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and open dorpes; but the English will scorne such vnchristian designes, except barbarous depredations from yourselves should necessitate retribution to the injured. You may be assured, if you proceed in provocations to constraine the riseing of the English colonies, they will not make it their worke to tamper with your peasants about swearing, but deale wth your head-quarters; which yet, if reduced to obedience to his Mae, may certainly expect thereby much more happinesse and larger immunities, without such imposure, then can be injoyed by them in the station wherein they now are. Mr. John Bankes is our messenger by whome we send these, whoe can further informe you how tender we are of effusion of Christian blood, yet cannot but resent with great indignation, if any malicious oppression shall be forced upon of dear neighbours, his Maties good subjects.

These animadversions are represented to your serious consideration, from John Allyn, Secret'y, in the name and by the order of the Governour & General Court of Connecticutt.

These, For the Commander in cheife of the Dutch Forces in the Manadus,p' Mr. John Bankes.

(7.) Letter to Gov. Leverett and the Council of Massachusetts; Nov. 21st, 1673.

The Council write, that John Bankes had returned from New York, (where he "was by Mons. Colve detained under restraint about 15 dayes;") he informs the Council "that the sayd Mr. Colve is a man of resolute spirit, and passionate, that manageth the affayres now under his power so as is not sattisfactory to the people nor soldiers; and that he is in expectation of strength from forraign partes, upon whose arrivall he seems to be resolved to subdue vnder his obedience what he can, not onely on the Island, but he sayth he knowes not but he may have Hartford ere long; & that on the arri vall of Mr. Vanruvin at New Yorke, the small Dutch ship called the Snow was imediately sent to Nantuckett, to bring home the ship Mr. Vanruvine cane thither in ;" that Major Gold arrived at Hartford, the day before (Nov. 20th,) and informed the Council that news had been received at Fairfield, by a post from Rye, that five vessels, supposed to be the Snow and four ketches in company with her, passed by Rye, on Saturday, on their way westward; two men sent from Rye, to Frogmorton's Point, "to gayne a more certain knowledge,' ""well perceived that one of the vessells was a vessell of about 8 gunns, which they concluded to be the ship Snow, which had fower ketches under her command, to which, at that poynt, she made signe to com up to her, and they came under her lee, and suddenly sailed away towards N. Yorke :" that "one Loveall, a Frenchman, who came from Yorke (as he relates,) Monday last," affirmed that the Snow had arrived at N. York, "and that she had brought in fower ketches, prizes, but what they were and where taken, he knows not." The serious consideration of the Council of Massachu

setts is asked, for what is propounded; "and if any preventive expedition can be contrived by yourselves, who are of greatest aptitude and potency, you may presume to find us ready for a proportionable conjunction and complyance," &c. [Col. B'ds. II. 19.]

(8.) Reply of the General Court of Massachusetts, to letters from Connecticut, of the 26th and 29th of November ;* dated Dec. 22d. The substance of this letter is given in a note, on page 216, ante. (9.) Part of a letter from Major John Winthrop, in command of Connecticut forces, at Southold.† [Col. Boundaries, II. 21.]

"They imediately shipped, but before they could despatch y tyde being spent, they anchored there that night; and in y morning set sayle; having an easy gale, and the advantage of the tyde, were soone vp against the towne; where he placed his squadron in an handsom order. And whilst he was preparing to land his men, and bringing all his great guns to beare upon us, Capt. Sylvester being then on board, indeavouring to divert his hostillity and prevent y shedding of blood, was desired by y Comander to deliuer their demand to myself; weh he was willing to doe; and it was in these words as neere as I can remember,-that he was come there to demand subjection to ye high and mighty States Generall and his Serene Highnes the Prince of Orange; and that vpon their surrender, they should enjoy the same privileges that were confirmed to y rest of y° townes; but vpon refusall, he would d[ ] with fyre and sword. As soon as [I received the] message, I informed the officer[s and soldie]rs thereof, who unanimously resolved to oppose them to ye outm[ost] hazard of their lives; whereupon I returned this answer to ye Comander in Cheife: "Yo" by Capt. Sylvester I have received; and in returne thereunto, I give you this answer; that I am here appoynted by the Authority of his Maties Collony of Conecticot, to secure these people in their obedience to his Mate; and by God's assistance, I hope to [give a good account] hereof; [and] you may assure yourself that I will receive you in y same condition as a person that disturbs his Mais subjects." After they had received this answer, and Capt. Sylvester being returned to his Island, they fild their sloopes with men, and made all preparations to land; we wee easily perceived, and were ready to entertayne them with 50 men, weh I placed a forlorne hope. His sloopes being ready to put off, and all things fit, he fyred one of his great guns vpon vs; but the shot grazeing, by the disadvantage of the ground, did noe hurt to our men. Having received his kindnes, I gave order to returne him thankes by fyring a peice of ordnance vpon him; but ye shot falling at his fore foot did him noe hurt:

• No copies of these letters, nor of the reply of Massachusetts to the foregoing letter of Nov 21st, have been preserved.

† A part, only, of this letter has been preserved, commencing (as above,) with the third page of the sheet on which it was written. The paper is mutilated in several places, and the words in brackets are given only as the conjectural reading.

whereupon he fyred two more great guns and his small shot, which fell thick but did vs noe hurt. Wee then presently answered him with our forlorne, and another shot from our ordnance, many of our shot hitting the ship, as wee could perceive, but know not of any hurt done him. Whereupon he presently weighed, and set sayle; and being litle winde, wee had opportunity to observe his motion soe far as Plum Gut; since when our scouts have not discovered any of them [in] y Sound. But I suppose he will [take up his po]sition neere, their [purpose being to] returne to doe us what mischeife [he may,] as he told Capt. Sylvester. I hope your goodness will excuse this rude relation, being hurried in contriving for our securety; and I am doubtfull unles y Councell will yet favour these townes with their continued assistance, that they may be unhapily surprised. I have now humbly to intreat some orders and directions for [myself] and hope y Councell will please to consider of some fitter person to manage this great affayre, wch I finde too heavy for me. This is all I have tyme to present at present, but my humble intreatyes to y Council for their speedy direction; to whom be pleased to p'sent my duty; and hope you will please to beleiue that I am,

Honor Sir, Yo' faythfull, humble serv',

Southhould, Feb. 25th, 1673[4.]

J. WINTHROP."

No. XV. (pp. 190, 214.)

THE PUBLISHED LAWS OF 1672-'3.

"The General Laws and Liberties of Conecticut Colonie, revised and published by order of the General Court held at Hartford, in October, 1672," were printed at Cambridge, by Samuel Green, early the following year; making a thin folio volume of 71 pages, exclusive of the preface and a table of contents, which are not paged. The laws are collected under one hundred and forty-seven titles, alphabetically arranged; and are furnished with full and accurate marginal notes. The title page and Preface to this volume, (copies of which are now very rare,) are as follows:

"THE BOOK OF THE GENERAL LAWS, for the People within the JURISDICTION of CONECTICUT: Collected out of the RECORDS of the GENERAL COURT, Lately Revised, and with some Emendations and Additions Established and Published by the Authority of the GENERAL COURT of Conecticut, holden at Hartford in October, 1672.

ROM. 13, 1, 2. Let every Soul be subject unto the Higher Powers; for there is no Power but of God, the Powers that be are Ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the lower resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist, shall receive to themselves Damnation.Cambridge: Printed by Samuel Green, 1673."

[Preface.]

To our Beloved Brethren and Neighbours, the Inhabitants of the COLONY of Conecticut, The GENERAL COVRT of that Colony wish Grace and Peace in our Lord JESUS.

THERM

HE Serious Consideration of the Necessity of the Establishment of wholesome LAWES, for the Regulating of each Body Politick; Hath enclined us mainly in Obedience unto JEHOVAH the Great Law-giver: Who hath been pleased to set down a Divine Platforme, not onely of the Morall but also of Judicial Lawes, suitable for the people of Israel; As also in Conformity to the manifest Pleasure of our Soveraign Lord the King, in his Majesties Gracious Charter, requiring and Granting Liberty thereby of makeing of Laws and Constitutions suiting our State & Condition, for the Safety & Welfare of the people of the Colony of Conecticut. We say the sense of these Weighty Inducements hath moved us, notwithstanding the exceeding great difficulties of the Work, Looking up to God for wisedom and strength to engage in this solemn Service, To Exhibit and take care concerning the sufficient Promulgation of such needfull Lawes, that a more full and plain way may be set for execution of, and judgement thereby.

Wherefore although in our former Initial times (while this Colony was deemed distinct in Jurisdiction from that of New-haven,) We contented ourselves with keeping our Lawes in Manuscripts, and in the Promulgation of them by written Copies sent unto those Townes who then acknowledg themselves to be setled within our Limits, But since by Divine Providence We and New-haven have agreed, according to his Majesties Pleasure manifested in our Patent, to vnite as one Body Politick: From whence and from other increasings of Plantations and Persons, together with the addition of more Lawes and Orders, an occasion is given to think it convenient if not necessary for further or fuller Publication, that so as well Forreigners occasionally comming hither, as the more settled Inhabitants, may have ready meanes informing how to demean themselves and observe.

From hence and such like Considerations urging, This Court have seen cause to put these our Lawes in Print, so far as they are at present prepared; Being willing that all concerned by this Impression may know what they may expect at our hands as Justice, in the Administration of our Government here. We have endeavoured not onely to Ground our Capital Laws upon the Word of God, but also all our other Lawes upon the Justice and Equity held forth in that Word, which is a most perfect Rule.

Now in these our LAWS, although we may seem to vary or differ, yet it is not our purpose to Repugn the Statute Laws of England, so far as we understand them; professing ourselves alwayes ready and willing to receive Light for Emendation or Alteration as we may have oportunity: Our whole aim in all being to Please and Glorific God, to approve ourselves Loyal Subjects to our Soveraign, and to promove the Welfare of this People in all Godliness and Honesty, in Peace, which will be the more establishing to his Majesties Crown and Dignity, and best Answer his Religious Directions to us in our Charter: And that pure Religion and undefiled before God, according to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, may be maintained amongst us, which was the end of the first Planters, who settled these Foundations; and ought to be the endeavours of those that shall succeed to Vphold and Encourage unto all Generations.

We need no other Inducements to lay before you, to bespeak your Obedience to what follows but that of the Apostle, 1 Pet. 2. 13, 17. Submit yourselves to every Ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, &c. hood, Fear God, Honour the King.

Love the Brother

By order of the General Court,
John Allin, Secrt.

No. XVI. (p. 252.)

CLAIMS OF GOV. ANDROSS, 1674-'5.

By the provisions of the treaty of peace between England and the States General, (signed at Westminster, Feb. 9th, 1674,) New York and its dependencies were restored to the English. June 29th, 1674, the Duke of York, to remove all grounds of controversy respecting the title to his American property, obtained a new patent from the King, reciting and confirming his former grant, of 1664; and on the 1st of July, he commissioned Major (afterwards Sir) Edmond Andross, as his Lieutenant and Governor in America, over all the territories embraced in his Patent,-including "all the land from the west side of the Connecticut River to the east side of Delaware Bay." Major Andross arrived at New York in October, and on the 10th of November received a formal surrender of the province of New Netherlands from Gov. Colve. [Copy of Duke of York's Patent, and Andross' commission, in Col Boundaries, II. 23, 24; Doc. Hist. of New York, III. 78.]

Soon after Gov. Andross obtained possession of New York, he addressed a letter to Connecticut; and in May, 1675, again wrote to the Governor and General Court, transmitting copies of the Duke's Patent, and of his own commission, and demanding a surrender of all the territory of Connecticut, west of the river.

1. [Letter from Gov. Andross to Connecticut, May 1st. 1675. Col Boundaries, II. 25.] Honble & worthy Gent".

As soone as I was possessed of this place, I gave you an account of it, and my being to continue in the command thereof, under his Royall Highnesse, desireing to keep that good correspondence I ought, particularly with such worthy neighbours: His Maties & Royall Highnesse having not onely taken effectuall care for the future defence & protection, but also for the benefitt & prosperity of the inhabitants and traders of this Colony in every other respect: Pursuant to whose commands, I haue, as the hard weather would permitt, done my duty in setleing this part of the Government; and finding that a great part of His Royall Highnesse Territories is now under yo' Colony, I haue herewith sent you attested coppies of his Maes Letters Patents to his Royall Highnesse, and his Royal Highnesse Commission to mee, by which you'l see the bounds; and eastward, to bee Connecticut River, as by the said Patent & Commission at large appeares.

I doe therefore by vertue of my aforesaid Authority desire (and will not doubt, from so worthy an assembly,) that pursuant to his Maties pleasure and commands, signifyed in his Letters Patents, you will give present and effectuall orders for my receiving, in his Royall Highnesse behalfe, that part of his Territories as yet under yo' Jurisdiction: assureing you that I doe not onely (as I haue by proclamacon here,) confirme all the inhabitants in their just rights & possessions, and all legall & judiciall proceedings to this time, and assure them of all other priviledges & advantages of the Government, but shall bee ready and glad of all further oppertunities for their good, as also improveing the good neighbourhood with your Colony.

I pray yo' speedy & effectuail answer by this gentleman, Mr. Samuel Leet, whom I have sent expresse at this time of yor first Generall Court since my

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