Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

This comeing to Yo^r hands by M^r: Whateley of whom D^r: Bray gave
Yo^r: Excell^ncy: so hard a Character, I can hardly expect Yo^r Patience (w^ch: Yet
I humbly pray) till You hear what he has to Offer in his own Justification.
He has now been at Maryland w^th: a Design to meet w^th: the Doctor, but
came unfortunately a Day after his Departure, He has now brought severa^ll
Certificates, from almost all those Persons, that the Doct^r: mentions to
have been present when he would have maintained that horrible position
that when a Man comes to 17 if he does not marry he must Whore or
Buggar: upon the Perusall of w^ch: I confess to Yo^r Excell^ncy: that I can—
much more easily believe that, that one Man who informed the D^r: was
mistaken for the Doct^r: doth not Speak it of his own knowledge;
than that all the other Persons both Friends & Enemies to our Church
should Misapprehend the thing; for this is plain that the Dispute was
concerning the best way of reforming the Debauchery of the Age & that
M^r: Whateley maintained one of the best ways for that purpose would be
to Contrive to have Youth early married, this being the Question, it was
very natural for M^r: Whately in the manageme^t: of such a Cause to
assert what they say he did (viz) that nothwithstanding all Laws to the
Contrary, if Young Men were not married at 17 or 18 there would be
whoreing: The word Buggery they do all affirm was not Mentioned
But if it had it appears to Me by the very Sequell of the Arguement
that the whoreing & Buggery were not mentioned on that Occasion
w^th a designe to Justifie either, but quite contrary to bring them in
as Absurdities that follow from the Delay of Marriage, much in the same
nature as our Divines urge the same evill consequences ag^t: the Celebacy
of the Clergy & the Monastick Vows of the Church of Rome. As to his other
Disputes on board w^th: the Doct^r: I know there is nothing more usual among
Schollars (especially where they have so much leasure as they have in a long passage
at sea) than to toss an Argument & that sometimes to too great a height
of heat & animosity: But as to M^r: Whateley's being usually on the Devills
side of the Question, as the Doct^r: is pleased to call it, I can learn nothing
of it, except that they frequently Differed in Opinion, upon the Subject of
the Religions Societies, w^ch: I do not in this Case think any thing Strange—
the best Men in England to my knowledge being of Different Sentiments
concerning them: There is only one thing remains, & that is that it is plain
(the Cap^t. being a Man much given to Drink) there was a great deal of
Drinking on board: & this being joyned w^th: another thing (viz) that M^r:
Whateley had much of the Cap^ts: favour & Company, makes it probable that—
e had some hand in countenancing that Excessive Drinking: But when
I consider how natural it is for Passengers to desire the Mast^rs: favour &
Countenance, & how absolute these Masters are on board: I know by Experience
that Sober Men are forced sometimes for Peace's Sake to Submitt & bear
many things, w^ch: they cannott help: Upon the whole matter Considering
considering the good Character My Lord of London gives of M^r: Whateley
the great trouble he has been already putt to in tis matter, his exessive—
overty & great Sickness & good parts & Learning, together w^th: the good Charact^er
he had both before & since that Voyage & the ample Certificates he has broug^ht
even to give a good representation of that most Suspected part of his Life
I wish Yo^r Excell^cy: would incline to Compassion, & to put him into a Parish
upon his Good Behaviour: If he proves otherwise than good, I hope it will
be no such hard matter to turn him out again. I am sure if I had not very good
hopes of him (haveing now had some days conversation with him at my House)
I would be very loth to recommend him to Yo^r Excell^cy's favour, w^ch: Yet I do
not but with all Submission to Yo^r: bett^r: Judgement.

M^r. Blairs Letter to
his Excell^cy. in behalf
of M^r. Whateley agt
Doctor. Brays Charge