Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

MS46.02: William Blathwayt Papers
[Francis] Foxcroft Letter dated April 16, 1691

I feare ere long I with many more, may be glad
of an opportunity of taking sanctuary under yo^r protection
We harden our selves in Rebellions, by every Instance
cautionary to us of our own case, & I thinke I am safe, when
I conclude our Seers drawe Incurragem^t s from every
report of ill designes upon the p^r sent state in England.
and some say openly that a 2^d Revolution is of absolute
necessity there. the mock Govern^r ([Quandum]) at New Yorke.
The proceedings ag^t him [illegible] occasions different discourse,
but the sume of all is, that it would recomend Gov^r
Slaughter to the wise and good men of the world to reserve
him for an Instance of the Kings [illegible] & money The
complications of this crime it seemes hath p[re]sumed his guilt,
being soe [like] our pattern, we canot but love our own
[Bratt]. from yorke your hono^r will have perfect acc^ts
of all motions there, as for us we canot understand Col
Slaughter haveing any businesse at Boston, and
are juggling together, & what [illegible] we are bigg with I know
not, time will bring forth M^r Danforth, and others have
comission to treat with the Indians at will to meete [a by]
for [few] agreem^ts next month, we have heard of noe
designes of our Enemyes as yet, trade freely at port Royall
we are alltogether void of methods at hand upon an
attack either by land or from Sea, and by meanes
of our bills of Credit or (vulgarly called paper money
^{for we love to be fingering Royall Prorogative)} our Treasury hath noe money to rayse a man, & because
of the former abuses put upon y^e souldiers. its to be
questioned that any will be comanded upon occasions,
we are more apt to rebellions then to act the true part
of a souldier. our nominations for ellections passed
yesterday M^r Stoughton runs high, the rest mostly
stands accordingly to usuall temper, soe I hope further
excuses of our Enthusiasticks will be prevented M^r Shrimpton is quite drop^d , Major Richards hath
gained upon the peoples affections, But I hope a's
Governm^t from England will heale us all w^ch I heartily
pray for. A Shipp from Lisbon brings an account
that the [pestilance] was in [Limbreck] soe mortall that
they had opened their Gates that any might goe
or come. Some say it is in the possesion of the
King, alsoe that his Ma^tie was arrived in Holland
I cannot ^yett get any certainty of it. S^r [Clandsley Shoile]
had taken foure french privateers of 100 men each.
I see a coppy of your Hono^rs letter to our gentlemen.
I presume it will prove a snare to us, for I am
confident we shall give you reason to tax us with
difficiency of intelligence. We Intend noe noe communications
with you, as any thing worth nothing offers. I shall
transmit the same to your honno^r who at p^r sent
[aske] leave to subscribe