We haue now at length returned an Answer to your letter dated the 26 of July (The reason we haue so longe deffered the same, is because we haue had no courte till the last month being Januarie) The sume wherof is this: that we are willing to curesponde with you in this, or any other neborly course, so fare as may no way be prejudicall to any, or swarue from the rules of equitie. how fare mr. Winslow expreste that agreement you intimate we know not (seeing he is absente) but our meaning, and former practiss, was and hath been, only of shuch as come to dwell, and inhabite, whether as seruants, or free men; and not of soujournours which come but for a seasone, with a purpose to returne yet if any abuse should grow hereby, we shall agree to any good order for the preuenting or redressing of the same; prouided the way be left open for pore men to releue ther wants, And for mutuall help to both plantations. We haue therfore giuen warning in open courte to all our people; not to receiue any as seruants, or other dwellers with them, but to aquainte vs first therwith that 65we may inquire of ther certificates or dismisions, but we haue sett no penealtie vpon it as yett, because we hope ther shall be noe need if ther be we haue libertie to punish shuch things at our discretions; if that will not serue; when we vnderstand what penealtie you apointe in the case, we shall doe the like, or that which shall be equivelente vnto it. As for the instances you giue we find that John Philips when he came was sick and if he had not been by some receiued to house he had been in danger to haue perished. he aledged he was sent by his maister to seeke a seruise, yet as a seruente he was not entertained by any; till his maister came and sould his time, (not to him that gave him house roome) but to him that would giue most, so he had no cause to complaine. for John Pickworth he came but as a soujournour to worke for a few weeks, in which time he goote a wife, and so is longe since returned duble, and hath no cause to complaine, excepte he hath goot a bad wife. Richard Church came likewise ass a soujournour to worke for the present; though he is still hear residente longer than he purpossed; And what he will doe, neither we nor I thinke him selfe knowes. but if he resolue here to setle we shall require of him to procure a dismision; but he did affirme to vs at the first, that he was one of mr. webbs men, and freed to goe for England or whither he would, the which we the rather beleued because he came to vs frome wessagasscusett upon the faling out with his parttner; for others intimated, we know none, (thoug we haue inquired) but they had a dismission either to come hither, or goe for England. Now ther are diuerce goone from hence, to dwell and inhabite with you, as Clement Brigges, John Hill, John Eedy, daniell ray, etc. the which if either you, or they desire thir dismissions; we shall be redy to giue them; hopeing you will doe the like in the like cases, though we haue heard something otherwise. Thus with our prayers to the Lord for your prosperity, as our owne, and our harty salutations vnto you all we rest your assured louing freinds