RIGHT HONOURABLE—

The former encouragements that our Fathers and some of their yett surviving associates received from your Honour, to transplant themselves and families into these inland parts of this vast wilderness, where (as we have been given to understand) your Honnor was, and as we conceive and hope are still interested by value of Pattent power, and authority, doth not only perswade us, but assure us of your patronage and favour, in that which may come within your power, wherein our comfort and settlement, and the well being of our posterity, and the whole Colony, both in civill and Ecclesiastick pollicie is so deeply concerned. Honourable Sir, nott long after that some persons of noate, we forbear to recite, had settled upon this River of Connecticott, and some Plantations up the River were possessed, and in some measure improved; Mr, George Fenwick took possession of Saybrook Fort, there resideing for certain or severall years; at length he was moved for ends best known to himself to returne to England, and thereupon propounded by himself, or agent, the sale of the Fort, with the Housing there, and severall appertenances, together with all the Lands on the River, and so to the Narragansett Bay, with jurisdiction power to this Colony, which was exceedingly opposed by severall amongst us, whom some of us have heard to affirm that such a thing would be very distastfull to your Honour, with the rest of the noble Pattentees, who had very bountifull intentions to this Colony nevertheless, tho there was a stopp for the present, yett in some short time, (God removeing some from us by death, that were interested in the hearts and affections of severall of those Nobles and Gent. the Pattentees in England) the business of purchass was revived by Mr. Fenwick, and expressions to this purpose given out by him or his agents, or both, that he had power to dispose of the premises, the rest of the Pattentees deserting, it fell into his hands by agreement; and in case the Towns on the River, refused to comply with such terms as he proposed for the purchassing of the said Fort &c., itt was frequently reported that he proposed either to impose customes on the River, or make sale thereof to the Dutch, our noxious neigh-bours, at last for our peace and settlement and security (as we hoped) we made by our Committee, an agreement with the said Mr. Fenwick, a coppie whereof is ready to be presented unto your Honnour, which cost this River, one thousand six hundred pounds or thereabouts, wherein your Honnour may see the great abuse that we received at Mr. Fenwicks hand, receiving a vast sum from a poor people, and we scarcely att all advantaged thereby; may we judge our condition worse then if we had contented ourselves with the patronage of the grand Pattentees, for we have not so much as a coppy of a Pattent to secure our standing as a comonwealth, nor to ensure us for the continuance of our rights and priviledges and immunities, which we thought the jurisdiction power and authority which Mr. Fenwick had engaged to us, and we paid for at a dear rate, nor any thing under his hand to engage him and his heirs, to the performance of that which was aimed at and intended in our purchase, the lands up the River for a long tract, the Massachusetts Colony doth challenge, and have run the line, which as they say, falls into one of our Towns ; on the other side towards Narragansett, we know not how to claime, being destitute of Pattent and a coppie to decide the bounds. Be pleased noble Sr to considder our condition, who have taken upon us this boldness to address his Majestie, our Sovreigne Lord, and to petition his Grace and favour towards us, in granting us the continuance of his protection, and the continuance of those priviledges and immunities, that we have hitherto enjoyed in this remote western part of the world; and likewise for a Pattent, whereby we may be encouraged and strengthened in our proceedings. Right Honnourable, our humble request to yourself is, that you would be pleased to countenance our enterprise, and so farr favour us, as to councell and advise our agent who is to Represent this poor Colony, and to act in our behalfe, John Winthrop Esqr., our Honnoured Governour, whom we have commissioned and also directed to await your Honnours pleasure, for advise and counsell, both respecting our Petition for the King's Majestie, as also respecting the case forementioned, that if there be any relief for us, we may not lose such a conside-rable sum of money, and be exposed to further expence for the obtaining a Pattent. If we may find this favour with your Honnour to afford your advice and counsell and hopefulness to bring to pass our desiers, we shall still acknowledge your enlarged bounty and favourable respect to us and ours, and ever pray an inundation of mercies may flow in upon your Lordship from the author and fountain of blessing, with all due respect, we subscribe Sr your Lordships Humble Servants.

The Generall Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, pr, their Order,

DANIEL CLARK, Secry.

Dated June 7th, 1661.