ADMINISTRATION OF LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR LEISLER.
207
At a Council held at ffort William Henry 13 April 1691.
Present the Governour
Jos Dudleyfired PhillipsSteph V. CortlandtNich BayardWill™ Smith
The Judges of the present Court of Oyer & Terminer Pray of his Excellency and Council whetherhis Matyes Letter of the 13 th July 1689 Signed by My Lord Nottingham and directed to ffrancisNicholson Esq r Liev 4 Governour & Command 1 in Cheife of the Province of New Yorke in America and in his absence to such as for the time being take Care for Preserving of the peace &c. or anyOther Letters or papers in that packet from Whitehall referred to the Governour for a Report Canbe understood or interpreted to be and Contain any Power or direccon to Capt. Jacob Leisler totake the Government of the Province upon himselfe or that the administracon thereupon be tobe holden good in Law
His Excellency and Council were pleased to Declare their opinion that the abovesaid Lettersto Capt n Nicholson nor any other papers in the packett directed to His Excellency for a reportContains any power or direction for the Government to the said Capt Leisler.
Chidley Brooke nG ab. Monviele /
W m Nichols )>Esqrs
Tho s Willet ^
House of Representatives for y® Prouince of N. YorkDie Veneris Aprill 17 th 1691: P. M.
Upon farther consideracon of y® petition Presented to this house by many of the freeholders:and the Inhabitants within this Citty & Prouince.
Resolued. Nemine Contra dicente, That Jacob Leisler Samu 11 Edsall & diuerse others aidingasisting and abetting him, In the Disoluing y e Conuention that was conuened at y e Citty of NewYork : for y e preservation of y® Peace y® execution of Justice and y® securing of this Prouincefor their Maj ts seruice King Will m & Queen Mary, King & Queen of England &c was tumultuousIllegall : and against Their Maj ts Right ouer this their Prouince, beeing A dominion of there Crounof England.
Resolued. That y e Imprisoning of their Maj ts Protestant subjects Into dolefull and nauseousPrisons, and there keeping Them by force & violence w 4h out any Comittment or y® assignment ofany Legall Cause was arbitrary Illegall and against y® peace & dignity of there Maj ts Croun ofEngland & allso a violation of y® Rights & Priu'eledges of there Maj ts subjects inhabiting withinThis Prouince.
Resolued. That y e proscribing & y® forceing There Maj ta Protestant subjects to fly their habita-tions & forsake the Care of there families, by w ch the strength of y® Prouince was much weakened:was also arbitrary and Illegal & distracting to there Maj t3 Interest in this Province.
Resolued. That y e Depredations made by the ffrench & Indians upon Schenectada & other planta-tions In y® County of Albany , by w eh many of there Maj ts Protestant subjects were slaine Therehouses burned ; and seuer 11 carried into Captiuity : w ch Seuere Loss Is only to be attributed to y eDisorders & Disturbances : That was Raised by Those who had Usurped a power Contrary to thereMaj 4 * authority & Right of Government ouer This Prouince.