Source 6b

Transcript

‘A Memoriall of what has occurred in their Majesties’ Province of New York since the news of their Majesties’ happy arrival in England’

Setting forth the necessity of removing Captain Francis Nicholson late Lieutenant Governor of the said province and putting the command thereof into hands of such persons, of whose fidelity and good inclination to their present Majesties the aforesaid Province is well assured.

The said Captain Nicholson in imitation of his predecessors’ (Colonel Dongan) wholly neglecting to repair the fort and fortifications of the city, and that not without a vehement suspicion, thereby the more easily to betray the same into the enemies hands, of which he gave the said province sufficient ground of apprehension, by discovering both by words and actions, his disaffection to the happy revolution in England and also to the inhabitants of the city by threatening to fire the same about their eares.

Whereupon the inhabitants in order to secure the said fort and city for their Majesties use, and to repair and fortify the same, and to place the government of the provinces in the hands of some of undoubted loyalty and affection to the present Majesties did remove the said Captain Nicholson and made choice of Captain Jacob Leisler with a committee (who were also chosen by the people) to take into their hands the care and charge of the government until their Majesties’ pleasure should be further knowne.

Shortly after arrived their Majesties’ Proclamation to proclaim them King and Queen of England, France and Ireland; notice whereof was given to those of the former council, and to the mayor and aldermen of the city to assist in proclaiming thereof, with the proper ceremonies for that solemnity, who desired an houres time to consider of it; which time being expired and no compliance yielded, but on the contrary an aversion discovered thereto; the said Captain Leisler, accompanied with the committee and most part of the inhabitants, did with all the demonstrations of joy and affection they were capable of celebrate the same.

Whereupon the mayor and aldermen were suspended and some persons confined, who were the most eminent in opposing their Majesties’ interest and the Revolution, and some short time after this their majesties’ letter arrived, directed to Captain Frances Nicholson, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of his Majesties’ province of New York; and in his absence to such as for the time being do take care for the preservation of their Majesties’ peace, and administering the laws that their Majesties province; ordering such to take upon them the place of Lieutenant governor and commander in chief of the said province, and to proclaim King William and Queen Mary King and Queene, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, and supreme Lord and Lady of the province of New York, if not already done, which was accordingly performed.

The inhabitants of the said city and province conceiving that by virtue of their Majesties’ said letter, the said Captain Leisler was sufficiently empowered to receive the same and to act accordingly; it gave them a general satisfaction; whereupon this committee were immediately dismissed, in a council chosen; by whose assistance Captain Leisler, act in the said government pursuant to his Majesties’ order.

The members of the former government, notwithstanding gave all the opposition they could to this reformation, and have creation a faction in the said province to the endangering the losse thereof, since it happens at a time, that we are under continuall alarms from the frequent attacks the French make upon our frontiers; so that without the care and precaution aforesaid; this their Majesties’ province was in apparent hazard of being delivered up to the Canada forces, belonging to the French King; whereby their present Majesties’ most loyal Protestant subjects of this province would have been rendered miserable equal to their fears, and this province become a colony of the French.

And to that height of insolence was the disaffected party growne; that in a riotous manner in the day time, they beset and surrounded the said Captain Leisler

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Our lieutenant governor in the street; treating him with ill language and threats, and had undoubtedly done violence to his person; had they not been apprehensive of danger to themselves from the people, who immediately gathered together and rescued the governor out of their hands, seizing some of the principal actors and ringleaders in that riot, and committing them to prison; and their friends and confederates, sending them provisions to the prison in a superabundant and extraordinary manner, designedly to affront and insult the government thereby. It was thought fit to order that no provisions should be permitted to be brought them, and they should only be allowed bread and water; but that severity was continued towards them only for two days, and afterwards that had the liberty to have what provisions they pleased.

The riotous action of the malcontents, occasioned a further tumult of ill consequence to themselves; for the country people, upon a rumour that the government was in danger, by a rising of the disaffected party, flocked into the city, armed in great numbers, and notwithstanding the endeavours of the magistrates to appease them; they took the liberty (as is too usual with an enraged multitude) to perpetuate revenge on those which were the occasion of their coming, quartering themselves in their houses for two days and committing diverse insolences upon them, much to the dissatisfaction of the magistrates till they could persuade them to return in quiet to their houses. However it was thought requisite by the government for preventing such disorders for the future and to secure the public peace to detain several of the disaffected in prison for a time, some whereof were since fined, but all ordered to be discharged from prison, upon paying their fines, and entering into recognizance to be of good behaviour for the future.

The fort and city are therefore now in a good posture wanting only ammunition. The commission are all called in from those of the former militia who acted under Colonel Dungan and Sir Edmond Andros and other commissions granted in the name of their present Majesties to such as are well affected to their Majesties’ interest. Upon those our actings for the securing their Majesties interest in this province, and conserving the public peace our enemies have endeavoured all they can to misrepresent us, and load us with reproach, by terming our aforesaid proceedings a Dutch plot, because indeed three-quarter parts of the inhabitants are descended from the Dutch and speak that language, and they also threaten our ruin if over the government come with x [Check original] their hands againe.

Which that it may not doe, and their Majesties’ most loyal and dutiful subjects in this province may reap the benefits and blessings of this most happy revolution, and not be made a prey to the most implacable and insulting enemies within us, as well as malicious and inveterate enemies on our borders who are ready to enter and devour us. Humbly submitting ourselves to your Majesties’ most royal will and pleasure.