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XVII.

indian tribes with whom the other might be at war. CHAP. Thus did the king of England ignorantly abandon his allies. Yet, with all his faults, James II. had a strong sentiment of English nationality; and, in consolidating the northern colonies, he hoped to engage the energies of New England in defence of the whole English frontier.

The alarm of Massachusetts at the loss of its charter 1685. had been increased by the news that Kirke, afterwards infamous for military massacres in the West of England, was destined for its governor. It was a relief to find that Joseph Dudley, a degenerate son of the colony, was intrusted for a season with the highest powers of magistracy over the country from Narragansett to Nova Scotia. The general court, in session at his arrival, and unprepared for open resist- May ance, dissolved their assembly, and returned in sadness to their homes. The charter government was publicly May displaced by the arbitrary commission, popular representation abolished, and the press subjected to the censorship of Randolph.

1686.

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At last, Sir Edmund Andros, glittering in scarlet and Dec. lace, landed at Boston, as governor of all New England. How unlike Penn at Newcastle! He was authorized to remove and appoint members of his council, and, with their consent, to make laws, lay taxes, and control the militia of the country. He was instructed to tolerate no printing-press, to encourage Episcopacy, and to sustain authority by force. From New York came West as secretary; and in the council, four subservient members, of whom but one was a New England man, alone commanded his attention. The other members of the council formed a fruitless but united opposition. "His excellency," said Randolph, "has to do with a perverse people."

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THE SURPLICE WORN IN BOSTON.

CHAP. A series of measures followed, the most vexatious ~and tyrannical to which men of English descent were Cotton ever exposed. "The wicked walked on every side; Mather. and the vilest men were exalted." As agents of James II., they established an arbitrary government; as men in office, they coveted large emoluments.

MSS.

841.

The schools of learning, formerly so well taken care of, were allowed to go to decay. The religious institutions were impaired by abolishing the methods of their support. "It is pleasant," said the foreign agents Lambeth of tyranny, "to behold poor coblers and pitiful me chanics, who have neither home nor land, strutting and making noe mean figure at their elections, and some of the richest merchants and wealthiest of the people stand by as insignificant cyphers; " and therefore a 1688. town-meeting was allowed only for the choice of town Mar. officers. The vote by ballot was rejected. To a committee from Lynn, Andros said plainly, "There is no such thing as a town in the whole country." To assemble in town-meeting for deliberation was an act of sedition or a riot.

16.

1687.

Personal liberty and the customs of the country were disregarded. None might leave the country

without a special permit.
almost twenty fold.

Probate fees were increased West," says Randolph,—for dishonest men betray one another," extorts what fees he pleases, to the great oppression of the people, and renders the present government grievous." To the scrupulous Puritans, the idolatrous custom of laying the hand on the Bible, in taking an oath, operated as a widely-disfranchising test.

The Episcopal service had never yet been performed within Massachusetts Bay, except by the chaplain of the hated commission of 1665. Its day of liberty was Dec. come. Andros demanded one of the meeting-houses

1686.

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for the church. The wrongs of a century crowded CHAP. on the memories of the Puritans as they answered, "We cannot with a good conscience consent." Goodman Needham declared he would not ring the 1687. bell; but at the appointed hour the bell rung; and the Mar. love of liberty did not expire, even though, in a Boston meeting-house, the Common Prayer was read in a surplice. By-and-by, the people were desired to con- June tribute towards erecting a church. "The bishops," 23. answered Sewall, and wisely, "would have thought strange to have been asked to contribute towards setting up New England churches."

1688.

March

23

At the instance and with the special concurrence of James II., a tax of a penny in the pound, and a poll-tax 1687. of twenty pence, with a subsequent increase of duties, 3. were laid by Andros and his council. The towns generally refused payment. Wilbore, of Taunton, was imprisoned for writing a protest. To the people of Ipswich, in town-meeting, John Wise, the minister who Aug used to assert, "Democracy is Christ's government in church and state," advised resistance." We have,” said he, "a good God and a good king; we shall do well to stand to our privileges."—" You have no privilege," answered one of the council, after the arraignment of Wise and the selectmen, "you have no privilege left you but not to be sold as slaves."-" Do you believe," demanded Andros, "Joe and Tom may tell the Felt, king what money he may have?" The writ of habeas 125. corpus was withheld. The prisoners pleaded Magna Charta. "Do not think," replied one of the judges, "the laws of England follow you to the ends of the earth." And in his charge to the packed jury, Dudley spoke plainly, "Worthy gentlemen, we expect a good verdict from you." The verdict followed; and after imprisonment came heavy fines and partial disfranchisements.

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CHAP.
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1688.

THE INQUISITION FOR SPOILS.

Oppression threatened the country with ruin; and the oppressors, quoting an opinion current among the mercantile monopolists of England, answered without disguise, "It is not for his majesty's interest you should thrive."

1687, The taxes, in amount not grievous, were for public purposes. But the lean wolves of tyranny were themselves hungry for spoils. In 1680, Randolph had hinted that "the Bostoneers have no right to government or land, but are usurpers." King James did indeed command, that "their several properties, according to their ancient records," should be granted them; the Mather. fee for the grants was the excuse for extortion.

“ All

the inhabitants," wrote Randolph, exultingly, "must take new grants of their lands, which will bring in vast profits." Indeed, there was not money enough in the country to have paid the exorbitant fees which were demanded.

The colonists pleaded their charter; but grants under the charter were declared void by its forfeiture.— Lynde, of Charlestown, produced an Indian deed. It was pronounced "worth no more than the scratch of a bear's paw." Lands were held, not Lands were held, not by a feudal tenure, but under grants from the general court to towns, and from towns to individuals. The town of Lynn produced its records; they were slighted "as not worth a rush." Others pleaded possession and use of the land. "You take possession," it was answered, "for the king."-" The men of Massachusetts did much quote Lord Coke;" but, defeated in argument by An841. dros, who was a good lawyer, John Higginson, minister of Salem, went back from the common law of England Revolu- to the book of Genesis, and, remembering that God N E. 18, gave the earth to the sons of Adam to be subdued and

Lam

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tion in

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RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE LOSE THEIR LIBERTY. 429

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replenished, declared, that the people of New England CHAP. held their lands "by the grand charter from God." And Andros, incensed, bade him approve himself "a subject or a rebel." The lands reserved for the poor, generally all common lands, were appropriated by favorites; writs of intrusion were multiplied; and fees, amounting, in some cases, to one fourth the value of an estate, were exacted for granting a patent to its owner. A selected jury offered no relief. "Our condition," said Danforth, "is little inferior to absolute slave- 1688 ry;" and the people of Lynn afterwards gave thanks 22. to God for their escape from the worst of bondage. "The governor invaded liberty and property after such a manner," said the temperate Increase Mather, no man could say any thing was his own."

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Records

The jurisdiction of Andros had, from the first, com- 1687. prehended all New England. Against the charter of Rhode Island a writ of quo warranto had been issued. The judgment against Massachusetts left no hope of protection from the courts, submissive to the royal will; and the Quakers, acting under instructions from the towns, resolved not "to stand suit," but to appeal to the 1686. May 5. conscience of the king for the "privileges and liberties MS. granted by Charles II., of blessed memory." Flowers were strown on the tomb of Nero; and the colony of Rhode Island had cause to bless the memory of Charles II. Soon after the arrival of Andros, he demanded the surrender of the charter. Walter Clarke, the governor, insisted on waiting for "a fitter season." Repairing to Rhode Island, Andros dissolved its government and 1687 broke its seal; five of its citizens were appointed members of his council; and a commission, irresponsible to the people, was substituted for the suspended system of freedom. That the magistrates levied moderate taxes,

Chalmers, 421.

Jan.

12.

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