In my journey thither I was informed of a proposal made by my Lord Cornbury & M' Vesey, namely to exchange with M"" Lockier of Rhode Island till the Bishop of London's opinion in relation to my bein-^- inducted to Jamaica should be known ; to wliicli that I might in the meantime be in a Tolerable Capacity of doing service to the Church, I readily consented ; and to this Proposaii was added the universall Plaudit of the Church Wardens & Vestry of Rhode Island that having been a place I had done some considerable service in before, for which I had their value & esteem but M"" Lockier seeming unwilling to the exchange, I hastened to this province to desire admission to the place I was commissioned to -- At my arrival I took all prudent methods to solhcit the Govern^ for his lavor &, countenance, as well as to Demonstrate my Innocence which I thus endeavoiu-ed to do -- First I shewed that the Calumny proceeded from the single Testimony of a mahcious Criminal 2"'iiy from tlie Testimony of the wretch not upon oath, & this I inform you of becaiLse the contrary has been invidiously asserted, S^iy from the Testimony of a Felon who upon her Triall would say any tiling of those who prosecute her, to render tliem vile &

2^-1 PAPERS RELATING TO CHURCHES IN QUEENS COUNTY.

ridiculous 4'hiy from the Testimouy of a most infamous Wretch, wliom I offered to prove Guilty of the \- orst of crimes ; on the other hand I endeavoui-ed to evince to the world how much I was injured by appealing to the Gentlem : of the best note in tlie place, who were at that time Intimate with my carriage & conduct, by Certificates of my virtuous conversation under the hands of Cap' Caldwel under whose command I then served ; by offering to procure testimonies suitable to my calhug from Boston, Rhode Island, & other places I had done service in ; by certificcites from Cap' Stein who brought me over ; & lastly that 'twas improbable, that if I had been conscious of any thing, that might incapacitate me from the Design of my mission, that I should have come over, at the expence of much time trouble & money, to have suffered such indignities.