Two Addresses from the Governour, Council and Convention of the Massachusets Colony/First address of May 20, 1689

by Simon Bradstreet

TO

The King and Queens

Most Excellent Majesties.

The Humble

ADDRESS

OF THE

President and Councel for the Safety of the People, and Conservation of the Peace.

Dread Majesties,

The late Glorious Enterprize atchieved by your Royal Highness through the Blessing of Heaven, attended with such Happy Success for the Relief and Deliverance of the Distressed Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland from the Miseries of Popery and Slavery, and then coming in upon them with a seeming irresistible Power, hath not only fill'd the Hearts of all the good Subjects of those three Kingdoms, but also of the Plantations depending thereupon, with unspeakable Joy, and will doubtless Influence all the Protestant Kingdoms and places of Europe, and Erect an Everlasting Monument of Praise to your Royal Name; The Gladsome Tydings whereof hath reach'd these American Plantations, to their no small Rejoycing, which your poor distressed Subjects of this Land hold themselves obliged to acknowledge with all hearty Thankfulness: First, to Almighty God, the Soveraign Ruler of the World; And next, unto Your Royal Self, as an Instrument spirited by him to so Heroick and Hazardous an Undertaking. Your Three several Princely Delarations put forth on that Occasion, Encouraging the English Nation to cast off the Yoak of a Tyrannical and Arbitrary Power, which at that time they were held under, have occurred to the View and Consideration of the People in this Country, being themselves under alike (if not worse) Evil and Unhappy Circumstances with their Brethren of England. First, by unrighteously depriving them of their Charter, Government, and Priviledges, without any Hearing or Tryal, and under utter Impossibilities of having Notice of any Writ served upon them; And then followed with the Exercise of an Illegal and Arbitrary Power over them, which had almost ruined a late Flourishing Country, and was become very Grievous and Intolerable, besides the growing Miseries, and daily Fears of a Total Subversion by Enemies at Home, and Invasion by Foreign Force. The People thereby excited to imitate so Noble and Heroick an Example, being strongly and unanimously spirited to intend their own Safeguard and Defence, resolved to seize upon and secure some of the Principal Persons concerned, and most active in the ill Management of the Illegal and Arbitrary Government set over them by Commission. Accordingly, on the Eighteenth Day of April last past, arose as one Man, seized upon Sir Edmond Andross the late Governour, and other of the Evil Instruments, and have secured them for what Justice, Order from Your Majesties shall direct, exhibiting and publishing a Declaration, setting forth some of the General Grounds and Reasons provoking them to such an Action; which, though so unformed and entred upon under such disadvantages, yet by the good Providence of God was so over-ruled, by the interposing and prudence of some Gentlemen upon the place, that the thing was effected without the lest Bloodshed or plunder, for which we desire to pay our acknowledgment of praise unto the Soveraign ruler of all things.

The Declaration of the People is herewith emitted, to be humbly presented unto your Majesties, the Demonstration and Proofs of the several Articles and Charges contained in the said Declaration, with other Informations not inferiour, will be preparing to be offered in the season thereof.

And now Dread Majesties, having given this brief Narrative of the present Circumstances of things amongst us, hoping for your Majesties Favourable Interpretation, and Gracious Resentment of this people and of the Action; bearing such Conformity to Methods which the English Nation hath been driven to take for their Deliverance.

We prostrate at Your Majesties Feet, perswading our selves that we shall not be forgotten nor left without our share in the Universal Restauration of Charters and English Liberties, which the whole Nation is at this day made happy withal, and for which we most humbly Supplicate, that under the shadow of Your Imperial Crown, we may again be made to flourish in the enjoyment of our Ancient Rights and Priviledges, being the sole encouragement unto our Fathers and Predecessors, at their own great Cost and Expence to settle this Collony, to the Enlargement of the English Dominion, and so much for the Glory of that Crown, we heartily Congratulate Your Majesties Happy Accession to the Throne,

Praying for the Long and Prosperous Reign of Your Royal Majesties.