4. What statute laws and ordinances are now ... in force?
Answer. The secretary of this country every year sends to the lord chancellor, or one of the principal secretaries, what laws are yearly made; which for the most part concern only our own private exigencies; for, contrary to the laws of England, we never did, nor dare make any, only this, that no sale of land is good and legal, unless within three months after the conveyance it be recorded in the general court, or county courts.
5. What number of horse and foot are within your government, and whether they be trained bands or standing forces?
Answer. All our freemen are bound to be trained every month in their particular counties, which we suppose, and do not much mistake in the calculation, are near eight thousand horse: there are more, but it is too chargeable for poor people, as wee are, to exercise them.
6. (Castles and forts.)
7. What number of privitiers do frequent your coasts ... the number of their men, and guns, and names of their commanders?
Answer. None to our knowledge, since the late Dutch war.
8. What is the strength of your bordering neighbors, be they Indians or others ...?
Answer. We have no Europeans seated nearer to us than St. Christophers or Mexico, that we know of, except some few ffrench that are beyond New England. The Indians, our neighbours, are absolutely subjected, so that there is no fear of them[102]....
9. (Arms, amunition, and stores ... "sent you upon his majestys account?")