Loveing and kind father and mother my most humble
duty remembered to you hopeing in God of your good health, as
I my selfe am at the makeing hereof, this is to let you understand
that I your Child am in a most heavie Case by reason of the nature
of the Country is such that it Causeth much sicknes [including
scurvy and "the bloody flux"] ... and
when wee are sicke there is nothing to comfort us; for since I
came out of the ship, I never at anie thing but pease, and loblollie
(that is water gruell)[.] as for deare or venison I never saw
anie since I came into this land there is indeed some foule, but
Wee are not allowed to goe, and get yt, but must Worke hard both
earelie, and late for a messe of water gruell, and a mouthfull
of bread, and beife[.] a mouthfull of bread for a pennie loafe
must serve for 4 men which is most pitifull if you did knowe as
much as I, when people crie out day, and night, Oh that they were
in England without their lymbes and would not care to loose anie
lymbe to bee in England againe, yea though they beg from doore
to doore ... I have nothing at all, no not a
shirt to my backe, but two Ragges nor no Clothes, but one poore
suite, nor but one paire of shooes, but one paire of stockins,
but one Capp, but two bands, my Cloke is stollen by one of my
owne fellowes, and to his dying hower would not tell mee what
he did with it [although some friends saw the "fellowe"
buy butter and beef from a ship, probably purchased with Frethorne's
cloake ... but I am not halfe a quarter so strong
as I was in England, and all is for want of victualls, for I doe
protest unto you, that I have eaten more in a day at home than
I have allowed me here for a Weeke...
O that you did see may daylie and hourelie sighes,
grones, and teares, and thumpes that I afford mine owne brest,
and rue and Curse the time of my birth with holy Job. I thought
no head had beene able to hold so much water as hath and doth
dailie flow from mine eyes.