Nov. 24. 1664. March 1. Fresh alarms land. Federal Commissioners, or to arbiters chosen by the parties;1 and, on her part, Thomas Prince and Josiah Winslow, of Plymouth,2 were nominated as referees. On the part of Rhode Island, Randall Holden, of Warwick, (for whom afterwards John Green was substituted,) and Joseph Torrey, of Newport, were authorized to make "a treaty according to the proposals.' But the attention of all the Colonies was now called in a direction different from that of controverfrom Eng- sies among themselves. The reader remembers that Massachusetts had rendered no satisfactory compliance with the royal demands transmitted through her agents. By the measure for a political overthrow of New Haven, the Confederacy had now been deranged. It was probably hoped by the ministry of King Charles, that, by the charters to Connecticut and Rhode Island, the good-will of those Colonies had been secured, and that, in the consequent transactions, ancient heart-burnings had been revived, and new interests and sentiments created, hostile to Massachusetts. There was a hold upon Plymouth through her hope of a similar indulgence; and, at all events, Plymouth was feeble in population and in wealth. It seemed that, substantially, Massachusetts would be left alone in the championship of freedom in New England. 1662. In the Privy Council, just after the Connecticut charter had been despatched, "the settlement of the Plantations in New England was seriously debated and disSept. 25. coursed; and the Lord Chancellor declared then, that his Majesty would speedily send Commissioners to settle the respective interests of the several Colonies,the Duke of York [afterwards James the Second] to consider of the choice of fit men." 5 Seven months later, 1 Mass. Rec., IV. (ii.) 95. See above, p. 527. Journal of the Privy Council. — To this entry is added: "A patent "his Majesty, present in Council, did declare that he intended to preserve the charter of that planta- 1663. tion [New England'], and to send some Com- April 10. missioners thither speedily, to see how the charter was maintained on their part, and to reconcile the differences at present amongst them."1 It was just after the communication of this scheme of corporation to be granted to Rhode Island." Temple had probably reached London in the preceding February. On the 26th day of that month, it was ordered by the Council, that "all persons that have any commissions from those in New England interested in the affairs of that plantation, and all others who can give any account in reference to his Majesty's service, and the good and benefit of those parts, do attend on Thursday next the 6th of March ensuing, at three in the afternoon; and particularly that Colonel Thomas Temple and Mr. Winthrop, and such as they shall advise and think fit, be summoned and required then and there at the time aforesaid to give their attendance also." 66 In the Massachusetts Archives (CVI. 56, 57) is a long "extract from Colonel Temple's letter, dated the 4th and 5th of March" of this year. The letter appears, from one sentence, to have been addressed to Mr. Lake (see above, p. 495), who was a merchant of note in Boston." (Hutch. I. 209.) Temple had but partially recovered, he says, from "somewhat a rough and long passage, in which he was perpetually sick, and no less distressed in mind." He was still more distressed, when he reached London, and learned that representations had been there made against him and the Colony of Massachusetts, "with all the malice and treachery imaginable." He had "at first almost yielded to despair, and began to think of ending his days in some obscure cottage." But, recovering himself, and having gone to " God's throne," and "prostrated himself, and earnestly besought his mercy, direction, comfort and counsel,” he had obtained courage to make a personal appeal to the Earl of Manchester, and, by the favor of that nobleman, had obtained an audience of the King. A friend accompanied him, who "very nobly testified the service he had done the late King, and his commands to his Majesty that now reigns to reward and take a special care of him." The King received him graciously, and he used his advantage to "set forth the happy and flourishing condition that the plantation was in." He now hoped "in a few days to get New England's former charter renewed." "If," he says, "the Major-General [Leverett] comes over, he may have anything; but I hope to do all to his hand. ..... The King and Chancellor and all the Lords are as zealous now for New England's good as Mr. Wilson is. The Chancellor commanded me to assure you of his true love and friendship to the country, and that neither in your privileges, charter government, nor church discipline, you should not receive any prejudice, neither did the King or Council intend in the Quaker's letter that you should not punish them, but only not put any to death without their knowledge.” Sir Thomas Temple was not a dull man; but he was not a man to read Lord Clarendon. 1 1 Journal of the Privy Council. 1664. May 18. 1 to the Privy Counsellors, that the General Court of Massachusetts raised their committee to devise some course for them, that might "be satisfactory and safe, as best conducing, to God's glory and the people's felicity." The committee had made no report. There had been no action in England to guide their thoughts. A year had passed, when the Court, convened for the annual elections, received intelligence which was recog nized in the following proceedings:-"The Court, being informed that some of his Majesty's ships are on their voyage to these parts, in which are several gentlemen of quality, do therefore order that the Captain of the Castle, on the first sight and knowledge of their approach, give speedy notice thereof to the honored Governor and Deputy-Governor; and that Captain James Oliver and Captain William Davis are hereby ordered forthwith to repair on board the said ships, and to acquaint those gentlemen, that this Court hath and doth by them present their respects to them, and that it is the desire of the authority of this place that they take strict order that their under officers and soldiers, in their coming on shore to refresh themselves, at no time exceed a convenient number, and that without arms, and that they behave themselves orderly amongst his Majesty's good subjects here, and be careful of giving no offence to the people and laws of this place; and invite them on shore, provision being made for their present refreshment." "The Court, being sensible of many distractions and troubles under which the country do labor in sundry respects, as also the sad estate and condition of God's people and interests in other places, do commend unto all the churches and people of the Colony . . . . . a solemn day of humiliation and prayer for the Lord's mercy to be towards us, and his gracious return to his people, according as we and they 1 See above, p. 531. "Forasmuch as it may or do stand in need thereof." is of great concernment to this Commonwealth to keep safe and secret our patent, it is ordered the patent, and duplicate, belonging to the country, be forthwith brought into the Court; and that there be two or three persons appointed by each House to keep safe and secret the said patent and duplicate, in two distinct places, as to the said committee shall seem most expedient; and that the Deputy-Governor, Major-General Leverett, Captain Clarke [Deputy for Boston], and Captain Johnson [Deputy for Woburn] are appointed to receive the grand patent from the Secretary, and to dispose thereof as may be most safe for the country." The train-bands in and near Boston were put in order. A tried officer, Captain Davenport, was placed in command of the Castle. Having trimmed their vessel, the wakeful pilots awaited the storm. Arrival of ers from England. 1664. July 23. CHAPTER XV. Offi Ar the close of a long summer day, as the Sabbath stillness in Boston was beginning, two ships of warthe Guinea, carrying thirty-six guns, and the Elias, Commission carrying thirty, came to anchor off Long Wharf. They were the first vessels of the royal navy that had ever been seen in that harbor. cers went on board, and brought back intelligence to the town, that the ships had sailed ten weeks before from England, in company with two others, the Martin, of sixteen guns, and the William and Nicholas, of ten, from which they had parted a week or two before in bad weather; and that the fleet conveyed three or four hundred troops, and four persons charged with public business. These were Colonel Richard Nicolls, Sir Robert Carr, Colonel George Cartwright, and Mr. Samuel Maverick. It has been seen that, in the press of business which fell upon Lord Clarendon at the King's return, he did not overlook the importance of reducing to obedience those distant communities of Englishmen, in which the chief strength of Puritanism now resided. At length, when 1 Mass. Rec., IV. (ii.) 157. Henry Bennet had now just be come one of the Secretaries of State. He succeeded Sir Edward Nicholas in that office, December 22, 1663.—In the State-Paper Office is an elaborate memoir on the subject of reducing the New-England Colonies, of which I presume Lord Clarendon to have been the author, though it is not in his handwriting. It is entitled, "Considera tions respecting the Commission to be sent out." It recommends "that Commissioners, about the number of five, to be of a prudent and sober conversation [he had no taste for men like Scott], of several qualifications or professions, be sent, with limited instructions to some purposes, and powers less limited, the better to enable them to effect what is intended by his Majesty." And it points out special methods to |