be
signed by the several inhabitants, which the agents were to present or
not, as they thought proper; and they were (privately) to deliver up the
deeds of the Province of Maine, if required, and it would tend to
preserve their Charter, otherwise not; and they were to make no
concessions of any privileges conferred on the colony by the
Charter."[184] (That is, according to their interpretation and
pretensions.)

"Governor Bradstreet and the moderate party were inclined to authorise
the agents to receive the King's commands. The magistrates passed a vote
to that effect. But all the zeal and obstinacy of the theocratic party
had been roused by the present crisis--a zeal resulting, as hot zeal
often does, in the ultimate loss of what it was so anxious to
save."[185]

The agents of the colony were not willing to undertake the defence and
management of the question upon the Charter in Westminster Hall. The
writ of _quo warranto_, which summoned the Corporation of Massachusetts
Bay to defend their acts against the complaints and charges made against
them, was issued the 27th of June, 1683, and on the 20th of July "It was
ordered by the Privy Council, 'that Mr. Edward Randolph be sent to New
England with the notification of the said _quo warranto_, which he was
to deliver to the said Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay,
and thereupon to return to give his Majesty an account of his
proceedings therein.'"[186] This writ was accompanied by a declaration
from the King "that the private interests and properties of all persons
within the colony should be continued and preserved to them, so that no
man should receive any prejudice in his freehold or estate;" also, "that
in case the said Corporation of the Massachusetts Bay should, before the
prosecution had upon the said _quo warranto_, make a full submission and
entire resignation to his pleasure, he would then regulate their Charter
(as stated in another place, by adding supplementary clauses) in such a
manner as should be for his service and the good of the colony, without
any other alterations than such as he should find necessary for the
better support of his Government."[187]

On the issue of the writ of _quo warranto_, the business of the colony's
agents in London was at an end. They returned home, and arrived in
Boston the 23rd of October, 1683; and the same week Randolph arrived
with the _quo warranto_ and the King's accompanying declaration. The
announcement