158 President Leverett Concerning Shattuck

    [Cambridge, December 14 1708]

    Honourable Sir

    This Comes to your honour by the hand of Mr. Shattuck, who waits on you with his Son, who has Exposed himself by his unhappy fall.

    We have this morning past the Censure of our house upon him, which the honour of God, and the reputation of Such a Society obliged us to, Yet with great grief of heart under So humbling a dispensation of divine Providence.

    The yong man behaved himself with all the marks of a deep Repentance and by what he has Exprest both by Word and Carriage, I am obliged in Charity to believe, a sincere one.

    The Proceedings in the Temporal Courts with such person admitt of a great Latitude, and favours may, and, if I remember aright, use to be Enlarged towards persons that come before you, in the Manner, as I am informed he dos. I humbly remitt him to your honours favour and Clemency, as wel, as he is now gon from us, he is subject to your Justice. I am with great regards to your honour and with my humble Service to the Worshipfull Court of Sessions of the Peace.

    Your honours

    Most humble servant

    J. Leverett.

    If I don’t forget, the Penance for such lapses belongs to the Spiritual Courts, The Case that Towns or Countys be not Charged is the Special Charge of the Sessions according to the Course of the English Law. Marriage secures the charge.

    Corporation Papers. RC. Benjamin Shattuck, son of William, was readmitted to the College in December, 1709, and received his degree in 1710 “as of” the Class of 1709. See Sibley, Sketches (Shipton), v. 492–494 and CSM Publications, xv. 384, 387, 390. Leverett was addressing whoever was the presiding Justice of the Peace present at the meeting of the Court of General Sessions.