WILLIAM R.

Trusty and well beloved, wee greet you well : — Whereas, notwithstanding the many good laws made from time to time, for preventing of frauds in the Plantation Trade, it is manifest that very great abuses have been and continue still to be practised, to the prejudice of the same, which abuses must needs arise, either from the insolvency of the persons who are accepted for security, or from the remissness or connivance of such as have been, or are Governours of the severall plantations, who ought to take care that those persons who give bond should be duely prosecuted in case of non-performance, you are to take notice, that we take the good of our plantations, and the improvement of the trade thereof by a strict and punctuall observance of the severall laws in force, concerning the same, to be of so great importance to the benefitt of this our kingdom, and the advanceing of the duties of our customs here, that if we shall be hereafter informed, that at any tyme, there shall be any failure, in the due observance of those laws, within our colony of Connecticott, by any willfull fault or neglect, on your part, wee shall look upon it as an infraction of those laws, tending to the forfeiture of our letters patients, for the Government of that our said colony. So we bid you heartily farewell.

Given at our court, at Kensington, this 22d day of Aprill, 1697, in the ninth year of our reign. By his Majesties command,

SHREWSBURY.

To our trusty and well beloved, the Governour and company of the colony of Connecticott, in America—Connecticutt.