Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

If I were not obliged by my indespensible Duty unto your Majestie which I have
allwayes inviolably observed and resolve to observe unto the Death I should
not presume (although in the most Humble manner) to make my addresse
unto your most Sacred Majestie imediatly unlesse Priviledged to doe soe by your
Majesties Royall command. But since your Majestie hath been gra
ciously pleased to committ unto my care the Government of soe consider
able a part of your Empire in america as this your Province of the Mass
achusetts Bay in New England my sin would bee Exceeding great if I should
not faithfully make knowne unto your Majestie in what condittion it is

Your Majesties subjects of this Province rejoyced exceedingly when they
heard the Joyfull newes of your Majesties arrivall in England to deliver
it from Popery and Slavery and to restore the lost Liberties of your
Subjects and from that very time reckoned their Happyness did [Comence]
They afterwards received with Cheerfullnesse those great favours your
Majestie was gracioulsy pleased to conferr upon them in the settle
ment of your Majesties Royall Government over them which put
an end to all their feares and Refreshed them after their many
afflictions and Perplexities for which, they did by their Representatives
in most Humble manner, Expresse their thankfullnesse unto
your Majesties. And doe constantly putt up their prayers unto allmighty
God for His chiefest blessings, upon your Majesties Royall persons and
Government; That your armes may bee allwayes victorious; your Reignes Long and
Prosperous, and your greatnesse beyond express
ion augmented.

There was therefore noething wanting to advance
your Majesties interest here and compleat the Happynesse of your
good Subjects of New England but the Conquest of Canada ; For while
that remaines a French Province, New England is subject to frequent
allarmes and must bee allwayes upon its Guard, The Industrie of the
French to disturbe its peace being such, that our care to prevent their
designes is a Constant worke, My Endeavours to Serve your Majestie
in that affaire have been with the greatest Dilligence and Fidelity
(Although not favoured by Heaven with the desired Successe) And from
the time that I came from Quebeck (Knowing of how great advantage
The conquest of that place would bee to your Majesties interest) I was
restlesse until I went for England and used meanes to lay before your
Majestie the Necessity thereof which your Majestie hath been gra
ciously pleased to consider of and Resolve upon. And if your Maj^ties
Royall Comands had come to mee this year according to the time
Intended by your Majestie I should by this time (with the Hazzard
of my life and all thats Dear to mee) have given Sufficient proofe
of my zeale to your Majesties service by attaqueing that place
a Second time Butt I had not the least notice or intimation
that your Majesties purpose in sending the Fleet under the com
mand of Sir Francis Wheeler and the Land forces therein into
America was Chiefely for that Service untill a Coppy of Mr
Blathwaytes letter of the 24th of February 1692/3 which was delivered
unto mee by the Captain of the Samuell and Henry the latter
end of July last informed me of it and that was but a few
dayes before the Fleet Sayled from hence for England Nor did
I receive your Majesties most Gracious letter Signifyeing unto
mee your Majesties Royall Comands concerning it which was
Sent by the way of Virginia untill the 24th of this instant Sept
ember which was nere two months after the Fleets departure from
hence, nor have I received any Tidings of Thomas Cox Esquire
of which your Maj^ties most gracious letter makes mention
I cannot forbear grieving for the losse of this opportun
ity of Bringing that place under your Majesties obedience
because I know how highly your Majesties Honnour and
interest is concerned, which, (next to the Divine worship
I owe unto allmighty God) I would Eagerly pursue and
by all meanes Possible Seeke to advance above all other
things in the world.

Since your Majesties Fleet Sayled from hence
for England The Indians That Border upon the Easterne
part of this your Majesties Province with whom wee have
had warr for four yeares past have Submitted themselves
unto your Majesties Royall authority, Since your Majestie
was pleased to Send mee hither I have constantly kept an
army in readynesse which upon all occasions hath attaqued them
without giveing them any respite and Destoyed their Corne
with whatever they depended upon for their Subsistance. I have
alsoe caused a very good Stone Fort to bee built att Pemaquid
and called it Fort William Henry That it may to Posterity bee a
lasting Monument of your Majesties Great Bounty and goodnesse
to this your Province when by the appoyntment and assistance
of allmighty God you became the Deliverer thereof with all
other parts of your Majesties Dominions from Destruction.
This is the utmost Easterne frontier Garrisson of this Province and
Sufficent to resist the Force of all the Indians in america and
hath Soe discouraged these from makeing their usuall attaques upon us
That utterly dispaireing of gaineing any more advantage against us
they have laid downe their armes and cast themselves upon your Maj^ties
Grace and desired an Everlasting peace which I did in your Maj^ties
Royall names conclude with them att Pemaquid the Eleventh
day of august last for confirmation whereof and assurance that
they will keep the same inviolably they have Delivered unto mee
three Hostages of the best Esteem amongst them according
to the Tenour of the articles, a true Coppy whereof I have Sent
unto the R^t Hon^ble the Earle of Nottingham one of your Majesties Prin
cipall Secretaryes of State that it may bee presented unto your
Majesties Royall Consideration and I humbly hope will bee ac
ceptable unto your Majestie for by peace with these Indians That
have soe long disturbed this Province it will bee in a better condition
then formerly to assist your majesties neighbouring Provinces
if there bee occasion although the long continuance of the warr
hath much impoverished it Notwithstanding this peace I have ordered
the Comander of the Fort to be watchfull and Give the Indians noe oppertun
ity to Surprise it by treachery And for the more Effectuall Security thereof
I most Humbly pray your Majestie to grant twenty great Gunns with
such a Quantity of amunition as to your Majestie shall seem meet
to bee sent to New England for that Purpose the Great Gunns already
Sent by your Maj^ties Speciall Comand are mounted there but the
Fort does still want the number beforementioned.

With Earnest desires of Serveing your Majesties interest to the
utmost of my power I apply my Selfe to my duty to your
Majestie and waite for the time when your Majesties Royall
comand shall give mee oppertunity to attempt the Subdueing
of Cannada or any other Service that may tend to increase
your Majesties greatnesse for the promoteing whereof I
shall willingly lay my Selfe att your Majesties feet to be dis
posed of as shall bee most pleasing unto your Majestie and
if I may find Soe much favour as to be made use of by your
Maj^tie I shall omitt noething that may manifest how
thankfull I am for what of your Maj^ties Royall bounty
and goodnesse I have allready experienced and that I
resolve by Divine assistance to live and dye

Dated att Boston in your Majesties
Province of the Massachusetts
Bay in New England the 30th
day of September 1693.

30 September 1693
from S^r Wm Phips to the
King

Recd 20 Dec 93

He desires 20 Great Guns
[new] for Pemaquid

No notice of S^r Fra Wheeler
too late

To the Kings Most Excellent
Majestie