Honored Sir -- I have written you severall letters and advised you of all that has past in these parts I expected an answer before now specially about the four souldiers that had importuned me to goe home by which I have giuen you the reasone all myne former I am satisfied is come to your hands but of the last by three saillers. bound for Boston to the Governor open to lett you have the perusall they being so hasty could not have tyme to write to you I am Jealous youhave not seen This is then to acquaint you that the sixteenth of this instant at night after watch sett came over

26 ADMINISTRATION OF

the ferry five aimed strangers & went to Mr. William Merit after whom the door and windows were closed immediately a man a horseback dispatcht out the gate was open I was called being at home at supper, I went for the fort & overheld the man on horseback & called to stope him whereupon he rimne which made us all suspect Sir Edmond to be in toun or neare I allarumed the toun & sent out severall parties to search Merits house Ned Buckmasters house & to bring all strangers before me, they brought those five men whom I examined they having no pass pretended they had lost him they knew but papists in this toune were knowen of noe body, had the post peri to their guide he about 3| months ago forged newes here from Boston that Boston people repented what they had done & were at their wits ends & could send out no vessell, ha\'ing no boddy to cleare them, I asked him by whose orders he told such lies, he answered that Capt. Nicolson bid him to divulge such at long Island, I searched him for letters & secured him in the corp: de gard & demanded the letters of the other four, he deUvered them & s^^ they had no more but what was open I made them surrender their swords & sent out twelve men to search Merits houses for portmantles who brought me two which were open In which I found about 40 more directed most part to the opposers of our actions, whereupon I sent for the Comittie to read them & in the mean tyme I redoubled the allarum & sent for the two Merchants and Buckmaster about 500 men being couragiously in armes & they with severall were unarmed in their houses I sent for provisions to the baker by the fort a good friend of sir Edmond would not open the doore, I ordered to breake it, & being in watch they found & keept an exact account & so I should have been forced to continow till I was provided, if a souldier did not advise me that Capt Monveill headed my company which I sent, he arryving told me he onely enquyred at the ensign the reason of the allarume, I demanded if he would lett me have the provisions he had in the fort immediately he told me yea 12000 lbs bread six barrells pork 4 ban-ells pouder & so I released him & pressed noe furder for provisions but ordered to Churcher for strangers & sir Edmond in the night they brought phillip ffrance Robert