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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Edward Hyde to Giles Rainsford [Extract]
Hyde, Edward, 1667-1712
May 30, 1712
Volume 01, Pages 849-850

[From N. C. Letter Book. S. P. G.]
Mr HYDE TO Mr RAINSFORD—EXTRACT

Chowan May 30th 1712

Revd Sir

I have the honor of My Lord of Londons letter with the favor of yours by Mr Pugh I am very much obliged to you for so early acquainting me with your arrival and heartily congratulate you upon that and the Mission you come about. I wish with all my heart the country was in such a State as will give you no reason to repent so long a voyage: and I hope it will not, for as the work you come about is of so a essential nature so I doubt not but God will prosper you and your endeavour, and the people learn to do their duty I will assure you there shall be nothing wanting in me to render everything to you as easy as possible nor would I have you to be the least discouraged by any misrepresentations you may receive (this under the Rose) from Mr Urmstone which will be very loud and complaining but I will be free to tell you that all or the greater part of it is purely owing to himself & his unfortunate Temper which no ways suits with the humors of the natural born people of America (this is a caution). When you favor me with your company I shall give you a faithful account of the observations I have made of the people here and the method that will gain them for they are not to be won by

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any thing but gentle methods to what is serious and devout and moral and poor Mr Urmstones railing and morose temper has lost them all in general I have received and am fully satisfied with your credentials which I have returned you back and please myself with the thoughts that a little time will settle this Country more to your satisfaction and mine notwithstanding all the trouble I have met with in it. I have cut off and took prisoners betwixt 3 or 400 Indian Enemies and am in hopes in a little time to have matters so ripe as to have a treaty of a general peace set on foot. It is indeed by nature one of the best countrys in the world, tho' the people are naturally loose & wicked obstinate and rebellious crafty and deceitful and study to invent slander on one another and sow such seeds of seditions that they have generally reaped them in the plentiful crops of Rebellion.

And now sir give me leave to give you an invitation to my house; where you shall be most welcome as long as ever you please: nor shall you have the occasion to complain of the country as Mr Urmston has unhappily created himself. The times has been so very troublesome that I have the more pitied Mr Urmstone, because the situation of his abode is such as I have not been able to accomodate him with such conveniencys as otherwise I would have done. But should he complain of me in that respect, I will assure you it is groundless, I have often offered Let him send a canoe & hands & I would supply him. Nay would pay a canoe and hands would he but procure them—

I am Revd Sir &c
EDWARD HYDE