missionated by your Majestie, yet notwithstanding they brought us your Majestie's Royall Letters, to acquaint us therewith, were so courteous as to present your commission under the broad seale to our view, before they acted in any thing in this your Majestie's jurisdiction. Whereupon wee received your Royall letters from your Court at Whitehall, bearing date the 23d of Aprill, 1664, and in the sixteenth yeare of your Majestie's reigne; the other bearing date the 10th of Aprill, 1666, and in the eighteenth yeare of your Majestie's reigne, manifesting how well you were pleased therewith; with such gracious expressions, that would melt the heart of your subjects, so to prostrate themselves and all their concernes at your Majestie's feet. It was our earnest desire that we might have been as well capacitated to have received the Honoured Edward Cranfield, Esq'r, Lieutenant Governour and Commander-in-Chief of your Majestie's Province of New Hampshire, and his associates, said to be commissionated from your Majestie, to inquire into the titles and claimes as well of your Majestie as others in your Province. Provided, they would have produced your Majestie's commission to our view, being demanded as the aforesaid Commissioners, Collonell Nicholls and associates did without demand. Notwithstanding these brought not your Majestie's Royall Letters for confirmation thereof, that so wee upon perusall thereof, might as wee had provided ourselves, been enabled to answer your Majestie's will and pleasure therein, and for the end and purpose transported the duplicate of our Patent, together with severall of your Majestie's Royall Letters and all other records of greate concerne from Rhode Island to the towne of Warwick, neere unto the King's Province, where our Generall Court was conveaned, and for the better effecting of the matter, the Court adjourned to Capt'n John Fones his house, at Narragansett, neare where the aforesaid gentlemen appointed to meete, but your Majestie's authority heere, after all endeavours, not obtaining a sight of their commission, could do no less but prohibit the said Commissioners in your Majestie's name for making further proceeding; and have herein enclosed, sent your any Majestie a copy of the pretended summons, as also our letter desiring them to show us their commission, together with a copy of our Prohibition and Remonstrance; and intend with all convenient speed, to make our further application to your gracious Majestie, and to give as full information concerning the state of matter that concerns your Majestie's interest, and your subjects' peace and safety in this said Collony, as we are able. So we take leave, humbly desiring the God of heaven to give your Majestie a long and prosperous reigne, and remaine Your humble subjects and supplicants, (Signed.) WILLIAM CODDINGTON, Gov'r. By order of the Generall Assembly. Newport, on Rhode Island, October the 19th, 1683. (Address.) To our Dread Sovereigne, Charles the Second, King of Great Britain, Scotland, France and Ireland, &c., humbly present.* Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Newport, the 6th of May, 1684. Mr. William Coddington, Governor. Mr. Walter Clarke, Deputy Governor. Mr. John Easton, ASSISTANTS. Mr. John Coggeshall, Mr. Caleb Carr, *J. Carter Brown's Mss., Vol. IV. Nos. 177-80, 183, 185. Mr. James Barker, Sen'r, For Providence. For Portsmouth. For Warwick. Mr. Jeffrey Champlin, For New Shoreham. For East Greenwich. For James Towne. Mr. Walter Clarke, Deputy Governor, chosen Moderator. John Sanford, Recorder, chosen Clerke. Voted, Jonathan Holmes, Edward Pelham, William Brenton, John Rodman, John Harding, Andrew Willitt, Ralph Chapman, John Tillinghast, John Headly, Samuell Stapleton, Daniell Gould, Jun'r, John Godfrey, Samuell Cranston, and Charles Crosthwaite, all of the towne of Newport, are admitted freemen of this Collony. Voted, Robert Lawton, Thomas Hassard, Joseph Sheffield, William Correy, Richard Cadman, Jacob Mott, Jun'r, William Browninge and Stephen Manchester, all of Portsmouth, are admitted freemen of this Collony. Voted, This Assembly is dissolved. At the Generall Assembly and Election held at Newport, the 7th of May, 1684. The Assembly consisted of the above-written Governor, Deputy Governor, Assistants and Deputys. The Deputy Governor chosen Moderator. The Recorder chosen Clerke. The Charter openly read. Voted, The Recorder shall write the names of all those that bring in their votes for Governor. Voted, That Mr. Thomas Ward and Lieut. Francis Brayton, shall receive the votes from each man's hand, and see that noe deceipt be used, and put the votes into the hat. Voted, Major John Coggeshall and Major John Greene are to open the proxies, and as the Election proceeds, put the votes into the hat. Voted, That the Election proceed. By the Election was chosen the following, who were severally engaged. GOVERNOR. Mr. William Coddington, DEPUTY GOVERNOR. Mr. Walter Clarke. ASSISTANTS. Mr. John Easton, RECORDER. John Sanford. GENERAL SERGEANT. Mr. Edmund Calverly. GENERAL TREASURER, GENERAL ATTORNEY, GENERAL SOLICITOR. MAJOR FOR THE ISLAND. Mr. John Coggeshall. MAJOR FOR THE MAINE. Major John Greene. Voted, This Assembly is adjourned till to-morrow morninge, eight of the clock, or second ring of the bell; then to meet and sit at the now dwelling house of John Davis, in the room that usually the Court useth. The Assembly called and sat. May the 8th. Voted, By reason of our Honoured Governour's illness, this Assembly adjourned to sit in the Governour's house, in order to his engagement to the place and office of Governour for the yeare ensueing. The Assembly called and sat at the Governor's house. The Governor engaged, and also took the oath, according to the act, for Trade and Navigation. The Assembly adjourned to meet and sit again, at the house of John Davis. May the 10th. At the house of John Davis, the Assembly called and sat. Voted, Mr. Caleb Arnold, by the Election, chosen an Assistant, and in this Assembly declared that he would not engage unto the office; therefore, the Assembly agree and order, to proceed to the election of another in his roome, or stead. Mr. William Wodell chosen Assistant, who positively denying to engage, the Assembly doe order to proceed to the election of another in his roome, or stead. Mr. George Lawton chosen Assistant and engaged. Voted, Whereas the free inhabitants of Rhode Island, the towne of Providence, and Warwick, and sundry other places adjacent to the Narragansett Bay, in New England, in America, did request and appoint and employ their well-beloved friend, John Clarke, late of Newport, on Rhode Island, aforesaid, deceased, in his life time to be their Agent in the Kingdom of England, to make supplication on their behalfe, to his Most Excellent Majesty, Charles the Second, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging, &c., that his Majesty would be pleased to grant the said |