I make bold in theese few lines to open my mind I have received this inclosed from Mr. Nowell To which I answeare as in gods presence that the business he writes to me off I cann say little off to give it in as matter off Certaintie, that my sayings should be matter off evidence For it is neare 2 yeares or more since that the young woman did make her relation to me, and the young woman is now dead, about ½ a yeare since or more and her brother to whome I suppose she spake as much too as either to my wife or selfe is with you, at Wamouth I meane and her husband that married her and therefore I thinke this Labour might have beene saved, and the greate noise that is about the Country that Mr. Parker, our minister, is sente for by a warrante (and how savorie that will proue to me or to the ghospell I referr it to your selfe for I cannot tell every man the occasion, and a fame is not easily silenced but to soe many as I speake with I cannot but open it). It troubled me when I saw this enclosed for two causes First, in regard the person that I suppose declared it to you I only propounded it too as a matter off secrecie, wherein I desired a little advice And my trust is not answeared. And 2d in regard the thing at the worst is but a heare say from one partie and the Fellow denied it stiffly then, and shee is now dead. And all that I cann say or my wife about it is that he proferd uncleaness to her and this shee complained not off to me but from my wife I hard it accidentally, and examined the mayd, and to my apprehensions found it not worthy off Complaint because there were but hir affirmations some weekes or months after the uncleane passages one his parte And his deniall 462strongly but to avoid the occasion for the time to come, I forwarned him off my howse unless occasion cald him thither. And For any Circumstances one one hand or the other I dare not neither my wife speake one oath. Now Good Sir what other jealousies that either you or the Courte should have off me, that either my selfe or wife would countenance sin by concealing this person, I know not only nakedly I have opened what I know or my wife only this warrant implies blame but what ground yet I see it not I wish I may For I ame off this mind, that I love not to trouble Courte and Country without I see god going before me in some plain testimonie unless it be in case off Bloud or some notorious crime which is unnaturall, And then I desire my evidence to be cleare then for things revealed belong to me to publish (but I will not be too bold). This warrant I heare were followed by wilson with greate violence as some such matter as though it had concerned my life or at Least the welfare off the place where yet I live, and this I were told, they wonderd what the business ment. I had thought that our depositions might haue served in criminall matters, For shee then were a mayd. This is a greater thing is to me then any thing that ever befell me in new England this many yeares considering the employment I ame now vppon And I had thought that I might have beene accounted soe faithfull to god and this state that enquirie might first have beene made before it should have beene positively required off me my personall presence, and wife and Boy: What he cann say I yet know not because I have not yet spoken with him because I were at the Ile off Shoules when the warrant came (and yet ame with my wife) and that late one the 5th or 6th day at night the Last weeke I had this sente over to me as matter off greate Concernement which I conceive not soe much. But pardon my weakness, For my trouble is much about it not soe much For my selfe, if my hearte deceive me not But For the poore people among whome I live, To whome I ame in my spirit deepely Engaged and therefore doe earnestly Beg that For the business betweene Dover and them If it be alterd it might be vppon apparente cleare ground For such is there weakness that they say that they sshall not put much Confidence in the orders off the Generall Courte if it be altered and that chandge mostly argues infirmitie. And make this account off further trouble, For there necessitie cals for it the other certainly doth not But however I could earnestly wish that it might be concluded now if it may be for my parte For it fills the peoples hearts full of trouble that we cann goe one with noe business for ordering off other affairs And For there votes being refused vppon what ground I know not therefore I cannot speake to it Only I ever conceived them to be absolute Free men and to have there votes in the Choise off all officers by the Last order made concerning them, but more I 463suppose we shall here therefore I leave it For presente thus with my respect and service to the Governour your selfe Mr. Nowell your Sonn I Leave you and your more serious Affaires to the Lord able to councell you and rest Yours to my utmost in any service For you and the Country