the east they usurped Capt. Mason's and Sir
Ferdinardo Gorges' patents, and said that the Commissioners had nothing
to do betwixt them and Mr. Gorges, because his Majesty neither commanded
them to deliver possession to Mr. Gorges or to give his Majesty reason
why they did not." ...

"They of this colony say that King Charles the First granted to them a
Charter as a warrant against himself and his successors, and that so
long as they pay the fifth part of the gold and silver ore which they
get, they shall be free to use the privileges granted them, and that
they are not obliged to the King except by civility; they hope by
writing to tire the King, Lord Chancellor, and Secretaries too; seven
years they can easily spin out by writing, and before that time a change
may come; nay, some have dared to say, who knows what the event of this
Dutch war will be?"

"This colony furnished Cromwell with many instruments out of their
corporation and college; and those that have retreated thither since his
Majesty's happy return, are much respected, and many advanced to be
magistrates. They did solicit Cromwell by one Mr. Winslow to be declared
a free State, and many times in their laws declaring themselves to be
so."

(Hutchinson's Collection of Original Papers relative to the History of
Massachusetts Bay, pp. 412-420.)]

[Footnote 134: The Commissioners specify upwards of twenty anomalies in
the book entitled the "Book of the General Laws and Liberties concerning
the Inhabitants of Massachusetts," which should be altered to correspond
with the Charter, and the relations of the colony to England. A few
specimens may be given: That the writs and forms of justice be issued
and performed in his Majesty's name; that his Majesty's arms be set up
in the courts of justice within the colony, and that the masters of
vessels and captains of foot companies do carry the colours of England,
by which they may be known to be British subjects; that in the 12th
capital law, if any conspire against our Commonwealth, _Commonwealth_
may be expunged, and "against the peace of his Majesty's colony" be
inserted instead of the other; that at p. 33, "none be admitted freemen
but members of some of the Churches within the limits of their
jurisdiction," be made to comprehend "other than members of the
Congregational Churches;" that on the same page, the penalty for keeping
Christmas so directly against the law of England, be repealed; that page
40, the law