Richard Cony letter to John Tucker, 1685 June 4

1 item (4 pages)

[Page 1]

Your two letters dated January the 21: and February the 17: 1684/5 came
to my hand, and was welcome to me being from so good a friend
I congratulate your Places; and as to your Deputies, I doe assure
you thay neyther have wanted, or shall, any countinance from
me; if thay worse not them sealfs by a Supine carelesnes, or
wilfull Ignorence: The fault is not mine, the Injury Majestys
My endeavour is that thay may be dexterous in thaire Duty and not
by coniving lay the burden vppon me; nor prejudice your kindnes
to them. I know you are Related to my noble Lord Sunderlands
office; and may doe both this Country & my sealf many great
Civilitys. As to what ^ ^may concernes my sealf, I doe assure you I shall
hastily acknowledge, and confide in your principles, which
I ever found to be honest. How the Country will owne your
regards to them, I know not, you know them by experience; and
I find them now more disgusted at a Royall Comission: then euer
thay was at the Company and worse since the proclamation of his
Sacred Majesty King James the second whome God of his mercy long
preserue] in all prosperity. You have heard of our time post
Elutherians, of whome Richard Stafford was the leader. when
aflying Rumor (brought by a quaker) that his late Majesty was deceased
had I not bin Briske, we had bin at this: AY or M. As yett I cannot
find out from what quarter that wind Blow: Guessing is noe affirme
without prejudice. I hope I may say that ould William Righton, Sam
Trott, Richard Stafford, William Peniston, Thomas Outerbridge & all
of them natiues of this Country (except Sam Trott) Still are the
same troblesom persons to goverment. Moreover that Mr. ^ ^henry Bish
thaire great favorite, is a learned Lawyer as I think, and
hath many times declared that it was Treason for me to fortify
which caused the workmen to the nombre of 70 or so to desist
for feare of being hangd. The mony I desburt euery Saturday
at night, the Country declares thay will not Reimburse me
because I began to fortify without thayre Consent and that
would neuer have bin, not at the Long Run will thay comply
with any obedience except compelld by some extraordinary means
when I was in the feeild in ^obedience to the Right Honorable Privy councells
commands & Instructions for the Royall Solemnitys and Ceremonys.

Mr. John Tucker

[Page 2]

The which I have to the vtmost of my power performed. Mr Sampson Bond
before his Majestys pleasure was proclaimd to contineu my Comission was
very Inquisitiue to know whether my continewance in my Comission was
confirmed by the Right Honorable privy Councell, which if not, he said it was
voyd in Law. this his saying startld many: And beleeue it, had not my the
Last Pacquett by way of Barbados come in that very Junture of time
It did, I had bin reduced to the best Courage I euer had and those honest
men with me, the Lieutenent of his Majestys Castle, by name William Jones, &
Captain Brangman, Captain of one of the forts, them and thayre men I haue
euer found, Loyall, faithfull. The Learned in the the Law was an
Interregnum best it could not it seemes agree. I haue taken the [illegible]
to send home Mr. Bish, he hath been the great Incindiary in this
Country euer since I came; and should ^he haue continewed here, worse
would ensew. He is the only creature of old William Rightons, William Peniston
Richard Stafford, Sam Trott, and the Rest of the same stamp. The worsting
the Bermudas Company was but a Colour: [illegible] was, that his
Majesty would haue pleased to Commit the Country to theire Government and
then thay would call them sealfs his majestys subjects. Thay insult ouer
the late company and Boste that his Majesty knows them to be honest men, and the
Company a Company of knaues: vizt: William Peniston, a Company of Rascalls [illegible] Richard
Stafford. As to your Brothers land, I know nothing of it as yett, he is
gone a voyage. I will doe him what service I can. I process'd your [illegible] of your
vnckle the last yeare, it was sent you by Captain Bee with a letter to you from
my sealf, but find my letters miscarried, as most of myne haue done. Sr
I returne you my harty thanks for all your kindnesses, nor will I be
wanting in my Returne. The Country is such disorder, euuen to
Rising up in armes against me, and slighting my Comission that I am
in a far worse condition then euer since I came, as this Bearer will
for me. his Majesty, I meane Captain Phipps. I am wearyed with continuall
watchings, for they would cease vppon the Forts, and declared they haue
as much power to comand them as my sealf, would vyolently impose
oaths vppon me, but what thay are will not tell me. Thay dayly send
away tobacco, saying thay are free men. nor will thay giue any account
to his of his Countrys Revenews though the Councell dayly prest to it
by me, and whome thay think fitt must sit in Councell, contrary to my
Comission mor will your provost marshall Imprison any, though Commanded
by me. In this Condition is the Country, and Command Reduced too. I am

Certainly these Bermudians are the most
faceatious, perfideous, lying people in the world

As to the Adress. I haue sene a Copy of it, but doe not subscribe to it, whether thay will send any
or not, I knowe not, I feare it will Rellish of petition, & condition if any sent; I know nothing more then
quarrell with me

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Mr ^Samuell Trott desires a writ of me to Arrest the Sheriff Captain
John, Hubbard. now he being ^but Deputy provost, he must
arrest him sealf thus. I John Hubbard, doe Arrest thee
John Hubbard ^ ^{at the seate of Samuel Trott} vppon an action of [illegible] & conversion
I haue had an action good laughing at the conceat

[Page 4]

For John Tucker Esquire
these
Whitehall

4 June 1685
From Collonel Cony

Ink on paper