London 16^th 7^ber 1681.

My Friends.
I hope I doo not improperly call you soe because in being
soe you will Extremely befriend your selves as well as performe
an act of Duty to the King and Justice to me. I am Equally a
Stranger to you all but your being Represented men of Sub-
stance and Reputation in your part of the Bay which I presume
falls within my Patent I chose to take this opportunity to begin
our acquaintance and by you With the rest of the People on
your Side of my Country and doe assure you and them that I
will be soe farr from taking any advantage to draw great
Proffets to my selfe that you shall finde me and my Govern-
ment Easy free and Just. And as you shall Study to be faire
and Respectfull to me and my lust Interests I will not be short
of giving you all Reasonable assurances on my Part that I will
live Kindly and well with you and for this you have my word
under my hand. I think fitt to Caution you (if within my
bounds as I am ready to Believe but I desire no more then my
owne) that none of you pay any more taxes or Sessments by
any order or Law of Maryland for if you doo it will be greatly
to your owne wrong as well as my Prejudice, though I am not
Concious to my Selfe of such an Insufficiency of Power here
with my Superiors as not to be able to wether that Difficulty if
you should. But the opinion I have of the Lord Baltimore
Prudence as well as Justice and of the Regard to your owne
Interests and future good of your Posterity, makes me to waive
all objections of that Nature and to hope we shall all doe the
thing that is Just and honest (which is allwaies wise) according
to our Respective Stations I have noe more to add, but my
good wishes for all your happiness, and that by the help of
Almighty God next Spring you shall have some testimony of
my best Endeavours to Contribute towards it as becomes my
duty to God to the King and to theire people I am
Your Reall friend
W^m Penn
Pray salute me to all your Neighbours.

For James Frisby, Edward Jones
Augustin Harman, George Oldfield
Henry Ward and Henry Johnson at
theire Plantations In
Pensylvania.

P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.
B. B., p. 44