the several dates of sailing and arriving to and fro, which he had recently had occasion to consult, and which he found convenient and valuable as a reference in studying the history of the period to which it related. He had noticed other Randolph papers in the State archives which he believed had never been published.

The papers communicated by Mr. DEANE here follow:-*

PHILLIPPS MS. 8720.

Volume of letters from Edw. Randolph to Sir Rob. Southwell relative to a proposed voyage to New England, containing a good deal of miscellaneous matter also.†

1683, Aug. 19, Whitehall. HOND SIR, Since mine to you of the 28 last, the Rose frigate of 20 guns, an Algerine prize, is fitted out to sea, and bound to the Spanish wreck off the Bahama islands, under the conduct of one Phips, a New England man, who upon his late successful returns in that undertaking, is entrusted by his Majesty and commissionated for the whole business. He is to call at Boston to take in his diving tubs and other necessaries, and to return to England to account for and share the purchase, upon which ship I am now directed to take my passage. The Boston agents are in the Downs, and stay till our ship, now at Deptford, falls down, being obliged to stay here by order in Council, till I am ready to sail, which gives me a creditand but needful - for by those who come now from thence, as also by my letters, I have great reason to believe the party there had more than hints of the horrid conspiracy lately detected; for at my coming away, they were very calm, but since, high and daring in words and actions, hoping the Lord would work a great deliverance for his own, as they usually cant. I hope to be with them in October, the session of their general court; 'twill startle them to find such a round turn; and if they do not comply in all duty, they will make themselves for ever after uncapable of the blessings offered in his Majesty's declaration to them, which will be sent you from the Plantation office.

I have spent some time with Mr. Dudley, one of their present

* Since communicating these papers to the Society my attention has been called to the fact that Randolph's Narrative" has already been published by Mr. Whitmore, in the Andros Tracts, vol. iii. pp. 214-218. This had quite escaped my attention or recollection. However, on examining the copy there printed, I find that by some inadvertence one entry has been omitted, and a wrong date given to another, so that, it being desirable to correct these errors, the Publishing Committee have decided to reprint the "Narrative" here. There are besides several errors in the original manuscript which it is important should be pointed out; and this has been done in notes appended to it. The orthography of the manuscript has been modernized, and the abbreviations generally have been spelled out in printing.

Our Associate, Mr. C. W. Tuttle, has announced his intention of publishing a Life of Edward Randolph, with a collection of his letters.-D. †This is probably the heading of the copyist. — D.

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agents, endeavoring to accommodate things for their future settlement, as by the enclosed paper * which we have agreed; whether upon design (as the former agents) to get leave to go home, I know not, but certain it is that all this is very necessary on his Majesty's behalf, to be put in practice there.

As to the way of settling the chief power, I certainly believe nothing can be so wholesome for the whole plantation as to have one Governor generala sober, discreet gentleman, to be sent from his Majesty, and to have a Council chose out of the Magistrates of all the colonies and provinces, in all not consisting above 25, to be like the house of Lords, to hear all appeals from inferior courts, and to assign places and persons to try causes arising betwixt colony and colony and inhabitants of different colonies. I remember it has been often proposed that 5 or 7 persons were commissioned to manage the whole country, and those to be nominated and sent over by his Majesty at his charge. I believe 'twould be very difficult to get a salary for two fit persons to be joined in commission with one upon the place, and except they had a plentiful allowance, good men would not undertake that service. If to expect it from the revenue which may arise upon the place, it would seem grievous to them to maintain their governors and followers at such rates as are just necessary for their handsome support; besides in a short time the power at first distributed to several would soon centre in one person, as now in the Treasury and Admiralty. I believe a governor general would be very grateful to all sober persons, and in regard they are extended a great distance upon the sea, and so cannot without great trouble repair to Boston, the chief residence, here very necessary that two deputy governors were appointed, and the plantation divided as the two ridings in Yorkshire. We daily experience the difficulty of despatch, by multiplying addresses to the offices managed by Commissioners.

I am now entering upon my fourth voyage for New England, where in all my transactions, I have plainly demonstrated that I have chiefly aimed at his Majesty's service, having omitted all advantages and proposals to gratify my private affairs. I am now out of purse above 300£ in prosecuting seizures made and followed with great hazard and charge, and although I have to this day received nothing towards it but my travelling charges, which every gentleman passes in his steward's or other servant's account, I have still suppressed every thing relating to myself, in hopes at last to find a just reward for all my undertakings. I have now 4 daughters living; it may please God so to order it that I may by sea or other accident be taken away. "Twould be but justice that my commission might be managed by my brother, who now goes over with me, and that my children thereby might receive the benefit of it; besides I have discovered a tract of land granted to and a long time in the possession of Hugh Peters, since disposed of by his agent. Its worth 2 or 3 hundred pounds. Its forfeited by his treason to the King and the grant of it would be a

*This enclosure is not in the collection.

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kindness to my children. The daily objects of pity I meet with at Court, of such whose relations have spent in his Majesty's service their lives and fortunes obliges me, for my children's sake, to engage my friends in their behalf, in case of any accident befalling me. [3 pp.]

1683, Aug. 19, Whitehall. Promises him "a collection of such rarities as my interest and the shortness of my stay there can procure." [p.]

1684, May 3, Whitehall. About the reversion of places in the tower, or some other preferment for Sir Thomas Smith. Is going to New England on one of 2 ships sent from Bristol. [3 pp.]

1684, May 13, Whitehall. Expects to have to go to New England, but it is to be decided by Council. The princess of Denmark is delivered of a dead daughter. T. Oates is arrested at the Duke's suit for scandalum magnatum. [1 p.]

May 17, Whitehall. Will not have to go to New England. The error in the Bostoners' charter having been acknowledged hopes to get judgment against it next term. Sends letters for friends in N. E.

1684-5, Jan. 29, Whitehall. I lost a wife in New England. I have sent an account of my whole adventures and charges there to the Com and the King has commended me to the Treasury. All the mischiefs expected in Boston are laid to my charge. Has sent a list of names to be put on the Council, but knows none of them will come to hear Divine service.

There are complaints from New Hampshire of the arbitrary conduct of the governor in imprisoning as conspirators some who met only to execute a will. Touching particulars some miners have arrived in N. E. who have undertaken the lead mines. There is a difference between Lord Baltimore and Mr. Penn about boundaries. Other particulars relating to Maryland and Virginia and Boston. [4 pp.] Abstract of Mr. Randolph's pet. to the Com for Trade, giving a digest of his services relating to N. E. from March 1675-6 to Oct. 15, 1684, and reference of his pet. to the Treasury Comrs.

Randolph's letters to Southwell continued.

1684–5, Feb. 16, Whitehall. Court news on the accession of James II. (curious). The king will discountenance the late immorality at Court, and has put away Mrs. Sibley.* [1 p.]

Curious details of the trials on Titus

May 9, Plantation Office.
Oates' plot. [3 pp.]
July 30.
Court news. Has quo warrantos against Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Delaware. Expects to go to N. E.
News from Boston. Impost of Tobacco from Virginia, &c. [2 pp.]

Aug. 1, Plantation Office. Court News. Mr. Coney, governor of
Bermudas, is called home.† Asks whether to try for that government.
Likes N. E. well, and could live happily there in spite of their ill

*Probably Mrs. Sedley was written or intended. See Macaulay's Hist. of England, vol. i. chap. vi. — D.

↑ He resigned the government 12 April, 1687. — D.

* * Y

treatment. They will in time be convinced of their folly in contending with their Prince. The troubles of 1681 broke his wife's heart. If General Kirk be the man for N. E. I cannot see how that can be a place for me." Argues the advisability of his own return thither. [31 pp.]

1685, Aug. 3, Lord Sunderland's Office. News about the Rye House Plot. [1 p.]

Aug. 8. Private affairs

many hundreds of families are removing to the foreign plantations. They are affrighted at their new governor. Should he pass the seas into foreign parts, whither then will they remove? [1 p.]

Aug. 17. Will hear to-morrow about going to N. E. Court news. None about court are tempted to change their religion by the splendid accommodations of the new chapel.

Aug. 29. Is going to N. E. with large powers from the Customs Comrs. and is taking a com for a temporary government. They have been in a terrible fright of Col. Kirk's being sent. He has shortened

his passage to N. E. by his late expedition to the west. Lord Jeffries
reproved him severely on his return to Windsor.
Home news.
[14 pp.]

Sept. 1. News. The navy com are to conclude about a supply of mails from N. E. The Virginia merchants are dissatisfied about their Tobacco. [1 p.]

1685, Sept. 7. Death of the Lord Keeper. I am hurried to be gone for N. E. [1 p.]

Sept. 10, Plantation Office. News. Mr. Mason is to be of the N. E. Council. He should be advised to moderation, or he will get into a ferment against his former antagonists. I have asked a frigate, or else as the country is 100 leagues of coast I cannot secure it against the shipping away of tobacco and sugar. [2 pp.]

Oct. 3. Mr. Mason spoken of as governor of Bermudas. Nothing but the late king's promise pleads for Col. Kirk to be governor of N. E. and the Taunton affair is more than flying rumours. [2 pp.]

Oct. 14. Sails in 10 days.

Court news. [1 p.]

Oct. 23. Preparations for starting. Hopes the settlement of the distracted country on a good foundation. Expected to find them turbulent, but when they hear that matters turn so quick upon their friends in England, and that sheriff Cornish was hanged in Cheapside, they will be glad to be quiet on any terms. [2 pp.]

Nov. 10, Deal. Is to erect a post office in N. E., will give the profits to Mr. Mason's children. [1 p.]

Nov. 23, Deal. Hopes to sail in 2 or 3 days. Has an ague. [1 p.] Nov. 27, Deal. The happy understanding which may be the product of this prorogation will oblige the N. E. people to dutiful compliance with the King's commands. Has a deputation to be postmaster of N. E. If the King would send over Sir M. Vincent, or some gentleman of good estate, it would ease those people who have been

*Francis North, Earl of Guilford. — D.

greatly oppressed and will be ruined by the late imposts on plantation commodities. [1 pp.]

1685–6, Jan. 11, Deal. Is detained by damage to the ship in a storm. Wishes they had sailed before the report of another prorogation. Is taking a sober gentleman as minister. The commander will continue a year on the coast, unless sent home with prisoners, and that may keep the heady in awe.* [1 p.]

[1686] July 10, Boston. Dangerous and tedious voyage. Coming with an olive branch, was welcomed at first. Long details of ill treatment of himself and wife from the government in Boston. [3 pp.]

[RANDOLPH'S NARRATIVE.]

Mass. Archives, vol. cxxvii. pp. 218-220.

A short Narrative of my proceedings and several voyages to and from N. England to Whitehall during the time of my managing his Majesty's affairs in N. England, humbly presented by Edward Randolph.

1675, Mar. 20. I received his Majesty's letters to the Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay in New England to attend at ⚫ Whitehall and answer the complaints brought against them by Mr. Mason and Mr. Gorges.

1676, June 10. I arrived in N. England and delivered his Majesty's letters to the Governor and Council then sitting at Boston. July 30. I embarked myself for England.

Sept. 10. I landed at Dover and presented the Rt Honorable the Lords of the Committee for Trade with a Narrative of the estate of their country and government, and exhibited articles of high Misdemeanor against the Governor and Company.

1678,† Dec. 20. Two agents arrived in England from Boston to make their defence. I attended two years and made good my charge against the Governor and Company at the Council Chamber. The agents confess the fact, pray his Majesty's pardon, and acknowledge his Majesty's right to the Government of the Province of N. Hampshire.

1679, Sept. 10. The Boston agents have leave to return and new agents to be sent with full power.

Oct. 23. I was commanded to go for N. England by way of N.

"Jan. 20 (1685-6). I and my family embarked upon the Rose frigate for N. England. May 14, 1686, I arrived at Boston with his Majesty's commission of Government to a President and Council."— Randolph's Narrative.

†This should be 1676. The agents, William Stoughton and Peter Bulkley, sailed for England, Oct. 30, 1676, and probably arrived in England, December 20, the month and day given by Randolph. They remained in England nearly three years, or till the autumn of 1679, when they obtained leave to return home, and arrived at Boston, December 23 of that year. Randolph made his second visit to New England about the same time, arriving in New York some two weeks before the agents arrived at Boston. — D.