We shall see in the next chapter what passed between the colonial governments relative to this secession. Meanwhile, for four years Rye was a part of Connecticut. From 1697 to 1700, inclusive, the inhabitants designated themselves as living in Rye, ' in the county of Fairfield, in the colony of Connecticut.'6 They applied to the General Court at Hartford for the settlement of any matters in dispute, and the Court seems to have considered and disposed of such applications precisely as in the case of any town east of Byram River.

We have a curious account of the state of feeling among the good people of Rye during this interval. It occurs in a letter of Colonel Heathcoate, wnitten after a visit to Rye, the object of which was to persuade the malcontents to submit with a good grace. Colonel Heathcoate writes to the Governor and Council : --

Westchester, Feb'y 19, 1696-97. "Gentlemen, -- I had long crc this given you an account of my Rye Expedition, had I not at my coming here been kept Prisoner a Fortnight or three weeks by reason of the weather and a nimble distemper ; * * * * from which so soon as I was disengaged I proceeded and called a meeting of ye Inhabitants, taking particular care to have the Ringleaders summonsed; and enquired of them the reason of the Revolt. The}* told me that the grant to Harrison and his associates was so great an Injury to 'em, that their town was nothing without it, and that they had as good loose all as that ; and a great Deal of Stuff to that effect. I asked them why they did not take out a patent" when it was tendered them. They said they never heard that they could have one.