Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

My last was from Boston where I spent time enough
to pry into some of the secrets of the Faction, upon my
dealing plainly with them in reference to their affairs
at Court, they told me that by the passions and precipitat
counsels amongst them, they had highly and deservedly
incurred his Maj^ts. displeasure and that if a Quo Warrants
should be brought against their Charter they would be
at no further charge to make a defence, but cast
themselves at his Maj^ts. feet, and sue for pardon and—
willingly submitt to such regulations as in his princely
wisdome should seem meet:

If his Maj^ty. shall think fitt to send a Quo Warranto
to M^r Randolph, and shew the Governor Magistrates and
General Court, that in one hand, and a Commission with
a generall pardon in the other hand, I have good—
assurance from both parties, the latter will have a
kind reception, without putting his Maj^ty. to any further
charge or trouble, they will swollow all that is in my
Commission. It is absolutly necessary that all the pre[a]-
chers are to be placed or displaced as the Governor
shall think fitt, for I find they have so great an —
influence upon the people, and so apt to disturb the
peace that I shall not be able to govern this small
province without that power.

I must intreat yo^r favour in, having my Commis-
sion of Admiralty enlarged, and to contain all the maritime Coasts from Kenebeck River in the
province of Main to Fairfeild in the Colony of Connec-
ticut. the better to secure the Coast and prevent
Interlopers which come from prohibited ports, and
that I be also impowred to Grant passes to all ships y^t.
saile from these parts. to secure them against the
Algerines and other Turks/which wil be of advantage
unto me/.

There is a Clause in my Commission for raising of
taxes and impositions for support of the Government
which I intreat may be declared in these words for
support and maintainance of the Governor and—
Government, because the Assembly would understand
the words only to imply for maintaining the Goverⁿ-
ment without having any relation to my Subsis-
tence, for I find these people very critical in all
words and expressions and are ready to take all ad-
vantages against the Kings prerogative as they—
have lately discovered themselves.

Here are severall Scots men that inhabitt here
and are great interlopers and bring in quantities
of goods under hand from Scotland. I desire M^r.
Attorney General his opinion upon the Act of
the 12^th. of the King. For encouraging and increase-
ing of shipping and Navigation Whither a Scots
man born can be permitted to inhabitt and trade as
a Marchant or Factor, they pretending a right therunto as being born within the allegiance of
our Sovereign Lord the King. which I humbly con-
ceive Scots men are not privileged by that
Act to exercise the trade or occupation of—
merchant or Factor in his Maj^ts. plantations.
Since my arrival here a Scots vessell was seized by/
M^r. Randolph and condemned and sold for 12.0^£ of
which M^r. Randolph will give you a more parti-
cular account.

Herewith I send you the Laws that I have thought
fitt to pass and putt under the seal. I sent you some
few others that you might see the nature of these beasts.

As to M^r. Mason's concerns he expected the
people would have turned tenants to him at his first
arrival. but he now finds the perverse temper of
Many of them who are influenced by Waldern and
Moody (whom at my first coming I was so charitable
to beleive they were better men then now I find
them) that without a tryall first had upon the
place. as hath been directed in his Maj^ts. letters to the
Bostoners, which these his stubborn Opposers doe
Depend upon before his Maj^ty. in Councill can give
a finall Judgement against them, and all this is
only to gain time. I am therfore of opinion y^t
an order be directed to me to admitt of tryals between him and the Tertenants as in the Boston
Colony, and then they will come to his terms rather
then be at charge and trouble to defend a bad title
and answer his Appeals in England.

As to other matters relating to the Boston^rs.
I suppose you will have an account from M^r Randolph
who is well acquainted with the humour of the
people, and will give you the names of fitting
persons to be putt into the Commission as a
Councill when his Maj^ty. shall think fit to
reassume that Government. M^r Randolph hath
gone through many difficulties and troubles
in his imployment, but that wil be soon over
if he have the same assistance in other places
as I shal be able give him when I have
my Commission of Admiralty enlarged.

The Assembly is now sitting and I much ques-
tion whiter I shall be able to dispose them to—
make any settlement for my support and to defray
the necessary charge of the Government. and—
therefore I judge it absolutly Necessary that his
May^ty. in power ^{my self and} the Councill under his signet and
sign manuall to raise moneys by Customs Excise
and otherways not exceeding One thousand pound
P ann. and herein the people will acquiesce.

N: Hampshire
10 Jan^ry 1682/3
From M^r Cranfeild
No: 11:
Rec^d y^e 10 May 83
[illegible] Barbadoos.

The Bostoners ready to submit
To a Quo Warr^ts.
Comission of Adm^lty to be
Enlarged;
A change in his Comission, for
raising taxes to be Explained,
Scots Inhabit^ts pretend to a
Right of trade
Quere to M^r Attorney thereupon,
the Laws
M^r Mason: Waldren &
Moody:
Order to admit of tryals
between Mason & Ten^ts upon
y^e [place]
The Assembly sitting/
Power to Gov^r & Councill
[raise] Moneys
Dupl Rec^d 28 May 82

N: Hampshire