Answer: The settlers were weakened by illness
Step-by-step explanation:
Richard Frethorne was an indentured servant serving in the colony of Virginia during its earlier days. In a letter to his parent, he employed them to send for him or at least send him some provisions because conditions in the settlement were pitiful.
He mentioned how they lived in constant fear of Indians who they keep fighting with. He was worried that they were in grave danger though because the settlers were afflicted by sickness and some had already died thus weakening their number resulting in less resistance to the Indians.