Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Ten days after y^e Ships arrivall I had yo^rs [per] Balston, and am thankfull for yo^r
intimacóns in y^e publique, and p[ar]ticular concerns, as to y^e affayre with M^r Nelson
I know y^w have from his owne hand rec^d his resolutions and desires, and M^r
Stoughtons, M^r Dudleys, and M^r Shrimptons advice, soe y^t I shall need to say noe
more on that subject, we often speake of drinking yo^r health in w^t came [per]
Captⁿ Craly, but cannot as yet conveniently assemble.

Our Gen^ll Court convened on Wednesday last, to consider whether to give their ag^t
in Engld power to answear to y^e Scire facies, which some Ignor^t rulers rep^r sent
to y^e people as a poore toothless creature, others to be Like those spirits that can
hurt none but those y^t convers with them, its supposed they have furnished M^r Hum
phreys with some little dilatory excuse (and on friday adjourned till Tuesday it
being believed the ship might in that tyme be gone) referring to more r[illegible] resolutions
by the next ship.

I hope y^w will seasonably assist my son in our N[illegible]^t and [Eⁿ] concerns, and hope noe
opportunity to bring those matters to a good Issue when Captⁿ fowls sayld home for
London. I was but just come home from y^e Eastward, soe must be excused for y^t
Omission, When there, I satisfyed not myselfe, with success in my owne concerns, and
a peaceable composure of all differences respecting p[ro]priety within my Circle,
But haveing assembled all y^e Saggamores in neer 100 miles Compass, after some expo
stulations respecting the last unhappy warr I declared to y^m y^e great power
& wisdome ^of, and y^e prudent c[illegible]y [illegible] by w^ch K C. doth Governe his
people and affayrs, and that Just and Equal regard he hath to [illegible] and p[ro]tect
all his subjects, as well Indians as English in their rights and libertyes, and insinuated
how acceptable an address from themselves with a free and ingenuous subjection
would be to his Ma^tye . They seemed accordingly to rejoyce in y^e occasion, and expressd
y^e great hon^r and adoration they and their ancest^r s always had for y^e Kings of Engld,
and gave great instances too long heer to insert, of their of their kindness to his subjects,
and declared they were by necessity, not willingly, engaged in the last and never in any other
war, ag^t y^e English, and that when y^e K[ing] should send p[er]sons of worth, and unconcernd
in former transactions and contraversyes, they would submit all matters of difference y^t
might arise to their determinacón, and p[ro]mised faithfully for themselves and to charg
their children to yeild humble and cheerfull subjection and obedience, and strenuously
to pursue all y^e Comands of the Kings of Engld, and all his lawfull success^r s, ag^t all
his enemyes, and to y^e utmost to endeavour to make his name and power great
among y^e remoter Nations of y^e Indians, This seeming sufficient matter for
an address, I followed their phrase as near as I could, and drew up y^e same [illegible]
which they cheerfully signed, most of y^e Saggamores p[er]fectly understanding
and being able to discourse y^e matter in English, This effected his Ma^tye and Royall
highness his health was drank with all y^e hon^r and ceremony, y^e p[er]sons and
place were Capable of, afterwards I p^r sented the six Chiefe Saggamores y^t signd
y^e address with six double [Laced] Red Coats ^{and as many fine shirts} w^ch they Joyfully accepted and
put on as his Ma^tyes livery, To ye 6 more of inferior [Rancke], I gave six Coates
of y^e same Cloath single [laced] ^{& six shirts} to rest of y^e men, whom y^e Saggamores called
their souldiers, I gave Duffall Coats, Knives, powder, Tobacco, &c to y^e Women &
Children Counterfeit jewels bracelets, beads, and other Toyes, and Dispersed to
their Cooks bread, corne, Mutton, Porke, fruite, sug^r , wine and strong water with
which They merrily feasted their whole camp and expresd soe great satisfacón
in thes p[re]sents and treats that they importund me to rebuild and
come myselfe however to p[ro]cure some of King C: his men as their phrase
is and my friends to settle a towne at [Posepscot] w^ch indeed is a most pleas^t
and Comodius Situacón (onely something barren) for a towne or City
I answered them as soone as I had his Majestyes Leave, and ord^r s,
which I hoped for y^e next spring I would Indeavour a Settlement [illegible]
but in y^e interim told them I darst not enterprise any settlem^t [illegible] his
Ma^tye being about to take all N E: under his Imediate Governm^t and
supposed he would noe more p[er]mit his subjects to Scatter and settle from
themselves soe loosely as formerly, but in such towns and order, as that may
they might be able to defend themselves, and assist or shelter their Indian
friends, in case of any Invasion. The address I sent to my son by Captn.
[fowls], a Duplicate signd by the same hands I keep by me for his
Ma^tys order for a Testimony ag^t them if they should ever be drawne to
any desertion. These are y^e most powerfull, politick, warlike and numerous
nation of Indians, since y^e Narragansett are broken, and influence and steer
all others that inhabit y^e English plantations, or Collonys, and in regard
noe Instrum^t or ceremony of subjection to y^e English crowne, hath been
taken that I can heare of, I thought it now high tyme, especially upon y^e
consideracón that Monns^r De La Bar, y^e french Gen^ll at Canada was
already upon his March ag^t y^e Maguas, or Mohawks with 1500 French &
intended for his assistance a Levy of 2500 Indians, and his Salvages
haveing intimate correspondence with the Andross [Caguns], I thought
it the English Interest to keep them unconcerned and ready for y^e Kings
Comands, and service in case y^e french success ag^t y^e Maguas or other
Indians in Amity with us should require. I was alsoe Induced hereto from
good information that sundry inland Indians that inhabit about sixty miles
from Hadley neer y^e head of Conecticot River and within y^e Massachusets
lyne came to Hadley or North Hampton and informed ^{the french} had sent to them
to purchase y^e Lands, but that if y^e English would buy them the french
should have interest, and y^t y^e English to whom this information, and
tender was made, answeared y^e Indians they would recomend y^e matter to y^e
Gen^ll Court in October, but y^e Indians being impatient of soe long a delay
and uncertaine in y^e end of the result then p[re]sently strucke up with y^e
french, who waited their returne, and That y^e french are fortifying,
have setled a towne, and are subdueing the Land there vigorously
The secureing and strengthening of that place, its supposed was as much
intended by Monns^r De La Bar in his expedicón as war with y^e Maguas
the country there being very ^most fertile, pleasant, and comodious, for planta
tion and Empire of any place between Albany, and Quebeque, the french
being fortified there, may easily Intercept y^e Albany trade and breake y^e
ballance of y^e Indian power by assisting some against other nations or
[necessitate] all to an union, and soe upon all occasions to serve his Chris
tian Majesty of whose growing power, and incroachm^ts , little notice is heer taken
the fears of regulacón, and care to evade y^e efforts of y^e Quo warrento
& scire facies makes all other matters inconsiderable

I send my son copyes of Monns^r De La Bars Com^ts and Instructions Monns^r [Lavalier]
Govern^r of L-acada, to maintain good corespondence with and p[er]mit y^e English
their form^r libertyes to fish and fetch Coals upon their Coast, he hath alsoe M^r [Lavalier]
to M^r Nelson to grant licenses pursuant to w^ch sundry fishing vessels this yeare
went thither, and other tooke licenses, and paid their acknowldgm^ts to M^r Nelson
or M^r [Lavalier], and haveing made their Voyages and p[re]paring to returne
Monns^r Borgier Leiuten^t to a new Created Company in france, without ever
publishing his p[re]tentions, or [power], or giveing any tyme or opportunity for y^e
vessell to Depart, and carry away their fish, hath surprised, and carryed away
eight or nine of our [brothers], and hath tho he hath had many opportuni
tyes, given noe acc^ts to our Govern^r of the Reason, I send alsoe a Copy of Monns^r
De La Bars to our Govern^r intimating his expedition, and inviteing him to
Consort

I pray let my son see this, and accompany y^w with y^e french papers to my Lord
Clarendon, to whome I entreat y^w to offer my most humble service, and most
thankfull acknowledgm^ts of his Lor^ps favour and goodness to my son, y^w may
comunicate what y^w thinke good of this to his Lor^p and let my son leave y^e
french papers with his Lor^p or M^r Blathwayt to whom alsoe I pray Comu
nicate and p[re]sent my service

The p[re]sent state of affayrs heer and some [petitions] I have ready (to offer to y^e Lords of
y^e Comitee for Plantations) for a Gen^rll settlem^t , and Improvm^ts and laying
a very hon^r ble and Just foundation for a future Revenue to y^e Crowne makes
me deliberate upon yo^r late advice, and thinke of Laying my little matters aside
and comeing for Engld, but y^e adversityes of fires, and floods, the unwillingness of
relacóns, and some bodily Indisposicón disuade and tho I could silence the two
first y^e Latter tells me y^t y^e expense and Detrim^t in my private ^affayrs will be greater then my p[re]sent
circumstance can sustaine, The unhappy fire when y^w were heer ^haveing deprived me of
some years Collections of Various Minerales and other rarityes some of w^ch
are not recoverable and those that are will occasion great expence and troub[le]
However I will Indeavour to gaine and give what Demonstracóns I can and
Answear y^e Difficultyes and Discouragem^ts before ^me with the hopes that some of my
Conceptions may bring forth something aceptable to his Ma^tye and beneficall
to y^e publique however ^{that my} Indeavours will be either from my Lord Clarendon or some
other noble minister ^procure [illegible] formally recomendⁿ [illegible] for dispatch in my private
affayres, and to some such office and Imploym^t heer, as may inable me in
some good figure heer to serve his Ma^tye , I begin my p[re]paracóns and by
the next ship shall advise my resolve, and progress, but desire y^t y^e expectacón
of my comeing may not abate p[er]secution in aything I am concernd in,
y^w will from Captⁿ [Walden] have an acc^o of the french ship now feer other
matters must be omitted w^ch were intended, but must tell y^w that M^r Mason
and people in his province, are under ye severe blast, I need not mencón p[ar]^t iculars
I believe y^w have and will have enough

An act ^{or declaration} of [Indemnity], and Pardon, especially to M^r Danforth, & M^r Maddox
by name, will I app^r hend be for his Ma^tys service and Interst hon^r , and it will give y^w
reputacón to promote it, y^w know what little reason I have to sollicit for y^e [ord^r ]
but must heap Coals of fire upon his head, Indulgence in matters of Religion,
and assurance y^t y^e Churches and congregations shall enjoy their ministers and meeting
houses and that in case of sedition or heresy ^{in the pulpit} the minister onely to be punished &
y^e people to provide another; confirmation of Propriety, his Majestyes gratious
p[ro]mise upon application to enfranchise Boston with [illegible] most priveleges as a Corpora
cón, and a [illegible] , will I app^r hend breake all factions, ballance all Interests and make
Regulacon easy. I am thankfull for your Intimacóns concerning M^r Johnson and
my son, To whom I have wrote my mind in that p^t icular. Let my hast
excuse all blots, scrawls, and omissions, and favour with yo^r Hand Comunication
by all opportunityes, if yo^r lett^r miss mine they will fall into y^e hands of
yo^r friend, S^r I am [illegible] and

Thes
for Edward Randolph Esq^r
at the Plantation Office in
Whitehall

Boston
15 Sept 1684
from M Wharton