The Loyalists of America and Their Times | Page 5

misstatements,
and showing the groundlessness of their pretended fears and actual
pretensions 166
The King's kind and courteous letter without effect upon the
Massachusetts Bay Court, who refuse to acknowledge the Royal
Commissioners; second and more decisive letter from the King, April,
1666 169

Retrospect of the transactions between the two Charleses and the
Massachusetts Bay Court from 1630 to 1666, with extracts of
correspondence 171
Royal Charters to Connecticut and Rhode Island, in 1663, with remarks
upon them by Judge Story (in a note) 172
The narrative of the discussion of questions between Charles the
Second and the Massachusetts Bay Court resumed; summary of facts;
questions at issue 178
On receiving the report of his Commissioners, who had been rejected
by the Massachusetts Bay Court, the King orders agents to be sent to
England to answer before the King in Council to the complaints made
against the Government of the Colony 179
Meetings and proceedings of the Massachusetts Bay Court on the
Royal Message; their address of vindication and entreaty to the King;
and instead of sending agents, send two large masts, and resolve to
send £1,000 to propitiate the King 180
Loyalists in the Court and among the people, who maintain the Royal
authority 182
Complaints a pretext to perpetuate sectarian rule and persecutions 183
Baptists persecuted by fine, imprisonment, &c., as late as 1666 and
1669 (extract of Court proceedings in a note), several years after the
King had forbidden such intolerance in Massachusetts 184
Statements of Hutchinson and Neal in regard to such persecutions, and
remonstrances by the Rev. Drs. Owen and T. Goodwin, and other
Nonconformist ministers in England 185
Efforts by addresses, gifts, and compliance in some matters, to
propitiate the King's favour 186
Why the King desists for some years from further action 187

Complaints from neighbouring Colonists and individual citizens, of
invasion of rights, and persecutions and proscriptions by the
Massachusetts Bay Government, awaken at last the renewed attention
of the King's Government to their proceedings; and the King addresses
another letter, July, 1679 (copy of the letter in a note) 187
Seven requirements of this letter just and reasonable, and observed by
all British Colonies at this day 188
Remarks on the unfair statements and unjust imputations against the
British Government of that day, by Mr. Palfrey and other New England
historians 190
Nineteen years' evasions and disregard of the conditions on which the
King promised to perpetuate the Charter; strong and decisive letter
from the King, September, 1680, to the Massachusetts Bay Court,
which caused a special meeting of the Court, the sending of agents to
England, and the passing of some remedial Acts 193
Examples and proofs of the deceptive character of these Acts, with
measures to neutralize or prevent them from being carried
intoeffect--such as the Navigation Act, Oath of Allegiance, the
Franchise, Liberty of Worship, and Persecution of Baptists and
Quakers 195
Recapitulation; manner of extending the territory and jurisdiction, so as
to include Maine, part of New Hampshire, &c. (in a note); Mr.
Bancroft's statement, confirming the positions of this and preceding
chapters as to the pretensions and conduct of the Massachusetts Bay
Government 200
CHAPTER VI.
MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF
CHARLES THE SECOND AND THE THREE YEARS' REIGN OF
JAMES THE SECOND, FROM 1680 TO 1689; THE IMMEDIATE
CAUSES AND MANNER OF CANCELLING THE FIRST
CHARTER. 204-220

Crisis approaching; the double game of Massachusetts Bay Court
played out; threat of a writ of quo warranto 204
Proceedings of Massachusetts Bay Court; offer a bribe to the King;
bribe clerks of the Privy Council 205
The Massachusetts Bay Court refuse the proposed conditions of
perpetuating the Charter; refuse submission to the King on any
conditions; determine to contest in a Court of Law; agents restricted;
the King provoked 206
The Governor and a majority of the assistants or magistrates vote in
favour of submitting to the King's decision; the Ministers advise, and a
majority of the deputies vote against it 208
A writ of quo warranto issued and sent, June and July, 1683,
summoning the Corporation of Massachusetts Bay to defend their acts
against the complaints and charges (thirteen in number) made against
them, but assuring the inviolableness of private property, and offering
to stay legal proceedings against the Corporation in case of their
submitting to the decision of the King, on the points heretofore required
by his Majesty as conditions of perpetuating the Charter 208
The Colony of Massachusetts Bay divided; origin of parties; the
Governor and a majority of the "Upper Branch of the Government"
were the moderate or loyalist party; the majority of the "House of
Deputies," whose "elections were controlled by the ministers," were the
independence party; violent language by Dr. Increase Mather, whose
appeal from man to God was decided against