Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
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A48006
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A letter from a gentleman of the city of New-York, to another, concerning the troubles which happen'd in that province in the time of the late happy revolution
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Gentleman of the city of New York.
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1698
(1698)
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Wing L1397; ESTC R9397
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10,603
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26
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A LETTER From Gentleman OF THE City of New-York To â—nother Concerning the Troubles which happen'd in That Province in the Time of the late Happy REVOLUTION Printed and Sold by William Bradford at the Sign of the Bible in New-York 1698. SIR I Cannot but admire to hear that some Gentlemen still have a good Opinion of the late Disorders committed by Capt. Jacob Leyster and his Accomplices in New-York as if they had been for His Majesties Service and the Security of that Province and that such Monstrous Falshoods do find Credit That the Persons before in Commission did labour to oppose prevent those Disorders were Jacobites or Persons ill affected to the Happy Revolution in England But it has been often the Calamity of all â—ges to palliate Vice with false Glosses and to criminate the best Actions of the most Virtuous and most Pious Men. So that Truth and Innocency without some Defence has not proved at all times a sufficient Bullwoâ—k against malitious Falshoods and Calumnies Wherefore I shall endeavour to give you a true and brief Accouâ—t of that matter as I my self have been a Personal Witness to most of them It was about the beginning of April 1689. when the first Reports arrived at New-York that the Pâ—ince of Orange now his present Majâ—sty was arrived in England with considerable Fâ—rceâ— and that the late King James was fled into France and â—hat it was expected War would be soon proclaimed between England and France The Leiut Governour Frances Nâ—choâ—son and the Council being Protestants resolved thereupon to suspend all Roman Catholicks from Command and Places of Trust in the Government and accordingly suspended Major Baxtâ—r from being a Member of Council and Captain of a Câ—mpany at Aâ—bany and Bartholomew Russâ—l from being 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 at New-York they both being Papists who forth-with â—â—st their Command and departed the Province And because but three Members of the Council were residing in New York viz. â—ir Frederick Phillips Coll. Stephanus Cortlandt â—oll Nicâ—olas Bayard all of Dutch Birth aâ—l Members and the two last for the space of near thirty Years pâ—st Elders and Deacons of the Dutch â—rotestant Church in New-York and most affectionate to the Royal House of Orange It was Resolved by the said Lâ—euâ— Govâ—rnor and Council to call and conveen to their Assistance all the Justices of the Peace and other civil Magistrates and the Commission Officers in the Provâ—nce for to consult and advise with them what might be proper for the Preservation of the Peace and the Safety of said Province in that Conjuncture till Orders should arrive from England Whereupon the said Justices Magistrates and Officers were accordingly convened and stiled by the Name of The General Conventiâ—n for the Province of New York and all matters of Government were carried on and managed by the major Vote of that Convention And in the first place it was by them agreed and ordered Forth-with to fortifie the City of New-York And that for the better Security of the Fort since the Garrison was weak and to prevent all manner of Doubts and Jealousies a competent Number of the City Militia should keep Guard in said Fort and Nicholas Bayard Coll. of said Militia recommended to give suitable Orders accordingly And that the Revenue should be continued and received by some Gentlemen appointed by that Convention for Repairing the Fort and Fortifyâ—ng of the City but against this Order Capt Leyster who as a Captain was a Member of that Convention did enter his dissent with some few others It was also recommended to said Coll. Bayard to hasten to fortifie the City with all possibâ—e speed who upon the Credit of the Revenue did advance what Money was needful for Materials And by the Assistance of the Militia Officers and daily Labour of the Inhabitants had the same finish'd before the end of May excepting Capt. Leyster's Qâ—ota About the middle of May the Ship Beaver John Corbie Master being ready to sail for England the Lieu. Governour and Council sent in her by Mr. John Riggs and in several other Ships that soon followed Letters to the Earl now Duke of Shrewsbury then Principal Secretary of State and to the Lords of the Committee for Trade and Plantations wherein they signified their rejoycing at the News of his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange now his present Majesties arrival in England in order to Redress the Grievances of the Nation and giving a particular Account of the state of Affairs of this Province and that they would endeavour to preserve its Peâ—ce and â—ecurity till Orders should arrive from England which thâ—y humbly prayed might be hastened with all possible speed Which said Letters were most graciously received and answered by his Majesties Letter bearing date the 30th of July 1689. But against Expectation it soon happened that on the last day of said Moneth of May Capt. Leyster having a Vessel with some Wines in the Road for which he refused to pay the Duty did in a Seditious manner stir up the meanest sort of the Inhabitants affirming That King James being fled the Kingdom all manner of Government was fallen in this Province to rise in Arms and forcibly possess themselves of the Fort and Stores which accordingly was effected whilest the Lieut. Governour and Council with the Convention were met at the City Hall to consult what might be proper for the common Good and Safety where a party of Armed Men came from the Fort and forced the Lieut. Governour to deliver them the Keys and seized also in his Chamber a Chest with Seven Hundred Seventy Three Pounas Twelve Shillings in Money of the Government And though Coll Barard with some others appointed by the Convention used all endeavours to prevent those Disorders all proved vain for most of those that appeared in Arms were Drunk and cryed out They disown'd all manner of Government Whereupon by Capt. Leyster's perswasion they proclaimed him to be their Commander there being then no other Commission Officer amongst them Capt. Leyster being in this manner possest of the Fort took some Persons to his Assistance which he call'd The Committee of Safety And the Lieut. Governour Francis Nicollson being in this manner forced out of his Command for the safety of his Person which was daily threatned with-drew out of the Province About a week after Râ—ports came from Boston That their Royal Hâ—ghnesses the Prince and Princes of Orange were proclaimed King and Queen of England Whereupon the Council and Convention were very desirous to get that Proclamation and not only wrote for it but some of them hearing that two Gentlemen were coming from Coâ—necticut with a Copy of said Proclâ—mation went ouâ— two days to meet them in expectation of having thâ— Happiness to proclaim it but Major Gold and Mr. Fitz missing them having put the Proclamation into Capt. Leyster's hands he without taking any Notice of the Council or Convention did proclaim the same though very disorderly