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History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

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HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 67<br />

Macy did not appear before the General Court, as summoned,<br />

either from inability to do so or from the wish to avoid the<br />

wrath <strong>of</strong> his enemies, whom he well knew were greatly exasper-<br />

ated against him. He sent the following conciliatory letter,<br />

which he, no doubt, thought a sufficient acknowledgement in<br />

the case :<br />

—<br />

"This is to entreat the honored court not to be <strong>of</strong>fended<br />

because <strong>of</strong> my non appearance. It is not from any slighting<br />

<strong>of</strong> the authority <strong>of</strong> this honored court nor from feare to answer<br />

the case but I have bin for some weeks past very ill, and am<br />

so at present, and notwithstanding my illness, yet I desireous to<br />

appear have done my utmost endeavor to hire a horse but can<br />

not procure one at present. I being at present destitute have<br />

endeavored to purchase, but at present can not attaine to but<br />

shall relate the truth <strong>of</strong> the case as my answer should be<br />

to y e honored Court, and more cannot be proved nor so much.<br />

One rainy morning there came to my house Edward Whar-<br />

ton and three men more ; the said Wharton spoke to me say-<br />

ing that they were travelling eastward and desired me to direct<br />

them in the way to Hampton and asked me how far it was to<br />

Casco Bay.<br />

I never saw any <strong>of</strong> y e men afore except Wharton, neither did<br />

I require their names, or who they were, but by their carriage 1<br />

thought they might be quakers and told them so and therefore<br />

desired them to pass on their way, saying to them I might pos-<br />

sibly give <strong>of</strong>fence in entertaining them and as soon as the vio-<br />

lence <strong>of</strong> the rain ceased ( for it rained very hard ) they went<br />

away and I never saw them since.<br />

The time that they stayed in the house was about three<br />

quarters <strong>of</strong> an hour but I can safely affirme it was not an<br />

hour. They spake not many words, in the time neither was I<br />

at leisure to talke with them for I came home wet to y e skin<br />

immediately afore they came to the house, and I found my<br />

wife sick in bed.<br />

If this satisfie not the honored Court I shall subject to their<br />

sentence. I have not willingly <strong>of</strong>fended. I am ready to serve<br />

and obey you in the Lord. Tho. Macy."*<br />

* General Court files.

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