thereof, that all ships and other vessels of what sort soever, above ten tons, that shall belong to any of their Majesties' Collonies, or Plantations whatsoever, except such ship or vessel belonging to this their Majesties' Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, shall pay for each and every ton that they shall measure, according to the tonnage of shipping, one shilling per ton; or one pound of powder to be paid to the Deputy Collector of this Collony; to be to the disposing of the Major of the Islands, or his order, for the support of a magazine for the Island's use, if they unlade or break bulk in this harbor of Newport.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Assembly shall have five shillings of each town for copys of the Assembly's Acts, with the Seal of the Collony affixed. Copy, per record.

WESTON CLARKE, Recorder.

Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Providence, 29th of October, 1690.

The Governor chosen Moderator of this Assembly. Major John Greene chosen Clerke of this Assembly. Voted by the Assembly, That he shall have power to make a Deputy therein; and he made choice of Ephraim Turner, he being then there present.

And whereas, this Assembly being met, had determined to have a copy of the Charter read, but the Recorder and several of his family being sick of the small pox, whereby the Assembly is prevented from reading of it; no copy attested being present, therefore have thought meet to make record wherefore they cannot now do it.

The Court adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight of the clock, and then to meet at the house of John Whipple, afore said.

30th October.

The Court met, and was called over, and after some agitation, adjourned in the afternoon for one hour; where, when met again and called over.

Ordered by this Court, That forasmuch as the town of Providence, Greenwich, and Kingstown, by reason of sickness of the Recorder, and other more than ordinary occasion, have not had the orders of the last Court published so timely as the orders did require, that notwithstanding they shall stand good still; only allowing twenty days more after this present Court for performance thereof, either by the men nominated and appointed by said Court, at Portsmouth, or by the towns, if they please to choose; and that return of the same be made to the Generall Treasurer within twenty days after this Court.

And it is further ordered, That whereas Mr. Jeremiah Brown is dead, that Mr. William Knowles and Thomas Mumford are chosen to be in his room, to join with Capt'n Jeoffrey Champlin and Mr. Samuel Alsbrough, to make the rate for the town of Kingstown, in case they neglect to choose rate-makers in time; and to return it to the Treasurer, according to time prefixed; and they, or the major part of them, to do it.

Whereas, there was a rate of three hundred pounds assessed upon the Collony at a Court of Election in May last; and whereas the men of Warwick have levied and proportioned the said rate upon the people, dwelling at and about the place called Mashantotat, and several other persons dwelling on the north side of Pawtuxet river.

It is ordered, That what part of the said rate was levied on the said people dwelling at and about the place called Mashantotat, and all other persons also dwelling on the north side of Pawtuxet river, shall be and by this Act is remitted; and all the said persons to be levied upon by and to the town of Providence; and what was levied upon them by the town of Warwick. The said sum to be abated out of the said town of Warwick's rates by the said Assembly assessed.

The Court adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight of the clock.

The Assembly met and called over.

31st of October.

Upon a desire of Mary Edmonds, wife of Andrew Edmonds, that she may have six pounds allowed her in the absence of her husband, more than the six pounds formerly allowed her hus band to have out of the rate of the town of Providence; her husband being now gone out in the wars for their Majesties" interest. The Court orders she shall have the said six pounds paid her out of the rate of the town of Providence, with the greatest expedition as the said rate can be gathered in.

Voted, That the Captains and commissioned officers of each Trained Band in this Collony have power to appoint their training days in their several towns upon each working day as they see cause, the Election day only excepted; and not omitting the number of days appointed by law for training days.

Voted, That there be a Committee chosen for the inspecting a way for the regular collecting of rates in the several towns in this Collony.

Voted, That the Committee above mentioned, be as fol loweth, viz.: of the town of Newport, Mr. Phillip Smith, Mr. Jonathan Holmes; of Providence, Mr. Gideon Crof ford, Mr. Nathaniel Waterman; of Greenwich, Capt'n Clement Weaver, Mr. Giles Peirce; of Westerly, Capt'n William Champlin, Mr. Joshua Holmes.

The said Committee's return was, that they conceive that there is law already sufficient for gathering of rates; leaving it to the Governor and Magistrates for the execution of the same; therefore it is enacted, the Magistrates, or any two of them, have full power to regulate any thing appearing defec tive therein; as by the law further it is enacted, that the Treasurer of each town in this Collony shall be a Deputy to the Generall Treasurer of this Collony. All these Acts are allowed of and approved by the Generall Assembly; and or dered, this be immediately published under the Seal of this Collony by beat of drum, and returned back to this Assembly; who hereby order, that Ephraim Turner, the Deputy Clerk of

this Assembly shall have five shillings paid unto him or his order, for a copy hereof, under the Seal of the Collony, by each town in the Collony, and he to send a copy thereof to each town, as soon as may be. JOHN GREENE, Clerk.

Sir Edmund Andros's account of his administration and imprisonment.

To the Right Honorable, the Lords of the Committee for Trade and Plantations: The state of New England and the government of Sir Edmund Andros. That in the year 1686, Sir Edmund Andros was by commission under the great seal of England, appointed to succeed the President Dudley and Councill in the government of the Massachusetts Collony, the Provinces of New Hampshire and Maine, and the Narragansett Country, to which were annexed the Collonies of Rhode Island, New Plymouth, and the County of Cornwall.

In the year 1687, the Collony of Connecticut was also annexed; and in the year 1688, he received a new commission, for all New England, including the Province of New York, and East and West Jersey, with particular order and directions to assert and protect the five war-like nations or cantons of Indians lying west from Albany, above the heads of our rivers, as far beyond Maryland, viz.: Maquaes, Oneydes, Onondages, Caiuges, and Sennekes, as the King's subjects; upon whom the French had made severall incursions, and to demand the setting at liberty severall of them surprised and detained by the French, and reparation for sundry goods taken from severall Christians, his Majesty's subjects, in the lawfull prosecution of their trade. Sir Edmund Andros, upon the receipt of his commission, went to New York, and Albany, of which the Indians having notice (although they were then met in Councill about going to Canada), came thither, and were settled and confirmed under his government.

He forthwith signified to the Governor of Canada his Majesty's pleasure relating to the Indians, and made demand from him pursuant to the above orders, and also to quit a considerable Fort, which by encroachment he had built at Oniagra, in the Senneka's 's country, southward of the Lake, within his Majesty's dominion, about one thousand miles from Quebeck, in Canada (notwithstanding all the endeavors and opposition made by the Governor of New York, before the annexation), upon au advantageous pass near the Indians' hunting places, capable greatly to annoy and awe the Indians and obstruct and hinder the trade with them. That thereupon, the Governor of Canada did accordingly withdraw the garrison and forces from the said Oniagra, and those parts, and did further signify that the Indians by him taken were sent to France, but would write to the King, his master, about their releasement.

The severall Provinces and Collonys in New England, being so united, the revenue continued and settled in those parts, for the support of the government, amounted to about twelve thousand pounds per annum, and all places were well and quietly settled and in good posture.

The Church of England being unprovided of a place for their public worship, he did by advice of the Councill, borrow the new Meeting House in Boston, at such times as the same was unused, until they could provide otherwise. And accordingly on Sundays, went in between eleven and twelve in the morning, and in the after24

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noon about four; but understanding it gave offence, hastened the building of a Church, which was effected at the charge of those of the Church of England, where the chaplain of the souldiers performed divine service and preaching.

He was always ready to give grants of vacant lands, and confirm defective titles as authorized (the late Corporation not having passed or conveyed any, pursuant to the directions in their Charter), but not above twenty have passed the seal in the time of his government.

Courts of judicature were settled in the severall parts, so, as might be most convenient for the ease and benefit of the subject, and Judges appointed to hold the terms, and go the circuit throughout the dominion to administer justice in the like manner and form, and according to the laws, customs and statutes of the realm of England, and some peculiar local prudential laws of the country, not repugnant thereto; and fees regulated for all officers.

That particular care was taken for the due observance of the severall acts made for the encouragement of navigation, and regulating the Plantation trade, whereby the lawful trade and his Majesty's revenue of customs was considerably increased.

The Indians throughout the government continued in good order and subjection, until towards the latter end of the year 1688. By some unadvised proceedings of the inhabitants in the eastern parts of New England, the late rupture with the Indians there commenced, severall being taken, and some killed. When Sir Edmund Andros was at New York, more than three hundred miles distant from that place, and upon his speedy return to Boston (having viewed and settled all parts to the westward), great part of the garrison, souldiers with stores, and other necessarys were immediately sent eastward to re-inforce those parts, and vessels to secure the coast and fishery; and further forces raised and appointed to be under the command of Major Generall Winthrop; who falling sick and declining the service, by advice of the Councill, be went with them in person, and by the settlement of severall garrisons, frequent partys, marches and pursuits after the enemy, sometimes above one hun dred miles into the desert further than any Christian settlement (in which the officers and souldiers of the standing forces always employed), taking and destroying their forts and settlements, corn, provision, ammunition, and canoes, dispersed and reduced them to the utmost wants and necessitys, and so secured the country.

That from the said forces going out, untill the time of the late revolution there, and disorderly calling the forces from those parts, not the least loss, damage or, spoyl happened to the inhabitants or fishery; and the Indians were ready to submit

at mercy.

About the latter end of March, 1688, Sir Edmund Andros returned for Boston, leaving the garrisons and souldiers in the eastern parts in good condition, and sufficiently furnished with provisions, and all stores, and implements of war, and vessels for defence of the coast and fishery.

On the 18th of April, 1689, severall of his Majesty's Council in New England having combined and conspired together with those who were Magistrates and officers in the late Charter government, annually chosen by the people, and severall other persons, to subvert and overthrow the government, and instead thereof, to introduce their former Commonwealth. And having by their false reports and aspersions, got to their assistance the greatest part of the people, whereof appeared in arms at Boston, under the command of those who were officers in the said former popular government, to the number of about two thousand horse and foot, which strange and sudden appearance being wholly a surprise to Sir Edmund Andros,