That many of us in our late Humble Address, prostrated our selves at Your Royal Feet, and should with all Silence and Humility have waited Your Royal Will and Pleasure, did not Your Majesties Interest and our peace and safety at this day, more urgently enforce us to spread before Your Sacred Majesty, the deplorable Estate and Condition of this Your Territory and Dominion. The late Revolution dividing the said Terri­tory into ten Parts or Colonies, viz. Pemaquid, Province of Main, New-Hampshire, Massachusets, Plymouth, Rhoad-Iland, King's Province, Connections, New York, and East and West Jersyes, thereby much debilitating each others, and giving great advantages to our Enemies, the French and Indians; and many hundreds of Your Majesties Subjects Murthered and Captivated: Pemaquid, all the Province of Main, save three Towns, and Scenecdeka in the Colony of New-York, the Frontier Town of Canada and Inlet to New-England, being sinco destroyed: Some Depredations made upon New-Hampshire and the Massachu­sets, and all other the out-Towns in imminent danger, and Your Majesties poor Subjects there in great Distresses and Fears, being expos'd to the Rapine and Cruelty of the Enemy, whenever attack by them.

That an Expediton was made by some of Your Majesties Subjects in the Mas­sachusets Colony against the French at Port-Royal, who surrender'd themselves upon Articles; but no care taken to preserve the same for Your Majesties ser­vice, little Annoyance given to the Enemy by that, or any other Enterprize hi­therto engag'd in.

That an Agreement was made by those who pretend to Govern Your Ma­jesties said Colonies, to make an Attaque upon the French at Canada. To which End New- York and Connecticut Colonies were to r [...]ise and send by Land of the English and five Nations of the Indians 2000 Men And Your Majesties Colonies of the Massachusets and Plymouth were to Equip a Navy by Sea o [...] 32 Sail, and 2200 Souldiers and Marriners, which (without Your Royal Com­mission or Order) was accordingly done. But the Land forces fail'd of their performance; and the Navy sent to Quebeck being defeated, the whole Design was frustrated, to the almost Ruine and Destruction of Your Majesties Subjects here, being set forth at a vast Expence, which beside the former heavy Taxes, will leave, even the Massachusets Colony (as we Conjecture) in further Ar­rears of at least 50000 l. Many of Your poor Subjects also being destroyed by the Enemy, and Dead by Distempers and Diseases, happening among them in the said Expedition.

That by Reason of the want of Government settl'd by Your Majesty, the Di­visions and Strifes at New- York, thro' the Arbitrary Impositions and Exorbitant proceedings of the pretended Governour there, are Risen to such a Height, that Your Subjects in that Colony have lately taken up Arms one against ano­ther, and some Blood is already spilt; which will further weaken Your Ma­jesties poor Subjects, and greatly encourage the Enemy, whose Return upon us by Land, and Men of War from France by Sea in the Spring, we have great Reason to fear: Whom to Resist, thro' want of Your Majesties Government as also of Arms and Ammunition to defend our selves, we shall be utterly incapa­citated for.

DREAD SOVERAIGN, We Your poor, Loyal, Distressed Subjects therefore humbly supplicate Your Royal favour to be Extended towards us, in Commiserating our Lamentable Estate, and that You will be graciously pleased to take us into Your immediate Care and Protection, and send us such speedy Relief and Assistance as in Your Princely Wisdom shall seem most meet, to save us and ours, together with Your Majesties Interest in these Parts from Total Ruine:

THE sorrowful Tidings of your Caption by the French, soon came to us. But long was it ere we receiv'd the Reviving News of your Health and Liberty, which we are desirous to believe is true, tho we cannot yet be so happy as to receive the Confirmation of under your own hand; but with great Longing do wait for.

We are still wading in the Mire of the Old Rebellion, long looking for De­liverance, but (as yet) it comes not, and that which adds to our Misery, we are kept in so great a degree of Ignorance, (for want of certain Intelligence) o [...] our Affairs at White Hall, that we have nothing to bear up our Spirits from sinking, but the Improvment of our Reason upon the Justice of the Cause we have appear'd for and the Justice of our Prince upon whom(under God) we de­pend. This hath helped us to out-face many a Brunt, and to despise many Reproches and Columnies cast upon us by those, whose profession soars High so that Religion, which had they well Learn'd the practick part thereof, would better instruct them. Yet, tho' we remain ignorant of our Affairs there, you are acquainted with the progress of Affairs here, which gives us some hopes that His Majesty will not long with-hold that so necessary, and (by all good Sub­jects) so much desir'd Settlement of Government over this people, in such me­thods as may most Conduce to His service, and the prosperity of His Loyal Sub­jects in this Land, the want of which a few Months longer, I fear (if God wonderfully prevent not) will leave us to almost utter Ruin. For since the Port-Royal design (whereby great Debts were Crontracted, and no service to the King of Country, or Annoyance to the Enemy considerable, was attain'd.) A grand expedition to Quebeck in Canada hath been undertaken of 32. Sail of Vessels, and 2200. Souldiers and Marriners, rais'd by the Massachusets and Plimouth Colonies, who set sail from Nantasket the 9th. day of August, under Sir William Phipps General in expectation of a Land Army to consist of 2000. Men, to be rais'd in Connecticut, New-York and the five Nations of the We­stern Indians, to advance for Mount-Royal, under Major General Fits-John Winthrop. But the methods propos'd for forming the Land Army sailing, (few of the Indians, of whom the Army were Principally to consist, appearing) after the Fleet was gone, the whole strength of the Enemy is suppos'd to be drawn down to Quebeck (for it's reported by Captain Silvanus Davis, as I hear (who was a Captive there, and now redeem'd) that they were near 4000, strong [Page 4]so that after almost Nine weeks passage. Landing their Souldiers (of whom not above 1200. were in health or capacity to go on shore) and Slinging some shot into the Town, they were forc'd to make a dishonourable Retreat, some slain in the Attempt, many wounded, leaving five Field pieces on shore in the Enemies hands (the Redemption of near a score of Captives, in exchange for some French they took in their Voyage, being the greatest good attain'd by this Expedition.) In there Return, they were so dispers'd and endanger'd by Tem­pestuous weather, that no further Exploits could be perform'd; Many hundreds sick and dead of the small Pox, Feavers and Fluxes; one Vessel cast away and about 12 men drowned, the whole Fleet not yet return'd: The charge of this Expedition is very great; some observing men judg, that this Colony cannot be less in Arrears than 50000 l. Tis most evident that the hand of God hath been against them in this and almost all other their Undertakings, which I fear is too too little taken Notice of. And now, what shall we do? The Flower of the Country was drawn off in this design, very many of whom are dead and sick, all men Discourag'd, the Enemy Encourag'd and Enrag'd, from whom we may reasonably expect Assaults as soon as the season will permit, besides Ships of War upon our Coast in the Spring: To Cry, Help on King! is a Crime almost unpardonable, except it be for our old Charter Government. ‘Besides, what may His Majesty say? Why you cannot have any need of my help, who have Boasted of your being Able to make me Emperour of America; You found no need of my Orders or Assistance to Attack the King of France's Terri­tories; You need no settlement of Government by Charter, or otherwise from Me, who can take it up of your selves, and proceed to Election without, yea, contrary to my Orders? &c.’

Oh miserable deluded people! We have provoked God, who alone can save us; and our King, who under God, can only be our Intrumental Saviour, I fear may be provok'd to leave us helpless and succourless, if God over-rule not wonderfully to prevent it. But here are many good Christian Loyal Sub­jects, who are long looking, waiting and praying that God will so Incline the King's heart towards us, as not to leave us to Ruin one another, for want of a Settlement of such methods of Government over us by His Royal Authority, as shall most Conduce to His service and our good, nor leave us to become a Prey to Antichristian and Pagan Enemies.

To which end an Address is now drawn to be sent by this Vessel in the Name of some Gentlemen, Merchants and others, wherein the deplorable Condition of the Country is spread before Him, and His Compassion and Protection crav'd; (a Copy whereof I here inelos'd) and doubt not of your readiness to do your part for the promoting the same.

The eyes of the people generally begin to be open'd, so as, I question not, [Page 5]but the King's Government will be very acceptable to most, who yet, through Ignorance of Law, and how our Affairs rule at home, dare not speak out: Be­sides, some Government here must be, and a bad one, yea, a Usurped one (say they) is better then none.

Oh how welcome would a true Information of things be to us, and a word or two of some Advice, how to Govern our selves under our great Temptations and Confusions till His Majesty hath determin'd His Royal Pleasure concerning us.

On October the 17th. last Mr. Jos. Lynde and Mr. Sam. Hayman, both of our Town, Accosted me with a Paper, which they call'd an Order from their General Court, the Copy whereof please to take as follows.

After a Perusal of the said Paper, I demanded a Copy of it, which they deni'd me, till I had given my Answer, which I deliver'd them in writing un­der my hand, in these following words. viz.

Since which I have heard no more from them. Orders from their General Court for Rates, have been at several times as fol. viz. 7 [...].10.2½. and now (as its said) 20. I have not heard of any Distraint for Payment but in Boston, and upon one Person in this Town, tho' I know divers refuse to pay. What methods will now be taken to still the Clamours of those (or their Rela­tions) who were in the late unhappy Expedition, are yet unknown. 'Tis cer­tain, most of the Seamen were Impressed to that service, and so as of the Land­men, and most of them threatned, if they Listed not Voluntarily they should be prest; so that partly thro' fear of Violence us'd with them, and partly great Ex­pectations of success and much plunder, which was trumpeted about in the Country by some busy Agents; (and some Clergymen in Boston and some other places Crying Victory, Victory over Antichrist in their Pulpits &c.) the Poor people were enticed and drawn in to their own and the Countries (almost) utter Ruin. Those who, in the time of their Preparations, did soberly discourse their fears of the Imprudence (at least) of this design, and the Rum they had a prospect of thereby, were call'd King James's men, Friends to French and Pa­pists, Enemies to the Country &c. for so doing. And now the event hath Evidenced those fears not to have been groundless, they censure us (most un­charitably) as rejoycing at the General Calamity; which God knows, many of us mourn for, and Lament the Violent, Headstrong and Exorbitant Courses of those who have driven on these and many other designs against Law and Reason. But I forbear;

'Tis time to conclude, which I shall do with Reciting one Passage more (which possibly may come to your knowledge from Virginia) of the strange Actions of our present Rulers, which is this.

In August last, came a Gentleman from Virginia by Land, with divers Let­ters, especially from the Lieut. Gover. Nicholson there, to sundry Gentlemen in Boston, who continued in Town (as I Remember) about a fortnight, and being ready to Return, received of Divers Persons Answers to the Letter, sent them, &c. But when ready to depart, his Port-Mantua wherein his Letters were, was seized by Order, and carri'd before the Council (his Person was like­wise seized and for some time detain'd; the Port-Mantua being Lockt, and the Owner refusing to deliver the Key, they broke it open, took out the Letters, and open'd them, Read them; detaining what Letters they pleas'd, and rest [...]o­ring what they pleas'd to the Messenger, who the next day was dismis [...]. Several Letters they did detain, directed to Gover. Nicholson, and have [...]de the Con­tents [Page 7]of mens private Letters matter of publick Discourse; among which was a Letter written by the same Gentleman by me, ( John Cutler Jun. signing with me) wherein I briefly recited the Heads of our late Sufferings, the Causes there­of, and the Consequences; And inclos'd a List of the Names of most of the Offi­cers and Ships gone for Canada. This was much discours'd of to our great Condemnation; tho' they never proceeded so much as to send for us. But the great pretence for opening these Letters was, A plot, Oh! a Horrid plot, viz. That it was Purposed and Resolved between King William's Gover. of Virginia, and the Malignant party, the Tory's in Boston, Charlestown, &c. that the said Gover. (now in our week Estate, when our strength was gone) should come and seize upon the Government here, and so make us all greater slaves than we are now (which truly would be no easy matter) if not to deliver us up to the French; And was not this ground sufficient, and answerable to all the World, think you, to have broken open and detain'd at pleasure, even the Letters of the King Himself under the like pretence? And altho' that would have been a Crime of a Higher degree; yet thus to treat the Kings Gover. is a Crime of the same kind, and is an Indignity ofter'd to the Kings Person (in my weak Opini­on) Thus Sir you have a Scheme of this matter, and a Confus'd Account of many other things, which your Wisdom will (I hope) gather sense so far out of, as to understand them by.

I fear I have tyr'd your Patience, and crave your Pardon, with my Humble service I remain

The French at Quebeck have shewn great Humanity to their English Cap­tives, (as the Captives redeem'd do acknowledge) several of whom they Ran­som'd out of the barbarous hands of the Indians, with their mony, that they migh [...] be generously accommodated.

The Inducements to this Canada Expedition (were as we may well con­ [...]er.) a belief of an easie Conquest, abundance of Treasure to be gotten, and a Name and Fame in the world, (especially at White-hall) for our great Va­lour and high Achievements, and our zeal against Antichrist (all under a pre­tence of Necessity, for our own Preservation; that if we did not carry the War thither, they would bring it into our own Bowels) All pla [...]sible and encouraging Arguments to unthinking minds. But if it be enquir'd, by what Order, Com­mission or Authority this Design was prosecuted? The answer must be, none [...] They Issued Orders for seizing of Shipping, Provisions, [...] [Page 8]Impressing of men, granted Commissions to Officers, Superiour and I [...]eriour, and all in Their Majesties Names, without any Order or Commission, from Their Majesties, either to Authorise their so doing or to Constitute them a Government in Fact or Name as they assume to themselves. And the truth is, had they dealt plainly and aboveboard, according to their Principles, they should have Issu'd out all their Warrants, and granted all their Commissions in the Name of the People upon whom they depend for their Authority (such as it is,) and not have us'd (or rather abus'd) Their Majesties Names, while (in Fact) they deny Their Authority: Then might the people have been disabus'd, some of whom, to my knowledge, have Confidently believ'd, that nothing has been done, but by the King's Command. But I hope all these Mists of Con­fusion and Darkness will soon be scatter'd by the clear Sun-shine of the King's Authority here speedily to be settl'd; The hastening of which, for the preser­ving the Interest of the Crown and the Refreshing the Spirits of all Their Ma­jesties Loyal Subjects in these parts, is the longing desire, and hearty prayer of;