Feb. 22. then just appointed from the Privy Council,' consulted the Attorney-General, who reported to them that there was no law to prevent the placing of a Governor over Massachusetts forthwith; and they matured a measure to that effect. This, however, as well as the earlier scheme for reinstating Andros, Mather succeeded by the royal favor in defeating. The King in Council, having considered a petition presented by Mather and Phips, ordered that the committee should prepare a new charter, and that, instead of a successor to Andros as Governor, two commissioners should be empowered take upon them the administration of the government there, with directions immediately to proclaim the King and Queen." 3 Feb. 26. The directions were sent, but not the commissioners. The scheme of a General Governor, with the extensive jurisdiction which had been given to Andros, was still entertained. Lord Shrewsbury, Secretary of State, was instructed by the Council, "upon inquiry from April 18. those who have the most considerable interest in New England, New York, and the Jerseys, to present to the King the names of such as may be thought fit at this time to be Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of those parts,' -an arrangement which the Council judged conducive to the efficiency of the Colonies in the war now on foot with France. But they entertained a doubt, which they reserved for future examination, of "his Majesty's right to appoint a General Governor for those parts." 5 May 2. May 9. Ashurst petitioned (Feb. 13, 1689) for the restoration of the charter, Register of the Privy Council; O'Callaghan, &c., III. 578, 722. * See above, Vol. III. 591, note 1; the removal of Andros, and the se592, note 2. 3 Privy Council Register, sub die; comp. Cotton Mather, Parentator, 121; Petition of Mather and Phips against Andros, in Mass. Archives, CXXIX. 317, 345.-Mather and curing and punishment of John. Usher, now in England, for illegal acts as the Colony's Treasurer. (Mass. Hist. Col., XXXVIII. 117.) • Privy Council Register, sub die. • Ibid. 4 Reception of the news olution. July 22. May 29. 2 The arrival of the important news of the Revolution in New England awakened at court a new interest in in England the affairs of that country. John Riggs, Andros's of the Rev- servant,' appeared before the Privy Council with his and his master's account of what had taken place, and a copy of the "Declaration" of the insurgents; and Randolph's wife and others presented petitions for the deliverance of their friends who were in durance at Boston.3 Randolph had written at length to the Board of Trade and to the Privy Council in his elaborate and venomous manner.1 Captain George, of the Rose frigate, made his complaint to Pepys, Secretary of the Admiralty. The Commissioners of the Customs asked for an order prohibiting the exportation of powder to Boston, "not knowing in what condition the government of New England at present stands." 5 But the prompt measures which had been taken by the provisional government in Massachusetts prevented any hasty acts of resentment in England. The addresses to the King and Queen from the President and Council for safety of the people and conservation of the peace," and from the "Governor and Council, and Convention of Representatives," had come over as early as the complaints of the other June 12. July 15. May 20. 66 1 Though generally mentioned as a servant, Riggs was probably a subaltern officer, and attached to Andros in some such capacity as that of secretary. Among allow ances made March 14, 1701, to persons who served the King in Andros's time, was one to "John Riggs, an ensign in his Majesty's service." (British Colonial Papers.) But this may have been a rank acquired subsequently to 1689. 2 Riggs went from New York in the middle of May (O'Callaghan, I. 244), and returned December 10 (Ibid., 246). O'Callaghan, III. 578; Memorials of Sarah Randolph, John Trefoy, and others, in British Colonial Papers. Sarah Randolph says that her husband has served the crown these thirty years; . . . . . that he has "no other means whereby to maintain himself but by his said employment [of Secretary of Massachusetts]; and that, if he loses that, she and her five children must perish." ◄ O'Callaghan, III. 578; Proceedings of the Mass. Hist. Col. for 1871, 113. • British Colonial Papers. June 6. July 25. party; and they had had such good effect, that, as has already been told, the King in Council authorized Bradstreet and his associates to continue to Aug. 10. administer the government till further orders. Riggs was sent back with an instruction to "such as for the time being take care for the preserving the peace and administering the laws in Massachusetts," to "set at liberty or send in safe custody into England" the late Governor and his fellow-prisoners, taking care in the latter case that they should be civilly used in their passage.1 Before this order arrived, Andros had made a second, and this time a successful, attempt to escape from his imprisonment. He got as far as Rhode Island, where he may have imagined that he would be safe; but he was arrested there, and was brought back under the guard of a troop of horse despatched after him from Boston.2 Aug. 2. Oct. 26, The war was now hot both in Scotland and in Ireland; matters of the first consequence relating to the settlement of the internal administration were pending in England, and the government had again no leisure to attend to Massachusetts. In better heart, as the prospect that his position would be recognized seemed to brighten, Bradstreet wrote to Lord Shrewsbury setting forth the useful operation of the charter government while it was in force, the difficulties which it had tered from the discontent and misconduct of newcomers, and the present danger to the province from French hostility; and his representations of the exposed state of the country were seconded by various memorials of private parties.3 Oct. 30. encoun July 13. Aug. 3. Oct. 24. Weary of the delays which had occurred, Mather was 1 Privy Council Register, sub die. 2 He escaped August 2, 11 P.M. (Mass. Archives, I. 89), and got to Newport, August 3 (Randolph's let ter of September 5, to the Board of Prospects al of the charter. led to consider whether he might not have a better chance with the legislature than with the King and his ministers; and by the advice of English friends of the Colfor a renew- ony he determined to pursue his object by first soliciting a reversal by Parliament of the decree in Chancery against the old charter. That obtained, he proposed to proceed by applying to the King 'for the grant of some new privileges, to cure the defects of that instrument in respect to its applicability to the existing state of things. At one moment the former point seemed gained. As has been before related, the House of Commons passed, first, a resolve declaring the abrogation of charters in the late reign, both within the realm and in New England, to be "illegal and a grievance," and then a bill for restoring them.1 Jan. 10. The bill went up to the House of Lords, where there was equally good reason to expect that it would be carried. But, before there was time for that House to act upon it, Parliament was prorogued; and, presently after, it was dissolved. 1690. Jan. 27. An opportunity was lost which could not present itObstacles to self a second time. Mather's endeavors had all a renewal along been obstructed by an opposition which, so far from having yet spent its force, was constantly growing more formidable. In letters from their prison in Boston, Randolph and his allies had been plying their English friends with earnest dissuasives from according any favor to the colonists; and other letters to the like effect came from persons less liable to the suspicion of being goaded by personal resentment. Randolph wrote: This people having dared to proceed to this Jay height upon hope only of receiving their charter privileges (as they term them), what can we expect upon the arrival of their agents laden with such favors, 1 A letter of Mather to Bradstreet, 22), briefly related the transactions Sept. 3, 1689 in N. H. Hist. Col., I. thus far. but that they proceed to try us upon their laws; or, if it be his Majesty's pleasure to direct other methods for governing this country, the guilt of their crimes already done, and the fear of deserved punishment, is such that they will massacre us, and at the same time cast off their allegiance to the crown, accounting themselves his Majesty's nominal and not real subjects, as one of their chief ministers lately declared in public." He hoped that the King had already" sent hither a sufficient force to quiet the present disorders, and reduce this country to a firm dependence upon the crown. Here," he reported," is no government, no law; customs, excise, and the Acts of Trade and Navigation are cried down. All things are carried on by a furious rabble, animated and encouraged by the crafty ministers." He contrasted the inefficiency of the late operations against the Indians with those which had been conducted by Andros, to show "the desolation brought upon the country by the tumultuous designs of an anti-monarchial faction;" and he "humbly proposed it absolutely necessary for the honor and interest of the crown, and for the lasting well-being of New England, that fifteen hundred, or at least a thousand, good soldiers be speedily sent hither to reduce this people to a firm dependence upon the crown, and to regain what is already lost." Sept. 5. Oct. 15. Randolph played on a variety of stops. To the Lords. of Trade he wrote that the Massachusetts people paid "no regard to the Acts of Trade," and "held fast the anti-monarchial principles spread among them by Sir Henry Vane, Hugh Peters, &c.; and Venner, who made the insurrection in London soon after the Restoration, had his education here also." He irritated the ecclesiastical sensibility of the Bishop of London, who was a member of that board, by informing him that "Mather's book against the Common Prayer" had Oct. 25. |