The deplorable state of New-England, by reason of a covetous and treacherous governour, and pusillanimous counsellors : with a vindication of the Honourable Mr. Higginson, Mr. Mason, and several other gentlemen, from the scandalous and wicked accusation of the votes, ordered by them to be published in their Botson [sic] news-letter. : To which is added, an account of the shameful miscarriage of the late expedition against Port-Royal. Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728. Approx. 86 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 40 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI : 2009-10. N01868 N01868 Evans 2214 APX1940 2214 99018640

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 2214. (Evans-TCP ; no. N01868) Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 2214) Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 2214) The deplorable state of New-England, by reason of a covetous and treacherous governour, and pusillanimous counsellors : with a vindication of the Honourable Mr. Higginson, Mr. Mason, and several other gentlemen, from the scandalous and wicked accusation of the votes, ordered by them to be published in their Botson [sic] news-letter. : To which is added, an account of the shameful miscarriage of the late expedition against Port-Royal. Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728. Holmes, Alexander. Wise, John, 1652-1725. Higginson, John, 1616-1708. [4], 36 p. ; 16 cm. (8vo) London: printed in the year 1708. Reprinted [by Samuel Kneeland?], [Boston] : 1721. Attributed to Cotton Mather by Holmes. Variously attributed to Alexander Holmes, Rev. John Wise, and Rev. John Higginson. Printer's name suggested by Holmes. "A memorial on the behalf of the province of the Massachusett's Bay, in New-England; relating to the administration of their present governour, Collonel Dudley."--p. 6-36.

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.

eng Dudley, Joseph, 1647-1720. Higginson, Nathaniel, 1652-1708. Mason, Stephen. Port Royal (N.S.) Expedition, 1710. Massachusetts -- Politics and government -- To 1775 United States -- History -- Queen Anne's War, 1702-1713. 2008-06 Assigned for keying and markup 2008-09 Keyed and coded from Readex/Newsbank page images 2008-11 Sampled and proofread 2008-11 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

THE Deplorable State OF New-England, By Reaſon of a Covetous and Treacherous GOVERNOUR, AND Puſillanimous COUNSELLORS WITH A VINDICATION of the Honourable Mr. HIGGINSON, Mr. MASON, and ſeveral other Gentlemen, from the Scandalous and Wicked Accuſation of the VOTES ordered by Them to be Publiſhed in their BOTSON New Letter.

To which is added, An ACCOUNT of the Shameful Miſcarriage of the Late EXPEDITION againſt PORT-ROYAL.

LONDON: Printed in the Year 1708. Reprinted 1721.

TO THE READER.

IF the New-England Councellors (as well as their Governour) are publickly expoſed in a Land a Thouſand Leagues distant from them, they have no reaſon to complain of bard Dealing, Lex Talionis requires that it ſhould be ſo; for it is nothing but what they themſelves have done, by Gentlemen who are on ſeveral Accounts ſuperior to them. We wiſh they may be ſenſible of the great Hurt their Co is like to ſuffer by their Means. They have 〈◊〉 uraged their Friends from 〈◊〉 appearing aga in their Behalf, when if they ſhould, they, to pleaſe their Governour, will in Print, brand them for Scand lous and Wicked Accuſers.

Their Fault is the more aggravated, in that after they ſaw an Invoice which mentions an Hundred Thouſand Nails, ſent to the Queen's Enemies at Port-Royal, allowed by the Governour under his own Hand, they cauſed their abuſive Vote to be printed. Only we Hear that their Secretary, who is a Prudent Man, and one of their Counſellours, was againſt the Publication of their Scandalous Vote.

But we likewiſe hear, that ſome of them moved that ſeveral Affidavits, which had been laid before Her Majeſty in Council, and were after 〈◊〉 Printed here in London, might be burnt, becauſe they Complained of their Governour's Notorious Briberies, and other Male Adminiſtrations. Probably the ſame Perſons will make the like Propoſal again, if a New Governour does not Negative them out of his Council, which we ſuppoſe he will, unleſs the Repreſentatives of the Province (as in Duty they are Bound) ſhall ſave him the Trouble.

The Reader may depend upon it, that as to Matter of Fact, there is nothing in this Narrative but Exact Truth; what is therein Related, is not only affirmed by Gentlemen worthy of Credit lately come from Boſton, but by Letters from as Eminent Perſons as any in New-England.

The Deplorable STATE OF New-England.
SECTION. I.

SOME Late Votes paſſed in the General Aſſembly at Boſton, and Printed in the Boſton News-Letter, Cauſe us to Reflect with ſome Wonder on the Deplorable State of the Plantations.

They that are ſent over as Governours thither, appear as Perſons of Suitable Abilities, and approved Loyalty. They are in Favour with ſome Miniſters of State, who Recommend them to the King or Queen for the Time being; and are in Fee with their Clarks, by whoſe Means their Buſineſs is done the more Effectually. When they arrive with their Commiſſions, they Expreſs themſelves in Obliging Terms; and the Raviſh'd People, who are quite Giddy with Joy, if they have Governours, which they may hope, will not Cut their Throats, make them Noble Preſents, and ſend home an Addreſs of Thanks for ſuch Admirable Governours.

Their Next Work is, by all poſſible Artifices, to get into all Offices about the Country, ſuch as are, or they know, will be, meer Creatures to them; or at leaſt, ſu as are not f rniſhed either with Courage or Conduct. to make any Complaints Home againſt them, in Caſe of any Male-Adminiſtration.

After this, let the Governour do what he will, either there will be no Body Strong enough to Repair unto the Cro with due Remonſtrances; or if any Body do, the Governour has many Ways to moleſt him and his, and to Defeat all his Undertakings. Yea, 'tis Ten Thouſand to One, but at the very Time, when an oppreſſed Perſon is Solliciting his own, and an oppreſſed People's Cauſe, the Governour may have ſo modell'd the General Aſſembly, that they ſhall paſs wretched Votes to his Advantage, and Kiſs the Hand, which all the open Eyes in the Country ſee Stabbing of them.

One would have thought, the People of N. England ſhould have been Senſible of their Good Fortune in it; that when they are betrayed in Miſerable Circumſtances by an Hungry Governour, who has been willing to Enrich himſelf and his Family, on the Ruines of his Country, ſome Gentlemen of Note, have interpoſed with Humble Addreſſes to her Majeſty on their Behalf. They have no Agent here, but what is entirely in the Intereſt of their Governour. When the whole Houſe of Repreſentatives ſent over hither, an Addreſs to the Queen, relating to matter of the greateſt Importance, the Agent whom they had I oy'd and Rewarded with ſome Hundreds of Pounds fuſed to Preſent the Addreſs, becauſe it would not ſuit with the Governour's Intereſt, and wrote them word, That no Addreſs. muſt be preſented, except Signed by the Governour. And yet after this, the ſame Gentleman could preſent Adreſſes for the continuance of the Governour which were ſigned by Private Hands, and procured by Ways and Means little to the Honour of thoſe Concerned. Some Gentlemen here, knowing the Opreſs'd and Betray'd Condition of that poor People, have Addreſs'd on their Behalf; and have ſaid nothing in their Addreſs, but what they had the Oaths of ſeveral Good Men, to ſupport the Truth of what was Aſſerted: But, lo! to their Surprize, they find themſelves in the Boston News Letter Expoſed, as having been the Authors of Seandalous and wicked Accuſations! The Counſellors of N. England, have done as much as lies in them for ever to diſcourage all Gentlemen here from appearing for the Country, let never ſuch Difficult Circumſtances be 〈…〉 upon it; but we will pity them, as Trapann'd into they know not what themſelves! However, if they will allow no body here to ſpeak for their Country, they can't forbid us to Speak for Ourſelves, which they have now made but too Neceſſary for us.

Letters from New-England Inform us, That the Great and only Reaſon, why ſome of the Council there will ſtrmly Believe more Charitably of their Governour Dudley, than many others do, is, Becauſe his Family and Interest is there, and therefore 'tis unreaſonable to Believe, that he would do any thing that ſhould hurt the Country.

But, Was not his Family and Interest there in Sir Edmund Androſs's time? And yet a Book Publiſhed here, by the Agents of New-England, after the Revolution, Intituled, The Revolution in New-England Justified, has given the World a ſad Story of what a Colonel Dudley may do towards the Ruining a Country which has his Family and Interests in it. Read that Hiſtory and you will find, that after Col. Dudley had been an Agent for the Country, he tack'd about, and join'd with the Inſtruments that overthrew their Charter, and accepted an Illegal and Arbitrary Commiſſion from King James, by which he held the Government, until the Arrival of Sir Edmund Androſs, and then was, as Preſident of the Council, and Chief Judge of the Territory, a Chief Tool of all the enſuing barbarous and infamous Adminiſtration. They governed without an Aſſembly, when the Laws were propoſed in the Council, tho' the major Part of the Council ſhould happen to diſſent, yet if the Governour was poſitive, there was a Preſident at the Board, by whoſe Allowance the Laws were immediately Engroſſed, Publiſhed, and Executed: And Judge Dudley did not contradict it when ſome of the Principal Gentlemen in the Country were told at the Council Board, You have no more Privileges left you but this, that you are not Bought and Sold for Slaves. By the Sequel we ſhall ſee not this neither. A Juncto, (wherein how often this Chief Judge, was of the Quorum, is now forgotten) made a World of Laws, which Pillaged that poor People Deſperately. They Levied a Tax on the whole People without any Aſſembly; and when the Principal Perſons, and ſome others in Ipſ on that Occaſion, with all poſſible Modeſty moved, that the King ſhould be Humbly Petition'd for the Liberty of an Aſſembly, they were Committed to Priſon for an High Miſdemeanour, and were Denied an Habeas Corpus, & Drag'd many Miles out of their own County to Anſwer it at a Court in Boſton, where Jurors were pickt for the Turn, that were neither Free-holders, nor ſo much as Inhabitants. They were all Fined ſeverely, and laid under great Bonds for their Good Behaviour; beſides which, the Hungry Officers Extorted Fees of near Two Hundred Pounds, where they would not have riſen to Ten Pounds, had any Law of England, or Juſtice been Obſerved. The Townſmen of many other Places were ſerved in the like Faſhion; and our Judge Dudley was a Principal Actor in all this Wickedneſs. It was now denyed that any Man was owner of a Foot of Land in all the Colony. Judge Dudley gave it as his Judgment under his Hand. Writs of Intruſion were preſently ſerved upon the Chief Gentlemen in the Country, to Compel them, and others by the Terror of their Example, to take Patents for the Lands which they had quietly poſſeſſed for Fifty or Sixty Years together. For theſe Patents there were ſuch Exorbitant Prices demanded, that Fifty Pounds would not purchaſe for its owner, an Eſtate not worth Two Hundred; nor could all the Money and Moveables in the Territory, have defrayed the Charges of Pattenting the Lands.

If the Harpies were at any Time a little out of Money, they Invented Pretences to Impriſon the Beſt Men in the Country, and tho' there Appeared not the leaſt Information of any Crime againſt them, yet they were put unto intollerable Expences, and the Benefit of the Habeas Corpus was denied unto them. Judge Dudley knows this, and we ſuppoſe he has not forgotten either Colonell Saltonstal, or Major Appleton. Pickt Juries were commonly uſed, for the Trouble of Honeſt and Worthy Men, and they were hurried out of their own Counties to be tryed, where Juries for their Turn were not likely to be found there. Judge Dudley knows this; and we ſuppoſe he remembers the famous Mr. Morton.

In ſhort, all things were going to Wreck, but yet Col. Dudley was like to enrich himſelf and his Family in the general Ship-wreck. There lies the Myſtery!

Theſe things, and many more ſuch things, are aſſerted in the Book aforeſaid, not only by the Oaths of many honeſt Gentlemen, but alſo by a Declaratian Signed by the Honourable Hands of Judge Stoughton, and Major General Winthrop, and Collonel Shrimpton, and other Members of the Council.

The World has heard how narrowly Col. Dudley eſcaped a De-Witting for theſe his Follies, from the inraged People in the Revolution. Being then ſent over a Priſouer to England, he with the reſt, were here ſet at Liberty. He returned, with a Commiſſion for the Place of Chief Judge in the Province of New-York, where his firſt Work, after his Arrival was, to Condemn to Death, the Lieutenant Governour of the Province, and another Gentleman, for not ſurrendring the Government before Governour Slaughter arriv'd with his Commiſſion. The Condemnation and Execution of theſe two Gentlemen, was a Bloody Buſineſs: It was afterwards Examined in Parliament, where Colonel Dudley underwent a Confuſion which will never be worn off; and Mr. Conſtantine Phips, Proſecuted the Matter with ſo much Demonſtration, that Eminent Perſons in both Houſes, declared it, A Barbarous Murder; King, Lords, and Commons, did as good as declare it ſo, and by an Act of Parliament Revoked the Attainder of the Murdered Gentlemen. On this Occaſion, Judge Stoughton, (who was yet always known to be as Partial to Col. Dudley and his Intereſt, as any Man in New England) ſaid to ſome of his Friends, what he had formerly been heard to ſay unto others, Alas, to get a little Money, he would make his own Father hold p his hand at the Bar. There, Gentlemen, you have again the Key to explain the Matter; which becauſe you cant ſee thro', you Firmly Believe as you do!

After many Years Abſence from his Family, my Lord Bellamont, the Governour of New England Dies. Col. Dudley by many fair Promiſes, both to Gentlemen here, and at his own Home, obtains Recommendations for a Succeſſion in the Government. He had not been long in the Government, before the following MEMORIAL was ſent over to London.

A MEMORIAL On the Behalf of the Province of the Maſſachuſett's Bay, in NEW-ENGLAND; Relating to the Administration of their preſent Governour, Collonel Dudley.

I. ONE Principal Grievance, which Comprehends many under it, is, The Courſe of Bribery, which runs thro' the Governours Adminiſtration, whereby the Queen's Government is greatly Expoſed in a Country where Bribery has rarely, if ever before this, been known to be Practiſed. The Governour having brought in his Son to be Attorney General, this Corruption is the more effectually carried on between them, unto the great Oppreſſion of the People.

Only two Inſtances, among many, ſhall be reported in this Memorial.

1. Certain People having purchaſed Land at a New Plantation called Naſhoba, and wanting a Confirmation of their Title, by an Act of the General Aſſembly, as is Uſual in ſuch Caſes) they could not have the Governour's Aſſent unto the Act, without a Bribe of a Thouſand Acres of the beſt Land, and in the Center of the Plantation, and to the Ruin of the reſt.

2. Alſo, a Tract of Land at Nipmuck, belonging to Nine or Ten Partners, when both Houſes in the General Aſſembly had paſſed the Bill, to Allow their Title, (as was Requiſite by an Old Law of the Country) the Governour would not Sign the Act, until he had a Bribe of Twenty Pounds, and one whole Share of the Land, which was valued at One Hundred and Fifty Pounds more.

But, if a Commiſſion of Enquiry could be Obtained, there would be ſuch Practices of this Nature Diſcovered as are hardly to be P rrallel'd.

II. The Governour, meerly to gratify his own Arbitrary Will and Pleaſure did for ſome while Refuſe to fill up the neceſſary Number of Judges; by which Means, the Courts dropt, and the Courſe of Juſtice was Obſtructed; and the oppreſſed People were Defeated in their Suits, to the Damage of many Hundreds of Pounds.

III. There have been odd Colluſions with the Pirates of Quelch's Company, of which one Inſtance is, That there was extorted the Sum of about Thirty Pounds from ſome of the Crue, for Liberty to walk at certain times in the Priſon Yard; and this Liberty having been allow'd for Two or Three Days unto them, they were again confined to their former wretched Circumſtances.

IV. An Army of Volunteers went out, and did Good Service upon the French and Indian Enemy at Acady. They were encouraged by an Act of the Governour and General Aſſembly, which promiſed the Soldiers a certain Share of the Plunder. When the Soldiers returned, ſome Officers, without their Conſent or Knowledge, and before the Diviſion of the Plunder, made the Governour a conſiderable Preſent out of it; whereupon he ſo managed the Matter with the ſaid Officers, as to cheat and cut on the Soldiers of near one Half that the Act 〈◊〉 the Aſſembly had promiſed them! When the Houſe of Repreſentatives applied themſelves to the Governour on this Occaſion, they could get nothing from him. By this means, no more Volunteers are like to appear in her Majeſty's Service.

The Governour's manner is, to trample on the Aſſembly with groſs Indignities; and ſuch as they have never received from former Governours. Nor can they have any Redreſs of Grievances, tho' many have been from time to time repreſented.

And when Bills for the Payment of the juſt Debts of the Province, are preſented to him to be ſigned, he has declared, he would not ſign them, except he were himſelf gratified with Sums demanded of them.

On theſe, and many more ſuch Accounts, it is humbly conceived that it would be much for her Majeſty's In tereſt, if a more acceptable Governour were placed over that Province.

This was the Memorial, but becauſe there was no Body to proſecute it, it fell to the Ground.

Much about the ſame time, there came to Light a little more of Col. Dudley's Deſigns upon the New Charter of the Province. It ſeems, he was as willing to do the ſame Kindneſs for this, that he did for the Old One; and that he was at this very time doing for the Colony of Connecticut; which, if it were accompliſhed, would lay the Country open to an Innundation of Calamities. His Son Paul, (the great Inſtrument of his Oppreſſions) writes over to his Friend in London, a Letter, wherein are theſe following Words.

Boſton, 12th Jan. 1703, 4. Dear KINSMAN,

I Confeſs, I am aſhamed almoſt to think, I ſhould be at Home ſo long, and not let you know of it till now. Tho' after all, a New-England Correſpondence is ſcarce worth your having.— I reſer you to See P. Dudley's Original Letter to Mr. W. Wharton, Printed at London, with ſomo Neceſſary Queries. Mr.— for an Account of every thing, eſpecially about the Government, and the Colledge, both which are diſcourſed of here, in Chimney Corners, and Private Meetings, as confidently as can be. If there ſhould be any Occaſion, you muſt be ſure to ſtir your ſelf and Friends, and ſhow your Affection and Reſpect to my Father who Loves you well, and bid me Tell you ſo.— This Country will never be worth living in for Lawyers and Gentlemen, till the CHARTER IS TAKEN AWAY. My Father and I ſometimes talk of the Queen's eſtabliſhing a COURT OF CHANCERY in this Country; I have writ about it to Mr. Blathwayt: If the Matter ſhould ſucceed, you might get ſome Place worth your Return, of which I ſhould be very glad. If I can any ways ſerve you or your Friend:, pra ſignify it to (Dear SIR,)

Your Affectionate Friend, And Humble Servant, Paul Dudley.

This Apocryphal Epiſtle of Paul, [not a Saint Paul, we can aſſure ye!] needs no Commentary! — But,

Theſe are Old Stories, we muſt now come to ſome New Ones.

SECT. II.

BY Letters from New-England, we are informed how Matters paſt in the laſt Seſſions of their General Aſſembly, which was in October and November 1707. One would have imagined, that the Mast-Fleet, which brings us our Letters of Intelligence, had been the Gouſolidager, coming back with Intelligence from the World in the Moon: For ſuch things could never have happen'd but among a People very Lunatick — And. Firſt let us begin, as in good Manners bound, with the Upper Houſe.

Their Governour Dudley, produced to the Council, the Copy of an Addreſs to the Queen's Majeſty, ſigned by above Twenty Gentlemen in London, in which, out of the Reſpect to a Country for which they were more generouſly concerned, than ſome that were under greater Obligations, they Petitioned for Dudley's Removal from his Government; alledging, among other weighty Reaſons, That he had Countenanc'd a private Trade & Correſpondence with Her Majesty's Enemies, the French, and the Indians which are in their Intereſts. He required his Counſellors immediately to clear him from theſe Imputations. He came upon them with his Demand, on the Saturday next, when they were, (as they uſually then are) in the Hurry of breaking up. 'Tis the time when the Governour commonly makes any thing to paſs, that either Houſe muſt be either Trick'd or Tir'd into. Three or Four of the Council, particularly Brown, Sewall, and Pain, pray'd, That ſince the thing was both New and Weighty, it might be put off till Monday. The Governour, with a boiſterous Fury required them to do it immediately; and they did it immediately: At once they ruſhed into a Vote, wherein they ſay,

Upon reading the Addreſs offer'd Her Majeſty, against his Excellency our preſent Governour, Signed, Nath. Higginſon, &c. We firmly Believe, and are of Opinion, the Allegations therein, of the Governours Trading, or allowing a Trade with Her Majeſty's Enemies, the French, and Indians in their Intereſts, is a Scandalous and Wicked Accuſation. Paſſed Unanimouſly.

Iſaac Addington, Secr.

The Council being Brow-beaten into ſuch a Vote, one of that Board, namely, Mr. Samuel Sewall, who is alſo a Judge of the Superiour Court; but a Perſon of unſpotted Integrity, thought himſelf bound in Conſcience to exhibit a Remonſtrance againſt this Raſh Vote: His Relation as a Brother in Law to the Governour, did not get the Upper-hand of his Conſcience; but he Preſented his Remonſtrance to the Board, and had it enter'd on File; from whence one of our Correſpondents has obiained a Copy. 'Tis as follows.

Tueſday, November 25. 1707.

THE Reaſons of my withdrawing my Vote, from what was Paſſed in Council upon Saturday, Nov. the firſt, relating to an Addreſs offer'd to her Majeſty, Sign'd, Nath. Higginſon, &c.

I. Becauſe my Motion, for leaving the Conſideration of it till the Monday following, was not admitted; and it was enter'd upon, and paſs'd about Noon, in a very ſhort time; being a Matter of great Concernment to our Liege Lady, Queen ANNE, to the Province, to his Excellency our Governour, and to the Council and Repreſentatives.

II. The Governour's Perſonal Interest was much in it, and therefore I humbly conceive, the Vote ought to have been Debated and Framed by the Members of the Council apart by themſelves, in the Abſence of the Governour.

III. The Words [firmly Believe,] and [always Apparent,] were never pleaſing to me. And now, I do not firmly Believe, that the Governour did no way allow Mr. Borland, and Capt. Vetch, their Trading Voyage to Her Majeſty's Enemies the French.

Qui non vetat Peccare, cum poſſit, Jubet.

Not that I ſuſpect, the Governour deſign'd to hurt the Province; but to Gratify Grateful Merchants. And I readily and thankfully acknowledge the Governours Orders for the Defence of the Frontiers, to be truly Excellent; The Gentleman, with his uſual Goodneſs, is willing to make the beſt of any Good Thing. His Meaning is, that when the New-Englanders had the good Fortune to be adviſed of an Approach of the Enemy, the Governour would (which was a wonderful Piece of Sagacity) order a Number of Soldiers to repair to the Frontiers. both reſpecting the ſuitableneſs of the Orders themſelves, & the Quickneſs of their Diſpatch: And Ibleſs God for the Succeſs that has attended them.

IV. I have been Acquainted with Mr. Nathanael Higginſon theſe Fourty Years; and I cannot judge, the offering this Addreſs to Her Majeſty, to be in him a Scandalous and Wicked Accuſation, unleſs I know his Inducements. And I fear, this Cenſure may be of ill Conſequence to the Province in time to come, by diſcouraging Perſons of Worth and Intereſt, to venture in appearing for them, tho' the Neceſſity ſhould be never ſo great.

Samuel Sewall.

Tho' this Gentleman has thus recalled his Vote, (and another Gentleman preſent in the Council, never had a Vote put to him) and he inſiſted on it, as we are informed, that it would be a Direct Falſehood in Matter of Fact. Now to call this an Unanimous Vote, yet we find it was after this ordered to be printed in the Boſton News Letter, with a PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. We cannot conceive how the Council could order a Direct Falſehood to be Printed, if their Souls were their own. Or, if they would ſo miſrepreſent Judge Sewall and Col. Higginſon, (Brother to Mr. Nathanael Higginſon) it may be they did alſo miſrepreſent themſelves, in ſaying, they firmly Believe, when it is ſtrange if they do really Believe it.

Notwithſtanding their News-Letter ſays, their Vote was paſſed Unanimouſly, Worthy Gentlemen in New England have given us ſuch a Character of their Winthrop, their Hutchinſon, their Foſter, and ſome others of them, as that we cannot Firmly Believe, that they ever conſented to have the Hon Mr. Higginſon ſo ſtigmatized in the Boſton Infamous News Letter. Nor is it to be imagined that they are all ſo Parado ical, as we hear ſome of them are; for you cannot with a Beetle beat it into ſome of them, but that if a Vote obtain a Majority, it is to be called an Unanimous Vote. We have been told, and we thought ſo by hearing thoſe talk who came from thence) that they Speak as good Engliſh at Boſton, as they do in London: But we perceive, in the Council Chamber there, they begin to forget the Engliſh Tongue, and they have loſt the Senſe of the Word Unanimous.

One may gueſs at the Politick Reaſon, which drew too many of them into that undeliberate, inconfiderate Vote aforeſaid; by what one of them (a principal Stickler for Majority being Unanimity) utter'd in a Barber's Shop, with ſo much Openneſs, that the Noiſe of it has reach'd over hither to London, That it was beſt for us, to keep this Governour, (tho' he had done very Bad things) for he had ſufficiently ſpunged upon the People, and had now got Money enough; he was now ſatisfyed. [No, Sir, by your Leave, 'tis the Thirſt of a Dropſy!] And had pri ately promis'd the Council, he would do ſo no more. Whereas, if another Governour come, he will come hungry, and we must be ſqueezed over again.

Had the Gentlemen of the Council cauſed their Vote to run in ſome ſofter Terms; as, That they were ſorry ſuch Eminent Perſons, as Mr. Higginſon; and Mr. Maſon, &c. had been impoſed upon by ſuch Informations, as produced their Addreſs to Her Majeſty. This had been ſomewhat like Gentlemen, tho' not like Councellers: For ſome of them own, they had never ſeen any of the Affidavits made before the Queen and Council, nor any of thoſe other things a on to be produced, when they paſſed their Haſty Vote. But for them now to run upon theſe Eminent Perſons, with a Clamour of Scandalous and Wicked Accuſations; yea, Publickly to Stigmatize them in their Infamous News Letter, as being Scandalous and Wicked Accuſers! Truly therein they have not Honoured themſelves. The Higginſon they vilify, is a Perſon every way much Superior to the Beſt of them: The Honour and Figure he has obtained by his good Conduct in the East-Indies, will not be impaired by any Affronts from the West-Indies. The Maſon whom they throw Dirt upon, was a Member of their Council, before a great part of them were ſo; and ſerved their Agents with no ſmall Aſſiſtances.

'Tis unintelligible! Why will the Maſſachuſet Counſellors permit themſelves to be made the Tools of their Governour's particular Deſigus? Why will Councellors that are choſen by the People, be leſs concerned for, leſs faithful to the People, than the Counſellors in the other Plantations, who are not by the Choice of the People brought unto the Board; where yet we ſee, they often prove Thorns in the Sides of Evil Governours? Will you give your Friends at a Thouſand Leagues diſtance from you, leave to adviſe you? We make no doubt, there are wiſe and good Men at your Board. We make no doubt, you are often over-voted by ſome of your Brethren, coming from your Country Towns, who are not overſtockt with more than One of thoſe Qualities. But where is your Courage? In Truth, 'tis ths leaſt of your Talents; you muſt get a little more of it. You ſhould be ready to ſay before the Governour's Face, what you talk ſo freely behind his Back, that the Report of it reaches over the Atlantick.

You know, That when the Governour will have any thing paſs among you, all your humble Intreaties to have a few Hours Time to think upon it, ſignify nothing; he will have it go Juſt Now, and you let it go. So you are ever now and then puſh'd into you know not what your ſelves, and you durſt not Liſp your Diſſatiſfaction. You know, that when Officers are to be Elected, the Governour muſt iſſue out a Notification for a Gen ral Council, to come together at the Day; but on the Day the thing is rarely done; 'tis put off two or three Days till you are diſperſed, and a Nick of Time is taken, in which Elections are carried on, which we hear, much diſoblige the Publick; and Juſtices are created which have brought the Queen's Commiſſions under ſuch Diſparagement, that we hear many of the beſt Gentlemen among you, ſcorn to accept of them.

You know that things are managed with Tricks. Frauds and Juggles, without Numbers; and yet, you durſt not Open your Mouths. You cannot but know, That your Governour ever now and then, will violently aſſert a thing, and you aſſent to it: Anon, in the very ſame Seſſions of the Court, he will as violently aſſert a thing Diametrically Oppoſite unto it, (as the Service of ſome ill Cauſe may drive him to) and you durſt not ſay, that you don't Aſſent to that alſo.

We underſtand that your former Governour, the Ear of Bellamont, did not uſe to Treat you ſo; and was it for this, that you offered ſuch an Indignity unto that Noble Perſon, as to vote, The Taking off his Speech from the File, as ſoon as Colon udley (being one of Tory Principles, which my Lord was not) at his firſt coming moved you to it, and made you the Tools of his Malice againſt the Earl of Bellamont, for ſticking ſo cloſe to him in the Parliament, upon the BARBAROUS MURDER (as he would always call it) of Leiſter and Milburn? Your Governour with a Torrent of Language, and Mixture of Coakſing and Bouncing, and Coundent Aſſertions of Things (True or Falſe, 'tis all one, yon can't Diſprove them) has been too many for you. We adviſe you to Unite more together, a ſufficient Number of you, and preſent ſtrong Remonſtrances on ſuch Occaſions, if the Succeſſor (which we are ſatisfied he will not,) ſhould go on in the late Methods. And we adviſe you, That you would not be ſo monſtrouſly afraid of the Governour's putting his Negative upon you, the laſt Wedneſday of May. Should you be Negativ'd out of the Council, for your Fidelity to your Country, it would be a much greater Honour to you than to be there, and no great Honour to them that are left behind: But you are already choſen, and ſworn to ſerve till others are choſen; if the Repreſentatives are not ſatisfyed in the Reaſons of the Governour's Negative, they will declare, That they will not proceed unto another Choice. We would beg their Pardon, that they preſume to give them this Advice. Then do you pluck up your Spirits: Nothing but an Act of the Aſſembly can remove a choſen Counſellor. You may appear, and aſſert your Seat at the Council Board. And you may do it with ſuch apparent Evidences of being acted by nothing but a Zeal for the Publick, that you may do it without any Diſhonourable Charge of being Immodeſt, or Intruders. Without conſulting the Stars, we can foretell to ye, That if you reſolve to keep always in the obſequious Strain, you'll at laſt rowſe the Repreſentatives both to remove ſeveral of you, and to diſpute ſeveral Powers which you pretend unto; and eſpecially 〈◊〉 that of being able to Sit by your ſelves in the Time of the General Aſſembly; and by your Vote (without the Governour's) to hamper the People with a Third Negative, (beſides the Queen's and the Governour's) which your Agent here ſays, Your Charter never intended for you.

SECT. III.

WE have ſeen how the Blanching Buſineſs went on in the Council; Shall we now ſee how it Proceeded among the Repreſentatives? We have been told a very odd thing, That the Counſellors will ſometimes Outwardly Comply with a V e, which they Inwardly approve not, in hopes that it will never be Carried in the Lower Houſe. But, if this were an Honeſt, yet it is no Prudent Experiment: There is more than a little Danger in it. The Story of the Upper Houſe, has the Truth of it enough confirm'd by Judge Sewall's Inſtrument of Revocation, if we had 〈◊〉 had the more Ample Relation, both from Packets and Paſſengers newly arrived here. For the Story of the Lower Houſe, we have it with a Confirmation (if it be poſſible) more Authentick. For here are come over Letters from a great Part of the Houſe, unto that Honourable Friend of New-England, and of all Good Men, Sir Henry Aſbhurſt; one ſigned by Seven, and afterwards another ſigned by about Thrice that Number; both to the ſame Effect. By theſe we underſtand how Notoriouſly the World is impoſed upon.

On the Fifth of November the Plot begun to operate. A Meſſage was brought by ſundry Counſellors, from their Board, to incite the Houſe, that they would concur with Their Vote for the Governour's Vindication. But the Houſe for diverſe Days declined to meddle with it; and then the like Meſſage was brought again to the Houſe, by a greater Number of Counſellors. The Houſe being thus at length drawn in, to conſider this Dirty Matter, there appeared Mr. John Nelſon, who having ſent unto Port-Royal, one Hogſhe d of Dry Goods, a Parcel of Iron Pots and Scythes, &c. by a Flag of Truce, whereof Capt. Rouſe was Commander, now declared. That he had the Governour's Allowance for it, and Capt. Rouſe being examined, made the ſame Declaration.

But this was a Trifle to the next: The Gentlemen aforeſaid, we believe had no Traiterous Deſign of ſupplying the Queen's Enemies. But, when the Fort at Port-Royal had no dry Lodgings for the Soldiers; nothing but few Thatch'd things, that alſo rendered it more combuſtible to the Fire of the Beſiegers; Now, to ſupply the Fort with Nails to Shingle and Board their Barecks! There appeared Mr Samuel Baker, who produced unto the Houſe the Original Invoice, of things which he Ship'd for the Governour and the Commiſſary at Port-Royal; with an Allowance for them, under Governour dley's own Hand. There is no need of Tranſcribing all the Articles, theſe are enough.

Eighty Thouſand of Shingle 〈◊〉 Twenty Thouſand, Ditto, Board. One Dozen of Black-Hafted Table Knives. One Hundred Weight of good Butter. Two Barrels of Mackerel. One Piece of good Searge. One Cask of Paſſado-Wine. Some Rice, &c.

I Know no Inconvenience in the Particulars above, and therefore Allow it.

J. DUDLEY.

Theſe things were Ship'd on Board a French Veſſel, called, A Flag of Truce (Anglice, of Trade) Capt. D Chafeau Commander. It was done at the very time, when the Governour and Aſſembly, were Fining Vetck and Company, for a Trade as little Criminal; and when an Act of the Maſſachuſet Province had made it Capital. Some of the Council would feign have perſwaded the Houſe, that there was a Cypher (their own Name-ſake In the Council,) added unto the 8, and th 2, of the Nails. But Baker's Confeſſion had ſpoilt that idle Whim. The Governour's Friends, his Majors, Captains, Juſtices, and Feather-Caps in the Houſe, and the meaner Slaves of the Trencher, uſed all imaginable Artifices to Vindicate him: And yet, when it came to a Vote on November the Ninteenth, Whether, after ſtrict Enquiry, the Houſe could clear his Excellency of Managing, or Countenancing a Private Trade with the French and Indian Enemies, The Vote paſſed in the Negative, with a very great Majority. About Forty Five Members, more than Two to One, Voted, That they could not clear him. He had, according to the New Maſſachuſet Senſe of the Word, An Unanimous Condemnation.

On the Day following, there was a long Conference of Two Hours, held between the Two Houſe, and chieſts manag'd by the Governour. At this Conference there occur'd ſeveral pretty little Things, which might be 〈…〉 at the Coffee-Houſe, but ſe •• e worthy to be 〈◊〉 in a more a more ſerious Narrative. We'll mention only two of them,

A Counſellor who had been a mighty decrier of the Governour while he was under his Negative, upon his Re-admiſſion, becomes an Eſpouſer of his Intereſt. This Gentleman greatly Expoſed himſelf, by ſaying to the Aſſembly, There is no Trade but there is ſome Returns: I pray, What Return were there? How can you ſay, this was a Trade carried on? This became a By-word in the Town. They ſay, the Merchants of Boſton often to their Sorrow, Trade without Returns: And we could wi h, that every body here in London, who has Traded for Boſton, could ſay, There had always been Returns.

Again, The Governour in his Flouriſhes, tells the Aſſembly, To ſupport the Queens Enemies with an Unlawful Trade, is to fond them your Beef and your Pork, and not ſuch things as are in this Invoyce. An Unlucky Old Man in the 〈◊〉 (they ſay from a Town call'd Woburn Reply'd, 'Tis very True, an't like your Excellency, and your Butter, and your May-krill!—Which gave ſuch a Sting, That the Aſſembly ſaw, that if he be an Happy Man who catches a Mackrel, yet an Unhappy Man may be catched with a Mackrel.

The next Day after this Conference, and after 〈◊〉 Governour's Violent Proteſtations of his own Innocence, (as the Letters of the Repreſentatives aſſure us) the following Vote was again Preſs'd upon the Houſe, That we firmly Believe, and are of Opinion, that the Allegations in the Addreſs (to which the Council referr'd) of the Governour's Trading, or allowing a Trade with Her Majeſty's Enemies the French, and the Indians in their Intereſts, it a Scandalous and Wicked Accuſation. Still the Vore paſſed as formerly, in the Negative. The Squeamiſh Repreſentatives, it ſeems, had not ſuch Stomachs of Oſtriches, as to Digeſt an Hundred Thouſand Iron Nails at once; not would they Believe (no, tho' Counſellors told them ſo ) that Nails were not Iron, The Governour's Friends were 〈◊〉 at their Wit's Ends;—And in Humble wi e beſought the Houſe, That they would confine their Vo •• unto the Particular Trade of Vetch, Borland and Lawſon. And it was urged, that Borland and Lawſon had cleared the Governour; (the Sham of the Grateful Merchants you ſhall hear anon.) Hereupon the Flexible Honeſt Men, perfectly Worried, and Wearied our of their Lives, by Three Weeks Alterations, did ſo many go over, as to make a ſort of a Vote of it. But the Concluſion of their Letters to Sir Henry Aſhburst, (a Gentleman whom New England can never ſufficiently Requite) is, Your ſelf, and all Perſons may Judge; how far the Vote of this Houſe doth extend to the Vindicating his Excellency from being a Countenancer of Trade with the Queen's Enemies.

We have already intimated, how the Governour comes to have ſo many Friends in the Houſe; that are ſo ſet upon doing him Juſtice, right or wrong. Beſides the Careſſes of the Table, which are enough to dazzle an Honeſt Countryman, who thinks every Body Means what he Speaks; the Influence which Preferments and Commiſſions have upon little Men, is innexpreſſible. It muſt needs be a Mortal Sin, to diſoblidge a Governour, that has enabled a Man to command a whole Country Town, and to ſtrut among his Neighbours, with the Illuſtrious Titles of, Our Major, and The Captain, or His Worſhip. Such magnificent Grandeurs make many to ſtagger Egregiouſly! If it be but propoſed in the Aſſembly, that any Miſmanagements of the Governour be Enquired into, we are informed, that ſome of thoſe Officers have been ſo inſolent, as to move, That he who made the Propoſal ſhould be ſet in the Pillory. We perceive, the well-affected part of the Aſſembly take much Notice of this. And it ſeems, there was in this Aſſembly, one Occaſion Odder than the reſt, to take Notice of it.

There was a Pepreſentative of Ipſwich, who formerly failing in with the Intereſts of the Country, ſo provoked Col. Dudley, that in a Printed Pamphlet, publiſhed by him, (or the Perſon who wrote for him, ſo as to make it He) he reproached the Country, That ſuch a Figure ſhould be made in the Aſſembly, by one who was then a practiſing Sow-Gelder. This practiſing Sow-Gelder, (as Mr. Dudley calls him) was a Member of this Aſſembly, and unto the Surprize of the whole Houſe, tack'd about, and went over to Col. Dudley's Intereſts; tho' 'tis not many Months ago, that we have (now in London) his Hand with others, unto an Honeſt Letter to that Honourable Perſon, Sir Henry Aſhburſt, to ſollicit his Endeavours to deliver the Country from a Plot againſt the Charter, and all the Courts of Juſtice in it, with a Sham Court of Chancery, (or rather of Bribery) which Gov. Dudley was then purſuing. We are told, he has (for we know not what Reaſons) a Number in the Houſe who reſign themſelves up to him, for him to do almoſt what he will with them; they follow his Dictates. The main things that have been carried in the late Aſſembly at Boſton, otherwiſe than they ſhould have been, are owing to his Dexterous Operations. Every Body ſaid, This Man has in his Eye a Bribe, as the Reward of his Apostacy. He'll certainly be made a Justice, as ſoon as his Drudgery in gaining the Vote aforeſaid, is over! It came to paſs;—As ſoon as the Sham Vote, which has abuſed the World in your Fooliſh News Letter yonder, was Gained, the Governour draws the Council in, to Conſent, unto their own Immortal Honour, that this Gentleman Sow-Gelder ſhould be made a Justice of the Peace! Fy Gentlemen, What d'ye do? — And ſo the Worſhipful of the County of Eſſex, have the practiſing Sow-Gelder aforeſaid, (it was Mr. Dudley who taught us to call him ſo!) ſit on the Bench with them. Whether the Cattel are in leſs Danger, or the People in more, ſince this Promotion, we who are Strangers to the Man, except by hearſay, know not; we ſuppoſe there never was a Sow-Gelder made a Juſtice, except in New-England, and that not till Dudley was their Governour.

But, it were good Advice for the People of Ne England, in chuſing Repreſentatives, to beware of chuſing any, who have their Obligations to their Governours, for their Preferments and Employments. The fewer you have in your Aſſemblies under ſuch Temptations, the more Faithfully are your Affairs like to be carried on. You will Pardon Strangers, if their Good Will to you, make them ſo far Medlers, as to offer you their Opinion.

SECT. IV.

THE Houſe of Repreſentatives then Firmly Believe, and are of Opinion, That their Governour was not Concerned in Trading with Vetch, Borland, and Lawſon. Others do Firmly Believe the contrary. Becauſe, divers Traders have own'd, and ſaid before many Witneſſes, that their Governour did know, and allow of what they did; Vetch doth himſelf Confeſs it, in his Petition to the Queen. And when one of them ſwears in the Governour's Vindication, he only means, that the Gov. was not concern'd as a Merchant or Partner with them. He Ship'd nothing; there was nothing Ship'd on his Account. All this is nothing to the Purpoſe. And tho' Col. Dudley ſhould be Clear of having any thing to do with theſe Three Grateful Merchants, yet there is another who is able to make diſcoveries.

In the ſame Condemnation with the Three aforeſaid, there was at this Time, under Impriſonment, by Vertue of the Sentence which the General Aſſembly had illegally, (and it now appears Oppreſſively) paſſed upon him, for a part in an unlawful Trade, one Captain Rouſe. The laſt General Aſſembly growing ſenſible of his Condition, Voted his being let out upon Bail, that he might enjoy his Liberty. But for a Reaſon, which he will tell in due Time, the Vote was in a great Meaſure Eluded.

It is Reported by ſome now in London. That the Aſſembly's Vote to ſet Rouſe at Liberty, was made very Inſignificant, by the means of one ſaid o be a Tory Judge, one Leveret. And they ſay that Dudley has made that Tory Lawyer to be Preſident of their Colledge. No Queſtion but the Lawyer will bring up Hopeful Young Divines, to be ſent hither for my Lord of London to Ordain them. We hear that they have ſung the Gloria Patri in their Colledge-Hall already, and that ſeveral of their Clergy ſtood up at it. An Auſpicious beginning under their Lawyer Preſident, who, we alſo hear, was Choſen a Lieutenant of their Artillery Company at Boston, the laſt Summer. Such Reports as theſe, make their Friends here, think that the People in New-England are running Mad.

But to proceed with Capt. Rouſe. Several of his Letters are come to London, by which we Underſtand, That he having been ſent unto Port-Royal, on a Service for the Publick, in which he did Good Service, returned Home under a Languiſhing Sickneſs. A way being by this firſt Voyage open'd for a Private Trade between Port-Royal and Boston, he was Invited into a new Trading Voyage; being told, He had Eaten the Sowre, he ſhould now eat the Sweet. Governour Dudley told him, His main Buſineſs was to Steer clear of the Officers of the Cuſtom-Houſe. And the matter was propoſed ſo Advantageouſly, that ſome Body preſſed him to make the Governour a Preſent of an Hundred Pounds, for the Liberty and Advantage which was to be allow'd him. Becauſe he lay Sick, he had nothing, and ſaw nothing aboard, but what had been Ship'd by others Concerned in the Voyage. He went and made the beſt of his Goods; and for this, and nothing but this, he underwent a Fine of Twelve Hundred Pounds.

Divers Perſons, and eſpecially a certain Lady, came to him ſeveral times in the Priſon, before his Tryal; and this as from the Governour, to perſwade him and the reſt, to Petition the Aſſembly to take the Tryal into their own Hands; (which the Governour had himſelf propoſed unto the Aſſembly) with many fair Promiſes, that in a Week's time, or very quickly, the Governour would ſo manage the Aſſembly, as to bring them abroad again, without any further Trouble. Continual Communications paſſed between Roxbury and the Priſon; and thoſe good Offices were done, for which Paul Dudley, the Governour's Son, received of Borland and Lawſon (as they have affirmed) at one time, a Preſent of Eighteen Pounds. They came with frequent Meſſages, to keep Captain Rouſe in a good, pliant, ſilent Humour, and prevent his telling of Tales. Juſt before his Trial, a Meſſenger came from the Governour to him, to Deſire him, That if the Governour ſhould ſay any Sharp Things to him, he would not Retort any thing, or Miſconstrue it; for he might aſſure himſelf he was his hearty Friend. He would carry on the General Aſſembly as far as was Convenient, but then, at laſt, bring off the Matter, and prevent their doing any Harm. Capt. Rouſe accordingly kept Counſel; the Tryal went on, and the Fine anon, proves as we told ye, Twelve Hundred Pounds. The Governour's Son, could not demand of Rouſe, as he did of Cauphin, a Preſent of Twenty Pounds to the Governour, for bringing his Fine ſo low.

After this, Capt. Rouſe is frequently Sollicited to make the Governour a Preſent of Five or Six Hundred Pounds; with Aſſurances, that the Governour would find a way for his Liberty, tho' he were now Impriſon'd by an Act of the Aſſembly. He ſtill Refuſed it; reſolving to wait for Her Majeſty's Diſſallowance of that Illegal Act. He wrote Letters to the Governour, Intreating him to procure a Mittigation of his Hard Circumſtances, becauſe he had done nothing, but with Countenance from his Excellency. The Governour told the Meſſenger, that Rouſe muſt Write another Sort of Letter to him; which the Meſſenger Explained, with telling him, that he muſt Write, That the Governour had no Concern with what was done. But this he would never do. We hear that he continues Waiting for an Opportunity, to bring more fully to Light, many other things, beſides thoſe that have been Mentioned.

Theſe being the main Strokes of what Captain Rouſe has thought ſit as yet to Declare of his Caſe; we don't Wonder that the Practiſing Sow-Gelder thought fit to Caſtrate the Vindicating Vote of Rouſe's Name: But we may well Wonder, that the Houſe would be drawn into a Vote, that was deſign'd for a Blind, and a Sham, to Impoſe on People at a Diſtance; and yet, at ſuch a Diſtance as we are, we can ſee through it! At the ſame time, the Counſellors and Repreſentavies, even the moſt Ancient Blanchers among them, would (as we are aſſured) freely ſay to the Expoſtulators of their Conduct, which they every where met withal, That if the Governour had put them upon clearing him from groſs Briberies and Corruptions, they could not have cleared him. Well, but why dont they ſearch into thoſe things? For they have a Tendency to Debauch and Ruine the Country, and make it a vile, and a Forlorn Country. We are told, their Anſwer is, 'Tis too Big a Thing for them to Manage: They Wiſh the Queen would grant a Commiſſion of Enquiry. And People have been afraid to tell what they know; for the Governour and his Son, between them, have (thought they) Numberleſs Ways to come up with 'em, and, it may be, they will Preſs their Sons to the Caſtle, or elſewhere; from whence they ſhall be ſold unto Merchant Ships, and ſent out of the Country. Or, they may ſhortly have ſome Cauſe in Court, where the Queen's Attorney (the Governour's Son) Reigns Lord and King; and will take Effectual Care that the Cauſe go againſt them. Others go on, That theſe are little things; they do ſo in England; ſuch things muſt be born with! Which is indeed, a Cruel Reproach to the Queens Government. And laſtly, the Sharpeſt of all will tell ye, Oh! the Governour is our Father; we muſt not be ſuch Sons of Cham, as to uncover the nakedneſs of our Father. And thus until the New Governour arrive, who being a Man of Integrity, will Honour himſelf by a Strict Enquiry into ſuch things, there is like to be no Diſtinct Account brought in to Infor the World.

What wicked Bribes, by a Juggling Management between the Governour and his Son, [for, as we Told you before, You muſt go to my Son!] are Extorted on all the Occaſions in the World!

〈…〉 have been let out of Priſon for a 〈…〉 .

〈…〉 Men in the Officers Hands, upon a Judgment for 〈…〉 have by the Governour's Arbitrary Command been 〈…〉 Liberty!

〈◊〉 Criminals in the Hands of Juſtice, being frighted 〈…〉 Proſpect of their Puniſhment, into a Willingneſs 〈…〉 Sea, the Governour ſends an Order to the Keep 〈…〉 ſell them for Tea Pounds; and ſo they are ſent 〈…〉 to Sea!

What a wicked Trade is earried on of Selling Men from 〈◊〉 Caſtle, &c. to Merchant-Men; by which, poor Men 〈◊〉 their Sons Kidnapp'd into the Indies, where the 〈◊〉 catch them, and they periſh in their Priſons! And what intollerable Penſions are paid by Officers for their Places; (by which, and the like means, the War, which Impoveriſhes the whole Country, has Inriched the Governour) which introduces a World of Miſmanager 〈◊〉 ! And, Whether a Lieutenant, whoſe Salary is but Sixty Pounds a Year, muſt not pay Thirty Pounds a Year Penſion to Son Paul, or be turn'd out! Cummultes atlis.

What would have been the Puniſhment of ſuch Things in old King Alfred's Days? Theſe things make a 〈◊〉 Cry, than can be ſtifled by the Noiſe of all your ſilly 〈◊〉 .

We don't wonder to ſee the Addreſſes for ſuch a Governour's Continuance, come over hither, ſign'd by his Commiſſion Officers. They are but Addreſſes for their own Continuance. The Royal Wiſdom is not ſo to be Impos'd on. But we can't but ſmile to ſee the Cl gy of New England ſo eaſily drawn in to Sign Addreſſes of this 〈◊〉 . We are glad, that we can't ſee the Hands of the moſt eminent Miniſters to theſe Addreſſes. By which we gather, that the Governour has ſent his Emiſſaries 〈◊〉 and there into Country Towns, and ſurprizes their 〈◊〉 Miniſters alone, and ſo many Arts of Inſinuation 〈◊〉 , that they have not Preſence of Mind enough, to refuſe a Subſcription unto any thing that is offered them. W do 〈◊〉 ſee the Miniſters of Boſton, nor th Judicious Miniſt of Ronbury, your Governours's Paſt to any of thoſe 〈◊〉 which you have been wheedled into, not at all to your Credit here.

Certainly, when eſe Honeſt Gentlemen come to ſee the Practices of their Governour diſcovered, they will with Grief and Sh ne reflect upon the Addreſſes, by which they have too far made themſelves Parties to ſuch a Governour. Some of them will conſider, Whether they had not beſt follow the Noble Pattern which their Judge Sewall has given them Gentlemen, Such things as by common Fame, you know to be in the Conduct of your Governour, are not things which muſt needs render a Man acceptable to 〈◊〉 , and to all Good Men.—That Expreſſion were fitter for Pens of Roman Catholicks, than of New-England Miniſters. You ought, with ſome Remorſe to make a Retractation of ſuch a Paſſage as that, which we hear (by Letters, fo we have not ſeen it) is in one of your Addreſſes. We hope you Teach your People better things!

You are generally, ſo fa as we hear, Good, Pious, Faithful Men, and Bleſſings to your People. But if we may be worthy to adviſe you, we think, you would do well to reſolve, that you will never Sign Addreſſes of this Nature, till you have had Opportunity in ſome Convention (if you have ſuch Things, for we are Strangers to your Methods) to Diſcourſe with one another, how far it may be Convenient.

We have heard, that of old Time, there were ſome Oxen, who had the Wiſdom to Reſolve, that they would no, one of them, have any Talk with Monſieur the Lyon, apart: Allow us to tell you, if you go on Signing ſuch Addreſſes, you will ſtrangely undermine your own Authority among your People, and Sacrifice your own Reputation to your Governours. You'll tempt them to ſay, That you'll ſet your Hands to any thing. Your Predeceſſors would not have done as you have done. And, what a Sword do ſuch Addreſſes put into your Reſolute Governours Hands? He may now Oppreſs you, or any of yours, to the laſt Degree, and you have Tied your yourſelves up from ever Complaining of him. Were not GOD merciful to you in removing ſuch a Governour, you had Inſlaved your Country before you are aware of it. If you'll permit ſuch as are no Clergy-men to addreſs you with Stories out of old Councils, we could tell you, That the Firſt Council of Orleans, A. C. 52. made a ſtrange Decree, That if a Biſhop Ordain a Slave, to be a Priest, knowing him to be a Slave, he ſhall pay double the Price of him to his Maſter. We know not well, what ſort of a World it was when this Decree was made. All that we move you to, Gentlemen, is, That at your next General Council, you would make a Decree, That none of you ſhall be Slaves, or do any thing that ſhall faſten the Fetters of Slavery upon your People. We believe, that if you had known your Addreſſes would ha come too late, (as ſome of them have) and expoſed you to be Laughed at, you would have had more Wit, than to have done as you have. We ſuppoſe you have heard what befell the Lord Verulam, for permitting his Servant to take a Bribe, and what was lately done to Sir J. T. becauſe he did like your Governour, take a Bribe to promote the paſſing a Bill. Certainly, if you had known your Governour had been guilty of ſuch Briberies, and other Male-Adminiſtrations, as not only Chriſtian, but Heathen Princes have puniſh'd with the greateſt Severity, you would not have ſigned your Ignorant Addreſſes.

Before we we proceed to give an Account of the late Shameful Expedition of the New-Englanders againſt Port Royal, we ſhall take ſome farther Notice of what Gentlemen worthy of Credit do aſſure us. One writes, that a Gentleman in New-England, when he firſt heard, that Col. Dudley had obtained a Commiſſion to be Governour there, ſaid, That he could not believe, that a Man who had been a Traytor to his Country; and an Apoſtate from the Religion in which he had been Educated, and had Murder'd two Men at New-York, better, and more Righteous than himſelf, would prove a good Governour.

Another Letter ſays, That the Miſery of that People of late, has been in their Councellors, as well (tho' not ſo much) as in their Governour. The Priviledges which they enjoy by their preſent Charter, are Great and Singular: For, no Man, but ſuch as the People ſhall nominate by their Repreſentatives, can be of the Governour's Council. Nor, may there be any Judge, or Juſtice of the Peace, but what the Council thus choſen by the Repreſentatives of the People ſhall Conſent unto. So that they may, and ought to be Shields unto the People, by keeping ill Men from being in Places of Power. Yet we hear, that their Governour has made a Number of very unfit Men to be their Juſtices; and this with the Conſent of his Council, without which he could make none. So that it ſeems, theſe Great Priviledges ſignify but very little, thro' the Buſillanimity, and Unfaithfulneſs of their Governour's Counſellors, who will, too many of them, conſent to almoſt any thing that he would have them. Witneſs, beſides the things already mentioned, among other innumerable Inſtances, ſo many of them conſenting to have a Fort built at Pemaquid, and a ſtated Salary ſettled upon the Governour, and other Officers, by which they had like to have enſlaved their Country at once.

The Repreſentatives are alſo to be blamed, in that they do not Change their Counſellors. We know that they want Men fit for Government. Nevertheleſs, we doubt not but in the large Province of Maſſachuſett's, there may be found an Hundred Men, as fit for Counſellors, as S. S. or J. C. or P. T. [we deal more tenderly with them, in giving but the Firſt Letters of their Names, than they have dealt with the Honourable Nathanael Higginſon, whom they have, by Name at large vilified, as a Scandalous and Wicked Accuſer.] And others, who by their Obſequiouſneſs to Dudley have juſtly forfeited the Love of the People.

Had their Repreſentative the Wiſdom frequently to Change their Counſellors, it would make them more Careful to ſtudy the Intereſt of their People, and not that ſo they may pleaſe their Governour, and Stigmatize better Men than themſelves, in their Boston News Letter, only becauſe they Slandered Dudley in a Matter of Truth.

We are alſo adviſed from New England, That Dudley has Expoſed himſelf to the whole Colony of Connecticut. They Diſlike him there more Univerſally than in the Maſſachuſet's. For he is not in a Capacity to Bribe Men there with his Commiſſions, Civil or Military. But he has joined a Helliſh Malice with the worſt of Men, and greateſt Enemies of the Charter belonging to that Colony, in ſeeking to diſturb them in the quiet Poſſeſſion of their Lands. A Commiſſion was obtained, in which Dudley was Chief, but others, who pretended to have a Right to great Tracts of Land, were put into the Commiſſion, with Power to be Judges of their own Pretenſions; the like to this has been ſeldom known. But when that Honourable Gentleman, who has Condeſcended to be their Agent, diſcovered the Fraud of this Affair before the Queen in Council, Praying that Her Majeſty would pu ſome Remarkable Diſcountenance on ſaid Dudley, that Commiſſion was ſoon Vacated, to his no little Confuſion.

SECT. V.

THAT Honourable Perſon before-mentioned, who is here Appearing on the Behalf of one of the New-Engliſh Colonies, which Col. Dudley has been ſeeking to Enſlave, ſaw cauſe to Conclude his Petition, with a Complaint againſt him in theſe Terms; Your Majeſty's Name and Authority is abuſed to ſerve ſome Dark Deſigns of his own. It ſeems he has been uſed to Dark Deſigns; but if ever Dark Deſigns were to be ſuſpected, it has been in the Buſineſs of that Late Expedition to Port-Royal; an Expedition, that beſides the everlaſting Diſgrace of it, has entirely Ruined the Country, and made it highly Neceſſary for another Governour to be ſent thither, to reſcue that poor People, if it be poſſible, from Extirpation. We have pretty Broad Hints of an Unlawful Trade carried on with the Fort at Port-Royal. And beſides the things already mentioned, it is well known, that Flags of Truce paſſed between Port-Royal and Boſton, the Officers of the Cuſtom-Houſe at Boſton, were Obſtructed from going aboard thoſe Flags of Truce, that ſo the Trade carried on with the Enemy, might be Concealed. And when Goods have been Siezed on Board the Flags of Truce, they have been again taken out of the Hands of the Officers. But we muſt now proceed to a Sadder Story. The Short of the Story is this. But the Dark Deſigns muſt be left for another Judgment.

When the War firſt broke out, the People of New-England, eſpecially the Trading part of the Country, and thoſe that were more immediately concern'd in the Fiſhery, were very Uneaſy to ſee Port Royal, which was then of no conſiderable Strength, advancing into a Capacity of Diſtreſſing, if not ruining the Province. It is ſo near, and ſo ſeated, as to have all immaginable Advantage to Annimate, and Supply the Indians, by Land; and by Sea, with Privateers, to Deſtroy their Fiſhery, and Ruin all their other Trade, by intercepting, and taking their Veſſels, both Outward and Inward Bound. Their Fort was but an Embryo, and it was thought they might have been eaſily Suppreſſed.

The New-Englanders underſtood by a Port-Royaller faling into their Hands, that at Port-Royal they had not yet Heard of the War broken out. Whereupon Governour Dudley was earneſtly Sollicited, and his Leave Intreated by ſome, to go and Deſtroy that Neſt of Hornets, which was like to be ſo grievous a growing Plague to the Country; with Offers to raiſe Volunteers ſufficient for that Purpoſe; But the Propoſal was rejected; which made People ſuſpect ſome Dark Deſigns, and that Port-Royal was reſerved for ſome ſpecial Advantages not Obvious to the Vulgar.

Afterwards, when the Governour could no longer withſtand the Cry of the Country, Col. Church was allow'd to go. The Aſſembly procured a Mortar Piece, and provided Bombs, and other things convenient, and had ſome Eye upon the Fort, which was then finiſh'd. Yet the ſaid Church not only had the Taking of the Fort left out of his Orders, but was poſitively Forbidden to Meddlewith it. And he hath ſince affirm'd to many Gentlemen, that he could with all the Eaſe imaginable have Taken the Fort, but that he had been ſo ſtrictly and menacingly Forbidden to meddle with it, that he durſt not; but only ravaged the Naked Country. Church's Soldiers were all Volunteers, and an Ast of the Aſſembly had promiſed them a certain Share of the Plunder: But the Chief Commanders firſt made a large Preſent out of it to the Governour; and then Hs, joyning with them, cut off the Army of Half that the Publick Faith had Engaged them; which it was feared, would have proved a laſting Diſcouragement to all Volunteers for the Service of the Crown and the Country: And the Houſe of Repreſentatives Remonſtrated unto the Governour, this among other Grievances; but were rejected with Obſtinate Contempt.

The Reaſon pretended by the Governour, for prohibiting Church's meddling with the Fort, was, That he had laid the Matter before the Queen, and had yet received no Orders about it. Tho' the ſame Objection ſtill continued, yet the People being extreamly deſirous that a Period might be put to their Miſeries from Port-Royal, and a way open'd for the Deliverance of ſo many Scores of poor Engliſh Captives, likely to Languiſh for ever in the Indian Wigwams, moved for another Expedition above a Year ago. The Governour now gives a Commiſſion for Taking the Fort; but whether with any Dark Deſigns, we are yet in the Dark. After the Inſtructions were drawn up, there was a Clauſe Tack'd at the End of them, which gave the Army leave to come off when they would, if they ſhould imagine, they could not preſently Finiſh their Buſineſs to their Minds. It was the Tacking this unobſerved Clauſe at laſt, that confounded all, and brought on a Story, which all the Letters from New-England we have yet ſeen, ſay, They Bluſh to Write it. And that is the Reaſon why we can give but a Short Account of it. In ſhort, there was an Army of as likely Men as can be imagined, the beſt part of Two Thouſand of them; and as well provided with Ammunition, Proviſion, and all things Neceſſary, as a Willing Country could afford. But, when it comes to Execution, quite Contrary to the beſt Advice of them who knew the Place, the landed ſeveral Mil •• off the Fort, when they might have Landed cloſe by, and probably at once have taken it. However, Land they did; and Drove the Enemy before them, and Chaſed them into the Fort with much Courage, and all the Encouragement that could be. The Men, to 〈◊〉 them Juſtice, Fought like Men, and would have d any thing in the World. — But, lo, the Iſſue! The Deptford-Man of War, which was Commodore of the Fleet, had Expreſs Orders from the Governour, That he ſhould not Expoſe the Queen's Ship. Which Orders he afterwards Expoſed in the Coffee-Houſes. An Engineer was fetch'd from New-York, where the People from the beginning foretold what would be the Concluſion.

The Governour's Youngeſt Son, William Dudley, was there too, in the Quality of a Secretary of War; and tho' he were little more than a Boy, yet he was a Son, and the Army ſoon Cry'd out of being Boy-ridden. The General, a Man of no Conduct, having Signaliz'd ſomething of a Belluine Courage in ſome Indian Encounters, the Mob ('tis ſaid) was ſet upon having him to be a Commander. They landed as we ſaid; but then they never made a Formal Demand of the Fort; they never carried aſhore a Mortar or a Field Piece; they never threw up a Shovelful of Earth. The Buſineſs was ſo managed, between certain Perſons, that altho' at a Council of War, one Day it was Voted. That the Fort ſhould be attack'd, it was by'nd by, Unvoted again. The Engineer had wrought upon ſundry Captains, to make 'em Believe, That the taking of the Fort was Impracticable. They moſt of them gave it under their Hands to their Wiſe General, That it was their Opinion, it was beſt for them to Draw off. The Soldiers began alſo to be Diſpirited, for ſome had Blabb'd among them a Secret, which, when it came to be known, made them out of their Witts. Tho' it was known and Publiſhed here in London, before the Fleet was Returned from Port-Royal. The General Aſſembly had Agreed and Engaged, That if the Fort were taken, it ſhould immediately be Demoliſhed; and without this Aſſurance the Army would never have proceeded. But ſome Body now, Indiſcreetly let'em Underſtand, that the Governour had ſome Dark Deſigns, to put a Trick upon them, and had given him Orders not to demoliſh the Fort: Whereupon the Inraged Army ſaid, They had now nothing to do, but Fight themſelves into a Priſon! They were moſtly Good Livers at Home, and could not bear the Thoughts on't, that half the Army, (no Man knowing whether it might not be his own ſhare) ſhould be Confined there one long Winter i remote Garriſon, and perhaps, Two Winters after that; or until they ſhould Buy themſelves a Releaſe upon as hard Terms, as the poor Country Soldiers have, to get out of the Caſtle at Boſton. Well: A Packet is Diſpatch'd unto the Governour of Boſton, to Signify their Opinion, and to Pray his Excellency's further Pleaſure. But in three or Four Days after the ſailing of the Packet, and before it was Poſſible for them to hear from Boſton, they drew off in great Confuſion, and Weigh'd Anchor, and came away. But as they were in the midſt of their Diſperſion, there came Orders to ſtop as many of them, as were together at Caſco-Bay. From thence they ſent three Perſons to acquaint the Governour with the Miſerable Affair; whereof one was the Engineer aforeſaid. They had a very melancholly, and almoſt a tumultuous Reception by the People; and when they were, at their firſt Landing upbraided with Cowardice, their Anſwer ſtill was, That the Fault was at Home; and they had gone as far as their Orders would bear them out; with ſundry ſuch Reflections, which bore hard upon the Government. The Council were informed of this Diſcourſe; But there was no Notice taken of it. And tho' they were Chidden by the Governour, in the Council Chamber, yet we underſtand, they were Hugg'd and Careſs'd by him below Stairs, to the great Scandal of the People. The People were now in a mighty Ferment. It was the Univerſal Opinion, that if the Army had only ſtaid, and Play'd at Coits in their Camp (far enough from the Fort) at Port-Royal, the Fort would have been within a few Days ſurrendred to them. The Soldiers within were Mutinous to the laſt Degree; Deſerters daily came over. Proviſions would have grown Scanty in a little Time. [Tho' the Lodgings of their Men were not now thatch'd; (the Reaſon why we told you before) yet a red-hot Bullet or two ſlung into the Fort, might have ſet them all on Fire.] Ten thouſand things might have happened. But, like Men afraid of having the Fort fall into their Hands, they ran back to New-England as faſt as their Canyas Sails could carry them.

The Good Women in Boſton, could not forbear their Out-cries, when they met in the Streets, on this Occaſion. Says one of them, Why, our Cowards imagined the Fort at Port-Royal would fall before them, like the Walls of Jericho. Another Anſwers, Why did not the Block heads then ſtay out Seven Days to ſee? What a l'd the Traitors to come away in Five Days Time after they got there? The Cry of the People muſt be Satisfved. Another Ship of War was fitted our, and Recruits of Soldiers were ſent unto the Fleer, which now lay at Caſco Bay. Which after Tedious and Expenſive Delays of many Weeks, ſet Sail from thence again to P t-Royal, but with the greateſt Averſion that ever was in the Hearts of Men; and not until they had been further weaken by many and numerous Deſertions. While they were on the Voyage to Port-Royal, a Man of War arrived from Portugal; the brave Commander (a New Englander) was ready to venture his Ship and Life too on this Occaſion; and chearfully complied with Orders which were with ſome ado obtained, for him to go to Port-Royal after them. Our Fleet arriving there a Second Time, found that in the time of their withdraw to Caſco, the Port-Royallers had much Recruited themſelves; and had Taken and carried in ſome Engliſh Veſſels, laden with Proviſion; and had alſo Diſpatch'd away their Galley for France.

Therefore, after a little Skirmiſh on the oppoſite Shore, and ſome Follies not to be mention'd, away they come for Boſton, without Orders, and before Capt. Paddon could have Opportunity to come up with them. So that the Second Expedition was as Bad, or Worſe than the Firſt. After the Expedition was thus Shamefully Finiſh'd, there was another Difficult Card to Play; that was, to Satisfy the General Aſſembly, which was then quickly to ſit. The Way pitch'd upon was, to make a Pretended Court-Martial, to Enquire into the Cauſe of the Miſmanagements at Port-Royal. This Court was the Ridicule of Town and Country. No Body was Try'd at it, or ſo much as Accuſed. All was carried on in Hugger-Mugger. We can Hear of Nothing done; but the Preſenting of the Secretary of War, Will. Dudley, with all the Plunder that was taken, and amounted to between One and Two Hundred Pounds, and then leave to go Home! It is plain, the General was not to be Impeached there; 'tis well, if it has not Ruined the Governour, as well as the Diſtreſſed Country, yet we hear the Governour, before the Sitting of the ſaid Court, gave him an Order for an Advantagious Poſt at the Eaſtward, to Build a Fort at Saco, becauſe he would not Take one at Port-Royal; as High and rich a Poſt, as he was ever capable of.

And ſo much for Port-Royal, until the Dark Deſigns come into further Light. And then it will be known whether Governour Dudley when he ſaw the Country was Violently ſet upon going, and ſo Interrupting his Trade with the French, had not a Secret Deſign, that the Fort at Port-Royal ſhould have been made (as the Fort at Pemaquid would have been) a Convenient Place for the Fur-Trade with the Indians, whereby himſelf, and ſome Friends of his here, in Britain, would have got no little Riches. In the mean time, under his Admirable Conduct, an Impoveriſh'd Country has, (as we are credibly informed) been put to above Two and Twenty Thouſand Pounds Charge, only to be Laughed at by their Enemies, and Pitied by their Friends.

To the QUEEN's moſt Excellent Majeſty.

The Humble Petitition of Your Majeſty's moſt Loyal Sub Inhabitants in your Majeſty's Dominions in America, or T ding thither. Sheweth,

THAT Collonel Joſeph Dudley, whoſe Arbitrary and Ty nical Proceedings had Expoſed him to the juſt Reſentments of his Country-men, before the Happy Revolution, hath been nevertheleſs ſo Fortunate, as to obtain the Government of the Maſſachuſett's Colony in New-England.

That your Petitioners are certainly Informed of diverſe Grievous Corruptions and Oppreſſions, and unjuſt and •• rtial Practices of the ſaid. Dudley, on which they might Ground many Complaints againſt him, but they are ſo ſenſible of the imminent Danger which Threatens Your Majeſty's Subjects in that and the Neighbouring Colonies, thro' his Male Adminiſtrations, that they at this time Beg Leave Humbly and Singly to repreſent to your Majeſty,

That the ſaid Dudley hath Countenanced a private Trade and Correſpondence with Your Majeſty's Enemies, the French at Canada, and the Indians which are in their Intereſt, Furniſhing them with Ammunition and Proviſion.

That the Perſons managing the ſaid Correſpondence, pretended a Voyage to Newfoundland, and being accuſed of High-Treaſon by the General Aſſembly of New-England, the ſaid Governour by his Intereſt and Power, delayed their Proſecution, till the Ammution with which he had furniſhed the Enemy was uſed by them, to the Deſtruction of Your Majeſty's good Subjects, and that Colony, thereby put to Three and Thirty Thouſand Pounds Charge.

That many of the beſt, and moſt prudent Members of the Lower Houſe of Repreſentatives, being tired with his Delays, and neceſſitated to go home and defend their Plantations from the Enemy, he prevailed with thoſe that remained, who were ſcarce a Houſe, that the Accuſations againſt his Agents, ſhould be changed from Treaſon to Miſdemeanour; and they being Convicted, he laboured to Mitigate their Fines. All which was ſo Apparent to the People of New-England, that they threatned to pull down his Houſe.

That he had the Confidence nevertheleſs to apply to the General Aſſembly for an Addreſs to Your Majeſty in his Favour, but his Application was received with a General Murmur and Contempt, and nothing done therein.

And altho' he hath ſince Endeavoured to obtain Your Majeſty's Good Opinion by Collecting a Number of Names of Perſons under his command and Influence to give him a Character,

Your Majeſty's Petitioners, who Apprehend their Wives, Fa iltes and Eſtates to be in Imminent danger under ſuch a Governour, do therefore Humbly Pray, that this matter may be ſpeedily Enquired into, and that Your Majeſty would pleaſe to give ſuch Directions thereupon, as to Your Majeſty's Great Wiſdom ſhall ſeem meet. And your Petitioners ſhall ever Pray, &c.

Wm. Parridge. Thomas New on. Nath. Higginſon. Tho. Allen. Alex Holmes. John Calley. &c. &c. &c.