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as knowing no cause or occasion for the same. But understanding that severall of the Councill were at the Councill Chamber, where (it being the ordinary Councill day) they were to meet, and some particularly by him sent for from distant parts also there, he and those with him, went thither; and though (as he passed) the streets were full of armed men, yet none offered him or those that were with him the least rudeness or incivility; but on the contrary, usual respect. But when he came to the Councill Chamber, he found severall of the said former popular Magistrates and other chief persons then present, with those of the Councill, who had no suitable regard to him, nor the peace and quiet of the country. But instead of giving any assistance to support the government, made him a prisoner, and also imprisoned some members of the Council and other officers, who in pursuance of their respective duties and stations, attended on him, and kept them for the space of ten months under severe and close confinement, untill by his Majesty's commands they were sent for England, to answer what might be objected to them; where, after summons given to the pretended agents of New England, and their twice appearance at the Councill Board, nothing being objected by them or others, they were discharged.

In the time of his confinement, being denyed the liberty of discourse, or conversation with any person, his own servants to attend him, or any communication or correspondence with any by letters, he had no particular knowledge of their further proceedings, but hath heard and understands:

That soon after the confinement of his person, the confederates forced the fort and castle from the officers that had the command of them, whom they also imprisoned, and dispersed the few souldiers belonging to the two standing companys then there, as they did the rest, when they recalled the forces employed against the Indians eastward, which two companys are upon his Majesty's establishment in England, in which service half a Company of the standing forces at New York being also employed, the officers were surprised and brought prisoners to Boston, and the souldiers dispersed, as the remaining part of them at New York were afterwards upon the revolution there. The other Company was and remained at Fort Albany, and are both upon establishment, to be paid out of his Majesty's revenue there.

And the confederates at Boston possessed themselves of all his Majesties' stores, arms, ammunition and other implements of war, and disabled their Majesties' man of war, the Rose frigate, by securing the Commander, and bringing her sails on shore; and at the same time having imprisoned the Secretary and some other officers, they broke open the Secretary's office and seized and conveyed away all records, papers and writings.

Those members of his Majesties' Councill that were in confederacy with the before mentioned popular Magistrates, and other chief actors in this revolution, took upon them the government by the name of a Councill, who not content with the inconveniency they had brought on themselves in the Massachusetts Collony, but to the ruin of the poor neighbors, on the 2 th of April gave orders for the drawing off the forces from Pemyquid, and other garrisons and places in the eastern parts, far without the limits of their Collony, and where the seat of war with the Indians was, and to seize severall of the officers, and for calling home the vessells appointed to guard the sea coast and fishery, which was done accordingly; and the forces disbanded, when most of the souldiers belonging to the standing Companys there, were dispersed; of which, and their actings at Boston, the Indians having notice (and being supplied with ammunition and provision out of a vessell sent from Bos

ton by some of the chief conspirators before the insurrection, to trade with them), they were encouraged and enabled to renew and pursue the war; and by the assistance of some French, who have been seen amongst them, and engaging of severall other Indians before unconcerned, increased their number, that in a very short time severall hundreds of their Majesties' subjects were killed and carried away captive.

The fort at Pemyquid taken, the whole county of Cornwall, the greatest part of the Province of Maine, and part of the Province of New Hampshire destroyed and deserted, and the principall trade of that country, which consisted of a considerable fishery, the getting of masts, yards, &c., for the supply of his Majesty's navy Royall, and boards, and other lumber for the supply of the other West India Plantations, is almost wholly ruined.

By the encouragement and persuasion of those of the Massachusetts, the severall other Provinces and Collonys in New England, as far as New York, have disunited themselves, and set up their former separate Charter or popular governments without Charter, and by that means the whole revenue of the Crown continued and settled in the severall parts for the support of the government, is lost and destroyed.

The usual time for Election of new Magistrates at Boston coming on, in the beginning of May, 1689, great controversy arose about the settling of civill government; some being for a new Election, and others, that the Magistrates chosen and sworn in 1686, before the alteration, should re-assume; the latter of which was concluded on by them, and the pretended representatives of the severall towns of the Massachusetts, and assumed by the said Magistrates accordingly; and thereup n, the old Charter government, though vacated in Westminster Hall, was re-assumed without any regard to the Crown of England, and they revived and confirmed their former laws contrary and repugnant to the laws and statutes of England; settled their Courts of judicature, and appointed new officers; and have presumed to try and judge all cases, civill and criminall, and to pass sentence of death on severall of their Majesties' subjects, some of whom they have caused to be executed.

Although in the revenue continued on the Crown for the support of the govern ment, during his time, the country paid but the old established rate of a penny in the pound per annum, as given and practised for about fifty years past; the present administrators have, of their own authority, for not above six months, raised and exacted from the people of the Massachusetts Collony seven rates and a half.

Since this insurrection and alteration in New England, they do tolerate an unlimited irregular trade, contrary to the severall Acts of Plantations, Trade and Navigation, now as little regarded as in the time of their former Charter governments; they esteeming no laws to be binding on them, but what are made by themselves, nor admit English laws to be pleaded there or appeals to his Majesty, and many ships and vessels have since arrived from Scotland, Holland, Newfoundland and other places, prohibited; they having imprisoned his Majesty's Collector, Surveyor and Searcher, and displaced other Custom House officers.

That they sent to Albany to treat with the Indians in those parts, particularly with the Five Nations, Maques, &c., and invited them to Boston; which is of ill and dangerous consequence, by making the said Indians particularly acquainted with the disunion and separate governments; and showing them the country and disor ders thereof, as far as Boston, giving thereby the greatest advantage to the French, of gaining or subduing the said Indians, and attempting Fort Albany (the most ad

vanced frontier into the country and great mart of the Beaver and Peltry trade), and of infesting other parts.

The forces raised and sent out by them the last summer, notwithstanding the great encouragement they promised of eight pounds per head, for every Indian that should be killed, besides their pay, proved neither effectual to suppress the enemy, or secure the country from further damage and murther; and upon the winter's approaching, the forces were recalled, and the country left exposed to the enemy, who have already overrun and destroyed so great a part thereof; and now by the assistance of the French of Canada, may probably proceed further into the heart of the country; being so divided and out of order, unless it shall please his Majesty by his own authority to redress the same, and put a stop to the French and Indians, and thereby prevent the ruin or loss of that whole dominion of New England, aud consequently of their Majesties' other American Plantations, endangered not only by the want of provisions, but by the many ships, vessels, seamen and other necessarys in New England, capable to supply and transport any force which may annoy or attempt those Plantations, but may be by his Majesty's authority and commands effectually settled and preserved, and of service against the French or any other their Majesties' enemies in those parts, with no greater land force than is necessary to be continued there; and a sufficient revenue raised to defray the charge thereof by dutys and rates as heretofore hath been practised amongst them, and is usuall in other their Majesties' Plantations. Humbly submitted by E. ANDROS.

At a General Assembly of this their Majesty's Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, being convened on adjournment, this 2d of August, 1692.

Upon debate of matters, do find that the principal occasion of our Honored Governor's calling the Assembly at this juncture of time, is by reason that the militia of this Collony is about to be brought into a great measure of confusion, if not timely prevented, so as to make way for the inlet of their Majesties' enemies; and upon the scrutiny of the matter, we find the beginning of it to arise from a letter sent to our Governor and Councill from his Excellency, Sir William Phips, some time after his arrival at Boston; said letter being dated June the 2d, last past, wherein his Excellency declared himself to be commissionated from their Majesties with the power of

Lieftenant and Commander in Chief of the militia, and of all the forces by sea and land, within their Majesties' several Collonies of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, the Narragansett Country or King's Province, and the Province of New Hampshire; and further signifying his willingness to intrust the same in the hands of persons faithful to their Majesties, as may most conduce to their service and satisfaction of their good subjects: signifying also, that he desires and expects that some fit persons be instructed and speedily sent to attend him at Boston, with an account of the militia, and what further might appear necessary for their Majesties' service. And whereupon the Governor and Council being convened, saw cause to commissionate Major John Greene, Deputy Governor, and Mr. Henry Brightman, Assistant, to treat with his Excellency concerning his commission, as also concerning the settling of a post office for intelligence, which said Commissioners attended about five days before they could have any treaty; and at length when they gave in their proposals, his Excellency said he would not give any answer without further advice, and then he would write to the Governor.

Whereupon, the said Commissioners returned, not obtaining a sight of his Excellency's commission, nor of an attested copy, neither hath our Governor received any letter from his Excellency since. But instead thereof, as we are credibly informed, his Excellency hath sent up severall commissions unto Major Peleg Sanford, endeavoring thereby to put the militia into the hands of most of them that disclaim their Majesties' authority here; thereby to depose great part of those commissioned officers that have stood up to support their Majesties' government and interest in this their Collony.

Therefore, this Assembly taking the premises into their serious consideration, and forasmuch as they have neither received so much as an attested copy from his Excellency, nor any Royal letters from their Majesties, but are in daily expectation thereof in auswer to our last address, sent by Major Roger Holden,

and that their Majesties' militia in this their Collony and King's Province, be kept in a suitable posture of defence against their enemies.

Be it enacted by this Assembly and the authority thereof, that all the commissioned officers of the Trained Bands chosen on the Election days last past, throughout the whole Collony, do apply themselves to take special care that their several companies be kept in a suitable posture of defence against their Majesties's enemies, and that none of them do decline their places upon any pretence whatsoever, except by order of the Assembly of this their Majesties' Collony.

And whereas the town of Kingstown neglected to choose their commissioned officers the Election day last past, therefore, it is hereby ordered, that Capt'n Jeoffrey Champlin, Lieut. Thomas Eldridge and Ensign John Eldridge being the officers last chosen by the people, do by virtue of their former commissions officiate for the ensuing year; as also whereas the town of Jamestown have neglected to choose their commissioned officers, it is further ordered, that Capt'n Thomas Paine be Captain for the ensuing year, and Mr. Nicholas Carr, Lieftenant, and George Cooke, Ensign; and for Block Island, forasmuch as Capt'n John Saunders is removed off the Island, we give them power to choose their officers speedily, and return their names to be commissionated.

It is further ordered, That all the commissions formerly granted to the respective commissioned officers throughout the Collony, or King's Province, remain and be as effectual to all intents and purposes as if now granted; and that forthwith commissions be given forth to such as are now elected, that so this Collony may be kept in a suitable posture of defence against their Majesties' enemies.

It is further ordered, That the Address drawn up to be sent to their Majesties, be signed by the Governor and sent away with what expedition may be.

Ordered, That these acts be forthwith published, under the Seal of the Collony, in the town of Newport, by beat of drum,

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