Edward Randolph letter to Jacob Mears, 1699 January 19

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I acknowledged in Mine of the 29th. December part (Via Medera)
that on the 22d. I receiveD Yours of the 30th. of November past by Captain
Slow, That Captain Walker and Captain Adderley received Yours to them, and Mr. Day
had his Majestys order to Deliver up your Sloope to Captain Adderley, Without Charge
hee removed hir from that place where she had been Kept since hir Seizure
To another nigh his house more Convenient the better to See hir repaired, I called
On him the 12. Instant To know what Condicion she was in, hee told mee
The Carpenters said shee must bee new Bottomed, hir Sayles are Indifferent
butt Twill cost neare 200li. before she is ffitt to goe to Sea; I will some
Times goe that Way to See how the Worke goes fforward, haveing been at
Liberty ever since the 3d. instant, aftern nigh Nine months Imprisonment
I observe You write in ONe of your Letters to Captain Adderley, That Your Brother
Gave: A 1000li. Bond, To answers Mr. Days pretentinos to ffes. before you
Could obteyne his Majestys Letter to him for the Deliverey of Your Sloope
Certainly: if Mr Day by Extraordiniary Aplication, has obteyned Such and Order
Tis against the Polecy of these Islands, and A publick Greivance To all
Merchants Tradeing to these Westerne parts of The World, Who are obleiged
To Know off; ffor now since tis Knowne that Captain Adderleys Sloope has
beene Stopt here: 7: or 8: months under pretence of ffees; Massters will
runn all hazards at Sea rather then ffall inot Mr Days Merciless
hands: You further ad to him, That hee must send you an
Estimate of all Disbursments. upon the repaire of the Sloope Taken
by a Notary puclick ² To the Lords Commissioners for Trade, ¹I wrote formerly
upon another Occasion, That The Secretary is the Notary publick
and the Governors Creature, That hee nor any of the Justices of the
peace Would Take a deposistion, till they had acquainted the Governor
With the Contents of itt:, Thereupon theire Excellencies The Lords
Justices by theire Order in Councill of the 30th. of August Last, Did require
Mr. Day, and the Councill, To Issue out A Commission to my Selfe to Collonel
Anthony White and To Mr. Edward Jones (Comeing Over Secretary of These
Islands) To bee Justices of the peace, and any of us to Take all Deposistions &c
Butt Mr. Day being Conscious of Most Notorious Crimes, Comitted by him
Since his being Governor Delays that Comission, as by his Order now
Transmitted to the Lords Commissioners, ^ (^{as by} A Coppy whereof I now Enclose unto
Mr. Povey at the Councill Chamber, Appeares) and Thereby Frustrates
The Intent of Theire Excellenceis Order I beleive That upon his
Majestys heareing the Whole Matter You Will have Leave to
proceed Against Mr. Day for Damages, (Nott Much Less then; 7: or 800li
Butt Tis a great Question how you Will Come by the Money:

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Some Thinks hee Intends for St Thomass or Corresco To prevent
his appearing at Whitehall because hee Converts all into Money
Or Merchandize fitt to Carry with him, But if hee bee soe hardy
To stand it Out, and hee gett to England, You will find the Broken
Limer Draper Metamorphosied into A broken Governor,
Retired to his fformer Lodgeing, in the King's Bench or the [illegible]
Marshallsye, besides twill bee A horrible InJustice To his
Credit heere, Who if hee bee Called home, Will Irrecoverablely
Loose theire Moneys by him As Some of Them Did by Collonel
Goddard the late Governor unless ^ ^he bee ordered to pay them before
his Leaving this place, I Know great aplication, Will bee
Made to his Majesty by Some persons to succeed Mr Day In the
Government of These Islands, Which will not bee Worth above: 500li
per Annum; And a Gentleman of an Estate at home, Will not bee
Induced to leave his Native Country, upon Such Indefferent
Termes and if hee bee worth nothing, his is nott the place to make
his fortune: (I: Offer to youw onlely my Opinion, That itt would bee
ffarr better for his Majestys Imeadiate Service In Those Islands
That a Commishon be forthwith Directed, To myselfe (if Upon the place)
Collonel Anthony White, Capain Charles Walker Captain John Tucker
of St. Georges Captain Thomas harford, ann Mr Samuell Spofferth
Men of The Best Estates in The Country, To take upon them
The Government of These Islands, That his Majesty May bee thereby
ffully Informed of the State and Great Import of These Islands
To the Crowne: and that itt Will putt itt Out of his power of any
Succeeding Governor To Oppress and Invade The Just Rights of
his Majestys Loyall Subjects of Burmudas The precedent Governors
Tooke the ffleece as ffast as itt Grew, This ffleas off the Skin, hee
has Drove off Many of the Inhabitants by unheard of Exactious
and Destroyed the Lawfull Trade of Others: Sir I write to you
as you Seeme to mee by Your Letters A man of a publick
Spirritt, which has Encouraged Mee ffreely To Communicate My
Sentitments, In relation to your private Loss Susteyned
by Mr. Day, and Methods to prevent The Like to others

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for the ffuture, The obteyneing whereof, is an Ample Grattiffication
Expected from:

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To Mr. Jacob Mears: Merchant:
at Mr Sampsons [illegible] Merchant.
in St. Mary Ax:
London.

To Mr: Jacob Mears: