Whereas there is one Walter Allen brother in law to mr. Cutting Come ouer From berrye in old England hether this yeere being lisenced by your Worshipp to live in this Jurisdiccon; and hath bought a lott of one in our towne; the men deputed by our freemen to order theire affaires hearing of some scandalous reports of him and that he had no lisence to recyde heere wee sent for him to know, whether those reports were true or no viz. whether within Five yeeres past he had two bastards the one by a mayd the other by another woman acording to the report of his brother in lawe Goodman Warde of Layford and who affirmed to a brother of our Church that so he had and that he Came ouer hether becawse he Could no longer abide in berrye: he Confessed that he had one bastard but denyed the other afirming that he hoped he had made his peace with god therefore and doughted not but he Could give sufficient of testimony of his Conversacon since that time answerable to such profession of Repentance by mr. Ayres of Watertowne; the towne therefore remembring the law made in may 1637: and Considering the godly intents thereof which was as well to keepe out such whose Lives were publickely prophane and scandalous as those whose iudgements were Corrupt Least by the one the Comfortable societye of godes people might be disturbed and by the other the iudgements of god procured for the preventing of which it pleased the Lord to moove your hartes to enact this Lawe, the towne therefore Considering the premises desired me to signifye vnto your worshipp what they knew in this particuler thereby mani­98festing their faithfullnes in discouering of any thing which as they Conceave might tend to the nullifying of such a wholesome Lawe as also to desire your worshipp by a word or two at your Leisure and pleasure, that they may vnderstand thereby what satisfaccion your Worshipp hath or may receave herein of mr. Ayres For encouragement to receave him or elce For our orderly reieccon of him. Thus with the remembrance of myne and my wifes humble services remembred vnto your worshipp as also vnto your wife with our many humble thankes For all the manifestacons of your Love vnto vs desiring the Lord of heaven to encrease in yow such abillityes as whereby yow may be enabled to dischardge the place whereto he hath Called yow, to the Comforting of yourselfe and the people ouer whom the Lord hath sett yow Committing yow to his holy proteccon and remaine Your Worshipps Lovinge freind to thvtmost of his poore power to be Commanded

Wee the Inhabitants of Aggaam vpon Quinetticott taking into concideration the manifold inconveniences that may fall vpon vs for want of some fitt magistracy amongst vs: Beinge now by Gods providence fallen into the line of the Massachusets Jurisdiction, and it beinge farr off to repayre thither in such cases of Justice as may often fall out amonge vs: doe therfore thinke it meet by a generall consent and vote to ordayne (till wee receave farther directions from the Generall Court in Massachusets Bay) Mr. William Pynchon to execute the office of a Magistrate in this our Plantation of Aggaam viz: To give oathes to Constables or millitary officers to direct warrants both process executions and attachments, to heare and examine misdemeanors, to depose witnesses, and vppon profe of misdemenors to inflict corporall punishment, as whippinge, stockinge, binding to the peace or good behaviour, and in some cases to require suirtyes, and if the offence require to committ to prison to committ dilinquents to the charge of some fitt person or persons till Justice be satisfyed. Alsoe in tryall of actions for debte or trespass to give oathes, direct Juryes, depose witnesses, take verdicts, and keepe records 99of verdicts, Judgements, executions: and what ever else may tend to the kings peace, and the manifestation of our fidelity to the Bay Jurisdiction; and the restrayning of any that shall violate Gods lawes: or lastly what soe ever else may fall within the power of an assistant in the Massachusett.

It is alsoe agreed vpon by a mutuall consent that in case any action of debte, or trespass be to be tryed, seinge a Jury of 12 persons fitt cannot be had at present amonge vs, that 6 persons shall be esteemed and held a sufficient Jury to try any action vnder the some of ten Pownds, till we shall see cause to the contrary, and by common consent shall alter this nomber of Jurers or shall be other wise directed from the Generall Court in the Massachusetts.