Document: Letter from the court of Easthampton to the Dutch commissioners

Wee the Inhabitants of Easthampton understanding you are Sent by Commission for ye astablishing the affaires of your government in these parts and that you desire an answer from us in particulr Wee being now meet together doe Returne Answer that for the present our humble Request is: that there may bee noe further proceeding then hath been in former Transactions Betweene us and Your Selves & that for the future wee may be left to be Regulated by our fformer Lawes and that authority is resident amongst us, and this wee the more Earnstly desire from you because that Severall amongst us from the first stood disaffected to any Ingagemt to your Selves in point of government yet all of us Cannot but acknowledge your Christian & Moderate dealing with us and are as willing uppon all Occasions to retribute the like to your Selves and to live peacable Neighbours to you & doe Engage for ye future not to Move in any act hostilety against you, and wee doe more Earnstly desire in that we Cannot: but bee Sensable of the great danger wee are in boath from those that are neere home So well as those abroad of Our owne Nation, Sir our owne Safty puting us uppon ye Suspending our further proceeding in this way with you, soe hoping our humble desires in the premisses may find acceptance from you wee rest yours to Serve in what wee may.

Subscribed in ye Name, & with the Consent of the Inhabitants of Easthampton,

Bij mee Thomas Tallmage, Recorder