Edward Randolph letter to William Blathwayt, 1696 February 20

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I this day attended the Lords at their Committee: & presented them with a list
of the proprietors with smoe remarks vpon their Gouernors: & arbitrary proceedings
at the same tyme I laid before their Lordshipps the Mapp showing all the proprietyes as
they lye from South to North. they were very intent & the Earle of Mackelffeild could
not forbeare his opinion that they ought all to be annexed taken into the
Kings possession: & others were of the like opinion:

Mr. penn did not appeare today tho'. yesterday very hott at the Custome hous
in prosecuting Mr Brookes for observing his instructions at New York: the
Commissioners tooke little notice of his complaint : & left him to apply more properly
for redresse: he is directed peremptorily to attend next tuessday:

the Lords proprietors of the Bahama Islands are summoned to attend next
Munday about their Gouernor hauing asetled maintainance. & his giuing 1000l
security : it was discoursd that those Islands ought to be taken care of: that
Captain Webb. ought to be well provided for :

the Lords are of opinion that the 3 lower Countyes are holden by lease
from the Duke of Yorke & Mr Penn has not the Government of them : nor Dr
Coxe & partners the 2 Jerseys : I did offer the proposall in writing about
hauing the Governments : in the proprietyes to be invested in the Crown. Some of
the Lords presently agreed to haue a clause to that purpose But others agree
that their Titles (such as they bee) should be well looked into. not by the present
Atturney Generall: because he with Mr Serjeant Ward reported vpon it
but by one more of the Judges:

I know the pleasant entertainment at Durham will afford little tyme
to consider of the proprietys: but since you were pleased to think it
necessary that a clause shoulbe be provided for investing the Governments of the
proprietys . be pleased to oblige Mr Pen & the Jersey Gentlemen with a
draft of such a Clause: that I may haue it ready against the
next tyme I attend their Lordshipps: it will saue a great deale of tyme
& putt a seedy issue to their vncertaine expectations: I had this day
an a Generall: Order to attend : & hope not to loose my them. or busines.
I will not faile to giue you an account how matters go in my new
province: labouring hard for a new modell of the proprietys Governments
hoping & are safe arrived I wish you all happiness & am

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To the Honorable
Mr Blathwayte
at Durham
in Glostershire

20 February: 1696
From Mr Randolph
upon his hearing
before the Lords
about Mr Pen