Edward Randolph letter to William Blathwayt, 1692 July 17

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I am here acoompaniing the Leiutenant Governor to see the fleet dispatch: & hope they will
haue a safe arrivall in England there are now vnder sayle 100. & would haue
been very many more if Governor Copley had thought it for their Majesties service
to oblige all as well as 12 at the most to sayle vnder Convoy: But he
if for driving his private Interest: there has been letters passd between him
& the Commandore. & now to justifye all his proceedings. One William
Blankinstein. a Holsteiner born: & a Tayler is the man by President Blackstons
recommendation appointed the Governors Envoy extraordinary. to the Lords of
the Councill. to the Admiralty with complaints against Captain Townsend. & to the
Custome house against me: I am glad I haue just now knowledge of the design:
I think all the Masters of the Virginia fleet vnder his convoy will Justifie
the Commandores Care & diligence in getting the fleet to sea: & as for what
I haue wrote to you about Governor Coplyes manage in his New government : & of Mr
Blackstones & Mr Platers conniving at & promoting the irregular Traders
& what damages the Merchamts do susteine in their Trade thereby. pray lett
Captain Bartholomew Watts of the globe & Captain Samuell Phillips of the
Baltamore be examined: they are lately come from Maryland & haue been
acquainted with the present state thereof: the people haue been already
vp in arms 100 together about the House of deputyes making laws &
laying heavy Impositions on the people in the Absence of their Burgesses
Code is come home he is inveterate against Blackstone tells the Governor he is
a Great Rogue. there is laid vpon the people about 500 weight of tobacco
a head towards defraying the present Rates: I am going theither &
will passe as quietly thro. my busines as I can: but expect that
Neither Governor Copley will admitt of yur Deputation to me Nor the
Collectors show me their accounts. till these matters are Considered
& new directions from home: Peter Paggen Merchant in London. is Governor Coplyes
Treasurer all his bills are directed & made payable to him.

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the Leiftenant Governor & I are returning to Kiquetan . from thence I go to Maryland
& he to the Eastern Shore to secure the Capes from privateers: he is very well
& giues you his humble service, Captain Townsend will waite vpon you at his
arrivall. & lett you know how different Governor Copleys methods to serue their
Majesties are from Lieutenant Governor Nicholsons. Madam Mathews aboard the Perry & Jane
bound for England has promiese me to see my wife if in London. I wish you
all happines: my humble service to Mr Blathwayt to Mr Chaplin & to Mr
Parry. I am Sr:

Leiutenant Governor Nicholson giues Mr Blathwayt
his humble service.

pray excuse my long letters. I omitt
many things necessary to be known because I would not trouble you. but
I may not forgett that I haue spoake with Thomas Warner Master of the
Hopewell of Bristoll who will bring Mr Blathwayt some of his boards
vpon Mr Henleys agreement who can do what he pleases with him & many other
of the Bristoll Masters

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To the Honorable
Mr. Blathwayt at
Whitehall:
By Captain Townsend:
Commandore.
R: D: G:

Virginia 17 July 1692
From Mr Randolph
Received 6 September 1692