my due respect being remembred to you: I heartily salute you in the Lord, giueing you humble thanks for your favourable aspect which 320hath alwaies bin towards me, (tho: of me most undeserued,) and especially for your late kind letter on my behalfe; for which sake, I was kindly imbraced, aboue the expectation of my selfe, and others, and am still (I thank God) loueingly respected amongst them: but not with out some hot discourses, (especially about the Ceremonies,) yet they all haue ended (through mercy) in peace: and for aught I can perceiue, doe prize the word, and relish it, dayly better then other, and some promise faire, euen in Mr. Vines his family. But generally they were very ignorant, superstitious, and vitious, and scarse any religious. Fre leaue they giue me to doe whatsoever I please: imposeing nothing on me either publikly or privately which my selfe dislike onely this, Mr. Vines and the Captaine2 both, haue timely expressed themselues to be utterly against Church-way; saying, their Patent doth prohibit the same: yet I for my part neuer once touched upon it, except when they themselues haue in private discourse put me upon it by Questions of their owne, For I count it no season as yet to go build, before God send vs materials to build with all. Thus being in some hast, I end, humbly craueing your prayers: and so committing your selfe and all yours to him, who hath promised to Guide vs by his Counsell here, and afterward to receiue vs vnto glory, in whome I rest your worships to command

Both your Letters I receaued, for which I humblie thanck you. And in answere to them both thus. I shall (according to your desire in the one) call the old planters together assoone as convenientlie I can. And we will recollect what the Lord shalbe pleased to bring to our memories. And with what speede I can I shall send it you. I feare it will not suddainelie be done because they liue at their farmes, but I will hasten it what I can.

Touching that in the other about Rebecca Cooper, the Lord knowes I haue alwaies resolued (and so hath my wiefe euer since the girle came to vs) to yelde her vp to be disposed by yourselfe to any of yours, if euer the Lord should make her fitt and worthie, and you accept of, which also I know Mr. Peters can and will fully satisfie you in from both our expressions from tyme to tyme. And that is our purposes and resolutions still if God hinder not. Now for the other for whom you writt.2 I confesse I cannot freelie yeald therevnto for present, for theise grounds. First the girle desires not to marry as yet. 2dly shee confesseth (which is the trueth) herselfe to be altogether yet vnfitt for such a condition, shee being a verie gerle and but 15 yeares of age. 3dly when the man was moued to her, shee said shee could not like him. 4thly You know it would be of ill report that a girle because shee hath some estate, should be disposed of so young espetiallie not hauing any parents to choose for her. Fourthlie I haue some good hopes of the childes comminge one to the best things; and on the other side, I feare, I will say no more: Other things I shall tell you when we meete. If this will not satisfie some let the Court take her of from mee and place her with any other to dispose of her, I shall be content, which I heare was plotted to accomplish this end, but I will further enquier about it, and you shall know of it if it be true. For I know there are many passages about this busines which when you come to heare of you will not like. But I leaue heere. The Lord our good God keepe and preserue you and yours blamelesse to the comminge and appearing of his sonne: And giue vs all faith hopefullie to waite vppon him who will doe for vs aboue what we can aske or think. In whom I ame Yours in true and heartie loue and affeccion while I liue