Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II

England were a Caball & held a great correspondency ags' ye Protestant interest as it was & is ye endeavours of y^ Popish world, besides which obseryacon Wee made before o'' motion here from severall and frequent messages from your parts hither, especially to y^ Priests who have alwayes ye Chief Share in y^ Managem^ of intrigues agst ye Protestants: Three of o-" Popish Govern'"'* are fled (to wit) one Darnall, Josephs and Sewall, w^e have two onely in Custody; one Pye and Hill, w°'i three Priests they had a designe towards your parts if feare of discovery hath pi" vented, they have wti» them a small yacht & Brigantine, if they be not retaken, having sent after them, we desire you would be pleased to be as kind to us as your circumstances will permit w^h shall oblige us to a due requitall, especially if any discovery that related to us happens before ye communicacons of w<^'i will be a great advantage to a genii understanding, & may enlighten to a further discovery of ye great design that was to be carried on.

As to newes from England or ye West Indians, y^ last came by his Mat es Packett boat, who left England in June, his business only to brinohis Mat'es orders w^h were in y^ three distinct letters to Virginia, Maryland & Pennsilvania, signifying only a war w^^ France, & that we must take effectuall care for y^ opposing or resisting any attemps of ye French upon this Province, assuring "his subjects here, his greatest protecon, by sending a considerable squadron of ships in to y® West Indians & other succors for p''tecting his Maties Plantacons in America ; no great matters of news else, but all was well in England & ye reducing of Ireland went on prosperously; som of opinion that y® p^sent circumstances of Albany deserve your greatest consideracons, & therefore no paines nor opertunity should be spared, to oblige or secure y® same to y« Kings service ag^^ y® French who will doubtless attempt something in ye sprinke, we have certaine informacon that a considerable squadron of men of war, are gone from fFrance towards