Ann Bichbell against the Eye people for intrusion on the White Plains lands. These two events brought matters to a crisis. Eye seceded from New York, applied to be received back into Connecticut, and, meeting with encouragement, resumed formal connection with the latter government, until by order of the king compelled to abandon it. Eye's petition to the general court of Connecticut, in conjunction with a similar one from Bedford, was submitted on January 19, 1697, and was graciously received. On the 8th of April following an overt manifestation against New York's authority was made at Eye by Major Sellick, of Stamford, "with about fifty dragones, whom he called his life-guard, with their arms presented." The major and his " dragones " presumed to interfere with an election which was being conducted there by Benjamin Collier, high sheriff of Westchester County, for representative in the New York assembly. Apparently no actual violence was done, but the show of force excited strong feeling in New York, and was promptly characterized in very severe terms by the proRYE AND ASSOCIATED TRACTS. vincial assembly. Governor Fletcher issued a proclamation ordering Eye and Bedford to return to their allegiance, and also entered into communication on the subject with the governor of Connecticut, from whom, however, he

COMPLETION

EARLY

LOCAL

SETTLEMENT.

obtained no satisfaction. In addition, Fletcher tried conciliatory measures, dispatching Colonel Caleb Heathcote, one of the members of his council, to Eye, with instructions to do what he could by means of his personal influence toward settling the troubles. Heathcote's report gives a very clear idea of the merits of the controversy, showing that the Rye settlers had only themselves to blame for the loss of the Harrison lands. " I asked them/' says Heathcote, " why they did not take out a patent when it was tendered them [by Dongan].