should be desirous y* lie would continue to be their minister and maintain him at their own cost & charge by a voluntary contribution your Excellency & the Honored Council would pleas to give approbation thereunto which we hope will neither be offensive nor prejudicial! to any person or persons under ye Liberty granted by our gracious Soveraign : your so doing will give encouragment unto us y' are settled in this province & an invitation to others or at least remove evill surmizals against ye goverment which too many in ye Neighbouring Collony are apt to entertain to the prejudice of his Majesties intrest in this province. Thus craving y® heavens assistance & direction to guide your considtations to y^ glory of God & comon good your petitioner Remaines at your service,

1688. John Peudden.

CERTIFICATE.

We whose names are subscribed doe testifie that the inhabitants and ifreeholders of Jemaica at a publick meeting call to treat with M»" John Prudden to be their minister June ye IQt^ 1676 did (after he had declared his judgment and proposed his terms) by a town act freely and firmly promis and engage to give unto M'^ prudden the accomodations wliich he now possesseth and a yearly sallary of fourty pounds to be paid to him or his order so long as he should continue in y® Town imployed in ye work of ye ministry and his fire-wood brought home free as specified in ye town registry. Furthemore we doe testifie that M^' John prudden hatli continued in this towne discharging the work of a minister according to the way of ye churches in New England the ffull term of ten years and more since the Town caled him & covenanted with him for his labour in y° ministry.