Edward Randolph letter to William Blathwayt, 1686 February 3

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I can lett no oppertunity passe without my letter from hence
which I send by a small vessell vnexpectedly bound for
England and advise in generall: That his Excellence gaue me
your letter to me of the 3 of November and humbly thank you
for your continued favour in my busines I am well assured to
find all refeife and Countenance from his Excellence in my
seuerall Stations as occasion may require in order to a quiett
enjoyment thereof.

His Excellence of ^onthe 22 of December communicated to the Councill
all publick letters relating to the affaires of this Government as well that
from His Majestie of the 19th: of October enjoining a strict inspection &
care of the Revenue as the other of the 31 of October relating to a
mint and also a Letter of the 24th of october from the Lords of the
Committee for Trade: all which with your Commission of Surveyor
& Auditor Generall were ordred to be etred which his Excellence will
promote with all zeal: his Excellence has taken care to haue
the Records of the Country putt into my Custody & a place is appoin
ted in the Council house for their reception: by them the former
methods of the late Government will be easily inspected: there are found
some of the accounts of Mr Russell who was treasurer about 4
yeares ago: and also his discharges from a Committee appointed by
the Generall Court to audite and settle them: but I haue sent to him
for to account with me & to Mr Danforth President of the Province
of Main to bring their accounts with their vouchers: which with
the accounts of Mr Vsher during Treasurer during the late
Government of President & Councill, I shall send by a Good ship which
is in a little tyme to Sayle from this port: you haue inclosed
Mr Danforths opinion of the province of Main: which will
not now serue his turn: the Councill

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the Councill haue ordred the Raising a Rate of one penny
in the Pound to his Majestie for Support of the Government it will not
amount to 1000lb: New England money, The Castle forts Carriages for the
Gunns & all things else relating to the publick are so farr
run to ruine that twill cost a great deal of money to putt
them in reasonable repaire.

A Committee of Some of the members of each colony is appointed
to revise the Lawes of the Seuerall Late Governments & to Collect out
of them a body fitt for the vse & Benefitt of this territory
which when digested will be sent ouer to the Lords:

There are no small endeavors betwixt the Landed men & the Merchants
how to ease the publick Charges: The Mercchants are for Land
Taxes: but Mr Dudley Stoughton & others who haue gott
very larg tracts of Land are for Laying all vpon the trading
party and hope by their former Lawes relating to their posses
sion: to haue all their Lands assured to them, without obtai
ning Grants from his Excellence for their Confirmation and
as to quitt Rent they are vnwilling to think of it nor has his
Excellence hitherto offred at it : his care at present is
to putt the Collecting of the Imposts on Wine Liquors etc.
in a better method which will somewhat improue the Revennue.
his Excellence has likewise recomended to the Councill That
strict meanes be vsed to make those goods which are shipd
off from hence to the West Indies (as beefe pork ffish. [illegible]
Boards etc: in reputation abroad, by haue sworn
Officers appointed who are to take care That [illegible]
those Comodityes are merchantable: & fitt for markett.
Our people think it hard to haue money raised without an
Assembly, forgetting t'was their ministers who formerly chose
both their Magistrates & Deputyes of their Generall Courts:
his Excellence has sent a Duplicate of his Majesties Order relating
to the Colony of Connecticut: they haue

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not yett Concluded to Surrender Their Charter they haue
appointed a meeting of their Generall Court, and some from thence
of the moderate party advise their Generall inclination
to be vnder This Government I heare Mr Sprag, Secretary to Collonell
Dongan is going for England, to labour to gett that
Colony annext to New York : which will be very detrimentall
to vs in many respects for from thence wee are supplyed
with Great quantityes of pork pease etc: without which
wee cannot send out our fishing boates to sea; and
indeed t'will ruine that Colony for their whole trade and
dependance vpon vs:

The Messenger his Excellence sent to New York about the
delivering vp Pemmaquid is returnd: Collonell Dongan
will take order to haue it done so soon as weather
& the Season of the yeare will permitt

Our Councill meet the last Wednesday of this month: the
result of their proceedings you shall haue a perticuler
account of, as also of the late Government which is ready by me
you will haue by the next ship : being vnwilling to
entrust this more then with a single letter :

my humble Seruice to Sr. Robert Southwell to Mr Guin

I heartily congratulate your quiett enjoyment of the Place
of Clerk of the Councill: my humble Seruice to Mr Pepys
by the next I send him a satisfactory account of all my
proceedings in the Province of Main and am Sr

Captain Trefry is very well & giues you &
Mr Povey his humble Seruice :

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New England
3 ffebruary 1686/7
From Mr Randolph
Received 25 March 1687