Which was caused, first, (in default of a settlement of the
boundary so repeatedly requested) by the troublesome neigh-
bors of New England, who numbered full fifty to our one, ¹
continually encroaching on lands within established bounds,
possessed and cultivated in fact by your Illustrious High
Mightinesses' subjects.

Secondly, by the exceedingly detrimental, land-destroying
and people-expelling wars with the cruel barbarians, which
endured two years before my arrival there, whereby many
subjects who possessed means were necessitated to depart,
others to retreat under the crumbling fortress of New Amster-
dam, which, on my arrival, I found resembling more a mole-
hill than a fortress, without gates, the walls and bastions
trodden under foot by men and cattle.

Less dare I, to avoid self-glorification, encumber your
weighty occupations, Illustrious, High and Mighty, with the
trouble, care, solicitude and continual zeal with which I have
endeavored to promote the increase of population, agriculture
and commerce; the flourishing condition whereunto they were
brought, not through any wisdom of mine, but through God's
special blessing, and which might have been more flourishing
if your formerly dutiful, but now afflicted, inhabitants of that
conquest had been, Illustrious, High and Mighty, protected
and remained protected by a suitable garrison, as necessity
demanded, against the deplorable and tragical massacres by
the barbarians, whereby (in addition to ten private murders)
we were plunged three times into perilous wars, ² through want
of sufficient garrisons; especially had they, on the supplicatory
remonstrances of the people and our own so iterated entreaties,
which must be considered almost innumerable, been helped
with the long sought for settlement of the boundary, or in
default thereof had they been seconded with the oft besought
reinforcement of men and ships against the continual troubles,
threats, encroachments and invasions of the English neighbors
and government of Hartford Colony, our too powerful enemies.

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