Copy of a Letter from the Governor and Council of the Colony of Connecticut, to the Rt. Honorable, the Lords of the Council of trade, relative to the Narraganset Country.

RIGHT HONNOURABLE—

We request your consideration of our pleas of right to the Government and soyleof the Narragansett lands,

1. Our Pattent, dated 23d Aprill, in the fourteenth year of his Majesties Reigne, doth circumscribe those lands, and makes them Connecticuts, which Pattent is precedent to Rhoad Island.

2. That the bounds of our charter, as to the eastern limits, was not newly devised, but was so described in a grant made formerly to some Lords and Gent, bearing date Anno. Dom. 1631, which at a dear rate was purchased by the Colony of Connecticut, which grant, though so purchassed we were unwilling to rely upon, it wanting a Royall stamp, and therefore soon after his Majesties happy restoration to his Crown and dignity, this Colony did request and impower the Hon. John Winthrop Esqr., our then Governour, to undertake a voyage for England, and to present our humble address to his Majesty and procure a charter for this Colony, which through assistance of Almighty God, and the abundant grace of our Lord the King, (whom God preserve) he was successfull therein.

3. That Pawcatuck River, which Rhoad Island procured his Majestie to call Narragensett River in their charter, lyeth about six miles within the Pequot country, that was conquered by us above forty years agoe, which his Majestie is pleased to take notice of, as a ground for the grant of our charter, in part of which lands we have been forced to settle some of our friend Indians, who were helpfull to us in the warr when the Narragansetts were our enemies, and the Rhoad Islanders no good friends, that it should be taken from them for Rhoad Island, to possess and govern will be to them intolerable.

4. After a charter was procured and sent over to us, the Honnourable John Winthrop his agency was expired, and therefore any agreement Rhoad Island may pretend they made with Governour Winthrop, doth not binde the Colony.

5. Connecticot have dealt plainly, and have antiquity of their side before either donation of the Indians to his Majestie, and before Rhoad Islands charter grant.

6. Connecticut hath been long and lately in possession of great parts of those Narraganset lands, which according to his Majesties Letter of February 12th, 1097, (we humbly conceive) ought so to continue untill his Majesties decision and pleasure be further known, notwithstanding which, the Government of Rhoad Island have been contending with us, incroached upon our rights, and given us great mollestation.

7. In the late Indian warr, Rhoad Island Government neglected to grant assistance to defend the people planted in the Narraganset country, or to recover the lands out of the hands of the natives, our enemies, who strongly fortifyed themselves there, and ruled as Lords both of soyle and Government, till they were recovered out of their hands by this Colony, and our allies, yea when in the sharpest of the winter, our souldiers had a cruel fight with the enemy, beat them out of their works and burnt them with fire, and retreated to Rhoad Island for recruit w'th our wounded men; we were forced to pay dearly for what reliefe they had there, and our souldiers when they were so well that they could be removed into our Colony for care, (they haveing not money to pay) their late Governour Cranson, took indentures of our souldiers to serve him for years for what they had had, before he lett them pass, and yet againe they give us trouble, and would reassume a Government there, which how they manage we hope you will have from other hands, sundry other such things with sufficient proofs we had sent over, but they are all lost with our agent, we request your favorable construction hereof, and you will thereby oblige your most humble servants, the Governour and Councill of Connecticutt.

WILLIAM LEET, Govern'ur.