Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

This comeing to your hands by M^r. Whateley of whom D^r.
Bray gave your Excellency so hard a Character I can hardly expect your
Patience which yet I humbly pray) till you hear what he has to offer
in his own Justification He has now been att Maryland w^th. a designe
to meet with the Doctor but came unfortunately a day after his departure
He has now brought Severall Certificates from almost all those Psons
that the Doctor 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 your Excellency that I can much more easily believe that
that one man who informed the D^r. was mistaken (for the Doctor doth—
not Speak it of his own knowledge than that all the other persons—
both friends and 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 y^e. Age and that M^r. Whateley maintained
one of y^e. 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 managem^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 argument that the whoreing and
Buggery were not mentioned on that occasion with 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 Devines
urge the Same evill concequences ag^t. the Celebacy of the Clergy and y^e
Monastick Vows of the Church of Rome as to his other disputes on board
with the Doctor 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 and that Sometimes to too great a height of heat and
animosity: But as to M^r. Whateleys being usually on the Devills side of y^e
Question as the D^r. is pleased to call it, I can learn nothing of it except y^t:
they frequently Differed in Opinion upon the Subject of the Religions——
Societyes, w^ch. I do not in this Case think anything strange the best Men in
England to my knowledge being of Different Sentiments concerning them
There is only one thing remains & y^t. is that it is plain (the Cap^t. being a Man
much given to Drinking) there was a great deal of Drinking on board and
this being joyned w^th. another thing (Viz) that M^r. Whateley had much of
the Cap^ts. favour and Company makes it probable that he had some hand
in countenancing that excessive Drinking but when I consider how—
Natural it is for passengers to desire the Masters favour & Countenance &
how absolute those Masters are on board I know by experience that
Sober men are forced Sometimes for peaces Sake to Submitt and bear
many things which they cannot help wh upon y^e. whole matter
Considering the good Character my Lord of London gives of M^r. Whateley
the great trouble he has ^been already put to in this matter his exessive—
Poverty & great Sickness and good parts and Learning together with
the good Character he has both before and since that Voyage and the
Ample Certificates (he has brought even to give a good representation
of that most Suspected part of his Life I wish your Excellency 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
(having now had Some days conversation with him at my house) I
would be very loth to recomend him to your Excellencys favour
which yet I do not but with all Submission to your better Judgement.

M^r. Blairs letter to his Excy
in behalf of M^r. Whateley
ag^t. D^r. Brays Charge