g of the
Charter; and Major Dennison, a man of mark, also in their Council.

In Mr. Danforth's notes of the debate on the answer to the King's
signification, _Mr. Bradstreet_ is reported to have said: "I grant legal
process in a course of law reaches us not in an ordinary course; yet I
think the King's prerogative gives him power to command our appearance,
which, before God and men, we are to obey." _Mr. Dudley_: "The King's
commands pass anywhere--Ireland, Calais, etc.--although ordinary process
from judges and officers pass not. No doubt you may have a trial at law
when you come to England, if you desire it, and you may insist upon and
claim it. Prerogative is as necessary as law, and it is for the good of
the whole that there be always power in being able to act; and where
there is a right of power, it will be abused so long as it is in the
hands of weak men, and the less pious the more apt to miscarry; but
right may not be denied because it may be abused."

After the Court had adopted its answer of refusal to the King's
signification, Mr. Bradstreet said: "I fear we take not a right course
for our safety. It is clear that this signification is from his Majesty.
I do desire to have it remembered that I do dissent, and desire to have
it recorded that I dissent, from that part of it as is an answer to the
King's signification." Major Dennison declared his dissent from the
letter to Mr. Morrice, as not being proportionate to the end desired,
and he hoped, intended, and desired it might be entered--namely, due
satisfaction to his Majesty, and the preservation of the peace and
liberty of the colony.[153]

It is clear from the foregoing facts that the alleged invasion of
chartered rights and privileges put forth by the ruling party of
Massachusetts Bay was a mere pretext to cover the long-cherished
pretensions (called by them "dear-bought rights") to absolute
independence; that is, the domination of the Congregationalist
Government, to the exclusion of the Crown, to proscribe from the
elective franchise and eligibility to office all but Congregationalists,
and to persecute all who differed from them in either religious or
political opinion, including their control and suppression of the
freedom of the press.[154] They persisted in the cruel persecution of
their Baptist brethren as well as of the Quakers, notwithstanding the
King had established the fullest religious liberty by Royal Charter,
granted in 1663 to the Colon