and Plymouth as well as Massachusetts; but Kirk
never was Governor of Massachusetts, for before his commission and
instructions were completed, all was annulled by the demise of King
Charles, which took place the 6th of February, 1685. Mr. Hutchinson
says: "Before any new Government was settled, King Charles died. Mr.
Blaithwait wrote to the Governor and recommended the proclaiming of King
James without delay. This was done with great ceremony in the high
street of Boston (April 20th)."[194]

Mr. Joseph Dudley, a native of the colony, and one of the two last
agents sent to England, was appointed the first Governor after the
annulling of the Charter. Mr. Hutchinson says: "The 15th of May (1686),
the _Rose_ frigate arrived from England, with a commission to Mr. Dudley
as President, and divers others, gentlemen of the Council, to take upon
them the administration of government." Mr. Dudley's short
administration was not very grievous. The House of Deputies, indeed, was
laid aside; but the people, the time being short, felt little or no
effect from the change. Mr. Stoughton was Mr. Dudley's chief confidant.
Mr. Dudley professed as great an attachment to the interest of the
colony as Mr. Stoughton, and was very desirous of retaining their
favour. A letter from Mr. Mather, then the minister of the greatest
influence, is a proof of it.[195] There was no molestation to the
Churches of the colony, but they continued both worship and discipline
as before. The affairs of the towns were likewise managed in the same
manner as formerly. Their Courts of justice were continued upon the
former plan, Mr. Stoughton being at the head of them. Trials were by
juries, as usual. Dudley considered himself as appointed to preserve the
affairs of the colony from confusion until a Governor arrived and a
rule of administration should be more fully settled.[196]

The administration of Dudley was only of seven months' duration. Dudley
was superseded by Sir Edmund Andros, who arrived at Boston on the 20th
of December (1686), with a commission from King James for the government
of New England.[197] He was instructed to appoint no one of the Council
to any offices but those of the least estates and characters, and to
displace none without sufficient cause; to continue the former laws of
the country, as far as they were not inconsistent with his commission or
instructions, until other regulations were established by the Governor
and Council; to allow no