Edward Randolph letter to William Blathwayt, 1700 November 19

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Amongst other papers I sent a copy of the Narratiue
of Mr Penns Entrance vpon his Gouernment of Pennsilvania. Since
which Dr: Bray & Georg Keeth mett with Mr: Trent a Merchant
& inhabitant lately come from thence : who affirms the most
materiall passages in that Narratiue to be true : as his
taking awy from the Inhabitants of Phyladelphia the Grant of
their freedome & Town ship. his being present in the Meeting
house at the Election of Assembly men & overawing the
people : His getting a duty to be laid vpon wine and
all liquors imported for 2 years which will amount to aboue
1000lb: per annum but he hoped & expected that they would raise
him an Equivalent in ready money : some write from
thence to Georg Keeth that he is weary of the Government & will ap
point a Deputy:

There were also inclosed my proposall to my Masters about
the great quantityes of Tobacco yearely carried from Virginia
etc: to the Other plantations more then the consumption of
those places requires. & also proposalls for preventing the
same for the future in which was a short but Apocryphall
discourse about the Grant of 1 penny per pound to the Colledg
in Virginia : which if I had presented it either to my
Masters or to the Board would haue brought the state as
well as the church vpon my Eares (I haue too heavy
a load of high displeasure from Sr. Robert Southwell. I
haue not been as yet admitted to waite vpon nor haue
seen Mr Southwell.) and haue therefore expungd that
vpseasonable tho' true part of my observation vpon
the exportation of Tobacco:.

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Tis now nigh 3 weekes ago That I waited vpon the Earle
of Bath the Lord Palatine (as he dreams) of the Bahama Islands
& of Carolina: I found his lordship much affected with the new dig
nity. yet has a minde to be setting his proprietary ship. as
I am since well assured from One who was consulted about it
the others are weary of it : & now I find the design of their mag
nifying Carolina Especially, as very often sett out in the publick
prints. which makes his Lordship very vnwilling to part with his
share in the Government of that province, Tho' he acknowledges he getts
nothing by it : yet twill make his part (as he thinks) sett the
his Lordship was very inquisitive about the management
of Mr Blake his Deputy & the present Gouernor : I gaue him some
short hints : of his high misdemeanours there vpon Masters
of Vessells in obstructing trade & seizing & Condemning them
illegally: Now Blake is supported by Mr Amy & Collonell Trott two
other proprietors: and now the former difference between
his Lordship & them, openly increases : for my lord has commanded
Blake to come to England to answeare the matters charged vpon
him: Amy did assent in expectation of going Gouernor theither.
but his lordship is resolved againt it. And now Collonell Trott has
been with me seuerall tymes and I find by himt That Mr Amy
(his father in law) is for surrendering vp the Gouernment to the King
provided he or his Son Trott may haue a Commission from
his Majestie to be Gouernor of that province. for they are Resolved
to oppose the palatine & be no longer vnder his direction
which is the Cause they haue had no meeting these
yeare or two: & I find the Earl. will do nothing till Blake
comes to England. Butt Collonell Trott: is driving

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another Bargain for himselfe seperate from his father
Amy (as he sayes) and that is as follows -

Hee assures mee That if his Majestie will please to grant
him a lease of 31: yeares of all the Bahama Islands
vpon paying his Majestie the Tenth part of all Brazelett
wood carryed yearely from thence & of wrecks & other
perquisites now in the Lords proprietors: That he will
discover such a Blott in their Lordshipps Title both to those
Islands & also to Carolina. That they cannot recover
nor will any one of them be at 5lb: chage (as Mr
Trott tells me) to defend their Title: for in truth they
gett nothing by it their Deputyes share all the
profitt & leaues their Lordshipps at home as Hostages for
their Good behaviour Onely: Thus farr with Collonell Trott:

But: I find that the Charter Granted to the Gouernor & Com
pany of the Bermuda, was in all things as full as
any Charter Granted to the other proprietors: as
the Earl ^Lord of Baltamore: the Virginia Charter etc: yet
they were all vacated by the High misdemeanors of
their Gouernors: as appears vpon Record.

Now I haue as plaine proofes of pyracy against Read
Elding Gouernor of the Bahama Islands of vnheard of Injus
tice vnder pretence of putting the Acts of Trade in Execution
& forcing Masters of vessells to pay as the Gouernor demanded: against
Mr Blake the Gouernor of Carolina: And as much vnder the
hand & seal of Mr Markhams Mr Penns Gouernment:

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all which I shall draw vp into Articles against them severally
with sufficient vouchers to proue each Article. in which
I am not to forgett freind Archdale. who harboured.
pyrates : Entertaind known illegall Traders & connived at
them: etc: all which when it please God you return
I shall lay before your Board when you can be at
leisure to be there. heartily wishing the continuance
of health & happiness to you & yours. I am in all duty

my most humble Service
to Mr Povey: his
Lady & family were well
yesterday.

19 November. 1700
From Mr Randolph