(Which was past before his being here to his depart^c to wliich I re- •feire mysclie I being intrusted by the committee to keep & defend the fort for their Ma'ies Kiiig William &, Queen Mary, have made hidd to open tlie letter for the Lieut tfrancis Nicolsone whereof the enclosed is a true coppy his creatures formerly in offices have done what they could to skaare our people of our actione in secureing Uie fort and endeavours to make such Impressione in them that all your ships are sold at Barbadoes by wanting of sir Edmond Andross passports and so seek daily for a divisione amongst us I in- Ueavour to prevent what I can, the enclosed is a coppy of a depositions whereof w'e have one more of Jho: Davids of one tenor 1 )iave sent six men to Staten Island in the night & fetched him out of his house and had him here prisoner of warr in the fort for eight days after, which he makeing his excuse of being drunk and in a passione had said the word or such to that puipose without pny intent was left out by a counsell of warre, but in that lyme I have send these eighteen men with orders to disarme all the papists, who after they understood of takeing the abovesd man w'ere afraid & soe I suppose hid their armes, so they gott but four great gunes in one millhouse of Coll: dongan hidden under a blanket & covered with baggs of which I have them in the fort, here is one ship arryved of Barbadoes he brings certane news of warr with England & hoUand agt ffrance, and was published at Barbadoes and that Bostons ships were well received there and your actiones well commended I am daily working in the fort with sixteen carpenters & twenty men which I shall continow till it is truly in good posture of defence, I am digging up the old wall wliich w^as filled up by Coll: dongan I intend to stockadde the fort round and hope within three weeks if it please God to have it compleat, I shall be glad to have the honour of an answ^er of this & the former and having leave of you shall not faill to advise you of our further proceeding In the mean time after myne respects I recommend your Hon: to Almighty God and remain &c.