ABSTRACT
My most humble duty remembered to you, hoping in God of your good health, as I myself am at the making hereof. This is to let you understand that I your child am in a most heavy case by reason of49 the nature of the country is such that it causeth much sickness, as the scurvy and the bloody flux50 and divers other diseases, which maketh the body very poor and weak. And when we are sick, there is nothing to comfort us, for since I came out of the ship, I never ate anything but peas and loblolly (that is, water gruel). As for deer or venison, I never saw any since I came into this land. There is indeed some fowl, but we are not allowed to go and get it, but must work hard both early and late for a mess of water gruel and a mouthful of bread and beef .... people cry out day and night - Oh that they were in
NewWorlds393
Englandwithouttheirlimbs-andwouldnotcaretoloseanylimbtobeinEngland again,yea,thoughtheybegfromdoortodoor.Forweliveinfearoftheenemy51 everyhour,yetwehavehadacombatwiththemontheSundaybeforeShrovetide, andwetooktwoaliveandmakeslavesofthem.Butitwasbypolicy,forwearein greatdanger,forourplantationisveryweakbyreasonofthedearthandsicknessof ourcompany....wearebut32tofightagainst3000iftheyshouldcome.Andthe nighesthelpthatwehaveistenmilesofus,andwhentheroguesovercamethis placelasttheyslew80persons.Howthenshallwedo,forwelieevenintheir teeth?Theymayeasilytakeus,butthatGodismercifulandcansavewithfewas wellaswithmany....
