It was no small trouble to me, at my last being in the Bay, that your buisinesses were so many that I coulde not haue conuenient time to speake with you. The loue which you haue shewed to me, by so many expressions and so constantly, euer since my coming hither, as it was a greate motiue to me, to stay in these parts, so I holde my selfe bounde in all obseruance, and 150vpon all occasions to acknowledge the same. I may well say, I thinke of you often, when I see you not, making often mention of you in my poore prayers; which indeede your place requireth though I had no other ingagements. This place is a place (as of mercyes, so) of tryalls; The devill is very buisy; and I suppose and hope thatt you haue angred him, as much as another, and therfore may neede prayer against him.

I doe hartily reioice for all that good, of which God hath made you an instrument to this Colony; and which also he hath done to your owne soule; which (I hope) prospereth dayly; and the Lorde cause it to thriue and prosper still, that you may bring forth more fruites, euen in your age, and hauing serued your generation and God in it, may obtaine a more then ordinary measure of glory. For let not (I beseech you) glory alone content you, since you haue so faire an aduantage for measure and degree; and the Lorde shall assuredly giue it you, if you be not wanting to your selfe. And since I haue thus begun, giue leaue to him whose poore labours you haue accepted in publique, and from his soule wisheth well to yours, to speake a fewe words from God vnto you. Let it not seeme a small thing in your eyes, that the Lord hath giuen you a principall place in these Churches of Christ; and this place (though poore and despicable in the eyes of some haughty ones, yet) honoured of God aboue most, if not any in the worlde. Certainly your account wilbe greate: though if good, the greater the better. To which ende, I beseech you in Gods feare, be much and strict in the obseruing and examining your estate, hart and wayes. Your estate, that finding still more clearly Gods loue in pardoning and accepting you through Christ, you may be constrained to loue him, and wholly taken vp with the zeale of his glory. Your hart, that no euill may insensibly creepe in, to the defilement of it, and your estrangement from God, or greeuing his spirit. Your wayes also, to the euidence of your faith, and comfort of the Churches.

There is a peece of Godlinesse, called the Dayly Direction, which your vncle Egerton so much commended that I hope you are well acquainted with; and indeede without it, a Christian shalbe maimed at the best. Concerning your Ciuill actions, this may be one Rule among many, to iudge of the lawfullnes of them, when we dare aduisedly commende them to God in prayer, and on the contrary.

Sir, your godly hart will pardon my boldnes: somwhat I woulde haue sayde to the expressing of the truth of my hart; though I finde my selfe at this time lesse fitt, being weary this night after some Sabbath labour. Let them that loue you not be afradde to speake to you; I am not, and I am persuaded you doe willingly accept me. I might also tell you, that the exspec­151tation of the Country is generally raised touching this Court. Especially touching oppression, and what wilbe done against it. For my part, I beleeue that if there were a Law to hang vp some before the Lord, they deserue it, and it would to him be a sacrifice most acceptable. Shall the already persecuted and impouerished pretious members of Christ be made a pray to Cormorants? Vnderstanding persons doe thinke that one of them woulde willingly pay a fine of 100li per annum if he might be suffred to goe on as he hath done. I am sure God is displeased, and woe to them by whom it is. The Lord keep your good hart from pertaking at all in other mens sinnes (especially of such a nature) by the least indulgence. A body of Lawes is now of all much desired; and all maturenes of proceeding therin wished. Your forwardnes to communicate to the Elders such things as they may be capable of, doth as much indeare you to them (who must be a greate meanes of your strength) as honour you. One thing I should be bolde to intreate, that wheras some that came newely ouer haue bene bold to vent Arminian and the like fowle errors, and then goe their way vnquestioned, leauing an infectious sauour behinde them (as Mr. Hewett2 for one) some order may be taken, if not to sett a brande on such as haue so offended already, yet to preuent the like, by calling to account any that shall dare so to offende. Sir, Mr. Lamberton3 did vs much wrong; I exspected his comming to the Bay; but it seemes he sitts downe at Quillipiack yet he hath a house in Boston: I woulde humbly craue your aduise to Mr. Will. Bellingham about it, whither we might not enter an action against him, and (vpon proofe) gett helpe by that house: For Bartlet, I referre him to your wisdome, but we smart deeply by him, hauing no place to meete in. Concerning the name of our Towne, to keepe our poore Name. I am loth to trouble you with our troubles further from some Newbery men: But I beseech you knowe, that our charge valued first by our incouraging freinds, to be about 500li, is at least 900li.4 It was some greife to me, that any thing was payde by any of our company toward the last Rate, considering our weake estates.5

None doe know (or fewe) what we are impouerished by this purchase, and Quillipiake, and the fayling of some exspected freinds. I only commende it to your louing thoughts: If we be disabled at our first sitting downe very 152farre, I see it will not be easy to rise after in this Country: but the Lord who knoweth our vprightnes, will take care for vs. Thus my distance from you, and now inforced absence, makes me too tedious and bolde with you. Pardon it I beseech you. My seruice to yourselfe, and your worthy companion remembred, I committ you to God, and rest Yours euer in Christ to be commanded