Colonial Williamsburg

MS46.02: William Blathwayt Papers
William Phips Letter dated September 26, 1693

Boston in New England the 26th day of September 1693/

Sr

A copy of your letter to mee of the 27th Feb 1692/3 came to hand the latter end of July last by the Captain of the Samuell and Henry being about a weeke before the Fleet Sayld from hence for England and was the first newes I received of his Maj^ties Resolution of attaqueing Canada this Year thereby I understood that his Maj^tie Had signified his Royal Comands to mee by his most Gracious Letter concerning that affaire but I did not receive the Same untill the 24th of September last which was nere two months after the Fleet Sayl'd from hence, by this meanes I could make noe Preparation against the arrivall of the Fleet for that Noble designe which I Soe much thirst after I cannot expresse my griefe for the losse of this opportunity of subdueing Canada and Bringing it under their Maj^ties obedience because I know how much the Effecting thereof would bee for their Maj^ties interest and because I fear there will Scarce bee for the future such an opportunity, although I would not altogether dispair thereof but waite til their Maj^ties Comands doe give mee opertunity to accomplish that necessary and much desired Service, which I Should Cheer fully attempt although with the greatest [Hazzard]. Their Maj^ties Fleet und^r the Command of Sr Francis Wheeler arrived here about the middle of June from [martinica] in a very Sickly condition whereby many of their men were lost but such Endeavours were here used for the recovery of the Sick and Sweetening the Ships that few dyed after their arrivall and the whole Fleet and Land Forces were in a healthfull Condition before their departure. I have received her majesties most Gracious letter Signifying her Royal approbation of my stopping the proceedings against the people here accused for witchcrafte for which my most Humble thanks are due unto her most Excellent Majestie. In July last a French Privateer from [Martinica] with 130 men landed one Hundred and nine of them att a place called Sandwich in this Province but they had not been longe on Shoar before two Companyes of our Militia marched against them and tooke them all Prisoners and att the Same time their Maj^ties Ship Norswich [Nonsuch] comanded by Captain Thomas Dobbins (Successor of Captain Short lately Suspended) w^ch I had ordered to cruise off Rhode Island after two dayes Chase tooke their Ship with the Rest of the men and retooke a Brigantine w^chwas by them taken from the English. I caused the men to bee brought to Boston and put on board the Fleet because of their want of men. I have Caused a good Stone Fort to bee built att Pemaquid w^ch with my continuall attaqueing the Indians upon all occasions hath Soe Terrifyed them y^t they have submitted themselves to their Maj^ties Royall authority and desired an everlasting peace w^ch I concluded with them att Pemaquid the 11th day of August last according to the inclosed articles w^ch is a true copy of the originall. there was lately some Danger of a breach between the Maquaa's our Westerne Indians & New Yorke and this Province but that matter is now accommodated.

I have given you an account that I had Signifyed unto the Governours of New Yorke Virginia Maryland and Pencilvania her Majesty comands to mee concerning our agreement for the assistance of New Yorke of which I have rec^d an answer and the time for the meeting of the Severall comissioners from every of the other Provinces for Setting that affaire is to bee the first wednesday of october next at New Yorke By duplicates sent in aprill last by Mr Prince and Mr [Wadland] I gave you an account of what had Then occurred which I doubt not are longe before this come to your hand therefore I repeat nothing then written The reason why I did not send by the fleet was because Mr Jackson who had the care of my Letters was taken Sick when hee should have Gon on board the Suddennesse whereof was Such that the Fleet being under Sayle were out of Sight before the Delay upon that occasion could bee recovered.

I desire you will be pleased to move his Maj^tie to order 20 Great Gunns with Such amunition as to his Maj^tie Shall seem meet to bee Sent to New England for the Fort att Pemaquid for it will thereby not onely bee able to resist the Force of all the Indians in America but alsoe any attaque that can bee made by the French by Sea with their greatest Force they can send into America att this Juncture w^ch wee cannot reasonably imagine can be very formidable I have no viewes of Thomas Cox Esqr of w^ch his Maj^ties
most gracious letter make mention who is I fear by Some Sad accident
miscarryed .

S^r , I am your most humble Servant

William Phips