I thanke yow for your Two lettres now rechued by this shippe, and your favour in acquainting mee with such occurrence as came to your knowledge from our miserable distracted cuntrey, which is likely to become to great vassaledge if not vtterly ruinated, the King prevayling against the Parliaments Armies if god in mercie prevent it not. Wee are not free from distractions, and hartburnings amongst vs, by reason of our Ministers setting vp of an Independant Church,2 from which they will not bee intreated to refraine, vntill wee heare what that Synode in England haue concluded: but having layd downe their ministeriall calling, which they receiued by authoritie of the Church of England, haue preached against the errors and Idolatrie, practised therein, and gathered a congregationall church (as they call it) into which not yet aboue 35 persons men and woemen are entred into covenant who haue called mr. white to bee their Pastor, and the Pastor and Church so gathered, haue chosen mr. Coapland and mr. Goulding to bee ruling elders, and all thus chosen haue elected their deacons and entend to choose wydowes when they fall. The ruling Elders notwithstanding they haue laid downe their ministerie yet exercise their guifts in some places of the Island, but neither baptize the children, nor administer the sacrament of the Lords supper but the pastor only to such are within the pale of their church. here are no papists amongst vs, nor any popistie affected, 494but wee think it very strange, that one man having beene so zealous for the Ceremonies of the Church of England, should so suddenly cry them downe, and sett vp a discipline of his owne for hee hath professed not to follow the discipline, either of the Church of old England, or of new England, nor of Scotland, nor of Geneua, but only the rule of Jesus Christ, which I will neuer receiue from the Authoritie of one mans exposition, much doubting of the truth of his revelations in that behalfe. Tis true that by their instigation, wee haue lately had a great change of our publicke officers amongst vs, and I am confident, at the Arryvall of our London shippe, wee shall haue the tide turne, and the winde blowe the contrary way to their expectacion. Wee are assured of a new Governour from England, and of Sir John Hothams and his Ladies comming hither with mr. Waller, an eminent gentleman sometimes of the lower house of Parliament who (wee heare) are bannished to theis Islands, for some offences committed of which I am ignorant, but surely they will not come without ministers, if which doe concurre with ours for their Independant Church, I will beleeue that mr. Edwards was ill advised to write against such a Church, and dedicate it to the parliament, who caused it to bee printed and published,3 which I haue seene, and so well approue of that I will neuer Joyne with an independant church whilst I liue. I will not trouble yow with their vncharitable censures, against all such as Joyne not with them in their Church covenant. but doe patiently awayt the yssue of mr. whites speeches, when hee began this noveltie vizt. That wee should bee patient and see the end, for if it were of god it would stand if not it would fall, which I lyked well and doe awayt the yssue in that kinde. I will not bee further Troublesome at present, but pray you to accept of 100 lymons and so many orenges, which I haue shipped for yow and as many more with yours for my much esteemde frend Mrs. Ames. Intreating that my bouldness with you herein bee not offensiue to yow: so concludes your very loving frend and ready servant in the Lord