o know
the condition of New England, which appearing to be very independent as
to their regard to Old England or his Majesty, rich and strong as they
now were, there were great debates in what style to write to them; for
the condition of that Colony was such that they were able to contest
with all other Plantations about them, and there was fear of their
breaking from all dependence on this nation; his Majesty, therefore
commended this affair more expressly. We, therefore, thought fit, in the
first place, to acquaint ourselves as well as we could of the state of
that place, by some whom we heard of that were newly come from thence;
and to be informed of their present posture and condition; some of our
Council were for sending them a menacing letter, which those who better
understood the peevish and touchy humour of that Colony, were utterly
against.

A letter was then read from Sir Thomas Modiford, Governor of Jamaica;
and then the Council brake up." (Evelyn's _Diary_, II, pp. 63-64.)

_June 6._

"I went to Council where was produced a most exact and ample information
of the state of Jamaica and of the best expedients as to New England,
on which there was a long debate; but at length it was concluded that if
any it should be only a conciliating paper at first, or civil letter,
till we had better information of the present face of things, since we
understood they were a people almost on the very brink of renouncing any
dependence on the Crown." (Evelyn's _Diary_, II, p. 65.)

_June 16._

Colonel Cartwright's papers concerning the New England Colonies read.
(_Cal._, Sec. 512.)

_June 19._

Patent of Massachusetts read. (_Cal._, Sec. 572; The _Journal_ says,
"Cartwright's report"; but this seems to be wrong as both Evelyn and the
_Calendar_ place Cartwright's report on the 21st.)

_June 20._

"To carry Colonel Middleton [Capt. Thomas Middleton of the former
Council for Foreign Plantations] to Whitehall, to Lord Sandwich, our
President, for some information which he was able to give of the Colony
in New England." (Evelyn's _Diary_, II, p. 65.) Probably no regular
meeting was held on this day.

_June 21._

Commission and instructions of the New England Commissioners read;
Col. Cartwright heard (_Cal._, Sec.Sec. 512, 566). "To Council again, when one
Colonel Cartwright a Nottinghamshire man (formerly in commission with
Colonel Nicholls) gave us a considerable relation of that country; on
which the Council conc