3             1666               69

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theyr name^s , to signify to you that theyr desire is  if it might be

that you would make a journey to Rowley as soon as possibly

you can , & send us word when that will be : We have not

proceeded to censure tho: your sin deserve , because we are willing

to wayt a while for your Repentance  coming to us, Hoping

that y^e meanes y^t may be used for your reforming may be more

effectuall by your being present  then if you were absent, & you

know not but some thing may be spoken by your Brethren, &

old Neighbours  that may have some Impression on your heart.

So y^t you may have no Cause to Repent your comming to us , Thus

desiring y^e Lord to grant you Repentance & Remissiō of Sins. We rest

                                   Your Loving friends

    Rowley. 5 (9) 1666.                     Samuel Phillips

                                             Samuel Shepard.

 

May. 6. 1667.  Being informed (first) by brother John Palmer, after called prooving a

Common Report in Town that John Hobkinson had gone without knowled[^ge][63]

of Parents Unto  & bin Entertayned by Hannah Palmer (daughter to y^e s^d John

                                                                    Pal[mer]

so farr that her affections were intangled, occasionning sick fitts &c: He

having to have Desired a promise of her, & soe obtayned & repromised

(mutually) on Condition of theyr Parents Consent , of marriage afterward

                                         1^st at his House

M^r Phillips & I, Did in private speake w^th Him (John Hobk:) (taking [it]

pro confesso) we informed Him of y^e Evill of y^e ffact  How many of [y^e]

Lawes of G. (y^e whole 2^d table) were y^rin broken / He sayd y^t he

Did own y^t he had sinned in so Doing — And desired pray^rs that God w^d

help Him to see ye Evill of it.   / He Confessed that . Brian Brown

helped Him to speech w^th her . & y^t Joseph Trumble had bin a midle

person between Hims: & Hannah.   that he had bin out ō nights unseasonably —

The Mayd [Hannah] did acknowledge it was her foolishnesnesse to doe

as she had done] Being in y^e Like manner charged, and ownned y^t Brian

Brown had bin Helpfull as above sayd –––– (being Examined alone at my House

We told them both that we would wayt some time to heare from them

whither God did give them sight of y^e Evill of it or not.

 

                                    Br:

May. 26. 1667. having received a Letter from Thomas Miller at Middleton it

                                        ^

what was sent in his behalf for y^e churches satisfaction was read

The Letter from Himself was this ––

 

           Middletown y^e 30^th April. 1667.

        Loveing & Deare Brethren

                        now

               I that am unworthy to be called a Brother, have received

                        ^

  your carefull Letter w^ch I finde was written Nov: 5^th last

  but nothing thereof was communicated to me till 28^th instant

  upon y^e Evening, upon consideration whereof as also my great

  sin of Adultery in me, & my many other sins w^ch I feare

  did provoke God to leave me into y^e hands of y^e Tempter