“My kind loue and affection to you remembered; hauinge not a convenient opertunety to see and speake w’th you soe oft as I could desier, I therefore make bold to take opertunety as occassione offers it selfe to vissit you w’th my letter, desiering y’t it may find acceptance w’th you, as a token of my loue to you; as I can assuer you y’t yours have found from me; for as I came home from you y’e other day, by y’e way I reseaued your letter from your faithfull messenger w’ch was welcom vnto me, and for w’ch I kindly thanke you, and do desier y’t as it is y’e first:  so y’t may not be y’e last, but y’t it may be as a seed w’ch will bring forth more frute:  and for your good counsell and aduise in your letter specified, I doe accept, and do desier y’t we may still command y’e casse to god for direction and cleering vp of your way as I hope wee haue hitherto done; and y’t our long considerations may at y’e next time bring forth firme concessions, I meane verbally though not formally.  Sweete-harte I have given you a large ensample of patience, I hope you will learn this instruction from y’e same, namely, to show y’e like toward me if euer occassion be offered for futuer time, and for y’e present condesendency vnto my request; thus w’ch my kind loue remembered to yo’r father and mother and Brothers and sisters w’th thanks for all their kindness w’ch haue been vndeseruing in me I rest, leauing both them and vs vnto y’e protection and wise direction of y’e almighty.

  “My mother remembers her love vnto y’or father and mother; as also
  vnto your selfe though as it vnknown.

  “Yo’rs to command in anything I pleas.

  “JOHN CAPEN.”

In this connection may very properly be given another letter written at about the same date.  Punkapoag, the summer residence of Thomas Bailey Aldrich, the poet editor of the Atlantic, was a part of colonial Dorchester and one of the points where the famous John Eliot began his missionary labors among the Indians.  In the interest of the natives at that station he wrote the following letter to his friend, Major Atherton, in 1657: 

  “Much Honored and Beloved in the Lord: 

“Though our poore Indians are molested in most places in their meetings in way of civilities, yet the Lord hath put it into your hearts to suffer us to meet quietly at Ponkipog, for w’ch I thank God, and am thankful to yourselfe and all the good people of Dorchester.  And now that our meetings may be the more comfortable and p varable, my request is, y’t you would further these two motions:  first, y’t you would please to make an order in your towne and record it in your towne record, that you approve and allow y’e Indians of Ponkipog there to sit downe and make a towne, and to inioy such accommodations as may be competent to maintain God’s ordinances among them another day.  My second request is, y’t you would appoint fitting men, who may in a fitt season bound and lay out the same, and record y’t alsoe.  And thus commending you to the Lord, I rest,

  “Yours to serve in the service of Jesus Christ,