doe furnish at the same time yo' said Agents, or such
others, as they may depute with the proofs of their
respective titles to the Land possessed by them, to the
end they may be fully satisfied in Our Royall Justice,
that they have not been prevented in the full improve-
ment of their lawful defense, which Wee hereby direct
them to make before Us in Councill, such is the care and
tenderness, that Wee will always continue towards you,
and other Our Subjects, by removing those difficulties
and mistakes, that have arisen by the Execution of the
powers of yo' Charter, at such a distance from Us, which
by the first intendment and present constitution thereof
(as by the Charter appears) has its natural seat and imme-
diate direction within Our Kingdome of England. And
that the due observance of all Our Commands above
mentioned may not be any longer protracted, Wee
require you upon Receipt hereof forthwith to call a Gen-
erall Court, and therein to read these Our Letters, and
provide for Our speedy satisfaction, in default whereof,
Wee shall take the most effectual means to procure the
same. And soe Wee bid you ffarewell. Given at Our
Court at Newmarkett the 30th day of September 1680, in
he Two and Thirtieth year of Our Reign/.
By his Majts command

To Our Trusty and

Welbeloved the

Governor and Magistrates of

the Massachusets Colony in

New England now and for
the time being/.

[King's Instructions, Oct. 1, 1680.]

[Masonian Papers, Vol. 1, p. 8.]

Charles R not being in the Province Book

Sunderland.

Trusty & welbeloved wee greet you well whereas we have thought fit to take into our Especial care & Protection our Province of New Hampsh' and Provide for its Prosperity and good Government and the Setlement of the Estate, and Possessions of our good Subjects there and that for the Avoiding any Suits or Contentions in matter

of title and the determining Any demands which Might be made by our well beloved Subject Rob Mason Esq' as Proprietor under us of that Province by virtue of a Grant derived from Our Royal Grandfather King James under the great Seal of England we have So Composed all Matters with him that for the time passed untill the 24th day of June 1679 he Shall not Claim or Demand any rent dues or arrears whatsoever and for the future he his Heirs or Assigns Shall receive only Six pence in the Pound yearly of Every Tennant by way of Quit Rent according to the true & just yearly value of what is improved by Any of the Inhabitants as is more fully Expressed in Our Commission under Our great Seal bearing Date the 18th day of September in the One and thirtieth year of our reign. And Whereas the Said Rob Mason hath humbly Signified to us that he is preparing to transport himself for the taking care of his affairs and intrests in the Said Province & for the giving a secure and legal Confirmation of the estates of such persons as are now in possession but without any right or legal Title to the same and he being a Person whom we have esteemed useful to our Service as he is chiefly concerned in the welfare of that our Province we have further thought fit to constitute and appoint him to be one of our Council therein and we do hereby order and require you our President and Council that immediately after his arrival you do admit him one of our Council of our Province of new Hampshire he first taking the oaths enjoyned in our said Commission

And we do further require you & him that you do betake your selves to such discreet and equitable ways and methods in your Proceedings agreements and Settlements for the future that there may be no occasion of Complaints to our Royal person and authority here, We being resolved to discountenance all such as shall wilfully or unnecessarily avoid or delay the submitting to those determinations which may be reasonably decreed according to Justice and good Conscience which you are to signify to all our good Subjects within our s Province that they may govern themselves accordingly and so we bid you heartily farewell

Given at our Court at newmarket the first day of october 1680 in the two & thirtieth year of our Reign

By his majesty's Com'and

Sunderland

To our Trusty & well beloved the President & Council of our Province of new Hamp' in new England

The above is a true Copy as it stands recorded in the Council Book of the Province of new Hampsh' Examined this 12th day of august 1707

Charles Rex above not being in the Council Book

True Copy Exama

me Wm Vaughan Record

B Gambling Clerk

Appointment of Richard Otis as steward, March 22, 1680-1, State Papers, Vol. 1, p. 429.

Richard Chamberlain's report to the Lords of Trade and Plantations describing the organization of the provincial government, etc., May 16, 1681, State Papers, Vol. 17, p. 546.

Letter from the council of New Hampshire to the king, May 31, 1681, State Papers, Vol. 17, p. 552.

Petition of Robert Mason against the council of New Hampshire, read Nov. 10, 1681, State Papers, Vol. 17, p. 559.

[Extract from Gov. Cranfield's Commission, May 9, 1682.]
[Masonian Papers, Vol. 1, p. 10.]

Lt Gov Cranfeilds Com'ission from King Charles the 2a in the 34th year of his Reign

And whereas Severall of the Inhabitants of the Said Province of New Hampshire have been Som time & now are in the Possession of Severall Quantitys of Land & are Said to have made Considerable Improvements therein having no Title for the Same or Such Pretended title only as hath been Derived from the Government of the Massachusets Bay in vartue of theire Imaginary Line which Title as it hath by the opinion of our Judges in England been all Together Sett aside soe ye Agents Duly impowred by our said Collony of y Massachusetts Bay have Consequently Disowned Any Right Either in the Soile or Government there of from the three Milles line afore said and itt Appearing unto us that ye Ancestor of Rob Mason Esq' obtained Grants from Our Great Council Established att Plymouth for the Tract of Land Aforesaid & were att very Great

Expence upon the Same Untill Molested & finally Driven out Such bath Occasioned a Lasting Complaint for Justice by the said Robtt Mason Ever since our Restoration however to Prevent in this Case Any unreasonable Demands which Might be Made by the Said Rob Mason for the Right he Claims in the said Soile wee have oblidged the said Robtt Mason under his hand & Seale to Declare that he will Demand Nothing for ye time past which was in the year of our Lord God untill the 24th Day of June 1679 Nor Molest any in their Possession for ye time To com but will Make out titles to them & their heirs for Ever Provided that they will Pay unto him upon a fair Agreement in Lieu of all other rents Six pence in the Pound According to the Just and true yearly value of all Houses built by them & of all Lands whether Gardens Orchards Arable or Pastire which hath been Improved by them which he will Agree shall be bounded out unto Every the persons Concerned & that the Residue may Remaine unto Himself To be Disposed for his Best Advantage but If not withstanding ye said overture from the Said Rob Mason which Semes to be fair unto us Any of ye Inhabitants of the s Province of New Hampshire shall refuse to Agree with the said Rob Mason or his Agents upon ye tearmes aforesaid our will & Pleasure Is that you shall have Power & you are hereby impowred to interpose & Reconcile all differences If you Can that shall or may arise between ye Sa Rob Mason & the inhabitants But If you Cannot Then we doe hereby Command & requier you to Send unto England Such Cases farly & Impartially stated together with your opinion & Reasons upon the same that soe wee our Heirs & Successors by & with advise of our & their Privy Councill May Determine therein According to right

Part of Lt GovTM Cranfields Com'ission as on file In Allen & Waldrons Case formerly Tryed

Copia Vera y 5th Novem1 1707

Test Theodore Atkinson Cler

The above is a Copy of that on file in a Case Allen va Waldron Examina

Geo: Jaffrey j' Cle:

[King's Proclamation, June 23, 1682.]

[Council Book 1, p. 47.]

Charles R.

Trusty & Welbeloved We greet you wel. There having been long depending before Us the Petic'on & Complaint of Our Trusty &

Welbeloved Subject Robert Mason Esq' representing y great hardships & injuries he has for many years suffered by being opposed in ye prosecution of his right by Our Corporation of ye Massachusets Bay, and by them wrongfully kept out of possession of a Tract of land lying between ye Rivers of Naumkeck and Merrimack, & three miles Northward thereof, granted unto him by vertue of Letters Patents from Our Royal Grandfather of Blessed memory: And whereas We have received the Opinion of Our Attorny & Sollicitor general, that ye said Rob Mason, who is Grandson & heir of John Mason, has a good and legal Title to ye Lands convey'd to him by ye name of the Province of New Hampshire, whereupon We were pleased to referr ye matters in difference between Our said Corporac'on and the Complainant unto ye Lords Chief Justices of Our Courts of Kings Bench & Com'on pleas, who have presented Us with their Report, setting forth, that all Parties appearing before them, William Stoughton & Peter Buckley Esq's your Messengers & Agents had disclaimed Title to ye Lands claimed by ye Petic'on'; And that it appearing to them that ye said Lands were y" in ye possession of several other persons not before them, so they esteemed it. most proper to direct y Parties to have recourse to the Judicature setled upon the place for yo decision of any Question of propertie, until it should appear that there is just cause of complaint against Our Courts of Justice there for injustice or greevance. To ye end therefore that Justice may be administred with ye most ease; and ye least expence to all ye sd Parties who shal see cause to defend their respective Titles, We have thought fit hereby to signify Our Pleasure unto you, that ye sd Robert Mason be forthwith admitted to prosecute his Right before ye Courts of Judicature established limits of that Our Corporac'on: & that in all cases Mason shall claim any improved Lands, & that ye shal dispute his Right, a Trial at Law may b wherein no son, who has any Lands in ye servants or tenants under him depend -which such person shall be so impl- And that if it shal so happen, that ye dispensation of Justice hereby directed shal be delayd by you; or such Judgment given, wherein ye sd Robert Mason shal not acquiesce, he may y" appeal unto Us in Our Privy Councel; & that all sons. concerned be obliged to answer such appeal within ye term of Six months after ye same shal be so made And for as much as Yo' sd Messengers have in yo" name disclaimed before ye Lords Chief Justices as aforesd, all title to ye Lands claimed by the sd Rob Mason, Our further Wil & Pleasure is, That in case ye said Robt Mason shal lay claim to any cel of Lands situate within the bounds. aforesd, which are not improved or actually possessed by any partic