Francis Foxcroft letter to William Blathwayt, 1691 April 16

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Boston April 16: 1691

Sr

I feare ere long I with many more, may be glad
of an opportunity of takeing Sanctuary vnder your protection,
We harden our Selues in our Rebellions, by every Instance
cautionary to vs, of our own case, & I thinke I am safe, when
I conclude our Seers drawe Incurragements from every
report of ill designes, vpon the present State in England,
and some say openly that a 2d Revolution is of absolute
necessity there. the mock Governors (Quandum) at New Yorke.
The proceedings against him [illegible] occassions different discourse,

but the Summe of all is, that it would [illegible] Governor
Slaughter to the wise and good mens of the world, to reserue
him for an Instance of the Kings wonted Clemency
The
complications of this crime it seemes hath [illegible] his guilt,
being soe like our pattern, we cannot but loue our own
Bratt. ffrom yorke your honnor will haue perfect accounts
of all motions there, as for vs we cannot vnderstand Collonell
Slaughter haueing any buissinesse at Boston, and
are Juggling together, & what lye we are bigg with & I know
not, time will bring forth, Mr Danforth, & others haue
Comission to treate with the Indians at W.lls, to meete aby
for [illegible] agreements [illegible] next month, we haue heard of noe
designes of our Enemyes as yet, trade freely at Port royall
We are altogether void of methods at hand vpon an
attack either by land or from Seas, and by meanes
of our bills of Credit or (Vulgerly called) paper money,
^ for wee loue to be fingering the Royall Prerogatives our treasury hath noe money to rayse a man, & because
of the former abbuses, put vpon the Souldiers. its to be
questioned, that nay will be commanded vpon occasions,
We are more apt to rebellions then to act the true part
of a Souldier. Our nominations for Ellections passed
yesterday, Mr Stoughton runs high, the rest mostly
stands accordingly to vsuall temper, Soe I hope further
Excesses of our Enthusiasticks will be prevented Mr
Shrimpton

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Mr Shrimpton is quite dropd, Major Richards hath
gained vpon the peoples affections, But I hope as
Goverments from England will heale vs all which I heartily
pray for. A Shipp from Lisbon brings an account,
that the pestilence was in Limbrick soe mortall that
they had opened their Gates, that any might goe
or come, Some say it is in the possession of the
King, alsoe that his Majestie was arrived in Holland
I cannot git any certainty of it. Sr. Cloudsley Shovell
had taken foure french privateares of 100 men each,
I see a Coppy of your honoors letter to our Gentlemen,
I presume it will proue a Snare to vs, for I am
confident we shall giue you reason to tax vs with
diffitiency of Intelligence, We Intend noe noe communications
with you, as any thing worth nothing offers. I shall
transmitt the same to your honnor who at present
aske leaue to subscribe:

Your honnors most hearty well
wisher & humble Servant
Francis Foxcroft

Original Format

Ink on paper

Citation

Foxcroft, Francis, “Francis Foxcroft letter to William Blathwayt, 1691 April 16,” William Blathwayt papers at the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, accessed May 11, 2024, https://cwfblathwayt.omeka.net/items/show/319.