To His EXCELLENCY, RICHARD, Earl of BELLOMONT, Baron of Coloony, in the Kingdom of Ireland, GOVERNOR and Commander in Chief of the Provinces of the Massachusetts-Bay, New-York and New-Hampshire.  
The Address of the Ministers met at Boston in New England, May 31st. 1699. May it please Your Excellency,  
LONG ●●●ore this Province ●ould ●e irradiate●●●●h 〈◊〉 Excellency's Happy Arrival 〈◊〉 Us, there Dawn'd upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all O●●●e●s Joyful Certificati●● of You● Excellent 〈◊〉  
And indeed while we Congratulate Your Excellency's Arrival unto this part of Your Government, We do but Congratulate our own Felicity, in having the Helm of the Government, by His Majesty's Commission, put into the Hands of One, who is Adorned with so Charming an Image of His Own Royal Virtues.  
His Majesty hath for ever obliged the English Nation, by His Royal Assent to those Acts of Parliament, which have Enriched it with Blessings richly worth all the Expenses of the Late Happy Revolution. But Your Lordship's Most Generous, and Prosperous Conduct, in labouring to bring about those Acts hath laid England under the same Obligation to Your Lordship, that Ireland hath to Your Illustrious Ancestors.  
From doing of Benefits to the best Island and Garden of the other Haemisphere, Your Excellency is now come to be a Benefactor, unto the Continent of America, and Countries that have subdued an American Wilderness, to be a significant part of the English Empire.  
His Majesty in His Royal Wisdom discerned, That the r●re Temper, which qualifies Your Excellency, for the most Honourable Undertake, would best of all express His own Gracious Intentions, to this part of His Dominions. And the Prudence and Goodness, with which Your Excellency hath managed the Affairs of New-York, is an actual Demonstration of His Majesty's Wisdom in the Choice of an Healer for them.  
The Condition of Scotland, hath been so considered by His Majesty, That He hath not only consented unto their Laws, which have Established their Church-Government, as 'tis now Reform; but more than once or twice assured them of His Resolution to maintain that Church Government among them. This Greatest of Monarches that ever Sat on the Throne of Great Britain, and best of Kings at this Day Swaying a Sceptre upon Earth, hath now given Your Excellency the Command over New-England; and a People that are a Nation of Non-Conformists, which those in Scotland justly look upon as their United Brethren.  
Your Excellency expressing so much goodwill as You have done to the Late Act of Parliament, which hath made the Non-conformists in England, Legal Parts of the Church in England; well knew what Hearty Friends, the vast Body of Non-Conformists are to the English Liberties; and what Loyal Subjects to the High and Mighty Prince, unto whom (under God) We are all Indebted, for the Recovery of those Liberties; and how much an Union between all Good Men, whether Conformists or Nonconformists, will contribute unto the Strength of the Protestant Interest.  
And we believe, That Your Excellency will on all occasions express the goodwill of a Common Father unto the Churches of Non-conformists (if where they bear the proportion of more than One Hundred unto One, it be proper to call them So) in New England: Churches wherein the pure Doctrine in the famous Articles of the Church of England is Owned and Preached with all possible Purity; and the Primitive Discipline which even the Liturgy of the Church of England wisheth to see Restored, is practised.  
But we cannot single out any one point, wherein w 〈…〉 ●ble Importunity more Solicit Your Excellency's Favo 〈…〉 our University. It's Languishing for want of 〈…〉 us to pray Your Excellency, That You would cartouch a Benign ●●●ect upon it; as that by Your Interest and Influence, in concurrence with our General Assembly, there may be obtained from His Majesty, a Settlement of that our University, upon such Foundations as may best answer the Ends, for which both It, and the Colonies hitherto kept alive by It, ha●●●hus Enlarged the English Empire.  
Now 〈…〉 shall in our several places Endeavour, That our People may be Inspire● 〈◊〉 Evangelica Principles of Subjection to Government, Obedience to M 〈…〉 ate's, and Readiness to every Good Work: So we shall make it our 〈…〉 That our Glorious Lord JESUS CHRIST, would Preserve the 〈…〉 MAJESTY, and bestow His manifold Benediction on Your Excellen●●●●d on Your Excellencies Noble and Hopeful Family.  
Increase Mather, In the Name, and at the Desire of the Ministers, in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, who Met at Boston, May 31. 1699.   

BOSTON, Printed by Bartholomew Green, and John Allen, Printers to His Excellency the GOVERNOR and COUNCIL, 1699.