The severall reports of your sick condition since I came home have bene so divers that I cannot tell wether my feares or my hopes of your recovery have been the greatest.2 Though when I came from you, your phisick had wrought so kindly made mee scarce to doubt of the best effects. My truest love makes mee feare what my best hopes would willinglye carry mee through, especially when I consider the further imployment the Lord hath yet for you heere amongest his people. When the worst tidings come I am yet comforted in this that hee that giveth both health and salvation to his people, heareth in heaven, and is overcome by his poore wrestlers here on Earth. Such thoughts I have had of Gods dealings with you, and with us all in visiting you at present, and what his meaning might be therein; But his thoughts are aboue our thoughts, and hee is onely wise. Sure I am he will doe that which shall be for the glory of his owne name, the true comfort 30and the good of his people. We have had many former experiences of Gods great mercies unto us in divers great deliverances since we came over, and why might we not expect that mercy also, even your deliverance from death. Surely it was not our worthynes that procured the former, and I still hope that our unworthiness (though it might Justly) shall not bereaue us of this latter: Hee that raised up Lazarus can (why shall I not say will?) also restore you unto us: Meethincks when I loock upon all things as they now are amongst us, I might be confident herein, witch the Lord in mercie graunt if it stand with his good pleasure.

I longe to see you, and would 'er this have bene with you, could I have conceaved myself to be any way usefull to you, and would how ever had not Mr. Peters illness onely detayned mee, for hee hath bene very ill. But I hope the worst is past, though hee be as sick in his thoughts as ever. We both resolve the begininge of the weeke to visitt you. In the meane while I commend and commit you into the armes of our deare and loving father the God of all our consolation, health and salvation beseeching him to make your Bed for you in your sickness, to comfort you in your greatest trialls and anguishes, to strengthen you in your greatest weakenesses; to stand by you as longe as you live, that you may live longe amongest us, if it be his bleassed will, to his praise, and at length to rest with him for ever in glorie, for the Lord Jesus Christ his sake amen amen. Yours truelie whiles I live

Blessed be the Father of Spirits in whose hand our breath and wayes are that once more I may be bold to salute you and congratulate your returne from the brinck of the pit of Rottennes! What is man that thou shouldest visit him and trie him etc. Job 7th: You are put of to this tempestuous Sea againe, more stormes await you, the good Lord repaire our leakes, fresh vp the gales of his blessed Spirit steadie our Course by the Compasse of his owne Truth reskue vs from all our spirituall Adversaries not only men, but fiends of warr and assure vs of an harbour at last, euen the bozome of the Lord Jesus.

Sir you haue many an Eye (I presume) lift vp to the hills of mercy for you: mine might seeme superfluous: yet privately and publikely you haue not bene forgotten and I hope shall not while these Eyes haue sight.

Sir This last night Mr. Allen of Hartford and Lieftenant Holmes lodgd with me, and relate that Mr. Heynes or some chiefe resolved to be with you this weeke So that you may please a litle to stop till their Comming. Lieftenant Homes relates that William Baker who lay hid so long among the Monahiggens and Pequts, for whome he gave bale etc. was hid againe the second time among the same by Okace, but the Lieftenant by a Providence heard of him and returnd him to Hartford where he hath suffred for his much vncleanenes 2 severall whippings. This fellow notorious in villany and strongly affected by those wretches, both studying Revenge, is worthy to be watcht euen by the whole Countrey and to be dispersed from the Pequts, and they each from other according as I haue bene bold to motion formerly.

Sir, we haue bene long aflicted by a young man, boysterous and desperate, Philip Verins Sonn of Salem, who, as he hath refused to heare the word with vs (which we molested him not for) this twelue month, so because he could not draw his wife a gracious and modest woman to the same vngodlines with him, he hath troden her vnder foote tyrannically and brutishly: which she and we long bearing though with his furious blowes she went in danger of life at the last the maior vote of vs discard him from our Civill Freedome, or disfranchize etc. he will haue Justice (as he clamours) at other Courts: I wish he might for a fowle and slanderous and brutish Cariage, which God hath delivered him vp vnto: he will hale his wife with ropes to Salem, where she must needes be troubled and troublesome as differences yet stand. She is willing to stay and live with him or else where, where she may not offend etc. I shall humbly request that this Item be accepted, and he no way countenanced vntill (if need be) I further trouble you: So with due respects to Mrs. Wintrop Mr. Deputie Mr. Belingham etc. I rest Your Worships vnfaigned