THE volume, written by Thomas Danforth, Deputy Governour of the Colony of Massachusetts, has been diligently examined. Before repositing this curious MS. in the archives of the Historical Society, it seemed proper to print all such parts as have hitherto remained unknown. The first four pages are deficient, but the letter of Charles II. dated 23 April, 1664, addressed to * Son of Dr. Tolman. our colony, which ends on the top of the ninth page, was probably the commencement of the volume. This royal epistle, which I call document No. I, printed in II. Hazard, Hist. Coll. 634, relates to his majesty's commission, so famous in our annals, granted to Col. Nicholls and others, bearing date two days later, and published by Hazard next following the other paper, and by Hutchinson in I. Hist. Mass. Appendix XV. Next in order in our manuscript, beginning on page 9, is an important state paper, never yet published, which may be called Document No. II. Here follows a copy of the Court's answer to his majesty's letter of April 28, 1662 Right Honourable, 23 1614 THE favour you have been pleased to shew unto this poor plantation, (for which we return our humble thanks) doth further embolden to give your honor the trouble of this address, the intent whereof is truly and rightly to acquaint you with our proceedings in reference to his majesty's last gracious letter and declaration, sent by our messengers; and this we the rather do, because we have reason to doubt, that some, who are ill-willers to us, and no friends to his majesty's interest here, will not be wanting to misrepresent things to our prejudice. His majesty's letter was read in the General Court (which is the representative of this colony) in October last, and ordered to be published, which is accordingly done. We have cause to bless God and thank his majesty, as we most humbly do, for those expressions of royal favour, therein contained, in confirming our charter and liberties, and passing by whatsoever during the late changes might have been offensive, with assurance of his protection for the future; we hope so to improve this favour, as may give his majesty no just cause to repent thereof; as touching the further purport of the letter, we have this particular account to give, viz; for the repealing of all laws here established since the late changes, contrary and derogatory to his majesty's authority and government, we having considered thereof, are not conscious to any of that tendency; concerning the oath of allegiance, we are readily to attend it as formerly, according to the charter. Touching the administration of justice in his majesties name, hath been done, the practice whereof, which was discontinued in the late changes, is now reassumed; concerning liberty to use the common Prayer Book, none as yet among us have appeared to desire it; touching administration of the sacraments, this matter hath been under consideration of a synod, orderly called, the result whereof our last General Court commended to the several congregations, and we hope will have a tendency to general satisfaction. In reference to our elections of magistrates, we humbly answer, that it hath always been, and is, great care and endeavour, that men of wisdom, virtue and integrity be chosen to places of trust; and to that end, that such as vote in elections should be orthodox in religion, virtuous, (and not vicious) in conversation, and all those, that according to the orders and customs of the colony, here established, agreeable to the liberties of our charter, having proved themselves to be such in their places where they live, have from time to time been admitted in our elections; and if any thing yet remain to be acted by us respecting the premises, it is under consideration among us to that end; we humbly desire your honor will be pleased to assure his majesty of the loyalty and good affection of his subjects here, they resting secure in their charter, and his majesty's gracious aspect towards them. Sir,-Give us the favour to add one word more concerning the case of one Capt. Thomas Breeden, who, having, by a high contempt of his majesty's government here established, incurred the censure of the Court, is now passing for England, and possibly may complain, we thought expedient to enclose the truth of his case, from the records, that your honor may be fully inform ed, we assure ourselves his majesty will not countenance a private person to violate authority upon any pretence whatsoever; we were unwilling to be charged with such imprudence or fear, as to omit the punishing of such an offender, lest we should thereby prostrate our government derived from his majesty, and by us so long and orderly enjoyed; we commit our concerns in the premises unto God, and his majesty's wisdom, humbly desiring your honor to present the contents hereof, (in a fitting season, to the right honourable, the lord high chancellor of England, with the acknowledgement of our hum- ble service and thankfulness, so with our humble respects to your honor, praying the God of all grace would give a full and rich reward for all favour you have showed, or may show to our part of the Lord's heritage, we take leave, and remain, right honourable, your very humble servants, JOHN ENDICOTT, Gov. His majesty's letter of 25 February, 1664-5, being the third piece, is omitted, because it may be found in the curious Collection of Papers by Hutchinson, 390. A very interesting letter from that distinguished friend of our fathers, Sir Robert Boyle, may well deserve publicity, as Honoured Sir, Document No. IV. LONDON, March 17th, 1665. THE honour you and the General Court of your colony have been pleased to do me, in your obliging letter, bearing date, October 19th 1664, is a favour that I confess was no less surprising than great, for I did not imagine that what I occasionally writ to Mr. Winthrop, not so much as having been long governor of so large a colony, as upon the score of having been my particular acquaintance, should have been taken notice of by so considerable an assembly as yours, and much less that it should have procured me from it so public a favour, which I acknowledge to be much more proportionate to 8 VOL. VIII. the service I have been desirous, than to the little ones I have been able to do you; and I am the more affected by receiving this honour at this time, because you have accompanied it with a command, wherein I doubt, I shall not successfully, and must confess, that I cannot very cheerfully obey you; for though I dealt very sincerely with Mr. Winthrop in what I informed him, concerning the favourable inclinations I had found, both in his majesty, and in my lord chancellor toward the United Colonies of New England, and though his lordship does again repeat and confirm the assurances he authorized me to give to your friends in the city, yet I cannot but acquaint you with this, observing, that in your last addresses to his majesty, and letters to his lordship, there are some passages, that were much more unexpected than welcome; insomuch that not only those, who are unconcerned in your affairs, but the most considerable persons that favour you in England, have expressed to me their being unsatisfied in some of the particulars I am speaking of, and it seems generally unreasonable that when the king had so graciously remitted all that was past, and upon just and important inducements, sent commissioners to promote the welfare of your colony, you should (in expressions not over warily and respectfully worded) be importunate with him to do an action so likely to blemish his wisdom or justice, or both, as immediately to recal public ministers from so remote a part of the world, before they, or any of them be so much as accused of any one crime or miscarriage. And since you are pleased I should concern myself in this business, I must deal so ingeniously with you, as to inform you, that having about your affairs waited upon my lord chancellor (and finding him, though not satisfied with your late proceedings, yet neither your enemy, nor indisposed to be made your favourer as before,) his lordship was pleased, with a condescending and unexpected freedom to read himself, not only to me, but another good friend of yours, that I brought along with me the whole instructions, and all the other papers, that were delivered to the commissioners, and by the particu |