Mr. William Coddington chosen Governor and engaged; and alsoe took the oath for Trade and Navigation.

Voted, Whereas this Assembly upon the allegations of Mr. Wm. Coddington, saw cause to release him from serving in the employe of an Assistant in this Collony, forasmuch as they could conveniently supply his place in the said office, yett notwithstanding have seen meet since (upon the refusal ofour late Honored Governor, Major Peleg Sanford, to take his engagement) to elect him the said Mr. William Coddington, Governor, and doe judge it will not bee safe for this Assembly upon the same tearms to release him from being Governor, notwithstanding his present allegations, and therefore doe earnestly desire him to take his engagement, wee seeing an absolute necessity for the same.

Voted, That a Committee be appointed and empowered by this Assembly to goe to our late Honored Governor, Major Peleg Sanford, and of him demand and receive the Charter and other papers, &c., in his custody, that doe belong to this Collony, and forthwith returne the same unto this Assembly.

The persons chosen and empowered, are Mr. Caleb Carr, Mr. Joseph Jencks, Major John Albro, and Mr. George Lawton, Assistants, and John Sanford, Recorder; whoe also are empowered in the behalfe of this Assembly to give our said late Governor a full discharge for what they receive.

Voted, To be recorded.

Voted, The Committee aforesaid sent to our late Honored Governor, haveing according to the trust by this Assembly committed to them, applyed themselves, and having from our late Governor received the Charter, &c., as by the reciept under their hands appears; a copy whereof hath been by them presented to this Assembly, and is ordered to be recorded. And haveing delivered the particulars therein mentioned, they are by the Assembly discharged of their said trust; and the Charter and other pertickulars therein nominated, are committed to the keeping of our present Honored Governor, William Coddington.

Voted, This Assembly is adjourned untill the last Tuesday

in June next, which will be the 26th day of said month, then to meet againe at Newport. Only if there be urgent occasion, present, then by warrant from the Governor or Deputy Governor, the Assembly to convene sooner.

June 26th, 1683.

According to the aforesaid adjournment, the Assembly mett and sat.

Voted, That heareing there is a letter come from his Majes ty, the heareing and considering thereof, shall be the first worke of the Assembly.

Voted, That Major John Greene and the Recorder are de sired to draw up a hue and cry, and such other matters they shall judge needfull, in prossicution of his Majesty's commands to us, in a letter dated 20th of September, 1682, concerneing the apprehending one William Kelso; and present it to this Assembly for their approbation.

Voted, In answer to the petition of Ann Warner, makeing complaint against her husband John Warner, for violating the marriage covenant, and abusing her by laying violent hands on

her.

The Court haveing heard both their allegations, and peruseing the evidences, although they see not cause at present to grant an absolute finall divorce, untill the fact hath been tryed at the Court of Tryalls. Yet notwithstanding, each party declaring their freedom for separation, this Court see cause to make a separation, soe that they shall not live together, but apart. Neither shall the said John Warner have any command of her, nor come in her company for the future, without further order from the Assembly. And this Assembly doe order, that such part of the estate as is by the said John Warner past over for the maintenance of her, his said wife, and children, is hereby ratifyed, and this order to be observed from this present 27th of June.

Voted, Whereas Capt'n Samuell Gorton at the Election, was by free vote chosen an Assistant, and in this Assembly posi tively refuseing to engage and serve in that office, the Assem

bly doe agree to proceed to the election of another in his roome and stead.

Mr. Benjamin Barton chosen Assistant, engaged.

Voted, Whereas, Mr. John Warner was by the towne of Warwick chosen to be a Deputy in this Assembly, and being from time to time called, and not in Court appearing, and there haveing been presented to this Assembly such complaints against him, that the Assembly doe judge, and are well satisfyed, he is an unfitt person to serve as a Deputy; and therefore see cause to expel him from acting in this present Assembly as a Deputy.

Voted, That the Recorder doe draw a letter to be signed by our Honored Governor, and to be sent to his Majesty by the first opportunity; and alsoe a letter unto Secretary Blathwaite, Esq'r, to deliver our letter to his Majesty.

Voted, That the Generall Assembly to sit in October next, shall be held at the towne of Providence.

Voted, That the Governor and Councill are desired to take speedy course for the settling of government and civil order in Kings Towne.

Voted, Whereas this General Assembly have determined that the Generall Assembly be held in October next, should be held at Providence, and probably the October Courts annually to be held at the two townes upon the maine, namely, Providence and Warwick; and the Court considering the necessity of a cage for the secureing of prisoners, and alsoe the like necessity of a pair of stocks in each towne, for the punishing of offenders, this Court taking the premises into their serious consideration, doe hereby enact and appoint that there be a cage and a paire of stocks provided in each the townes aforesaid, by the last Wednesday in October next; and the same to be done at each towne's proper charge.

Voted, Whereas there is a law in this jurisdiction, that any person or persons payinge down to the Governor of this Collony five pounds, might have a speciall Court called, be it therefore enacted, and it is the sense of this Assembly, that the said five pounds ought to be at the disposition of the major part of

the Assistants, sitting at said Court, to dispose of said five pounds for the benefit of the Court, according to their discre tion; any law to the contrary hereof, notwithstanding.

Voted, Ordered, that Mr. Caleb Carr, Major John Coggeshall, and Mr. James Barker, are appointed an auditt, to take an account of the late Governor, Major Peleg Sanford, and Mr. Weston Clarke, Treasurer of all and every pertickular, that was taken and seized from the privateers, which were sent to Virginia, as moneys, plate, cloathing, guns, servant or servants, boate and other appurtenances belonging, &c., and present it to the next Assembly to sitt at Providence in October next.

Alsoe to take account of the late Treasurer Sanford, and Treasurer Clarke, what was seized in their hands, out of the barke White Wood, and make their returne to the said Court.

Voted, James Greene, Jun'r, Randall Howldon, Jun'r, and Benjamin Smith, Jun'r, beinge freemen of the towne of Warwick, are admitted freemen of this Collony.

Voted, Nathaniell Winsley, Nathaniell Mott, and James Mitchell, freemen of the towne of New Shoreham, are admitted freemen of this Collony.

Voted, That the Recorder shall have from each towne, the sum of fifteen shillings in or as money for copys of the acts of this Assembly, under the seale of the Collony; and writeing a letter to his Majesty, and a letter to Secretary Blathwaite; and for severall other writeings by him done at this Assembly, and the enteringe these acts.

Voted, This Assembly is dissolved.

Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Warwick, the 20th of August, 1683.

The Governor chosen Moderator.

Voted, Forasmuch, as the Recorder through the illness of his family, is forced to be absent, John Potter is chosen Clerke to this Assembly.

Voted, Whereas our Honored Governor and Councill, have presented to this Assembly a letter sent by the Honored Edward Cranfield, Gov'r of New Hampshire, and others with him, desireing the publishing of some printed briefs, and the Councill haveing seriously perused the said printed briefs, order that they should not be publickely sett up in the Collony, for three reasons, viz. :

1. Because the said summons is not granted forth in his Majesty's name.

2. Because they have not shown any commission to this government from his Majesty, for their soe acting.

3. Because his Majesty hath not given any information thereof to us, by any of his Royall letters. This Court doe approve of the Governor and Councill's act therein; the said printed briefs being not only dateless, but alsoe placeless.

Voted, That the Deputy Governor, Capt'n Arthur Fenner, Mr. Joseph Jencks, Major John Greene, Mr. James Barker, Mr. Edward Smith, Mr. Caleb Arnold, Mr. Samuell Gorton, are chosen a Committee to consider concerneing a letter from the Honored Edward Cranfield, Governor of New Hampshire, in order to the publication of a printed paper, called a summons, subscribed by William Warton, and to consider what to draw up to the Honored Edw. Cranfield, and the rest, said to be commissionated with him, to assemble at Mr. Richard Smith's, the 22d instant, haveing shown noe commission from his Majesty to this government for their soe acting.