To THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY—

The Humble Petition of your Majesties loyall and dutifull subjects, the Governour and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New England in America, presented by Major General Fitz John Winthrop Esqr, their Agent in that behalfe lawfully authorized, sheweth:

That your Petitioners by Letters Pattents, of the late King Charles the second, under the great Seal of England, in the fourteenth year of his Reigne, were incorporated by the name of the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New England in America, and by several constitutions and powers specified in the said Letters Pattent, had granted to them as well the civill administration of the affairs, as the Lieutenancy and power of ordering, arraying, modelling and conducting the Melitia of the said Colony, for the special defence and security of the same.

That your Petitioners from the date of the said grant, untill the month of October last, have enjoyed the said liberties and priviledges without forfeiture or mollestation therein [except a little interruption they received, upon the general im-peachment of the English Liberties, towards the latter end of the Reigne of the late King James the second,] to the great encrease and comfort of the inhabitants of the said Colony, and the defence and security of your Majesties neighbouring Provinces.

That Benjamin Ffletcher Esqr, the present Governour of your Majesties Province of New York, in the said month of October last, by colour of your Majesties commission, whereby (for the uniting the forces of the said Province and Colony, against the common enemy,) he was created your Majesties Commander in Chief of the Melitia of the said Colony, did demand of your Petitioners, not only to submitt to him as Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief over the full Quota of the Militia of that Colony in conjunction with those of the Province of New York and the other adjacent Governments, (which your Petitioners were always ready to doe, and to send their said Quota, when and wherever commanded by him,) but likewise that your Petitioners should surrender to him the particular Lieutenancy of the said Colony of Connecticutt, and their power of as-sessing, modelling and establishing the Militia thereof, granted to them by the said Charter, threatning withall to enforce obedience to his said demands, to the great terrour and discouragement of the inhabitants of your Majesties said Colony.

That the said Benjamin Ffletcher hath likewise endeavoured, by several artifices, to insinuate himself into the civill government of the said Colony; and such, the proceedings of the said Benjamin Ffletcher, are repugnant to the before mentioned grant of King Charles the second, and the true intention of your Majesties said commission, (as your petitioners do in all humility conceive.)

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray, that the said Commission may receive such explanation and restriction, and your petitioners have such speedy reliefe and order for the quieting the said difference for the future, as to your Majesty, in your royall justice and wisdome shall seem most conduceing to the prosperity of your Majesties people and interests in the said colony of Connecticut—and your petitioners as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.

J. WINTHROP.