ferent manner, had the Oath of a Justice of Peace administred to them.

[Att New Castle, 1st May, 1693.

Att New Castle the 1st day of May, 1693.

His Excell, being attended by the Lievt Governor, and militia in arms att twelve a Clock went to the Townehouse and there published their Maties' Letters patents, which was followed with fireing of guns, great Shouting and joy.

Att a Council held att New Castle on Tuesday the 2d of May, 1693.

PRESENT:

His Excell. BENJAMIN FFLETCHER, &c.

WILLIAM MARKHAM, Esqr. Leivt Governor.

John Cann,

Wm. Clark, Esqrs.

John Cann, Esqr. took the oath and Test, and oath of a Councillor, and by his Excell. direction, his place att this board.

Wm. Clark, Esq., did Subscribe the Severall declarations provided for non Conformists by act of parliament, and did solemnlie promise to observe and fulfill the Substance of the oath of a privie Councillor, and was ordered by his Excell. to take place at the board.

POST MERID.

2 a Clock afternoone, presentibus Isdem.

John Cann, Esqr., and Wm. Clarke, Esqr., had the oath of a Justice of the peace for the whole province and Countrey administred unto them in different manner, as formerly.

Peter Alrichs, John Donaldson, Richard Hallwell, & John Grubb, had the oaths & Test, and oath of a Justice of the peace for the County of New Castle, administred unto them.

Edward Bleake did Subscribe the Declarations, and promised Solemnly to perform the office of a Justice of the peace for the County of New Castle.

Luke Watson, for the Countie of Sussex, had the oaths and Test, and oath of a Justice of the peace administred unto him.

[3d May, 1693.

Att a Councill Held att New Castle on Wednesday the 3d of May, 1693, in the morning.

PRESENT:

His Excell. BENJAMIN FFLETCHER, &c.

WILLIAM MARKHAM, Esqr., Leivt Governor.

Edward Lillington, Esq., Sheriffe of New Castle, James Claypoole, Clark, & Peter Reverddie, Coroner, Had the Oaths and Test, with the oaths of their respective offices in the said Countie, administred unto them.

His Excell. did spend the rest of the forenoone in finding the most convenient place at New Castle to build a fort, to command the channell of the river delaware before New Castle: in the afternoone did return to philadelphia.

[5th May, 1693.

Att a Councill Held att Philadelphia, on Friday the 5th of May,

1693.

PRESENT:

His Excell. BENJAMIN FFLETCHER, &c.

Andrew Robeson,

Robert Turner,

Pat. Robinson,

His Excell. caused to be read an address of seaven persons (to him,) Late of Mr. Lloyd's Councill, viz: Joseph Growdon, John Bristow, John delavall, John Simcocke, Hugh Roberts, Samuell Lewis and Richard Hough. The direction is to Benjamin filetcher, Esqr., Captain Generall & Governor in Chiefe, &c., without naming his Excell. of the province of pennsylvania & Countrey of New Castle, wherein they call themselves the delegates and members of the Provinciall Councill, in behalfe of the freemen of the province, & desire that no other method may be used for the calling together their Legislative power then the received Laws of this province doe pre

scribe.

His Excell. asks the advice of this board concerning the same.

It is the opinion of this board, that the address being generall, It cannot be consistent with the powers granted his Excell. by their majesties Letters patents, to have anie regard to, or answer it.

Samuell Jennings, a former Justice of the peace, being sent for, His Excell. did offer to continue him in the same station, which hee did refuse.

Arthur Cooke, in Like manner did refuse. Robert Ewer, in Like manner did refuse.

William Salway, Esqr., did Solemnlie promise to execute the office of Justice of the peace throughout the whole province and Countrey.

[6th May, 1693.

Att a Councill Held att philadelphia on Saturuday the 6th of May,

Samuell Carpenter being offered the office of Justice of the peace, Refused.

Griffith Owen, a former Justice, in Like manner did refuse.

Anthony Morris did Subscribe the declarations, and Solemnlie promise to execute the office of a Justice of peace in the Countie of philadelphia.

Joseph Wilcox and Joseph Fisher did refuse the office of a Justice of peace.

Jacob Hall and Andrew Bankson took the oaths & Test, and oath of Justice of the peace for the Countie of philadelphia.

Francie Rawle did Subscribe the declaration and solemnlie promise to execute the office of Justice of the peace in the Countie of philadelphia.

Francis Daniell pastorius did subscribe the declaran and Solemnlie promise to execute the office of a Justice of peace in philadelphia. Some of the Councill giving Information That William Hudson did utter words in contempt of a proclamation Issued by his Excell. to prohibit Sabbath breaking, drunkenness, Idleness, Unlawfull gaming, and all manner of prophanesse.

Ordered Andrew Robeson, Esqr. doe call the evidences before him, take the sum of their evidence agt Hudson in writing, and returne it to this board.

[8th May, 1693.

Att a Councill Held att Philadelphia on Moonday The 8th of May, 1693.

Andrew Robeson, Esqr. made Return, that he had examined the Evidences agt Wm. Hudson, and found no positive Materiall Evidence agt him, & that he did deny the words.

Humphrey Murrey, a former Justice of the peace, did refuse to be continued.

Nehemiah Field had the oaths & Test, with the oath of Clarke of the Countie of Sussex, administred unto him.

[10th May, 1693.

Att a Councill Held att Philadelphia On Wednesday the 10th of May, 1693.

PRESENT:

His Excell. BENJAMIN FFLETCHER, &c.

WM. MARKHAM, Esqr., Leivt. Governor.

Andrew Robeson,)

Robt. Turner,

Pat. Robinson,

Humphrey Waterman had the Oaths and Test, and oath of a Justice of the peace for the Countie of Philadelphia, administred unto him.

His Excell. did propose the necessitie of building a fort in some Convenient place upon the River Delaware, to Command the Channell for the Securitie and defence of trade and the Inhabitants: Which was putt to the vote and Caryed in the affirmative.

POST MERID.

Afternoone, The 10th of May, 1693.

PRESENT:

His Excell. BENJAMIN FLETCHER, &c.

WILLIAM MARKHAM, Esqr., Leivt. Governor.

Andrew Robeson, Esqrs.

Lawrence Cock, S

Some Indians from the upper part of the River being come to towne to pay their respects to his Excell., His Excell. sent for them gave them audience.

&

Lawrence Cock, Esqr., their Interpreter.

Their Speaker laid a belt of Wampum att his Excell. feet, Saying: this Belt of wampum Came to us from the Indians of Virginia and Maryland, for a token of peace between them and us, and now wee lay it before your Excell., in token that wee desire peace with all the Indians that belong to anie English plantations in America: and desire your Excell. to persuade the Senecas from doing them any harme in their hunting, (as was done to some of them last Summer,) that they may hunt in safety.

His Excell. did answer: That he was shortlie to return to Newyorke; That their majesties have made him Governor of Pennsilvania and New Castle, & putt all the forces of East & West Jersey under his command, and hee was come here to publish it, But so soone as hee shall returne to Newyorke, will go to Albany & there meet the five nations, and have conference with them; And that he wold Enjoine the Senecas, & all the other Indians, to peace and friendship with them, & all other Indians belonging to the English provinces in America. Therfore, they should not doubt his protection whilst they are of good behaviour.

The Indian Speaker laid some dressed deer skins att his Excell. feet, & wished his Excell. joy of this government.

His Excell. told them that he was to returne to Newyorke himselfe, and Had appointed Lievt Governor Markham in his stead, and if any of them be aggrieved in his absence, they must make application unto him for redress, which they will always have.

The Speaker sayes: We are verie thankfull to your Excell. for appointing one over us in yor absence who hath done good to us formerlie, and whom wee have known a Long time; and in token therof, Laid down some Bever at his Excell. feet.

The Speaker again says: Wee are now glad to know our Governor when the Quakers governed sometimes one man & some

times another pretended to be Governor, & when wee were in feare of the French and their Indians, and inclined to make warr with them, they would not encourage us, nor make anie preparations themselves, nor give us assistance; although wee are a small number of Indians, yet wee are men & know fighting. Wee hope yor Excell. will encourage us in it; & gave some raccoons.

His Excell. told them, That in February Last the French and Indians did invade the Mohoggs Countrey, and in three days hee was got to Schenactady with force sufficient to have destroyed them all; That they stole away in a stormie night: But were sufficiently beat the day before, and the most of their officers killed. Also, that he was a man of armes and not of the Quakers principle: That he had served their majesties in their army before he came hither, and wold now goe as farr as any man to protect them, and all that do owne their majesties authoritie, as well Indians as Christains.

His Excell. told them He hoped they will give him a proofe of their Manhood and valor by sending some of their best men up to Albany, to assist our people agt the enemy. That here they were in safety, for the French and their Indians cannot come neer to hurt them, Unless they come over him, which they should never doe.

The Speaker said that some of them had been drunk; His Excell. must pardon it and not putt them in the stocks, for they knew no better, and the Christians did sell them the Liquor; and gave two deer skins.

His Excell. Replyed That their Brethren at Albany were not of their mind in February last some of them being drunck one killed another, and they came to me and prayed that I should discharge the selling of Rum to the Indians during the warr, or that I wold punish such as were drunk.

The Speaker. Wee profess wee will be one Heart and true to the English and to one another: We submitt ourselves to your Excell. and if ever you find us false, you shall cutt us all to pieces, making signs all over his body; & gave some deer skins.

His Excell. Replyed he was glad to see them so dutifull, and wold give them protection accordinglie. That he wold order something for them in testimony of his satisfaction with their friendship and submission.

[11th May, 1693.

Att a Councill Held att Philadelphia on Thursday the 11th of May, 1693.

Upon reading the petition of sundrie Sweedes, Inhabitants upon the river Scuilkill, wherin they sett forth that their meeting hous is