I thanke you very much for your loue and liberality by Mr. Rawson you sent me more then I desired I haue 2 more earnest requests to yow, 1 That yow would please to advise throughly with the counsell whether it will not be of ill consequence to send the Court busines to the common consideration of the freemen.2 I feare it will too much exauctorate the power of that Court to prostrate matters in that manner. I suspect both Commonwealth and Churches haue disended to lowe already. I see the spirits of people runne high and what they gett they hould: they may not be denyed their proper and lawfull liberties, but I question whether it be of God to interest the inferiour sort in that which should be reserued inter optimates penes quos est sancire leges. Yf Mr. Lachford haue writt them out I would be glad to peruse one of his copies if I may receiue them.3

The other is that yow would not passe your promise nor giue any incour­163agment concerning any plantation att Quichichacke or penticatt,4 till my self and some others either speake or write to yow about it which shalbe done so soone as our counsilles and contrivalls are ripened: In too much hast I comitt yow and your affaires to the guidance of God, in whome I rest Your Worships in all Christian service

I am to repay it the latter end of the next moneth

But that I thinke it needlesse (God hauinge more then ordinarye fitted you for such trialls) my letter might tell you with what greife of spirit I receiued the news of that sad affliction which is lately happened to your worship, by means of that vnfaithfull wretch;2 I hope God will finde a shoulder to helpe you beare so great a burthen. But the little time there is allotted mee to write, I must spend in requestinge your 164worships Counsell and fauour. my father law Ward since his sonne3 came ouer, is very desirous that wee might sett downe together, and so that he might leaue vs together if God should remoue him from hence. because that it cannot bee accomplished in this Towne, is very desirous to gett mee to remoue with him to a new Plantation. after much perswasion vsed considering my want of accommodation heere (the ground the Towne hauing giuen mee lyinge 5 miles from mee or more) and that the gaines of Physick will not finde mee with bread; hee besides apprehendinge that it might bee a way to free him from some temptations, and macke him more cheerefull and seruiceable to the Country or church haue yeelded to him heerein as I desire your Counsell, so I humbly request your fauour, that you would bee pleased to giue vs the libertye of choosinge a plantation; wee thinke it will bee either Pentuckett, or Quichichchek, by Shawshin: so soone as the season will giue vs leaue to goe, wee shall informe your worship which we desire: and if that by the Court of Election we cannot gather a company to begine it, wee will let it fall. Wee desire your worship would not graunt any of them to any before wee haue seene them. if your worship haue heard any relation of the Places, wee should remaine thankfull to you, if you would bee pleased to counsell vs to any of them. Further I would entreate your aduise in this: the Towne gaue mee the ground (100 acres) vpon this Condition that I should stay in Towne 3 yeers, or else I could not sell it: now my father supposes, it being my first heritage, (my Father hauinge none in the Land) that it is more then they cann doe to binde mee so when as others haue not beene so, but range from place to place on purpose to Iiue vpon the Country. I would entreate your Counsell whither or noe I cann sell it. Further: I am strongely sett vpon to studye Diuintie. my studyes else must bee lost: for Physick is but a meane helpe. In these Cases I humbly referr to your worship, as my Father, for your Counsell. and so in much hast, with my best seruice presented to your worship, wishinge you a strong support in your affliction and a good and comfortable issue I rest Your worships in what hee cann to his power