Two Addresses from the Governour, Council and Convention of the Massachusets Colony/Second address of June 6, 1689
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.