your good
success, and our thanksgiving after the same was attained, in days of
solemnity set apart for that purpose, _as also by our over-useful men_
(others going voluntarily from us to help you), _who have been of good
use and done good acceptable service to the army, declaring to the
world hereby_ that such was the duty and love we bear unto the
Parliament that we were ready to rise and fall with them; for which we
have suffered the hatred and threats of other English colonies, now in
rebellion against you, as also the loss of divers of our ships and
goods, taken by the King's party that is dead, by others commissioned by
the King of Scots [Charles II.] and by the Portugalls."[111]

An address of the same General Court, in the same year, 1651, and on the
same occasion (against the order of Parliament to recall the old and
grant the new Charter), to Oliver Cromwell, concludes in the following
words:

"We humbly petition your Excellence to be pleased to show us what
favour God shall be pleased to direct you unto on our behalf, to the
most honourable Parliament, unto whom we have now presented a petition.
The copy of it, _verbatim_, we are bold to send herewith, that if God
please, we may not be hindered in our comfortable work of God here in
this wilderness. Wherein, as for other favours, we shall be bound to
pray, that the Captain of the host of Israel may be with you and your
whole army, in all your great enterprises, to the glory of God, the
subduing of his and your enemies, and your everlasting peace and comfort
in Jesus Christ."

Likewise, August 24th, 1654, after Cromwell had not only put the King to
death, but abolished the House of Lords, excluded by his soldiers 154
members of Parliament, then dismissed the remaining "rump" of the
Parliament itself and become sole despot, the General Court of
Massachusetts Bay concluded an address to him as follows:

"We shall ever pray the Lord, your protector in all your dangers, that
hath crowned you with honour after your long service, to lengthen your
days, that you may long continue Lord Protector of the three nations,
and the Churches of Christ Jesus."[112]

The documentary evidence which I have adduced, shows, I think, beyond
reasonable doubt, that the rulers of Massachusetts Bay Colony were
disaffected to the King from the beginning, and so displayed that
feeling on every occasion except one, in 1638, when they professed
humiliation and loyalty in order to ave