ews came of the expedition of
William of Orange, Massachusetts cast in its lot with him. Without
waiting to learn the result of the struggle, Boston rose against James's
unpopular governor, and imprisoned him in the Castle. The act was
heroic, for the Bloody Assizes had taught the world what punishment the
cowardly king meted out to rebels.

It will be noticed that the political status of Massachusetts was
already changed. After many delays Charles II had abrogated the charter.
His death followed almost immediately, and Andros had been appointed at
the head of a provisional government. Doubtless the resistance to him
had been inspired by the hope that the old charter might be restored.
Instead, William, when once secure on the throne, issued a new charter.
Under its provisions the colony, now a province, lived until the
Revolution. In order that the events leading up to the siege may be
understood, it will be well to consider the provisions of the new
governmental machinery.

At the head of the province were to be a governor and a
lieutenant-governor, both appointed by the king. Their powers were
executive, with the right of veto over legislation, and also over
certain appointments by the legislature. Laws passed by this legislature
and not vetoed by the governor or the king were to go in force three
years after their enactment. The legislature had two houses, the lower a
popular chamber, called the Assembly, elected by the towns. The upper
branch was called the Council. The first Council was appointed by the
king; later members were to be nominated by the Assembly for the
approval of the governor. The Assembly and Council formed together the
Great and General Court. Judges were to be chosen by the governor and
Council, but all officers were to be paid by the General Court. As will
be seen later, in the case of the Writs of Assistance, appeal could be
taken to the English courts.

And now for the first time became evident the fact that three
generations of practical independence had bred in America a race of
men--or it may be better to say had fostered a school of thought--that
never could agree in submitting to a distant and arbitrary authority. In
the seventy years which followed, New England showed this spirit in many
ways. The most prominent cause of disagreement was the question of the
governor's prerogatives, resulting in constant bickerings with the
crown.

The principle, of course, lay deeper still. On the