with France: In order that the Inhabitants of this Town may be prepared in Case
of Sudden Danger: VOTED, that those of the Inhabitants, who may at present
be unprovided, be and hereby are requested duly to observe the said Law at
this Time. ¹

The Act of Parliament enacted when William and Mary ascended the
throne was the Declaration of Rights of 1689, which stated that James
II had subverted "the Laws and Liberties of this kingdom," in part "by
causing several good Subjects, being Protestants, to be disarmed, at the
same Time when Papists were both armed and employed, contrary to
law." ² The "true ancient and indubitable rights" it declared included
"that the Subjects which are Protestants, may have Arms for their De-
fence suitable to their Condition, and as are allowed by Law." ³ The
Bostonians contended that Americans retained all rights of Englishmen.

Boston requested that the other towns in the province consider the
resolutions and agree to meet in a convention. ⁴ Delegates from sixty-six
towns met at Faneuil Hall, and on September 26 presented a petition to
the governor stating that "it is generally apprehended that a standing
army is immediately to be introduced among the people, contrary . . . to
the Bill of Rights--a force represented to be sufficient to over-awe and
controul the whole civil power of the province; and must render every
right & possession dreadfully precarious." ⁵ The governor refused to
receive the petition and declared the convention illegal.

The same day the governor rejected the petition, the press asserted
that he was planning to disarm the inhabitants. In a warning which
would be reprinted all over the colonies, a patriot "A.B.C."--probably
Samuel Adams--wrote:

It is reported that the Governor has said, that he has Three Things in Command
from the Ministry, more grievous to the People, than any Thing hitherto made
known. It is conjectured 1st, that the Inhabitants of this Province are to be
disarmed. 2d. The Province to be governed by Martial Law. And 3d, that a
Number of Gentlemen who have exerted themselves in the Cause of their Coun-
try, are to be seized and sent to Great-Britain.

Unhappy America! When thy Enemies are rewarded with Honors and Riches;
but thy Friends punished and ruined only for asserting thy Rights, and pleading
for thy Freedom. ⁶

Two days later, the British troops landed in Boston and took over key
points, including Faneuil Hall. ⁷ Pursuant to the Town Committee's pre-
vious resolution, the citizens did not resist. ⁸ "Not the least attempt has
been made or even contemplated to oppose the landing of the King's
Troops, or their encampment on the Common. . . . It is not doubted that
the Posse Comitatus, in aid of the Civil Magistrate, when necessary, will

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