our hands. Before we can say any thing to the contents of the king's commission, we are necessitated to say something to the truth of it, it being the foundation of our employment, and maliciously reported by some to have been made under an old hedge. But that it was not so made, will manifestly appear to any rational man, by these undeniable arguments; 1st. The king himself (and the lord chancellor) told Mr. Norton and Mr. Bradstreet of this colony, Mr. Winthrop of Connecticut, Mr. Clarke of Rhode Island, and several others now in these countries, that he intended shortly to send over commissioners, and to many of these, we brought letters, either from the king, or the lord chancellor.

2. By comparing the king's reasons expressed in the commission with those mentioned in his gracious letter to this colony.

3. Being brought hither by three of the king's frigates. This alone had been sufficient.

Those personal slanders, with which we are calumniated, as private men, we slight, as christians we forgive, and will not mention; but as persons employed by his sacred majesty, we must not suffer his honor to be eclipsed by a cloud of black reproaches, and some seditious speeches, without demanding justice from you against those who have raised, reported or made them.

Some of them are these. That the king hath sent us over here to raise L.5000 a year out of the colony for his majesty's use and 12d, for every acre of improved land besides, and to take from this colony many of their civil liberties and ecclesiastical privileges, of which particulars we have been asked the truth in several places, all which reports we did, and here do disclaim as false; and protest, that they are diametrically contrary to the truth, as ere long we shall make it appear more plainly.

This, gentlemen, was the cause why we desired the magistrates of this place, about Feb. 14th last, that the country might come freely in to this election. This only was the reason why we wrote some letters to our friends to invite all hither at this time, as will appear by the letter itself, a copy of which we herewith deliver. We know

it was a duty incumbent on us chiefly to wipe these soilting aspersions of his majesty's honour, and to prevent the at spreading of this poisonous infection amongst his majesty's good subjects.

Gentlemen,-Though we cannot think that any here can be guilty of any such black crimes, yet this we say, that you cannot use a better argument to convince the whole world, or the king, who is most nearly concerned, that you are not so, than by severely punishing those whom you may find guilty, if you will take notice of it ce as you ought to do.

Now concerning the commission itself, the reasons mentioned in it are only such as must seem to concern Hall the colonies, and they are

1st. Several colonies having made addresses to the king, desired he would take them into his protection, which this colony, amongst others, did.

2d. The second is the complaints and disputes arisen about the bounds of several patents, which is the third in the king's letter.

3d. The third is, that all his good subjects might enjoy the privileges, both civil and ecclesiastical, granted to them, the same with the second in the king's letter.

4th. The fourth is, some native princes have complained of acts of violence and injury, which is the fourth too in the king's letter.

5th. The fifth is, that the king being informed of the condition of all his colonies, might the better know how to contribute to the improvement of their happiness.

According to these reasons of sending us, the king hath been pleased to give us power sufficient to accomplish the ends for which he sent us; of all which we shall have occasion to say something, when we let you see our several instructions.

The first reason mentioned in the king's letter to this colony, is peculiar to this colony, and is to discountenance and suppress those unreasonable jealousies, and malicious calumnies, which wicked and inquiet spirits labour to infuse, viz. as that our subjects there do not submit to government, but look upon themselves as independent

9

VOL. VIII.

on us. A fairer opportunity you can never have to throw this calumny (if it be one) to the depth of hell, to the father of lies, from whence it came.

The king has done more than his share, as shall immediately appear; the rest lies wholly upon yourselves. The 2d, 3d, and 4th reasons, being in the commission, we will not repeat them again.

The fifth is about reducing of the Dutch, which the king did not communicate to any colony but this.

The 6th is, that we might confer with you about the king's letter, date June 28, 1662, with the answer to which his majesty says he is not satisfied.

All these reasons, being seriously considered, will prove all these slanders to be exceedingly false and groundless, and therefore by so much the more malicious. The grace, favour, care and condescension, which his majesty has expressed towards you, must needs prevail with you to do him justice, by whose authority you have power to make laws.

That it may appear, that these are the reasons, mentioned in his majesty's letter, here is a true copy of it, which we are also commanded to deliver to you, and in his majesty's name, we desire that it may be seriously considered of by you, and made public to others, that it may not be obstructed in those honourable ends, designed by his majesty, the conveying of his further grace and favour to you, and the acquainting of all his subjects with the true reasons why his majesty did send us.

RICHARD NICHOLLS,

GEORGE CARTWRIGHT,
ROBERT CARR,

SAMUEL MAVERICK.

Document No. X.

Here follows the Court's answer to the four first instructions, and this last paper, which were delivered into Court, May 2, 1665.

E

Honourable Gentlemen,

HAVING perused the papers delivered in by yourselves the day before our election, and thereby understanding you have further to impart to us his majesty's pleasure, which had it been at once communicated to us, might, in our apprehensions, have conduced much to mutual satisfaction; but your expectation of our answer to what you have already proposed, and our desire to despatch the business of this court, hath put us upon this brief return at present, reserving liberty, if there be cause, to enlarge upon the particulars.

1. We do, with all humble thankfulness (as becomes us) acknowledge his majesty's great grace, favour and kindness, to this colony, expressed in his letter and messages at several times, which we have implored in some, acknowledged, as we had just cause, in other of our addresses to his majesty, in which also, we have professed our duty and loyalty to his majesty, and shall most readily lay hold of every opportunity to manifest the same, and to assure his majesty thereof.

2. The matter unto which your second instruction refers being now fully accomplished, there remains no further answer to be made by us thereto, only a thankful acknowledgment to yourselves wherein you have done us right in your giving his majesty a true account thereof.

3. For a map of the limits of our jurisdiction, upon the first notice of your desires, gentlemen, first made known to the governor and council by your letters from Rhode Island, dated March 13, '64, care was taken, and now such further provision is made by this court, that we doubt not but you will speedily receive satisfaction therein.

4. Gentlemen, we are not conscious of any neglect in publishing his majesty's last letter. For having called a General Court in August last, to raise men for his majesty's service, the said letter was communicated to the whole assembly, according to his majesty's command,

and copies thereof were spread abroad, that the people could not be ignorant of the contents thereof.

5. In the like manner, gentlemen, the five papers, delivered the day before the election, have been communicated to this whole General Court; and if yourselves desire any further publication thereof, we shall endeavour your satisfaction therein, and shall be ready further to advise with yourselves of the best means of removing all jealousies, and silencing all scandalous and false rumours that have been raised, and preventing the same for the future; acknowledging it to be our duty to exert that power his majesty hath betrusted us with, to vindicate his honour, and yourselves employed by him, being enabled thereunto by your more particular information, which, in this cause, yourselves will think necessary, it being extremely difficult, if not impossible, to trace these wild and absurd rumours to their first fountain, every reporter commonly contributing some addition to the stream. If any have industriously and maliciously scandalized his majesty, or his commissioners, they deserve severe punishment; if rashly and unadvisedly any have discovered their own weakness and folly, gentlemen. they may be the objects of your charity and candour upon the acknowledgment of their errors, or of our justice, if their own discretion and your lenity prevent not the

same.

Gentlemen, Our confidence of his majesty's grace, favour and royal intentions to us, being further cherished by yourselves, will undoubtedly draw from us more ample, (we dare not say proportional expressions and demonstrations of our duty, loyalty and good affection to his majesty, according as by our patent we are bound. EDWARD RAWSON, Sec'ry.

BOSTON, May 5, 1665.

Document No. XI.

The reply of his majesty's commissioners to your paper of the 5th of May, 1665.