To the KING and QUEEN's Moſt Excellent Majeſties.
The Humble Addreß and Petition of the Governour, Council, and
Convention of Repreſentatives of the People of Your Majeſties
Collony of the Maſſachuſets, in New-England.
May it pleaſe Your Majeſties,
WE your Majeſties poor and diſtreſſed Subjects of this Collony, late under the deep ſence and burthen of ſore Aggrievances, by an Illegal and Arbitrary Government ſet over us, were not a little rejoyced at the firſt Intelligence of the Heroic and Generous Undertaking of your then Royal Highneſs, being Divinely inſpired, ſo magnanimouſly to hazard your Royal Perſon for the Reſcue and Deliverance of the Engliſh Nation from the Miſeries of Popery and Arbitrary Government: Which Undertaking through the Wonderworking Providence of Sion's Saviour, has been ſo happily ſucceeded, as to bring in a general Reſtoration of Charters, and Engliſh Liberties, calling for all hearty Acknowledgments of Praiſe and Thankſgiving to Almighty God, and next to your Sacred Majeſties, and will Eternize your Names in the Hearts of all true Engliſh-men.
Your Majeſties happy Acceſſion to the Royal Throne, was moſt joyfully Congratulated by your Subjects of this Collony, and the Proclamations thereof here performed on the 29th of May laſt paſt, with all the Decency and Solemnity the place is capable of affording, and all imaginable Expreſſions of Joy. A brief Narrative of the Occurrences and Revolution happening among us, is ſet forth in the Addreſs of the Preſident and Council, bearing Date the 20th day of May last; together with a Declaration of the People forwarded to be humbly preſented unto your Majeſties. Since which Revolution no Orders arriving from your Majeſties, relating to the Governing of this People, having waited ſeveral Weeks in expectation thereof; and finding an abſolute neceſſity of Civil Government, the People generally manifeſted their earneſt Deſires and Importunity once and again, That the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Aſſiſtants choſen and ſworn in May 1686, according to Charter and Court as then formed, would aſſume the Government.
Upon conſideration whereof, things being ſo circumſtanced at that time, it was by them thought not ſafe or agreeable to our Charter-Conſtitution, to fall under the full Exerciſe of Charter-Government; but the ſaid Governour, Deputy-Governour, and Aſſiſtants then reſident in the Collony, did conſent to accept the Preſent Care and Government of this People, according to the Rules of the Charter, for the conſervation of the Peace and Common Safety; and the putting forth further Acts of Authority upon Emergencies, until by direction from England there ſhould be an orderly Settlement, which we hope will reſtore us to the full Exerciſe thereof as formerly; notwithſtanding we have for ſome time been moſt unrighteouſly and injuriouſly deprived of it.
That Royal Charter being the ſole Inducement and Encouragement unto our Fathers and Predeceſſors to come over into this Wilderneſs, and to plant and ſettle the ſame at their own Coſt and Charge: Which through the Bleſſing of God was a flouriſhing Plantation, enlarging your Majeſties Dominion, to the Glory of the Engliſh Crown; tho'ſince the alteration of that Government, greatly impoveriſhed by the Oppreſſions and Hardſhips put upon us.
We in all humility proſtrate at the Feet of your Royal Majeſties, and ſupplicate your Majeſties Grace in a favourable Interpretation and Reſentment of the late Action of this People. And that we alſo, according to our undoubted Right, may be again fixed and ſetled in a full Confirmation of our Charter, Rights, and Priviledges; whereby, through the Bleſſing of God, and benign Influences of your Sacred Majeſties, we hope to be a happy People.
Imploring Heaven's Bleſſing upon the Heads and Hearts of your Royal Majeſties, that you may have a long and proſperous Reign on Earth, and be tranſlated to an Eternal Crown of Glory.
Boston in New-England,
June 6. 1689.
London: Printed for Richard Baldwin, in the Old-Bailey. 1689.
