lands or places, are established and confirmed in their respective places, which they were invested in, in the year 1686, as aforesaid, until the Collony, towns or places at their former ap pointed times for election, choose others. And that all the present Constables are established in their respective places until others be chosen, as aforesaid, and engaged according to our former method. Voted, It is ordered that all former acts and orders which were our former method, concerning matters civil or military, are hereby revised, ratified and established, that we may not only be in a capacity for administration of justice, but also for defence from any intestine commotion or foreign invasion. Voted, That the Court of Election is dissolved. A true copy, compared with the original, as attest, JOHN GREENE, Clerk of the Assembly. Declaration on the resumption of the Charter. We, the inhabitants and freemen of Rhode Island and Provi dence Plantations and King's Province, assembled at Newport, this 1st of May, Anno Domini 1690. of Do declare, that through the good providence of God, our predecessors and ourselves, have been preserved and wonderfully supported through more than ordinary difficulties and hardships for fifty years and upwards, in which time, although there were many revolutions and changes in our native land, yet we were so assisted by the good providence, aforesaid, that we, by humbly addressing ourselves to the supreme power England, obtained such favor that we had that granted by let ters patents, by which we carried on our government to the general satisfaction of said inhabitants and freemen, until of late through the evil disposition of some disaffected persons, our well being, whose restless suits occasioned writs of quo warranto to be served upon us, by which we were commanded to make our appearance in England, to show by what authority we held our government and privileges. And being under the to said arrest, there appeared a necessity to convene an Assembly to consult about that affair, which was of weighty concern, and upon the serious consideration of the matter, found a disability to defray so great a charge as the standing suit might amount unto; as also being credibly informed that several other Corporations and Collonys were under condemnation, we thought it better to submit ourselves by an humble address to his Majesty, praying that he would be graciously pleased, notwithstanding our submission, to grant the continuance of our privileges in statu quo prius, which he was pleased to do in great measure, as can more plainly appear. But it was so ordered. that when Sir Edmund Andros came over Governor, we were included in his Government, to which we peaceably submitted, and have partook and suffered with others several hard and severe impositions, which his Majesty intended not to be imposed on us; as his gracious letter, bearing date from Whitehall, March the 11th, 1686-7, makes to appear. But forasmuch as we understand that our late Governor, Sir Edmund Andros, is seized and confined with others of his Councill, as appears by a paper printed by Samuel Greene, which late authority being silenced and deposed, we can do no less but to declare that we take it to be our duty to lay hold of our former gracious privileges in our Charter contained, and so to continue the government, always yielding obedience to the Crown of England, and manifesting our allegiance thereunto. Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Newport, the 6th of May, 1690. Mr. Henry Bull, Governor. Major John Coggeshall, Deputy Governor. ASSISTANTS. Mr. John Easton, Mr. Benedict Arnold, Mr. Edward Thurston, Mr. Joseph Jencks, Mr. Richard Arnold, ASSISTANTS. Mr. George Lawton, Major John Greene. For Newport. Mr. James Barker, For Providence. For Portsmouth. DEPUTIES. For Warwick. Mr. Benjamin Barton, Mr. Samuel Stafford. Mr. Roger Burlingham, Mr. Moses Lippitt. For Westerly. Mr. Tobias Sanders, For New Shoreham. For East Greenwich. Mr. Giles Pearce, Lieut. Samuel Bennett. The Governor, Mr. Henry Bull, chosen Moderator of the Assembly. Weston Clarke, chosen Clerk of the Assembly. Voted, Mr. Giddian Crofford, John Thurston, Nathaniel Jencks, Thomas Fry, Jun'r, John Spencer, John Nichols, John Wood, Pasco Whittford, Micall Spencer, William Bennett, Clement Weaver, Jun'r, Richard Dunn, Jun'r, Lawrence Turner, Jr., Mr. Stephen Arnold, Jun'r, John Hull, admitted freemen of the Collony. The Assembly dissolved. At the Generall Assembly and Election held at Newport, at the house of William Mayes, the 7th day of May, 1690. The Assembly consisting of the Magistrates and Deputies above named. Mr. Henry Bull, Governor, chosen Moderator of the Assembly. Weston Clarke, chosen Clerk of the Assembly. Voted, That the copy of the Charter, be openly read. Voted, That the Recorder write the names of all those that vote for Governor. Voted, That Mr. John Tillinghast, and Mr. Henry Brightman, shall receive the votes from each man's hand, and see that there be no deceit used and put them in the hat. Voted, That the Deputy Governor and Mr. Benedict Arnold, Assistant, are to open the proxies as the Election proceeds, and put them into the hat. Mr. Henry Bull chosen Governor, who positively refused to serve. Mr. John Coggeshall was chosen, who also positively refused to engage. By the Election was chosen the following, who were severally engaged. GOVERNOR. Mr. John Easton, DEPUTY GOVERNOR. Major John Greene. ASSISTANTS. Mr. Edward Thurston, Mr. George Lawton, RECORDER. Weston Clarke. GENERAL SERGEANT. Thomas Fry. GENERAL TREASURER. John Hulmes. GENERAL ATTORNEY. John Pocock. MAJOR FOR THE MAIN. ! MAJOR FOR THE ISLAND. Major Roger Goulding. Major John Greene. Voted, Mr. Joseph Jencks, Assistant, Mr. Benedict Arnold, Assistant, Mr. Benjamin Smith, Assistant, Mr. James Barker, Mr. Jonathan Holmes, with the Recorder, are by the Assembly appointed to go to Mr. Walter Clarke, former Governor of this Collony, and from him receive the Charter, and other papers, and things belonging to this Collony, and in the behalf of the Assembly, to give him a full discharge for what they receive. Voted, Ordered by the Assembly, that the Charter and other writing, received of Mr. Walter Clarke, former Governor, was delivered to the Assembly by the persons appointed to receive them, and have given a receipt for the same; and that the Charter and papers be put in the Governor's keeping for the Collony, according to former custom. Voted, Ordered, that Mr. Edward Thurston, Jun'r, and Mr. John Tillinghast, being appointed to receive the duplicate of the Charter, of the Deputy Governor, Mr. John Coggeshall, and return the same to the Assembly, have accordingly done and given a receipt for the same, it was in the Assembly delivered to the Deputy Governor, Major John Greene, to be kept for the use of the Collony. Voted, Whereas the late Governor, Mr. Henry Bull, was by this Assembly chosen Moderator in their first sitting, and he neglecting to sit in the Assembly, the present Governor, Mr. John Easton, is by the Assembly appointed Moderator. Received in the Assembly, of the late Governor, Mr. Henry Bull, the Seal of the Collony; a letter from the Governor and Councill of Boston; two letters from the Lieutenant Governor of New York; a copy of a letter sent to the Governor and Councill of Boston; a copy of a letter sent to Governor Liesler, to New York; a copy of a letter sent to Major Walley; all which, with the Seal of the Collony, was delivered to the keeping of the Governor, Mr. John Easton. Voted, The Committee that were sent forth concerning an answer to the Governor of New York's propositions about as |