Hauing no opportunity last weeke to speake much with you; and hauing founde both acceptance and courtesy from you; and being in this holy and neere bond of communion in the Churches with you, I thinke my selfe bound in all Christian duty, to acquaint you with two things, which I shall commende to your wisdome and thoughts, especially hauing a messenger that I dare trust.

First, that many of Gods people did thinke that some of the Court were very sharpe in dealing with Mr. Hawthorne, and aboue that he deserued, if matters be well scanned.

Secondly, some haue also reported, that Mr. Hawthorne alledging that he tooke aduise concerning some buisinesse with the Elders, yourselfe shoulde reply to this effect, That his so aduising with the Elders woulde be to the ouerthrowe of you all.2 Because I am assured that you suffer in the minds of many for this, I durst not but lett you vnderstand thus much, that you make vse of it, as shall seeme good to you; and as I doe desire you will be pleased, to acquaint me with any thing that may, in the like or any other kinde concerne me.

Sir, my God is wittnesse (which is a greate expression, and to be vttered aduisedly) that I doe vnfeinedly wish your welfare and prosperity both spirituall and temporall, and that this my aduertisement proceedes from no other grounde. And if you knewe how many my businesses are and exercise about my owne hart, you woulde beleeue that I needed not make my selfe any newe worke, which I did not thinke God doth putt on me. But I will not now be further troublesome to you. My seruice and loue to your selfe and worthy yokefellowe, so I committ you to God Yours in Him to command

Memorandum by Governor Winthrop: My answer in the other side. I thanked him for his faithfullnesse. That I remembred not Mr. Hawth: matter, that I was sure I vsed no suche expression, it being against my Iudgment and practice. I confessed that for a man to oppose the Iudgment 278of some Elders to the Iudgement of the Court openly in Civill matter (which might be the Case) was worthy reproofe, and I think likely I might saye something to that purpose. I desire him to produce my accusers that I might be cleared or iustly condemned. That if I heard not from him I would cleere myselfe publickly.

Your leter of the 11th of the 4 mo. I recaiued the substance of your whole leter to me falles into these 2 heads.

First will conserne your Church Covenant. this I aleged in my former leter as that which wos the princepale force with me, which you did not answer vnto, viz. That it doth remayne to be proved by the rules of the gosple, that any Church ever clamed power over their brethren remoued, more then over those that wos never in fellowshipe with them. Mr. Hibings promised, and I accepted, That your church Covenant should be sent, with grounds to prove this poynte. the other that yow answer tow, of the advice I had taken with Elders and brethren in the poynt, and of the consent of the maior part of the Church wos but subordenate to this.

2 head of your leter doth trench vpon the passages concerning Mr. Weelewrights Banishment. what I did therin wos in discharge of my conscence in my place. and trewley Sir to my deserneing whither yow did well or I, depends of the trewth of the cause, the way of souluation and Evidenceing therof, which Mr. Cotton and he affermed, and the rest of the Elders opposed, which remaynes yet controvered for ought I knowe. I well approue of a speech of one of note amongest yow, that we were in a heate, and Chafed, and were all of vs to blame. in our strife, we had forgoten wee were brethren not further at this present.

I wos advised by leter first out of the Baye that the governor, and the deputy, and other of the magistrates had adviced and incouraged the towne of Brantree to commence a sute aginest me after I recaiued a note from the Governor that it wos for a promise. I knowe no thing of it, in regard wherof I desire that the Plantiues may put in their Complant in answer and that I 279may haue tyme giuen to put in my defence, seing, for these Reasons I haue aleged to the Governor, and others, I cannot be free to come and plead my cause and seing it is according to what is practized in our Natiue Land, and the Courts of Justice ther established. I could wish that we, that haue liued 7 yeares in place of magistracey to geather might not multeplye greveances one aganest an other, but I shall not ade further therin I haue sent over the Berer Mr. Jer. Gould, who is desirous to confere with your worship about it. the Naragansets and Nantequits keepe constant wach sence Conectecute men touck 3 Nantequits. ther be 12 notorious murderers yet liueing 4 at Nantequite and 8 of them at Mohegen according to my best intelegence, whose names I haue the Nanteqets would deliuer vp their 4 but they would haue Ocas first deliuer vp his 8, that they may see its Justice the English seekes. With my loue and my wifes presented to your selfe and yours I rest yours