It appears that some of our people, who happened to go northward in their boat, met some Indians, who told them that they were within half a day’s journey of your plantation, and offered to take letters to you; so we could not forbear to salute you with these few lines, bearing our good will and service to you, in all friendly kindness and neighbourhood. If it should happen that any goods that come to us from our native country may be serviceable to you, we shall feel ourselves bound to accommodate you either for beaver or any other merchandise. Should we have no goods at present that you want, if you care to sell us any beaver, or otter, or such, for ready money, and let us hear in writing by this bearer, whom we have instructed to wait three or four days for your answer, we will depute some one to deal with you at any place you may appoint. In the meantime we pray the Lord to take you, our honoured friends and neighbours, into His holy protection. By the appointment of the Governor and Council, etc. ISAAC DE RASIERES, Secretary. _From Manhattan, in the Fort of Amsterdam. March 9th, 1627._ To this they answered as follows: _From the Settlement at New Plymouth to the Dutch Colony at New Amsterdam_: To the honoured, etc. The Governor and Council of New Plymouth, wishes, etc. We have received your letters, expressing your good-will and friendship towards us, but with over high titles, more than is our right, or it is fitting for us to receive. But for your good-will and congratulations of our prosperity in these small beginnings of our poor colony, we are much obliged to you, and acknowledge them with many thanks, accepting them as a great honour to us and a sure proof of your love and good neighbourhood. This is also to give your worships to understand, that it is no small joy to us to hear that his majesty has not only been pleased to confirm the ancient alliances and other contracts formerly made by his predecessors of famous memory, but has himself (as you say) strengthened them with a new bond, the better to resist the pride of that common enemy, the Spaniard, from whose cruelty the Lord keep us both, and our native countries. Now though this were sufficient to unite us together in love and good neighbourhood in all our dealings, many of us are under further obligations for the courteous treatment we received in your country, having lived there for many years in freedom, as many of our friends do to this day; for which we and our children after us are bound to be grateful to your nation, and shall never forget it, but shall heartily desire your good and prosperity as our own, forever.