I receaved togeather with others two lettres from your selfe concerneing the French affaire, and had I not hoped that yow should have receaved a generall answer from vs all longe before this tyme, I should not have bene soe longe silent, nor shewed soe much seemeing neglect, but being nowe almost out of hope of accomplishing that which was intended, I thought meete to present yow with theis fewe lynes. Howe vnpleaseing it was to mee, for to expresse my selfe by word or writeing, contrary to the apprehencion of your selfe, and other Friends, both godly and wise, whome I both love and honour hee that is the searcher of hearts knoweth, and howe farr it was from my will or intent, when I sett my hand to that lettre yow receaved,2 to cast any dishonour vpon your selfe or others I hope in tyme yow shall knowe, and be fully perswaded of. the trueth is, our aydeing of Latour was very greivious to many hereabouts, the designe being feared to be vnwarrantable by dyvers, as the case stands with vs, of which number I confesse I was (and soe still remaine) one, and though the busines was soe farr proceeded in when wee writt the lettre, as (for my parte) I had noe hope of stayeing the shipps, yet some of vs thought it might be of good vse to intreate that some cautions might be gyven to those that went, and they stricktly required to obserue the same, that soe the vndertakeing myght be preserved from sinne and the comonwealth from danger, soe much as the case was capable of, which cautions if refused, then to signifie vnder our hands, our not consenting to the proceedeing, with our reasons thereof. but for any protestation against your act condemneing it, wee never intended it, but frequently fully and expressly declined it, for the sending the lettre without those cautions and after the shipps were gone, concernes those to answer that 413did it, for my parte I was much troubled att it soe sone as I heard of it. what errors may be found in our lettre for matter or manner of expressions, (it being intended noe otherwise than I have expressed) I shalbe farr from owneing or iustifyeing when they shall appeare. this I can truely say wee were sollicitously carefull (according to the litle tyme wee had) not to write any thing that might be matter of iust offence, and I hope a favourable interpretacion of words, (our intencions being rightly vnderstoode) may free it from blame. Concerneing the arguments yow alleadge to warrant the designe, I shall forbeare to say any thing att present, not haveing either of your lettres by mee, but rather leave them to be answered by the Elders, whoe it is like will shortly visit yow vpon other occacions, and for my selfe I hope to waite vpon yow att the Court when wee may have opertunity to speake further about the same, and for those many heavy imputacions, which your last lettre chargeth vs with being cheifely grounded vpon the tyme and manner of sending our lettre (of which I had noe knowledge) I hope yow will see cause to ease mee of, as noe wayes diserueing the same, soe humbly praying the god of love and peace to preserue vs in peace and vnity, and this whole plantacion from wayes of sin and provocation, I remaine Your worships vnfeynedly to love and serue yow in the Lord

illegible Dexter demandeth 25li