As to the abandonment of the complaints, the truth was that Somers, with whom the agents advised, thought it unsafe for them to pursue the investigation in the existing state of the home government. Of the same nature with the charges against Andros were charges which could be brought against Lord Danby, and others now by the restor ation of Tory ascendency at the height of power, but of a power felt by themselves to be insecure. It was of the first importance to avoid the opposition of these great men; but their good-will would be forfeited by persistence in a prosecution which would turn the public attention, now peculiarly sensitive, upon themselves.

The occupation of all minds during the summer with the momentous campaign in Ireland allowed the agents no good opportunity for a hearing, even if the influences. of the new Parliament had been less unpropitious. It is likely, also, that they were willing to await the issue of the expedition against Canada, which they hoped would be such as to recommend them to the royal favor. Their suit would be greatly facilitated if they should prove able to back it with intelligence of the conquest of Quebec by their constituents. Nor in that case might it prove necessary for them to stop with urging that Massachusetts desired the restitution of her old charter. They might perhaps further represent with confidence that it would be for the King's interest to add the conquered New France to her domain.

1690.

Meanwhile their opponents were not idle. The discharged prisoners now presented an "Address of Jan. 25 divers gentlemen, merchants, and other inhabitants of Boston and the adjacent parts," signed by seventeen" very considerable persons," who prayed the King for a union of "those little provinces, and the appointment of a Governor and Council to prevent further ruin. and losses." 1 "An ingenious merchant of Boston" wrote

1 British Colonial Papers. The statement of their fortunes, gives list of these subscribers, with a us a rotion of what was accounted

May 16.

that "a great many good ingenuous men there, with some of the rising generation, were clearly for a General Governor and to live under the laws of England;" and that "if they should have their charter, all the superstitious party, as they reckon the Church-ofEngland men, must move to New York" and elsewhere.1 Andros told his own story, largely and artfully, in

2

May 27.

June 19.

an elaborate memorial presented to the Lords of Trade. Randolph renewed his complaints against the irregularities of trade in New England. Care- Jane 12, fully prepared memoirs on both sides were presented, the authorship of many of which is now unknown.1 One pamphlet exhibited an " Abstract of the printed laws of New England, which are either contrary or not agreeable to the laws of England, which laws will immediately come in force in case the bill in Parliament for the restoring the charters of the plantations doth pass." Another, entitled Considerations humbly offered to the Parliament, showing that those charters relating to the plantations were taken away upon quite different occasions from those in England," undertook to prove that the charters were "seized for the abuse of their power in destroying, not only the woollen and other manufactures, but also the very laws and navigation of England, and making themselves, as it were, independent of this crown." 5

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very valuable collection of "Andros Tracts," made by Mr. W. H. Whitmore, for publication by the Prince Society. The MS. copy, in the collection of British Colonial Papers, of "New England's Faction Discovered," is in the handwriting of Randolph, who also indorsed upon it: "The printing of this paper will more justify us than if I should trouble their Lordships with many letters. E. R."

It is instructive to learn from the warm language of this passage, what indeed there are plenty of other indications of, that a morbid apprehen

The business of the agents made no progress in the direction last pursued. They turned their attention next to devising some method for bringing it, by a writ of error, before the Court of King's Bench, where Holt was presiding, with a view to a revision of the Chancery decree; but this was found impracticable. "There was now but one way left," Mather concluded, "for the settlement of New England, scil., -to implore the King's royal favor. It was not in the King's power to reverse the judgment against the old charter; nevertheless, his Majesty had power to reincorporate his subjects, thereby granting them a charter which should contain all the old, with new and more ample privileges." When the King came back from the battle of the Boyne and his decisive campaign Oct. 2. in Ireland, the Parliament was about to begin its second session. As soon as its approaching prorogation released something of his attention, the agents proceeded with the method now determined on.

Sept. 6.

1

On the general principles of government the King had his well-matured notions, and they were far from being liberal. Probably the special subject of colonial administration was new to him. His Dutch compatriots had pursued the method of managing their colonies by incorporated companies, which had scarcely any subordination to the States-General beyond a liability to inspection. And, as to desert, it is not likely that his partial or indifferent eye

sion of a commercial rivalry on the part of New England was felt by the British merchants at this early time. It was this fear of competition, as much as any thing else, that created the great sensibility in England in respect to the Navigation Laws. And to this unreasonable panic on the part of the merchants, annoying the government with its complaints and clamors, it is natural to ascribe whatever energy the reluctant government manifested in the execution of those laws.

1 Brief Account, &c., 6.- Nov. 29, 1690, Bradstreet informed the agents of the dissatisfaction that was felt, because in nine months of absence they had reported nothing "that might have been a direction in the conduct of public affairs." He interpreted the failure of the Quebec expedition as a stern frown of Providence. "Shall our Father spit in our face, and we not be ashamed?" (Mass. Archives, XXXVI. 228.)

would distinguish unfavorably between the rough dealers in gin and peltry at the mouth of the Hudson, and the representative of cultivated English thought and manners on the coast of Massachusetts Bay. The agents, in their ignorance of the temper and habits of their monarch, hoped not a little from the influence of his religious Queen.1

Suit for a

ter.

Oct. 19.

Their petition for a new charter with additional provisions was referred to the law officers of the crown, who, through the Chief Justice, reported favor new charably upon it, though in general terms; and in this new form the subject was again placed by the Privy Council in the hands of the Lords of Trade. It was 1691. just after this time that Phips arrived from Massa- February. chusetts. The King had immediately gone off to Holland to confer with commissioners of his allies on the management of the war with France. With the interval of only a couple of weeks, he remained on the continent till the autumn; and the agents could not reach him with personal solicitations. Mather, however, lost no opportunity for advancing his business. Lord Monmouth, and especially Lord Wharton, rendered him constant good offices. Archbishop Tillotson and Bishop Burnet were among his assiduous friends. Just before the King came to England for a short visit in the spring, Mather obtained an audience of the Queen, in which he entreated her Majesty's good offices for her subjects in Massachusetts, and she replied, "I shall be willing to do all I can for them." The King admitted him to two audiences, saying at the latter of them

165.

April 9.

April 28.

1 Increase Mather's letter of Sept. His letter to her for that purpose is 2, 1690, is in Mass. Archives, in Whitmore's Andros Tracts, II. XXXVI. 83. - Abraham Kick, an Amsterdam correspondent of Mather, was in favor there with the Princess of Orange, and took an interest in securing her favor for his friend.

2 Mather, Brief Account, &c., 6, Parentator, 124.

3 Brief Account, &c., 7; Paren tator, 127-130.

that he would see what might be done when he should receive a report he was expecting from the Lords of Trade.1

April 9, 21.

Meanwhile the malecontents in Massachusetts had excited themselves into new activity. Sixty-one "merchants and other inhabitants of Boston, Charlestown, and places adjacent," sent an Address to the King representing "the deplorable state and condition of the territory," occasioned by "the tumultuous removal of the late government under Sir Edmund Andros, and the distractions and divisions arising therefrom."2 On consideration of this paper, the Board of Trade called upon the Massachusetts agents for an account in writing of the existing state of that Colony, and the Council had had before them Sir William Phips and other persons "concerned in New England" to give "a relation of the late proceedings and expedition of the people of New England against Canada under his command."3 The Lords reported to the Privy Council that before proceeding further it was necessary for them to know whether it was the King's pleasure to have a Governor or single representative, of his own appointment from time to time, to give his consent to all laws and acts of government." The King being understood to declare that such was his pleasure, it was ordered that the Lords of Trade forthwith prepare the draft of a new charter upon that foundation." 4 On their advice, the duty of framing the charter was committed to the Attorney-General, Sir George Treby.5

66

April 30.

May 14.

us,

1 Brief Account, 7, 8; Parentator, mere strangers and sojourners among 131, 132. scarcely any of the issue of the first planters." (Mass. Col. Rec., sub die.)

2 In an Address of the General Court to the King (Oct. 14, 1691), this paper is spoken of as proceeding from "about sixty disaffected persome out of other colonies, and not a few of the rest

sons,

3 Privy Council Register; Journal of the Board of Trade, sub dieb.

4 Privy Council Register, sub die. Ibid.