I was both yesterday morning and night to have attended you but at both times too late. This morning I doubted I should have beene as much too earlie for you, as I was by some unexpected detention too late for my owne occasions. You being further necessitated to stay at Charlestowne, I thought good to satisfie my selfe rather then you in revolving the cause of that diminution of your wonted respect which upon unapprehended premisses I could not divine. So that now contrarie to my former apprehensions, I rather wonder you were not more alienated from mee, conceaving mee to be under that guilt (which I blesse god I am not) then that you were so much. However I know your greater latitude both of parts and pietie steares your practice beyond my reach; yet why (so conceaving of mee) should you not with compassion or feare (pulling out of the fire) explicate and set in ioint a forlorne and sin deceaved wretch. Your tendernes in other kindes hath sometimes manifested it selfe; for which I have blesde god and you in my feeble expressions. The proportions of the bowels of Christ mee thinkes should have much more expresd themselves herein. And yet I must acknowledge your Joseph like tendernes in this with all due thankefulnes, both in regard of my owne particular, and my relations to our common engagements. Wherein the lord shall be pleased to enable and enlarge mee to further expressions of thankefulnes to him and your selfe, I trust I shall studiously and sincerely endeavour to husband his grace. Onely I beeseech you in the name, and for the honour of our common saviour not to suffer mee to goe blindfolded with the deceipts of anie sinne, where eyther your clearer light or godly iealousies may have occasion to expresse themselves. For though I know no sinne my soule desires approvingly to make anie league withall; yet I experimentallie know my heart is desperatly deceitful, and god the searcher of harts can discover more of mee to others, then hee may be pleased to doe unto my selfe, at least for a time. If anie such case and time fall out 167by the permission of god in the revolution of anie of my fibrous corruptions, though you should not (which yet I ever hope you shall) have thankes from mee, yet you shall not (you know) goe without a full reward from him who covers a multitude of sinnes in them who seeke to reduce and save anie sinsicke soule. My paper and time (though your patience should not) confine mee. I am, Though your weake and gods wicked, yet I hope (at least out of gusts of temptations) the sincere servant of both.

My Service beinge remembered, you may be pleased to vnderstand that there is a difference betwene one Ralfe Greene and Jno. Peirse each challinginge a promise of mariage from a maide servant left with me by Mr. Babb beinge daughter vnto a freind of his. either of them desired my consent within a weeke one of the other, but hearinge of the difference I gaue consent to neither of them, desiringe there might be an agreement first amongst themselues, or by order from your worship: the maide hath long tyme denied any promise made to Greene, neither can I learne that there was euer any contract made betwene them, yett I once herd her say shee would haue the said Greene and desired my Consent therevnto, but it rather seemes shee first promised Peirse and still resolues to haue him for her husband. for the better clearinge of it, I haue sent all such of my peopell as can say any thinge to the premises, and leave it to your wise determination, conceivinge they all deserue a checke for theire manner of proceedinge. I take leave and rest Your Worships Servant at Commaund