freed from being called to exercise in the said foot companys.

Further it is ordered, That when the said Company are fitted with horses and armes suitable for that exercise, they shall not embessle them away, but keep them always in a readiness, when they shall be called upon for exercise. And further, shall have liberty annually to choose their owne officers.

And further it is ordered, That the commissioned officers of said troop, shall have power to appoint their days and places of exercise from time to time; and shall be exercised and disciplined six days in the yeare, and shall have the like commissions as are given to the Infantry. And in case of default, be under and lyable to double the penaltys and fines by the law of this Collony imposed on the foot Companys in such case.

Voted, And it is further ordered, That there be two Majors chosen in this Collony annually; one Major for the Islands, and one Major for the maine land. The Major for the Islands to be chosen by the freemen and Traine Bands of the Islands, and the Major for the maine to be chosen by the freemen and Traine Bands on the maine; and their voates to be sent in at the generall election of officers in May, annually, by the Clerke of the respective Bands, that they may be recorded; any thing to the contrary hereof, in any wise, notwithstanding.

Upon a case between Mr. John Pococke and Mr. Edmund Calverly, Generall Sergeant, referred by the last Generall Court of Tryalls unto this Assembly, the Assembly on a searious debate and consideration of that matter, inquired of both the said Pococke and Calverly whether they were free to leave the said case to this Assembly. They both readily answered they did freely and fully leave that whole case to the judg ment and determination of this Assembly.

Voted, This Assembly haveing heard and seariously consid ered the case presented between Mr. John Pococke and Mr. Edmund Calverly, Generall Sergeant, doe judge and determine that the said Generall Sergeant hath not performed his office in the said case; yett doe judge that it was not through wil fullness, but through ignorance.

Voted, Upon a petition of Edmund Calverly, Generall Sergeant, for his charges and attendance as keeper, on the privateers, late prisoners, sent away for Virginia; this Assembly, on the debate of the matter, doe judge that for his negligence in leaving the prison doore open, whereby some of the prisoners made an escape, he ought to forfeitt the said demand. Yett the Assembly considering his poverty, in favour to him, doe allow him but the sum of five pounds of his bill, to be paid by the Generall Treasurer,

Voted, Forasmuch as there hath of late appeared a deficiency in the Court of Tryalls, for want of a due course of law being provided, in case the Governor or Deputy Governor, or both be taken off the bench by lawfull exceptions, whereby the Court is wholly disenabled to proceed in such case or cases.

Therefore bee it enacted by this Assembly, That in any such case, the first Assistant in choyce there present, with three Assistants more, or as many more as are present, shall be a full Court of Tryalls, to trye, determine and issue any such case effectually.

Voted, As an addition to the former law concerning the navall office, it is enacted, that it shall bee in the power of that person, that the Governor shall in any towne appoint to keep a navall office, to administer the oath according to law, to any Commander or Master of any ship or other vessell by law lyable.

Voted, It is ordered, that it shall be in the power of the Governor, or Deputy Governor, and any one Assistant, or more, to auditt the accounts of any persons claiming debts concerneing the privateers late in prison; and order their payment by the Generall Treasurer. And allsoe the Generall Treasurer is empowered, if occasion be, to defray the debts, to make sale of the gunns and other armes, and amunition seized, belonging to the said privateers.

Voted, Upon the petition of John Wilkinson of the towne of Providence, who was wounded in the late warr with the Indians, this Assembly doe allow him the sum of tenn pounds in or as money, to be paid out of the Generall Treasury.

Voted, Whereas our Honored Governor hath been pleased to relate to this Assembly how it hath pleased God to preserve his life from the privateers, viz.: John Smith, and his associates, by the information of John Booth, negroe, one of their company, whoe declared their intention to kill the Governor before their being sent away; and the said John Booth, negroe, earnestly petitioninge the Governor, that he might not be sent with them, because he knew they would kill him for revealing the said plott, the Governor, haveing at present soe farr granted his request, and haveing desired the advice and approbation of this Assembly further therein, this Asembly declares that they doe approve of the Governor's act therein; and doe further grant, that if the said negroe can procure any sufficient security to the vallue of tenn pounds, for his appearance at the Court of Tryalls,'in March next, if required thereunto, that then his irons bee taken off, and soe farr sett at liberty.

Voted, That the Recorder shall have the sum of six shillings, eight pence in or as money, from each towne in the Collony, for copys of this Assembly's acts, under the seale; and shall have the sum of tenn shillings in or as money, for his attendance at this Assembly, to bee paid by the Generall

Treasurer.

Voted, This Assembly is dissolved.

Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Newport, the 2d of May, 1683.

Major Peleg Sanford, Governor.

Mr. Walter Clarke, Deputy Governor.

Mr. John Easton,

ASSISTANTS.

Mr. Caleb Carr.

Mr. Edward Thurston, Sen'r,
Mr. Phillip Smith,

Mr. Nathan'l Coddington.
For Providence.

Mr. Thomas Field,
Mr. Thomas Arnold,

Mr. Thomas Fenner,
Mr. Alexander Bolcum.
For Portsmouth.
Mr. William Wodell,
Major John Albro,
Mr. Latham Clarke,

Mr. Thomas Cornell,

Mr. Thomas Greene, Sen'r.

For Warwick.

Mr. Israell Arnold,
Mr. John Potter,
Mr. John Warner.
For Westerly.
Mr. Tobias Saunders,
Mr. Robert Burdick.

For New Shoreham.
John Rathbone.

For Kings Towne.

For East Greenwich.
John Sanford,
Mr. Clemence Weaver.
For James Towne.
Mr. Ebenezer Slocum.
Mr. Ephraim Moss.

At the Generall Assembly and Election held for the Collony at Newport, the 2d of May, 1683.

The Deputy Governor chosen Moderator.

John Sanford, Recorder, chosen Clerke.

Voted, The Recorder is appointed to take the names of those that bring in their votes for Governor.

Voted, Mr. Nathaniell Coddington, and Mr. Latham Clarke, are appointed to receive the votes from each man, and take care noe deceipt be, and put the votes into the hat as the Election proceeds.

Voted, That Mr. John Coggeshall and Mr. William Wodell,

are appointed to open the proxies, and as the Election proceeds, putt in the votes into the hatt.

Voted, That for the conveniency of the Election, the Assembly sitt in the lower roome.

By the Election was chosen the following, who were severally engaged.

Voted, Whereas Capt. Arthur Fenner, Mr. Rich'd Arnold, and Capt'n Samuell Gorton, chosen by the free votes of the freemen in this Assembly to the office of Assistants, and they not being here present to give engagment: this Assembly doe order, that the Recorder in the name of the Assembly doe draw up some lines and send to the said gentlemen, wherein to signify the election, and require their appearance forthwith before the Governor, or Deputy Governor, at Newport, there to give their engagement to the said offices they are elected unto.

Voted, The elected Governor, Major Peleg Sanford, coming into this Assembly and being desired and required to give his engagement, did owne his allegiance to his Majesty, yett said he had sufficient reasons, and would not accept to engage. Therefore this Assembly doe determine to proceed to the election of a Governor in his roome or stead.