Me"" Byarde -- Much respected Sir after my servis presented unto you these are in all love tg request you to do us that kindenes as to let our petition wee left with you be presented to our honourable Governour and his counsel and to procure us an answer to that perticular which conserns the mayntenans of our minister soe that as hitherto he hath bene mainetained that is to say by the towne in generall every man paying acording to proportion tliough they differed in judgement or would upon any other pretens deny payment that tlien as formerly wee might by authority take by destres or exsecution soe much of such persons estates as is there proportion to pay as hitherto hath bene done in such cases and as wee conseive was promised by the generals when wee toke the oath of our offises for there ai-e two men in our towne which doth deny to pay theire proportion and giveth such tlireatning speeches that there is hardly any perswadeing of any one to goe with the marsliall to asist him in the exsecution of his offis for they have a consaite that unless wee have an order from the governor to take it by destres of every one that wee cannot doe it of ourselves by the power wee have aUready there being somthicg sed in oui- Instructions

Vol. III. 13

19-1 PAPERS KELATING TO CHURCHES IN QUEENS COUNTY.

that we are not to maintaine auy other way of chiu-ch government then what is acording to the senod of dort now he is noe ways rei3Ugnant to tliat senod but if hee were we ought to pay him for the time past nowe my humble request to you is that yoii would be pleased to send mee by this Bearer Me^r Jonas woode an order from the governor that those two men namely humplirey underliill and William Creede with any other that shall refuse to pay shall be compeled to pay by authority the which if you will doe I shall thingk my selfe much ingaged to you and I hope it may prevent a gret deale of truble which otherwise I feare may arise thus in haste commending you to god, I rest hopein to heare from you by this bearer your friend redy to serve you in what I may.