142 Devon Nates and Qneries, to these parts : And in their said Petitions doe apprehend the grounds of all to arise from the distractions in the City of London, which, as they 'humbly conceivei are occasioned by the infringing of the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, and the just lit>erty of the Subject : and by the opposition and hindrances which the Bishops and Popish party have laid in the way of the proceedings of your honourable Assembly : And doe further shew that (unless God by some speedy aud timely remedy doe prevent) this City and County are like greatly to be endangered by reason of the decay of the Comerce (with its: inseparable companion Poverty) which will, as they justly feare, stirre up many thousand persons to in- solent and outragious actions. They doe therefore earnestly pray us to present the premisses to your Honours, with their great fears and sensible apprehensions, that the source of all doth spring from the Bishops, the Popish party, and their designes. We thought it our l>ounden duty to preferre and present the same to your Honours acoordingly, being very sensible of the said grievances and feares, and knowing that they cannot but inevitably occasion mine and confusion to this City and County, unless God in His mercy prevent it by your Honours wise and speedy endeavours. Wherefore we humbly pray your Honours to take these our desires & humble requests into your deepe considerations : That the true Pro- testant Religion may be still preserved, the Rights and Privileges of Parliament maintained, aud the just Liberties of the subject supported ; and that the Popish party may be disarmed, which (notwithstanding the former Lawes and Orders) have been neglected ; and that the Kingdome may be put into a posture of Defence, and the Forts and places of strength may be committed to the hands of trusty persons ; and that the power of voting in Parliament may be taken from the Bishops and Popish Lords^ and also the said distresses of our alHicted Brethren in Ireland may thoroughly be taken to heart, and speedily remedied. So may we expect the happinesse and flourishing of this Kingdome, and shall have more and more cause to blesse God for His Majesty, and your Honours. And, as duty bindes us, shall ever pray. &c. Printed for William Hope, 164.1. 106. Tristram Coffin, of Brixton, Devon, — It may interest some of your readers to learn that I have lately found some new facts relative to this well-known pioneer of New England, whose descendants in the United States and British North America now number, I understand, more than 5,000. The Parish Register of Brixton prior to 1668, and the wills and administration papers deposited in the Court of the Arch- deacon of Totnes before 1600 are, alas, non-existent, and the Act Books of the Bishops of Exeter, extending from 1568 to 1734, and containing the entries of marriage licences granted during that period, are unindexed; but, after some rather
