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The sentence of Holmes, (the sentences of Clarke and Crandall were drawn up in similar language, there being slight variations in the accusations and the penalties.)

"Forasmuch as you Obediah Holmes, being come into this Jurisdiction about the 21 of the 5th M. did meet at one William Witters house at Lin, and did hear privately (and at other times being an Excommunicate person did take upon you to Preach and to Baptize) upon the Lords day, and other dayes, and being taken then by the Constable, and coming afterwards to the Assembly at Lin, did in disrespect of the Ordinance of God and his Worship, keep on your hat, the Pastor being in Prayer, insomuch that you would not give reverence in veiling your hat, till it was forced off your head to the disturbance of the Congregation, and professing against the Institution of the Church, as not being according to the Gospell of Jesus Christ, and that you the said Obediah Holmes did upon the day following meet again at the said Williams Witters, in contempt of Authority, you being

then in the custody of the Law, and did there receive the Sacrament, being Excommunicate, and you did Baptize such as were Baptized before, and thereby did necessarily deny the Baptism that was before administered to be Baptism, the Churches no Churches, and also other Ordinances, and Ministers, as if all were a Nullity; And also did deny the lawfullness of Baptizing of Infants, and all this tends to the dishonour of God, the despising the ordinances of God among us, the peace of the Churches, and seducing the Subjects of this Commonwealth from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and perverting the strait waies of the Lord, the Court doth fine you 30 pounds to be paid, or sufficient sureties that the said sum shall be paid by the first day of the next Court of Assistants, or else to be well whipt, and that you shall remain in Prison till it be paid, or security given in for it.

By the Court,

ENCREASE NOWELL."

APPENDIX II

Ertracts from the letter of Holmes to friends in London, addressed—

"Unto the well beloved Brethren, John Spilsbury, William Kiffen, and the rest that in London stand fast in that Faith, and continue to walk stedfastly in that Order of the Gospell which was once delivered unto the Saints by Jesus Christ. Obediah Holmes an unworthy witness that Jesus is the Lord, and of late a Prisoner for Jesus sake at Boston, sendeth greeting." After giving an account of his conversion, change of religious views and arrest by the Plymouth court, in connection with two others, all of whom were severely reprimanded and discharged without punishment, the letter continues

"Not long after these troubles I came upon occasion of businesse into the Colony of the

Mathatusets, with two other Brethren, as Brother Clark, being one of the two, can inform you, where we three were apprehended, carried to the prison at Boston, and so to the Court, and were all sentenced; what they laid to my charge, you may here read in my sentence: Vpon the pronouncing of which I went from the Bar, I exprest my self in these words: I blesse God I am counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus; whereupon John Wilson (their Pastor as they call him) strook me before the Judgement Seat, and cursed me, saying, The Curse of God or Jesus goe with thee; so we were carried to the Prison, where not long after I was deprived of my two loving Friends; at whose departure the Adversary stept in, took hold on my Spirit, and troubled me for the space of an hour, and then the Lord came in, and sweetly releeved me, causing me to look to himself, so was I stayed, and refreshed in the thoughts of my God; and although during the time of my Imprisonment, the Tempter was busie, yet it pleased God so to stand at my right hand, that the motions were but

sudden, and so vanished away; and although there were that would have payd the money if I would accept it, yet I durst not accept of deliverance in such a way, and therefore my answer to them was, that although I would acknowledge their love to a cup of cold Water, yet could I not thank them for their money if they should pay it: so the Court drew neer, and the night before I should suffer according to my sentence, it pleased God I rested and slept quietly; in the morning many Friends came to visit me, desiring me to take the refreshment of Wine, and other Comforts, but my resolution was not to drink Wine, nor strong drink that day until my punishment were over, and the reason was, lest in case I had more strength, courage and boldnesse than ordinarily could be expected, the VVorld should either say he is drunk with new VVine, or else that the comfort and strength of the Creature hath carried him through, but my course was this: I desired Brother John Hazell to bear my Friends company, and I betook myself to my Chamber, where I might communicate with

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