Document: Letter from the general court of Connecticut to governor Colve

It being not the manner of Christian or Civill nations to disturb ye poore people in Cottages & open Villages in the times of warr much less to Impose oaths uppon them but to suffer them to goe on with their Husbandry & other Contry affayres, wee Cannot but wonder to heare that some of yours ( Notwithstanding a Caution formerly to the sea Commands ) haveing bene lately done toward the Eastern End of Long Island have urged his Majestys Subiects there to take an oath Contrary to their alleigance to their Souveraigne & to use many threatning Expressions towards them in case of the Refusall of such an oath, Wee thought fit hereby to lett you know that wee kan scarce believe that such Commission should proceed from your selfe, whom wee have heard to be a Souldier, & wel acquainted with Martiall affaires & may suppose you to Vnderstand better the Law of Nations & the Customes & Vsages of persons of honour in their pretences of warr, And we Cannot giies that the reasons should move to such molestation towards poore planters, except it be to attaine some plausible pretence for Plundering & pillaging, which if it should be done wee know verry well where there may be Easy Reparacon among your Boares & open Dorps, but the English will scorne such unchristion designes Except Barbarous depredations from your selves should Necessitate Retribution to the Injured You may bee assured if you proceed in Provocations to Constrayne the rising of the English Colonyes, they will not make it their worke to tamper with your peasants about sweareing but deale with your head quarters, which yet if reduced to obedience to his Majestys may Certainly Expect thereby much more happynesse & larger Immunityes without such Imposure then can be Enjoyed by them in the station wherein they now are.Mr John Bankes is our messenger by whom wee send these who can further Informe you how tender wee are of the Effijsion of Christian blood yet cannot but resent with great Indignation of any Malicious oppression shall be forced upon our dear Neighbours his Majestys good Subiects These adnimadversons are Represented to your serious Consideration from,