Though my experience be but little, and my observance small, yet it cannot but second that which you say in the entrance of your letter: Satan is not yet weary of compassing the earth to and fro: And he that is made vp of malice and hatred, cannot but show him self an enemy to the God of love, and the work of brotherly love, wherein lyes the life of all dutyes to God and man, and hence it is he turnes himself unto all shapes, to do mischeif this way, some time he vseth the lyons paw, somtyme he putts on the foxes skynn as the proverb is, somtyme he vseth violent opposition somtymes running circumvention, that he might ether openly or secretly blemish the vnity of the spirit, and eat asunder the syn­76newes of society the bond of peace. I confesse my head growes gray and my eyes dymme and yet I am somtyme in the watchtower: And if the quaere be Watchman what in the night as the prophet speaks, I shall tell you what I have observed, and shall be bould to leave my complaynts in your bossome, of what is beyond quaestion, and then I hope I shall give you a satisfactory returne of what you quaestion in your letter.

Before I expresse my observations, I must professe, by way of preface, 1. that what I shall write, are not forged imaginations and suppositions coyned out of mens conceits, but that which is reported, cryed openly, and caryed by sea and land: 2ly: my ayme is not at any person, nor intendment to charge any particular with you: because it is the common trade that is driven amongest multitudes with you, and with which the heads and hearts of passengers come loaded hither and that with greif and wonderment: And the conclusion which is aymed at from these reproaches and practises is this, that we are a forlorne people not worthy to be succored with company, and so neyther with support.

I will particularize: If inquiry be, what be the people at Conitticut: The reply is Alas poore rash headed creatures, they rushed them selves into a warr with the heathen, and had not we reskued them at so many hundred charges; they had been vtterly vndone. In all which you know ther is not a true sentence: for we did not rush into the warr: and the Lord him self did reskew before friends.

If after much search made for the setling of people and nothing sutable found to ther desires, but towards Conitticut, If yet then they will needs goe from the Bay: goe any whither, be any where, choose any place any pattent, Naraganset Plymmouth, only goe not to Conitticut: we heare and beare.

Immediatly after the wynter, because ther was likelyhood multitudes would come over, and least any should desire to come hither: then ther is a lamentable cry raysed, that all ther cowes at Conitticut are dead, and that I had lost myne, and only one left, and that was not likely to live (when I never had but eight, and they never did better then the last wynter) we hear still and bear.

And least happily some men should be encoraged to come, because of my subsistence or continuance here, then the rumor is noysed, that I am weary of my station, or if I did know whither to goe, or my people what way to take, we would never abyde: whereas such impudent forgery is scant found in hell: for I professe I know not a member in my congregation, but sitts downe well apayd with his portion, and for my self I have sayd what now I write, if I was to choose I would be where I am.

But notwithstanding all this, the matter is not sure, and ther is some feare that some men will come towards Conitticut when shipps come over, ether some have related the nature of the place, or some freinds invited them, and therfore care must be taken and is by this generation, assoone as any shipp arrives: that persons hast presently to board them, and when no occasion is offered, or quaestion propounded for Conitticut, Then ther pity to ther countrymen is such, that they cannot but speak the truth: Alas do you think to goe to Conitticut, why do you long to be undone. if you do not, blesse yourself from thence: ther vpland will bear no corne, ther meddowes nothing but weeds, and the people are almost all starved: Still we heare and beare.

But may be these suddayne expressions will be taken as words of course and therfore vanish away when once spoken: Let it therfore be provided that the Innkeepers intertayne ther guests with invectives agaynst Conitticut, and those are set on with the salt, and goe of with the voyder: If any heare, and stay: then they be welcomed, but if these reports cannot stopp a mans proceeding, from making triall, they look at him as a Turk, or as a man scant worthy to live. Still we heare and beare.

I suppose you are not a stranger only in Israell, nor yet wholly ignorant of these things, being they are not done in a corner, but in the open streets, and not by some frantick forlorne creatures, or madd men, who know not, nor care what they say, but before the shipps can come to anchor wholl boats are presently posted out to salute persons ordinarily with such relations: The dayly expressions of Passengers report these with much greif of spirit, and wonder such wretched falshoods should be suffered amongest Christians.

Thus in N: E: but send over a watch a little into ould England, and goe we there to the Exchange, the very like trade is driven by persons which come from you, as though there was a resolved correspondence held in this particular: As the master and merchant who came this last year to Sea-brook fort related even to my amazement, ther is a toung battell fought vpon the exchange, by all the plotts that can be forged to keepe passengers from coming, or to hynder any from sending a vessell to Conitticut, as proclaymed an vtter impossibility.

Sir He wants a nostrell that feells not and sents not a sesmaticall spirit in such a frame of falsifying relations to gratifye some persons and satisfye ther owne ends.

Do these things argue Brotherly love? do these issue from spirits, that ether pity the necessityes of ther brethren, or would that the work of God should prosper in ther hands? or rather argue the quite contrary: If these be the 78wayes of God, or that the blessing of God do follow them, I never preached Gods wayes nor knew what belonged to them.

I suppose these premises will easily let any reasonable man see what the conclusion must be, that men would have to follow. The misery of the men of Conitticut would be marvellous acceptable to such, and therfore ther is little expectation they do desire ther good, and would procure it, who are not willing any good should come to them, if all the inventions of falshood can prevayle: Worthy Sir: these are not iealousyes which we needlessly rayse, they are realityes which passengers dayly relate, and we heare and beare: and I leave them in your bosome only I confesse I count it my duty, and I do privately and publikely pray against such wickednesse, and the Lord had wont to heare the prayer of the despised.

I shall now addresse my self to endeavour your satisfaction in the particulars propounded in your letter: you warne of the enemyes subtilty, that he pretends our honor with the heathen, and that equall to, if not beyond the greatest, but indeed intends the ruyne of all: I know the enemy wisheth vs no weale, yet I would do the divell himself no wrong, though he never did good. For I had hitherto thought in my most serious observation, that he pretended and intended the quite contrary: We have constantly and commonly heard his Indian Emissaryes vent such reproaches as these: That we were water caryers, tankard bearers, runnagates whipped out of the Bay: but of such Honor and that equall to the greatest: we know no such thing: we owne none, we desire none, we heare none such given and therfore if I may iudge the divells pretences by his practises, I cannot but conceave he pretended and intended the contrary.

The things of greatest consequence are three:

1. That you vnderstand from Mr. Williams, that our Magistrates denyed to the Naraganset that they were tyed to the agreement you made with them.2 I suppose our Magistrates told Mr. Williams so much And to evidence the reason of ther proceeding, you may be pleased to take notice of these 3 things:

1. That the copy of those articles came so late after the warr begunn by you (for to my best remembrance they came in the wynter by an Indian) that we had little liberty to consult, nor safety nor certaynty to send an answer, nor did we see any such necessity lead us thervnto being in the preface we were left vnto our choice, to take or refuse as we liked.

2ly: vpon the first occasion that our Magistrates had, when they mett Mr. 79Stoughton commaunder of your forces at Pequoyt, they playnly and punctually denyed to be tyed to that agreement in some things, according as they had liberty and allowance from your selves: And this I suppose he ether did or should have certifyed.

3 That they then gave reasons to him, why they could not so yeild because they saw them apparantly preiudiciall to ther proceeding, and conceaved they were so to him then: And therfore beleive it, for you will fynd this to be true, that they pleaded ther owne priviledge because they were not tyed, and conceaved him disadvantaged because he was tyed to the Articles but left him to his owne apprehensions: For when they observed Myantonymo to withdraw him self and Indians, they wished Mr. Stoughton to presse him with his agreement, he tould Mr. Stoughton expressely.

These passages being rightly considered, a ready answer may be applyed to all your enquiryes.

“If ther was no article ther that could be preiudiciall: No present occasion of performance, why should they disclayme? Why was not this signifyed when the copy came to hand? Nay did it not imply a full consent when our Magistrates obiected to the Naraganset his former breach of agreement, and therfor our now denyall must be to advance our owne reputation and weaken yours.”

The answer will be in so many sentences, we could not at present signifye our deniall because safe and certayne conveyance was stopped, but did it with the first opportunity: we did then and do now conceave it preiudiciall to be tyed to them all, we had present occasion to expresse the reason of our non-performance of them at this tyme, to cleare our proceeding with them according to our former expressions and therefore it was not to advance our reputation and weaken yours, but to give a right apprehension of both, and did by our Magistrates acquaynt Mr. Stoughton with our purpose, and give reasons of our proceeding before we gave a deniall: The obiecting of the breach of covenant to the Naragansetts was not in respect of them selves but that he kept not touch with you.

In the 2cond thing you propound in your letter ther be severall things, the compasse wherof I do not so readily conceave and shall therfore take leave to set them downe, and expresse my present thoughts, because I would not mistake: Your words are

“A (2) is that having agreed to Articles of confederacy with you, the mayne end whereof was, that a certayne way might be established for the ending of all differences by a peaceable meanes: Now because ther was some small preheminence conferred vpon the Macheshusets, these articles were 80throwen aside, a new frame sent vs, wherin the sayd mayne end was vtterly neglected: the summe of all which amounts to thus much:

“1. Articles of Confederacy were agreed vpon:

“2. A certayne way propounded to end differences peaceablely

“3. These articles were throwen aside, and a new frame sent

“4. And that because a small preheminence was given to the Macheshusetts:

“5. The mayne end wholly neglected:”

A free explication will give a right construction of all these according to the naked truth:

1. When then you say the articles were agreed vpon: you cannot meane that they were concluded and established, for that was beyond the place and power of any that were at that consultation, but being by your self propounded, heard and attended by vs, it was agreed by consent on all hands, that they should be tendered to the consideration of the state with you, and of the magistrates and people with vs, and a return should agayne be made for a finall conclusion in that behalf, according to the ould rule quod ad omnes spectat, ab omnibus debet approbari: It being left to each partyes liberty to explayne or except.

Answerable to this determination the people here according to ther meannesse, were studious to take them into serious consideration and returned a comly account vnto you by ther Commisshoners.

In which account, all the explications they gave of the five first Articles for the clearing of each others apprehension, found easy approbation, being no more but the meaning of the Articles cleared.

The sixt Article wherin all the difficulty lay, vpon debate, in the issue appeared, by the ioynt iudgment of your court and our commissioners to exceed much the lymitts of that equity which is to be looked at in all combinations of free states: And were it not but that I do suppose the reasons then propounded, gave in vndeniable evidence that way: In my poore thoughts I have imagined, that it would not be difficult to demonstrate, that the meanes therin propounded to end differences, and to make and mayntayne peace would marvellously misse the end, in both: But it being, by the ioynt iudgment of all concluded, that it answered not a rule of equity, Another way that was subiect to lesse exception, and so in likelyhood to breed or occasion lesse heart burning, was attended and mutually assented to on all sydes:

This being the naked cariage of the cause: How a serious consideration of articles propounded in a way of love, and a rationall account given of ther 81conceavings, and that such wherin nothing was faulted, can be iudged a throwing away of articles, and sending a new forme: I confesse I see not.

How those meanes which by the ioynt approbation of all exceeds the bounds of equity and answers not the end of vnion, and treaty of combinations, should be an easy and peaceable meanes to end differences: I must confesse in the dymnes of myne owne apprehensions I am yet to seek: How in rationall charity I should conclude that the small preheminence of the Macheshusets should occasion men to alter ther apprehensions of any articles propounded, when the playnnesse and evidence of argument appeares to alter the cause even to the conceavings of such who have most interest in it: is yet beyond the retch of my reason, if I attend any rule I know.

From this seeming miscariage in these particulars you lead vs to looke vnto the fountayne from whence these and many other inconveniencyes will easily follow: Namely “to referr the dicision of a civill quaestion or controversy to wholl churches cannot be safe, nor warranted by any rule as you conceave.” I confesse you are now lanched into a depth, and I have little to draw withal: And as far as I can ether see or observe, ther be few disputes that ever came to my view, that fynd any bottome here An answer I suppose must issue from the right iudgment of the principles of state and church, as they are combined one with another or severed each from other, somthing I have some tymes thought of the poynt, but the full debate of it would be too large for an ordinary letter.

I shall attend only those things, which you seasonablely and pregnantly expresse in the cause: And here I fully assent to those staple principles which you sett downe: to witt: That the people should choose some from amongest them: that they should referr matter of counsell to ther counsellours, matter of Judicature to ther iudges: Only the quaestion here growes: what rule the Judge must have to iudge by: 2ly who those counsellors must be.

That in the matter which is referred to the iudge the sentence should lye in his breast, or be left to his discretion according to which he should goe: I am afrayd it is a course which wants both safety and warrant: I must confesse I ever looked at it as a way which leads directly to tyranny, and so to confusion, and must playnly professe: If it was in my liberty, I should choose nether to live nor leave my posterity vnder such a government: Sit liber judex as the Lawyers speake: 17 Deut. 10. 11: Thou shalt observe to do according to all that they informe according to the sentence of the Law Thou shalt seek the law at his mouth: not ask what his discretion allowes, but what the law requires: And therfore the Apostles when the rulers and high preist passed sentence agaynst ther preaching as preiudiciall to the 82state, The Apostle Peter made it not daynty to professe and practise contrary to ther charge, because ther sentence was contrary to law, though they might have pretended discretion and depth of wisdome and policy in ther charge.

And we know in other Countryes, had not the law overruled the lusts of men, and the crooked ends of iudges many tymes, both places and people had beene in reason past all releif in many cases of difficulty: you well knowe what the Heathen man sayd by the candell light of common sense: The law is not subiect to passion, nor to be taken aside with self seeking ends, and therfore ought to have cheif rule over rulers them selves.

Its also a truth that counsell should be sought from counsellors: but the quaestion yet is, who those should be: Reserving smaller matters, which fall in occasionally in common course to a lower counsell: In matters of greater consequence, which concern the common good, a generall counsell chosen by all to transact businesses which concerne all, I conceave vnder favour most sutable to rule and most safe for releif of the wholl This was the practise of the Jewish church directed by God Deutr. 17: 10: 11; 2 Cron: 19 and the approved experience of the best ordered states give in evidence this way: Salomons one wise man, and the one wise woman in Abell that delivered the city showes the excellency of wisdome and of counsell where it is, but doth not conclude that one or few should be counsellors, since in the multitude of counsellors ther is safety.

The third thing touching the businesse of Agaam, comes last into consideration, in which I shall crave leave to open my self freely and fully, that the rule of righteous proceeding may appeare in vndeniable playnnesse, where it is: The summe of that cause is to be attended in two things: partly in that Jurisdiction we have exercised: partly in the iurisdiction which at this tyme you so suddaynly so vnexpectedly take to your selves:

The greivance in the former: Is expressed by you in these words:

“That notwithstanding your desire to our Magistrates to forbeare vntil the matter was tryed, and the consent of our commissioners to the contrary: yet they go on with more earnestnes, which seems to cary an appearance of some violence of affection, and setled purpose of opposition.”

For a fayre and a full answer you may be pleased to vnderstand: 1: That I have advised with the Commissioners, and ther expressions to me were these, that they were so far from consenting, that you should take away the iurisdiction in Agaam from them to your selves, that to ther best remembrance ther was no such thing mentioned, nor were ther one sillable sounding that way in all the agitation of the businesse: when the Commissioners of other 83townes and amongest them one from Agaam, came to establish the iurisdiction which they now exercised, in reason it could not be ther commission, nor the intention of the townes to destroy ther owne iurisdiction, for that was to crosse the scope of the treaty, and overthrowe the combination for the establishment wherof they were now sent:

What ever limits should by mutuall allowance be agreed vpon, It was ever taken for graunted, and the nature of the treaty doth of necessity presuppose it, that the combination of the townes should be established not disannulled therby: And therfore vpon what ground you should conceave their consent in that behalf I cannot yet fynd out: For that speech of our brother Steele in private to Mr. Hauthorne affords no foothold at all to inferr such a conclusion: ne quid gravius dicam.

The act of Jurisdiction which hath beene exercised since your letter it was this: Ther was an inhabitant in Agaam apprehended in some misdemeanour, the towne sent the delinquent to the court to desire iustice, which they answerablely did and why they might not do it nay how they could avoyd it according to rule, It is beyond all my skill to conceave: For at the tyme of our election, the committees from the towne of Agaam came in with other townes, and chose ther magistrates, installed them into ther Goverment, tooke oath of them for the execution of iustice according to God, and engaged them selves to submitt to ther goverment and the execution of iustice by ther meanes, and dispensed by the authority which they putt vpon them by choice: Now when these men shall demaund iustice from magistrates so chosen and engaged, how in faythfulnes and according to ther oath they could deny it without synne: the covenant continuing firme on both parts, and renounced at this tyme by nether: It is beyond my compasse to comprehend, and vnder favor I do think beyond the skill of any man by sound reason to evynce: The magistrates who are lawfully caled, and stand bound by oath to execute iustice vnto a people, to deny the execution of iustice when it is demaunded by such is a greivous synne. But the magistrates were thus caled, thus by oath bound, and iustice was in this manner demaunded: Therfore had they then refused it, they had greivously synned: Yea taking it for graunted, that it is in each inhabitants liberty in Agaam to chose his iurisdiction (which is to me beyond quaestion): If I was ther an inhabitant, I should iudge my self bound in conscience to submitt to the iurisdiction of the river, and do beleive I should make a breach vpon the 8th commaund if I should do otherwise, because in so doing I should steale from myne estate, in that I should rush my self into needlesse and endlesse inconveniencyes: Namely to cast my self into that condition, that for a matter of five shillings 84(as the case may fall out) I should putt my self to vnreasonable charges and troble to seek for iustice a hundred myles of, in the wilderness: If Mr. Pynchon can devise wayes to make his oath bynd him when he will, and loosen him when he list: If he can tell how in faythfulnes to engage him self in a civill covenant and combination (for that he did by his committees in ther act) and yet can cast it away at his pleasure, before he give in sufficient warrant more then his owne word and will, he must fynd a law in Agaam for it, for it is writt in no law nor gospell that ever I read: The want of his help trobles not me, nor any man else I can heare of, I do assure you, we know him from the bottome to the brim, and follow him in all his proceedings, and trace him in his privy footstepps, only, we would have him, and all the world to understand, he doth not walk in the dark to vs: By this it is evident what the iurisdiction was which was exercised since your letter. The remainder of the letter is missing.

By these you may vnderstand that, wee doe not a little reioyce at any intercourse betwixt your selfe and vs. these bearers I pray bid welcome to you as any of yours should bee to vs. The Master2 is an honest godly man of our church, and such as you will haue much ioy in, wee hope: and I pray helpe vs by prayers what you can. These can informe you of the state of things with vs, and how it is in England and Scotland even sad enough. wee haue a printery here and thinke to goe to worke with some speciall things, and if you haue any thing you may send it safely by these. our churches flourish, and the more by some late familisticall errors intruded by Satan: and truly troubles wee must look for on all hands, but wee know whom wee haue trusted. The God of all peace bee with you and all your worke for him. 85our plantations doe reach a great way South and East, and I am perswaded will looke into the Indyes of which I would haue your opinion. Good Sir, bee earnest with the lord for vs, that wee may bee to his praise in Jesus Christ amen. Yours euer