^e man, or glorious ordinance of y^e
Lord. But you know better things, & that y^e image of y^e Lords power
& authoritie which y^e magistrate beareth, is honourable, in how meane
persons soever. And this dutie you both may y^e more willingly and
ought y^e more conscionably to performe, because you are at least for
y^e present to have only them for your ordinarie governours, which
your selves shall make choyse of for that worke.

Sundrie other things of importance I could put you in minde of, and of
those before mentioned, in more words, but I will not so farr wrong
your godly minds as to thinke you heedless of these things, ther being
also diverce among you so well able to admonish both them selves &
others of what concerneth them. These few things therfore, & y^e same
in few words, I doe ernestly co[=m]end unto your care & conscience,
joyning therwith my daily incessante prayers unto y^e Lord, y^t he who
hath made y^e heavens & y^e earth, y^e sea and all rivers of waters,
and whose providence is over all his workes, espetially over all his
dear children for good, would so guide & gard you in your wayes, as
inwardly by his Spirite, so outwardly by y^e hand of his power, as y^t
both you & we also, for & with you, may have after matter of praising
his name all y^e days of your and our lives. Fare you well in him in
whom you trust, and in whom I rest.

An unfained wellwiller of your hapie
success in this hopefull voyage,
JOHN ROBINSON.

This letter, though large, yet being so frutfull in it selfe, and
suitable to their occation, I thought meete to inserte in this place.

All things being now ready, & every bussines dispatched, the company was
caled togeather, and this letter read amongst them, which had good
acceptation with all, and after fruit with many. Then they ordered &
distributed their company for either shipe, as they conceived for y^e
best. And chose a Governor & 2. or 3. assistants for each shipe, to
order y^e people by y^e way, and see to y^e dispossing of there
provissions, and shuch like affairs. All which was not only with y^e
liking of y^e maisters of y^e ships, but according to their desires.
Which being done, they sett sayle from thence aboute y^e 5. of August;
but what befell them further upon y^e coast of England w