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]. They said they never heard that they could have one. I told them that their argument might pass with such as knew nothing of the matter, but that I knew better; for that to my certain knowledge they might have had a patent had they not rejected it, and that it was so far from being done in haste or in the dark that there was not a boy in the whole town, nor almost in the whole county, but must have heard of it; and that I must always be a witness against them, not only of the many messages they have had from the governI told them as ment about it, but likewise from myself. ... to the last purchase wherein I was concerned [that of the Eichbell estates, including the White Plains tract], if that gave them any dissatisfaction, that I would not only quit my claim but use my iniluence in getting them any part of it they should desire. Their answer was they valued not that; it was Harrison's patent that was their ruin." For three years, 1(507 to 1699, inclusive, Rye was represented in the Connecticut general court by regularly elected delegates. During this period and for one year longer, the town was designated of Fairfield." officially by its inhabitants as being " in the County the matters at New York made no attempt at coercion, but referred issue to the king; and in March, 1700, an order of the king in council was issued, not only approving the boundary agreement of 16S3-81, but directing the revolted towns "forever thereafter to be and remain under the government of the Province of New York." This decision was, as a matter of course, accepted by all parties as final.