USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II > Part 21
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John Prudden. - Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 121, 122.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
961
1688- 1689
ORDER APPOINTING A BOARD OF TRADE AND DIRECTING THE
PROCLAMATION OF KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY.
At the Court at Whitehall, the 16th of February, 1688/9* (1689). Present - The King's Most Excellent Majesty.
His Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark
Lord Privy Seal
Lord V. Newport
Duke of Norfolk
Lord V. Lumley
Marquis of Winchester
Lord Bishop of London
Lord Great Chamberlain
Lord Montagu
Lord Steward
Lord Delamer
Lord Chamberlain
Lord Churchil
Earl of Shrewsbury
Mr. Bentinck
Earl of Bedford
Mr. Sidney
Earl of Macklesfield
Sir Robert Howard
Earl of Nottingham
Sir Henry Capel
Lord Viscount Fauconberg
Mr. Russell
Lord Viscount Mordant Mr. Speaker
Mr. Hamden.
It is this day ordered by His Majesty in Council that the Right Honorable the Lord President, The Lord Privy Seal, Lord Steward, Earl of Shrewsbury, Earl of Bath, Earl of Nottingham, Viscount Fauconberg, Viscount Mordant, Lord Bishop of London, Sir Henry Capel, Mr. Powle, and Mr. Russell, or any Three of them, bee and are hereby appointed a Committee of this Board for Trade and Foreign Plantations; And that their Lordshipps doe meet on Monday next, the 18th instant, at six of the clock in the evening in the Council Chamber, to prepare the Drafts of Proclamations for Proclaiming their Majesties in the several Plantations and for continuing all persons in their Employments and Offices till further order, and present them to this Board for His Majesty's approbation .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 572.
FROM CHALMERS'S POLITICAL ANNALS, 1688-9, ON THE RELATION OF THE REVOLUTION TO THE COLONIES.
" The Prince of Orange was no sooner requested to assume the direc- tion of affairs than he fixed his attention on the Colonies, for the happy state of which he professed a particular care. He was not ignorant that the late King in the midst of his anxieties had given them notice of the intended invasion from Holland; and he thought it prudent to communicate the best intelligence of the event of it. He wrote circular letters to the various Governors; directing that all persons " not being papists ", lawfully holding offices civil or military shall con- tinue to execute them; requiring that justice be administered as formerly; and commanding all degrees of men to support their authority. But the characteristic reserve of that prince appears in this transaction extremely conspicuous: He did not mention the name of the late King (James II) lest he should admit his authority or recall the attention of men to the unfortunate, which generally solicits their pity: Nor did he direct the colonial governments to be administered in his own name, lest he should have assumed a power which did not yet belong to him. And by giving general directions he left the several governors to follow the dictates of their peculiar inclinations. As there was no demise, since there was yet no trans- mission of the Crown, they acted on that uncommon occasion, it should seem, in strict conformity to law, when they continued the administration of affairs in the name of the abdicated monarch, long after he had deserted the nation and ceased to be King ".
- Coll. of N. Y. Hist. Soc. 1868, pp. 12, 13.
* King James II. abdicated the Crown, on the 11th of December, 1688; at one o'clock in the morning of which day he quitted the Kingdom. King William III, and Queen Mary II, accepted the Crown on the 13, February 1688/9, so that there was, in fact, an interregnum of two months, between the abdication of James II, and the accession of William and Mary. J. R. B.
61
1 54
962
1689
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
ADDRESS OF THE MILITIA OF NEW YORK TO WILLIAM AND MARY.
To their Most Sacred Majesties, William King and Mary Queen of England France and Ireland, etc. The humble address of the Militia and the Inhabitants of the City of New York in America .-
Although wee your Majesties dutiful loyall and obedient subjects have not yet Received the honor to have your Majesties proclaimed amongst us, no shipps as yet being arrived to us from England to our great sorrow, yet wee having by way of Barbadoes, received the joyful news and undoubted satisfaction, that your Majestys being proclaimed King of England France and Ireland, we cannot for- bear to prostrate ourselves with all submission at your Royall feet, and to express our exceeding joy at your so happy accession to the crown of your Excellent Majes- ties; blessing the great God of heaven and earth who has pleased to make your Majesty so happy an instrument in our deliverance from Tyranny, popery and slavery, and to putt it into your Royall breasts to undertake so glorious a work towards the reestablishment and preservation of the true protestant Religion, liberty and property, had we though in so remote a part of the world, presumed to hope to be partakers of that blessing, we having also long groaned under the same oppression, having been governed of late, most part, by papists, who had in a most arbitrary way subverted our ancient priviledges making us in effect slaves to their will contrary to the laws of England; and this was chiefly effected by these who are known enemies to our Religion and liberty; yet we have with all humble- ness submitted ourselves thereto, not doubting but the great God would in his own time send us deliverance, which we now see so happily effected by your Royal self, who with our most gracious Queen Mary we pray Almighty God long to bless, pros- per and continue over us. Now we your Majesties most loyall subjects being not only encouraged but invited by your Royall declaration at your first arrival in Eng- land, as alsoe since by the unanimous declaration of the Lords spiritual and tem- poral assembled at Westminster thought it our bounden duty to do our endeavour to preserve and secure ourselves, and to preserve our being betrayed to any for- raigne Ennemy, which we have done without any let or hindrance or any molesta- tion to any person by taking possession in your Majesties name of the fort in this city - disarming some few papists therein and do keep and guard said fort against all your Majesties enemies whatsoever until such time your Majesty's Royal will shall be further known, wholly submitting ourselves to your Majesty's pleasure herein. Yet we had not presumed to have done this before we had your Majestyes Royal order, but that we were under most just fears and jealousies to have been betrayed to our enemy - Our late Governor Sir Edmund Andros executing a most arbitrary commission procured from the late King, most in command over us being bitter papists; our Lieut. Gov. Capt. Nicholson, although a pretended protestant, yet contrary both to his promises and pretences, countenancing the popish party, denying to exclude both Officers in the custom house and souldiers in the fort, being most Papists, contrary to the known laws of England, although he was often thereto solicited, and the Companies of our train-bands keeping guard in the said fort being threatened by the said Lieutenant Governor Captain Nicholson for acting nothing beyond their duty in the said fort of the said City and County, placing a sentinnell at a certain sally port in the said fort where he might justly suspect an enemy to enter, and at some other convenient place which required the same, which he refusing, entertaining secretly at the same time several souldiers wholly strangers to the Towne being some Irish into the Garrison and threatening our serjeants and (one) of the officers* only upon reasonable application to him made to pistol them with unreasonable expressions to fire the towne about our ears or words to that effect, and of the rash hasty and furious expressions and threats against us for so acting, our duty civilly and with submission all of which for the preservation of our lives and estates, and in order to be able to defend ourselves against any forraigne or domestic ennemy, and for the preservation of our Religion, liberty and property, we have been fain to do, and now do with all submission lay ourselves at the feet of your sacred Majestyes, humbly imploring your Majestyes
* Lieut. Hendrick Cuyler, of Captain De Peyster's company .- Doc. Hist. N. Y., Svo., li., 10, 11, 12. See post, p. 593.
963
1689
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
favor and protection assuring your. Majestyes our only design and intentions was to secure ourselves and country to be wholly devoted to your Majestyes will and pleasure in the disposing of our Government; to which we are ready with all Loy- alty and obedience to submit, and we shall always be petitioners to the throne of heaven that God would bless your Majestyes with a long and happy reign over us, and with a succeeding issue to sit on the throne of their ancestors whilst the world endureth .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 583, 584.
Dated at New York the day of June 1689.
THE COUNCIL OF NEW YORK TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY. New York, June 10, 1689.
May it please your Lordship. By the Shipp Beaver John Corbet master who departed hence about the middle of May, wee gave your Lopp. an account of the deplorable state and condition of the Government as per the enclosed Copie may appear, since we have about five days past by Gazetts and some Letters and pas- sengers from Barbadoes and Boston, Received the certainty of the over joyfull and most happy News of the illustrious Prince and Princes of Orange being proclaimed King and Queen of England, etc. And were in dayly hopes to be so happy as to receive the suitable Orders for to observe the same solemnities here, But before we could be made partakers of those our happy desires, It is come to pass that by the meanes and ill contrivances of some disaffected and dangerous persons all manner of Government is totally overthrown here in like manner as to that of Boston, whereby the state of this Citty (who depends wholly on trade) is become very desperate, no person being safe either in Person or Estate which undoubtedly will cause its utter Ruin unless prevented by sending some sudden Relief, For on the 31st day of May last the Fort James was seized by the Rable whilst the Lieu- tenant Governor and Council with all the Civill Majestrates and Military officers except Captain Leislor were met at the City Hall to consult what might be advisable tending to the common safety of the place and allaying of all Uproar and Rebellion.
Herewith we send your Lopp. the Minutes of the Councill here as also the Minutes of the Generall Assembly of the Councill, Mayor, Aldermen, Common Council and Military officers of this City, By the perusal whereof your Lopp. will be best informed of the particular past since the departure of said ship Beaver and therefore shall not intrude on your Lodps. patience in making a Rehearsall of said Particulars here.
We cannot yet learn that hardly one person of sense and Estate within this City and Parts adjacent to countenance any of these ill and rash proceedings except some who are deluded and drawn in by meer fear which do hope that a Generall Act of oblivion will salve all But it will be most certain in case no exemplary Pun- ishment be establisht that in future time, at every Act of the Government, not agreeing to the tempers of such ill-minded people, the same steps must be unavoid- ably expected.
And since we are assured sufficiently that although Orders from his now Maty. should arrive for the continuing of the Persons formerly entrusted in the Govern- ment that no such orders would be obeyed.
We have therefore thought it advisable that the Lieutenant Governor Captain Francis Nicholson doe depart by the first ship for England to render an account of the present deplorable state of affairs here, most humbly pray that his Majesty will be graciously pleased to afford this City and Province such speedy Relief as the present exigency and necessity requires.
And to that end we humbly pray that your Lodp. will be pleased immediately upon ye Receipt hereof to take such due and speedy care that ye State and Con- dition of this City and Province and the Inhabitants thereof may be made known to our most Gracious Soveraignes, whose Illustrious Person God be pleased long to preserve, and whose Reigns may be ever prosperous and happy to the subduing of all Heresy and Popery which are the hearty and dayly prayers of us who remain. May it please your Lodps.
Your Lodps. most humble servants,
Fred Flypse St. Courtlandt N. Bayard.
- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 585, 586.
9
1689
964
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
CERTIFICATE OF THE CLERGY OF NEW YORK IN FAVOR OF MESSRS.
CORTLAND AND BAYARD. (LATIN)
1689, June 11.
As a certificate of life, morals or religion is not to be refused to those demanding it, it is to be granted especially to those who are models of the orthodox religion. As the Honorable Messrs. Stephen Van Cortland, mayor of our city, and Col. Nicholas Bayard have so exhibited themselves to us. we could not deny their request, nor withhold such testimonial from men so well deserving of church and state. We therefore certify that they were born of Protestant parents, and that they were baptized and educated by them in the Reformed church and schools; frequented public worship, and bound and do daily bind themselves by the sacra- ment of the Eucharist to preserve and protect the true faith, which, it is notorious, they zealously made use of against the enemies of truth and for the establishment of the church; being meanwhile oftentimes promoted, and being still about to be advanced to the deaconship and government of the church, they filled the offices as well of deacons as of elders with consummate praise and approbation. They are moreover pious, candid and modest men; may they live many years, God willing, for the greater propagation of truth, and the increase of Christ's kingdom.
Given at New York, in our consistory, the 11th day of June, 1689.
In the name of the Synod (Assembly)
Henricus Selyns, (L. S.) Ecclesiastes Neo-Eboracensis. Joannes Kerfbye, Elder. Pieters Jacobs Marius, Elder. - Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 5SS.
ABSTRACT OF COLONEL BAYARD'S JOURNAL.
Abstract out of the Journal kept by Coll. Nicholas Bayard since the 11th of June Anno 1689. In New York.
Anno 1689 June 11th.
This Day the Lt. Governor departed from this Citty in order for his transpor- tation for England to complaine against the rebellious proceedings of Leiseler and some of the people his associatts.
15th. A packet being arrived by Capt. Brokholst for the Lt. Governor, upon hoopes it conteined the proclamations to proclaim King William and Queen Mary, the Councel sent Thomas Berryman a purpose with said letter to the Lt. Governor, and desired if the said proclamation was sent to have it proclaimed with all speed.
17th. Mr. Tudor and several English Marchants called me in at Neth. Buck- master's and told mee that Stoll with a file of muskettiers where sent to Long Island, as it was supposed to take in Wm. Nicolls, by reason (as it was alledged) that said Nicoll had said, before he would submit to such an arbitrary power as Leisler had taken uppon himselfe he would sooner pistoll him; whereupon George Burger came out of another roome and assaulted said Tudor, present my selfe and others ;-
In the afternoon at the fireing of the gunns of the fort, I sent for and invited at my house Mr. Mayor, the Aldermen, Common Councell, and what troopers and loyall gentlemen and merchants could be found, who all came to be merry and rejoice in their Majesties most happy accession to the Throane of England, France and Ireland, with innumerable wishes of a long, prosperous and victorious reigne, etc. Where most part of the company continued till the Evening, when all parted to prevent any abuse from the rebbels.
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965
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1689
23rd. I was informed that Mr. French with several other English gentlemen being on the bridge, without any cause given where assaulted by Jacob Leiseler, who in a great passion, threatened to kaine him calling him all the Popish Doggs and Divells imaginable, and that he and ffourty popish more had been Yesterday mett caballing together at my house, etc .; threatening before a week was to an end he would secure them all or words to that effect, which occasioned several English Merchants and Gentlemen for safety of their lives to depart the City.
This evening I told Mr. Mayor that since the King was proclaimed by the Soldiers, although without due order, yet it would be verry advisable to find out and publish the King's Proclamation, confirming all Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, Collectors, etc. being Protestants, which printed Proclamation I was informed to be in the hands of Wm. Cox, one of the members chosen for the Committee of Safety.
June ye 24th. This Morning Mr. Mayor himselfe and several other Gentlemen endeavoured to procure said Proclamation, which was denyed by said Wm. Cox, but att last had att Mrs. Thompson's Whereuppon the Court of Aldermen and Common Council where conveaned and publication thereof made from the Citty Hall, as the Records will sett forth; Immediately after publication the Court sent for the members of the Council, and told Mr. Plowman in regard he was no protestant, that therefore he was not qualified to continue as Collector of the Rev- enue, and ordered. to desist from acting therein till further order.
25th. Att a convention of the members of the Councell, with the Mayor, Alder- men and Common Council, Mr. Plowman was sent for and dismist, and a resolve made that the Revenue be collected for the proper uses of their Majesties, by four Commissioners, viz., Poulus .Richard, Jno. Haynes, Thomas Wanham and myselfe; and that a perfect account of the said revenue be kept, as also of the fees and perquisites of the Office and none to be disposed of, but collected and secured till the arrivall of the Governour or orders from England; Whereuppon the said Commissioners tooke the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy to their Majesties King William and Queen Mary, newly directed by Parliament. The above resolve and order of the Convention was immediately fixt up at the Custome House door and in the afternoone myselfe with the rest of the Commissioners mett at said Custome house in order to advise and settle the methods of manageing the Affaires of the Customes; Butt having been there about a halfe an hour in came Jacob Leiseler, Joost Stoll, Jan Meyer, with about eighteen or twenty armed men (not of his but of Capt. Brown's Company) - said Leiseler demanded by whatt power of authority wee satt there; answer was made, by the only authority which their Majestyes King William and Queen Mary had in this Government which he could see by the order fixt at the doore; the same being read by him he declared that the Members of the Council Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council held no power or authority; that they, and wee also, where Roages, Rascalls, and Devills, etc .; that we had created ourselves, that I was Popish affected, and had endeavored not above eight days past with two hundred men to retake the fort, and challenged mee yett to do it; - demanded from us whether wee had taken the Oathes to their Majestyes King William and Queen Mary; wee answered that wee knew not of any authority hee had, if he had any would do well to produce it, and though wee were not bound to give him any account, yett we would tell them that wee had taken the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy to their said Majesties, and that he did very ill, and was like to answer it before his Majesty, for to disturbe the peace of his Majesties loyall Subjects, Item for endeavouring to subject His Majesties Government and for the destroying of the Revenue by Law established; But since we saw the sword ruled, that if he would but command us to depart the Custom House wee would submitt and forbeare acting any further, he answered no, but would take a copy of that pamphlet, concider on it, and see what he had to do with such roages and rascalls, etc. and soe departed.
Immediately after his departure I tooke notice that the letter J. in the King's armes was not altered; wherefore wee forthwith sent the said armes and had said letter altered in a W.
The Commissioners resolved not to act any further that day, till they had an answer from said Leiseler.
966
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1689
About two houres after said Leiseler came at and in the Custome house, cursing and swearing calling the Commissioners all Roages, Villans and Divells, that they had sett downe under the armes of King James, that Popish Tiran, that he was sorry he had not seene it, otherwise he would have run us all thorow with the halbert: Mr. Wenham assured him civilly, that wee butt just come att the Cus- tome house, that wee had not as yett acted, only to have the letter in the King's armes altered; that itt was very strange said Leiseler was so forward to kill us for no fault, since he and his people almost every day lett fly from the fort, and also did march under, the Coullers of the late King James, whose figures where to this verry hour still to be seen in said Coullers; Mr. Wenham desired further that he Leiseler would desist from rayting and cursing, that he would be pleased to argue the case moderately and civilly, etc., butt said Leiseler tooke his kaine and threatened to strike him and all the rest of the Commissioners, by all possible meanes endeavouring to entice, exasperate and put his rabble on, (who all or the most parte where fild up in strong drinke) to fall upon the Commissioners, and so continue rayting and scolding for about three quarters of an hour, saying the order fixt up was a pamflet, and a scraule, that it was made in a meeting as Quakers meete and in a chimbny corner, that they assumed that power and created them- selves, that all of them were Roages and Villans, without any Authority. Where- upon Mr. Wenham demanded by what authority said Leisler came there to question the Commissioners; He answered his authority was by the choice of the people of his Company, to which answer was made, that where the King, and his Power, and Laws where in force no such choice and authority of the people was of any force or virtue: Yett since he came with swordes and staves and denyed any civill gov- ernment of his Majesty here, that wee still where reddy to submit if he would command us to depart; Whereupon Joost Stool laid violent hands on said Mr. Wenham, puld him by his neckcloath out of the Custome house into the streete, where he was beaten, bruised and wounded, and put in danger of his life; Some gentlemen Spectators, that spoke only a word in distaste of said cruelties, as Mr. Edward Taylor, Doctor Reed and others, where immediately assaulted by four or five of the rabble, on every one of them, and most barbarously treated and put to the utmost danger of being murdered: I and the rest of the Commissioners seeing the uproar increase, resolved to make our escape, but the first step I made out of the Custom House I was stopt and assaulted by said Leiseler, cursing and swearing that he would be the death of mee, sometimes threatening to run mee thorow, to cudgel mee with his kaine, to run mee in the face, etc., and would not suffer mee to pass the street in expectation (as all indifferent persons) that some of his crue (who had promised him their assistance before they parted the fort) would have been so forward as to be the Executioner of his murderous and bloody designe, which at last was attempted by his Herault Joost Stool the Dromman, who run at mee with a drawne dagger, and gave one or more strokes at mee, and would undoubtedly have murdered mee, unless by providence prevented, and I by force of the spectators rescued in the next house, which house was thereuppon immediately assaulted by a multitude of armed men, striking and beating against the door, threatening by swords and fire armes to force open said doors, unless Mr. Lanoy would open it and expose mee to their cruelties; which occasioned mee to make my further escape, till I was safe from their bloody hands.
In this ffurie his rabble cryed out verraet, verraet, or trayson, trayson, the roages with sixty men will kill Capt. Leiseler, and had the drum beaten alarm; Note that Trijn Jans the wife of Jan Joost was very active in this ffurie.
June 26th. I resolved by reason of said bloody cruelties to depart for England, and make my addresse to his Majesty for releife, and resolved to send an expres to Dellawar on hopes to overtake a shipp that was uppon its departure. I sent also a letter to Mr. Mayor for severall papers needfull to that effect; the widow Peyster Mrs. Van Brugh and severall others told my wife that the rabble of Leise- ler had sworne to have me alive or dead, and therefore advised mee to depart very suddanly; I was also informed that a shott was made at my negro John, whilst he was at his labor in my owne yard, but that the bullet mist him, and hitt against the stone wall, where itt was taken up and brought to my wife.
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