1696.] JOHN ARCHDALE GOVERNOR. Good influ Archdale. 371 The Assembly replied in a similar conciliatory vein, yet "after this fair Blossomin Season to produce Peace and Tranquility to the Country, some endeavour'd to sow Seed of Contention, ence of thereby to nip the same; insomuch that they sat six Weeks under Civil Broils and Heats," till at length they "recollected their Minds into a cooler Frame of Spirit," the Governor's "Patience being a great means to overcome them; so that in the conclusion all Matters ended amicably.' "The Acts of grace you have so seasonably condescended unto," wrote the popular representatives to their new ruler at the close of the session, have removed all former Doubts, Jealousies and Discouragements of us the People; and hath laid a firm and sure Foundation on which may be erected a most glorious Superstructure to the Honour of the Production of the dale, Esq.' Archdale's Address. For once it seems as if this flourish of compliments, to which Mr. "Jonathan Amery, Speaker," subscribed on behalf of the delegates, was really richly deserved. Forgiveness of arrears of quitrent; careful inquiry into cases of individual grievance; the selection of a council from among the citizens most trusted by the people, - these were some of the conciliatory measures which had gained for Archdale the esteem and attachment of "every faction; " while his energy in matters that required a strong hand was no less conspicuous and disinterested. Of the hostile Indians he made warm friends; yet he did not, though a Quaker, abate for a moment his attention to the defence Prosperity administra tion. of the colony; and the militia was never better trained than during his governorship. He exempted those of his own faith from military service, provided they could show that they objected to it under his from conviction, and not from cowardice; but, for himself, he looked carefully to every detail of military matters. North Carolina accepted his rule as gladly as the southern settlements. One of his daughters married a Pasquotank planter, and the many Quakers at Albemarle seconded his efforts warmly; so that not even a hint of sedition or discontent came in his time from this quarter of the colony. Even the Spaniards at St. Augustine gratefully acknowledged his justice and kindness to some Christian Indians, their protegés, who had been captured, and were about to be sold as slaves by a Carolina tribe. Everywhere in the province tranquillity and prosperity were established, when Archdale, having accomplished all his objects to the mutual benefit of Proprietors and people, set sail for home at the close of 1696. Joseph ernor. He left as his successor, whom he had the right to appoint, Joseph Blake, the son of the first emigrant of the name, and a man Blake Gov- who resembled his father in ability and merit. During the four remaining years of the century he ruled quietly and well over the now prospering colony. No dissension worthy of notice disturbed his Governorship; and the chief event that appears on the record of his time, is his successful and liberal support of the religious interests of Charleston. In 1698, John Cotton, a son of John Cotton, of Boston, settled there with the Governor's hearty support and patronage; while at the same time, with rare impartiality, for he was a dissenter, he procured the passage of an Act giving £150 a year, and a house, to the Episcopal clergyman of the town. 1 Savages' Genealogy. John Archdalz Signature of John Archdale. CHAPTER XVI. THE POLITICAL POLICY OF THE PURITANS. THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS CHARTER. TEMPORIZING POLICY OF THE COLONIAL AUTHORITIES. THE GOVERNMENT AT HOME BAFFLED. REVOLUTION IN ENGLAND. THE LONG PARLIAMENT AND THE NEW ENGLAND PURITANS. APPEAL TO CROMWELL. HIS SCHEMES. THE REGICIDES.-CHARLES II. AND THE CHARTER. THE ROYAL COMMISSIONERS. NEW DANGERS TO MASSACHUSETTS. EDWARD RANDOLPH. THE CHARTER REVOKED. - GOVERNOR ANDROS'S ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT. -CONCEALMENT OF THE CONNECTICUT CHARTER. - DEPOSITION AND ARREST OF ANDROS. COURSE OF KING WILLIAM. A NEW CHARTER. - GovERNOR PHIPS. - EXPEDITION AGAINST CANADA. OPPOSITION TO PHIPS. HIS RECALL. sachusetts. THE political anxieties of Massachusetts, through all the earlier years of her colonial life, were not less constant, while they Political afwere much more reasonable, than the theological dissen- fairs in Massions which, as we have seen in former chapters, she so took to heart. Such anxieties seemed, indeed, to the earnest Puritans, of importance, mainly because, through the achievement of a certain political purpose, there might come the realization of a religious end. They aspired to political independence, so far as a colony could be independent, perhaps even further, that the Commonwealth which they planted and nurtured might become a commonwealth in which there should be no citizenship, hardly even the right to live, except to those who were of their own faith. But that fervid zeal, while it failed, in the long run, to limit the rights of conscience and of private judgment, established, year by year and step by step, that civil liberty to which the world owes so much. to the char The original charter of Massachusetts, which had been transferred from England to Boston, and which was procured with that Anxiety intent, was an object of continual hostility and of continual with regard solicitude. A quo warranto was soon issued whereby the ter. colonists were called upon to show upon what authority they held that patent. The jealousy of Gorges, and the fear that he might assume the governor-generalship over Northern New England, had their root in the dread of an interference with chartered rights as well as of the 1 See vol. i., pp. 524, 525, 526. establishment of the episcopacy from which the colonists had fled. They saw with apprehension how carefully they were watched in England by the vigilant eyes from which they hoped they had escaped. Charles changed his mind, that it would be good policy to rid his kingdom of the Puritans; and then emigration was interfered with. Among some passengers who were ordered to disembark after having taken ship for New England, were, it is said, and there is good reason for believing the story to be true, the two men whose staying at home, if he could have looked into the future, the King had the most cause to dread, John Hampden and Oliver Cromwell. Orders of the Royal Commissioners evaded. Cape Elizabeth. In 1637, the lately appointed commissioners for New England sent out a copy of a commission to the magistrates of Massachusetts empowering them to exercise the functions of government only until further orders. This was on the pretext that they were governing without authority. To this order the magistrates gave no heed; contenting themselves with the plea that nothing but a copy of the commission had been served upon them, while the original in London had not as yet as they learned from a friend on the spot received the royal seal. About the same time an adroit attempt was made under the commission granted to Gorges to engage the General Court in the government of his eastern province of New Somersetshire, which extended from Cape Elizabeth to the Sagadahoc. To have accepted this charge would Schemes of ― 1638.] THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS CHARTER. 375 have been equivalent to the acknowledgment of his prior patent. Winthrop merely says in his journal that it "was observed as a matter of no good discretion, but passed in silence." They knew as well when to be silent as when to speak. Royal de mand for der of the the surren Charter. A year later a peremptory demand was made, in accordance with the quo warranto, for the surrender of the charter and that it be sent at once to England. The General Court replied in September, tempering their evasion of the order with assurances of loyalty. They referred to the royal encouragements which had attended the early emigrations; they reminded the King of the venture they had made of lives and fortunes in extending his dominion in those distant and inhospitable regions; they proposed to continue in that obedience to his will which they had always shown; but they did not send back the charter. Again the next year the demand was renewed, with the assurance that the regulation, not the subversion of their liberties, was intended. But their liberties, they thought, were safer in their own hands than in the hands of a royal commission. The General Court gave to this second summons also their serious consideration. Their conclusion was that as the order came this time in a private letter and not by an accredited messenger they were under no obligation to send any answer whatever. Space and time did them good service. It was a long voyage to England and back again; orders and replies were a long while in coming and going; still a longer while passed in waiting for replies that never came. The magistrates were kept carefully advised by friends in England of the condition of public affairs, and of every step taken by their enemies to their prejudice. Explanations were always ready; and if they were not always ingenuous, never was there a time when the plea could be more justly urged that much may be pardoned to the spirit of liberty. Meanwhile much might happen of which the colony might have the benefit. And much did happen. The King soon had other affairs on his hands of more moment than to bring to immediate obedience Affairs in these self-willed colonists on the other side of the Atlantic. England. His subjects nearer home were in insurrection. In 1640, the Scotch entered England; the "Short Parliament" was called, to be speedily dispersed again when Charles found that redress of grievances must precede any vote of money. The Puritans of England hailed the promise of a brighter future in the events of this period, and they were less anxious to leave the country. Emigration to New England fell off; but Massachusetts was consoled with the reflection that neglect by the government at home was much more her gain than her loss. Increase of population was less desirable than to be let alone. |