[Page] [Page] An Account of the Proceedings at New-York. 1689.
A DECLARATION Of the Inhabitants and Souldiers, belonging under the several Companies of the Traind-Bands of New-York.
WE Declare, that notwithstanding our several Pressures and Grievances these many years under a wicked Arbitrary Power exercised by our Late Popish Governour Dongan, and several of his wicked Creatures and Pentionaries, especially now under Lieutenant Governour Nicholson: We were resolved to expect with great patience, our Redemption from England, expecting to have part of that blessed and glorious Deliverance procuted under God, by his Royal Highness, William Henry, Prince of Orange; but when we challenged our Liberty, Property, and the Laws, we were cajolled and terrifyed out of our reason, but at last some being threatned by the said Lieutenant Governour Nicholson, and with a Pistol presented against the Corporal, and said to the Lieutenant Cuyler, that he would set the City on fire, for doing our Loyal Duty. We have thought fit for our Conservation, and fear, to be lyable to answer for the Life of every Protestant that might have perished, and every House burnt or destroyed, if we had remained longer in Security; and also seeing daily Arrive from several parts Officers and Souldiers, who were entertained by the said Lieutenant Governour Nicholson in the Fort, besides his several Souldiers, of which there was a number of Papists, contrary to the Law of England; by which New-comers, some of the Burgers being threatned of some Design against them in few days, we thought Delay dangerous, so we have unanimously Resolved to live no longer in such a danger, but to secure the Fort better, which we have under God; with success without Resistance and blood-shed effected: And we Declare to be entirely and openly opposite to Papists and their Religion, and therefore expecting Orders from England, we shall Keep and Guard surely and faithfully the said Fort in the behalf of the Power that now Governeth in England, to surrender to the Person of the Protestant Religion, that shall be Nominated, or Sent by the Power above-said.
These are our most sincere Intententions, that we are glad to manifest, as well to the Power abovesaid, that God hath pleased to submit us to, as to other persons, to avoid their Reproaches, that they could otherwise unjustly lay upon the abovesaid Inhabitants.
New-York, the last day of May, 1689.
The Testimony of Hendrick Cuyler.
HEndrick Cuyler, Lieutenant to the Company of Captain Abrah. de Peister, Aged about Fifty Two Years: Deposeth, That on the Thirtieth Day of May last past, he Commanding half a Company of the Trained-bands, in the Fort of New-York, gave Order to one of his Corporals, to place a Sentinel at a certain Sally-port in the said Fort; but that the said Corporal returning, Declared to him the Deponent, [Page] that the Corporal of the Kings Souldiers in Pay in the said Fort would not suffer him to place a Sentinel there: And that afterwards, the Lieutenant Governour, Captain Nicholson the then Commander in Chief, returning to the Fort, sent for him the said Deponent to come to him in his Chamber in the said Fort, which he the said Deponent did, and desired his Corporal Hendrick Jacobs to go along with him, because he the said Corporal could speak better English, and that as soon as the said Deponent was come up into the said Chamber, he called for his said Corporal, who followed him to come into the Chamber; which he did, and that as soon as the said Lieutenant Governour saw the said Corporal, he rose up in a passion, and said to the said Corporal, You Racal, what do you here, with that the said Corporal returned answer, that he came to be Interpreter to him the said Deponent; whereupon he the said Lieutenant Governour, took down a Pistol that hung by the wall, and threatned to shoot him the said Corporal, and drove him out of the Room, and that afterwards the said Deponent remaining still in the said Room alone with the said Lieutenant Governour, the said Lieutenant Governour told him the said Deponent, that there were so many Rogues in the Town, that he was not sure of his life, nor to walk the streets, and that he the said Lieutenant Governour farther said, that before it should longer go after this manner, he would set the Town on Fire, and further saith not.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas our Intention tendeth only but to the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, and the Fort of the City, to the end that we may avoid and Prevent the Rash Judgment of the World in so just a Design, we have thought fit to let every Body know by this Publick Proclamation, that till the safe Arrival of the Ships that we expect every day from his Royal Highness thePrince of Orange, with Orders for the Government of this Country, in the behalf of such Person as His Royal Highness shall honour with the Charge of the Government; that as soon as the Bearer of the said Orders shall let us see his power, then and without any delay we shall Execute the said Orders punctually, declaring that we do intend to submit and obey, not only the said Orders, but also the Bearer thereof Committed for the Execution of the same. In witness hereof we have Signed these Presents: June 3. 1689.
BOSTON, Printed by Samuel Green. 1689.