twenty fourth of April, 1685, James the Second,
King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, &c., was solemnly
proclaimed at Plymouth according to the form required by his Majesty's
most honourable Privy Council."

After the Revolution of 1688 in England, there is the following record
of the proceedings of the Legislature of the Plymouth colony--proceedings
in which testimony is borne by the colonists of the uniformly kind
treatment they had received from the Government of England, except during
a short interval under the three years' reign of James the Second:

"At their Majesties' General Court of Election, held at Plymouth on the
first Tuesday in June, 1689.

"Whereas, through the great changes Divine Providence hath ordered out,
both in England and in this country, we the loyal subjects of the Crown
of England are left in an unsettled estate, destitute of government and
exposed to the ill consequences thereof: and _having heretofore enjoyed
a quiet settlement of government in this their Majesties' colony of New
Plymouth for more than threescore and six years, without any
interruptions; having also been by the late kings of England from time
to time, by their royal letters, graciously owned and acknowledged
therein_: whereby, notwithstanding our late unjust interruption and
suspension therefrom by the illegal arbitrary power of Sir Edmond
Andros, now ceased, the General Court held there in the name of their
present Majesties William and Mary, King and Queen of England, &c.,
together with the encouragement given by their said Majesties' gracious
declarations and in humble confidence of their said Majesties' good
liking: do therefore hereby resume and declare their reassuming of their
said former way of government, according to such wholesome
constitutions, rules and orders as were here in force in June, 1686, our
title thereto being warranted by prescription and otherwise as
aforesaid; and expect a ready submission thereunto by all their
Majesties' good subjects of this colony, until their Majesties or this
Court shall otherwise order; and that all our Courts be hereafter held
and all warrants directed and officers sworn in the name of their
Majesties William and Mary, King and Queen of England, &c.

"The General Court request the Honourable Governor, Thomas Hinckley,
Esq., in behalf of said Court and Colony of New Plymouth, to make their
address to their Majesties the King and Queen of England, &c., for the
re