42 AUMIMSTRATION OF

is not* newi^ bi t \vli;.t we have of the tuo Irish, noe ships, any uf:d out of EnglanI, having no inort- to add, but that I, am &c.

* COL: COODEE TO LEISLER.

St Mary's County in Maryland Nov 26, 1(58!).

HoN^^^ S"" -- Your's courteous letter, directed to y Assembly in Mayryland y/^^ is now under adjournment. I have received & having y^ hon"" of the chief command of his Mati^^s forces here, thought it my duty return an answer by ye first opertunity possible. Your greate ciuilitie I have comunicated &• rep^sented to all o"^ friends here, who are extremely glad of so neer and convenient a friendship, especially since o"" circumstances are so alike, &y« comon danger so equally threatening: we have still ye same reasonable & just aprehensions w'^ yofs & ye N, England governrn* of a great designe that was on foot to betray & ruine their Ma^'^s and y^ Protestant interest through all these northern parts the attempts to disarme y^ Protestants in this Province last spring, ye overturnes to, & Treatys vf^^'^ o^ neighbouring & other Indians w*^ other treacherous & inhumane practices, (too tedious for a letter) from ye late govern ^ here, gave us just case as to fly to armes at first, so still to p''sist & stand upon o"" guard to prevent traiterous interprises & o"" oune ruine I thought it convenient herew^^* to send you o"" declaracon, w^h is ye least part of what we have to say ag^^ o"" Popish politicons, ag^* whom there are dayly more discoverie & informacons, of which we have not much before us that in any pi'ticular or distinct manner relates to ye gover™* unlesse this may be anything significant. We met Vf^^ a paper to ye governm* from ye late King James, relating to a great correspondency & amity, we were comanded to keep ^th or French neighbours in America, a copy of which I have herew^h gent you, notw^^standing w^h, this is remarkable that Collo Dongan sent to us and Virgmia, to contribute o"" assistance towards a Warr w^^ ye French, w^h was complyed wt'i I understand in Virginia, but disobeyed here, for reasons W^^ I leave to yo^ conjecture -- as also what might be meant by settling ye bounds and limits of these Collonies