Instructions to Sir Edmund Andros, Concerning the surrender of Rhode Island and Connecticut Charters.

JAMES R.

[p.162] Additional powers and instructions for our trusty and well beloved Sir Edmund Andros, Knight, our Captain [p.163] General and Governor in Chief in and over our Territory and Dominion of New England in America, given at our Court at Windsor, this 13th day of September, in the second year of our reign, 1686.

Whereas we have been presented with the humble address of our Governor and Company of our Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation within our Territory and Dominion of New England, bearing date the 3d day of June last, wherein they take notice of our writ of quo warranto against their Charter, and thereupon declaring their resolution not to stand suit with us, have submitted themselves and their Charter to our Royal determination. Our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby authorize and empower you, upon your arrival in those parts, to demand, in our name, the surrender of their said Charter into your hands, in pursuance of their said declaration and address, and, taking our said Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, under your Government, to exercise the like powers and authorities in reference to the same, as we have given and granted unto you by our commission under the great Seal of England, for the Government of other Colonies, within our said Territory and Dominion of New England, assuring our good subjects of our Colony and plantation aforesaid, of our Royal countenance and protection in all things, wherein our service and their welfare shall be concerned, and giving us by the first opportunity, an account of their behavior and of your proceedings in obedience to these our commands. And, in case it shall happen, that upon the like writ of quo warranto, issued against the Charter of our Government and Company of our Colony of Connecticut, they shall be induced to make surrender of their Charter, our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby authorize and empower you in our name, to receive such surrender, and to take our said Colony of Connecticut under your Government, in the same manner as before expressed. By his Majesty's command.

SUNDERLAND P.