The People's RIGHT TO ELECTION Or ALTERATION of GOVERNMENT in Connecticutt, ARGUED In a LETTER;  
By Gershom Bulkeley Esq one of their Majesty's Justices of the peace In the County of Hartford.  
Together with a Letter to the said Bulkeley, from a Friend of his in the BAY.  
To which is added, The Writing delivered to james Russell of Charlestown. Esq warning him and others concerned, not to meet to Hold a Court at Cambridge, within the county of Middlesex.  
By Thomas Greaves Esq Judge of their Majesty's Inferior Court of Pleas and one of their Majesty's Justices of the peace within the said County And also his ANSWER to Mr. Broadstreete and the Gentlemen met at the Townhouse in Boston concerning the same.  
Published for the Informati0n & Satisfaction of their Majesty's loyal (but 〈◊〉) Subjects in NEW ENGLAND.  
Philadelphia, Printed by Assigns of William Bradford, Anno 1689.   

TO the honourable Robert Treat Esq and to the Worshipful James Bishop, William Jones & James Fitch, and other the Worshipful justices of the several Coun●●●●● and any other whom it may concern, assembling at Hartford: To advise concerning Holding of a Court of Election by Virtue and according to the late Patent  
Sirs,  
I am at this time (by reason of bodily Infirmity) unable to wait upon you in a suitable manner, or to maintain discourse as this Occasion may require, or indeed to write much, yet (considering the Exigency of the case) I will do what I can, & apply myself to you as followeth.  
And to prevent all prejudice against what I have to say, I shall premise th●s much, Viz. That tho' I was no freeman of the Colony, yet I never was, nor am an Enemy to our ancient Charter-priviledges, and could they now be regularly Recovered, I should rejoice in it, and if I knew any thing whereby to justify the present proceeding, I should not conceal it; but we must not do evil that good may come of it.  
I am not at all ambitious of keeping my place, it is a Burden and no Benefit to me; an orderly discharge will be very welcome, and the sooner the better; if I could absolve myself from my oath, it had not been to do now; so that I am under no Temptation on these accounts. 'tis only the Trust reposed in me, and my real desire of the Common good which puts me on, very well knowing, that nothing but ill Will is like to be my reward.  
Further, I am sensible of mine inability to wade in those great Affairs, and would not abound in my own sense, nor in any sort take upon nor go about to teach those of whom I had need to learn; yet, Plus v●dent oculi quam oculus. Many eyes see more than one: and a weak eye may chance to see that which a better overlooks. And I having with others, (though much against my own Inclination) received his Majesty's Commission as a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hartfora, and having at that time taken the Oaths of Supremacy and Obedience, as also that of a justice for keeping of the Law, the Conservation of the Peace, and the quiet and good Government of the people, it did concern me to Consider the Duty by these means so strongly bound upon me, and accordingly I have since that time done my poor endeavour to inform myself in the Laws, that I might discern between Right and Wrong for the good of the people.  
Therefore, in sense of my duty to God, the King, yourselves, and all his Majesty's good people here (for I am debtor to you all, and am embarked in the same Bottom with you; and do account it my Duty to seek the peace of the place where I live) therefore (I say) I shall not (and I think, I ought not) be wholly silent at this time but according to that little which I have learned and observed, I shall me destly, and yet freely & plainly, offer a few Considerations to you which respect the present Affair, desiring you neither to accept nor reject what I say, because it comes from me, but according to its own merit; for the matter in hand seems to me to be of very great Weight, and I beseech you to consider and ponder it throughly before you engage in it, forasmuch as an Irregularity in this Proceeding, may be the beginning of great Calamity and Woe to this people.  
The present Motion seems to me to be not only illegal, needless & unprofitable, but indeed very criminal dangerous and hurtful to us, and that upon these Considerations.  
First, Before you can Regularly (or by Virtue of and according to your late Patent) hold a Court of Election, you must be first Restored to your former politic Capacity, whereby you were under the Name of His Majesty's Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticott, Persons able & capable in the Law to plead and be impleaded &c. and to Have, Take, Require and possess Lands and other Hereditaments etc. of which, that Privilege of Government was a principal one given by your Patent.  
For I reason thus, If you do now assume the Government, and proceed to Election, you do it either in a private and personal Capacity, or in a public and politic Capacity, I suppose you do not pretend to the First, for that is not to do it according to your patent, and besides it is criminal.  
For Subjects in private Capacity to take upon them to set up & exercise Government as they see cause, is direct Rebellion & Treason. Therefore you must do it in a public and politic Capacity, but this you cannot do till you are restored to such a Capacity, in which indeed you once were, but now are not: which I thus prove from the Patent itself.  
Our late Sovereign King Charles the Second, did in the year 1662. by his Letters Patents for himself his Heirs and Successors, Ordain & Constitue the therein named Patentees, & the than present & future Freemen etc. One Body politic and Corporate in fact and Name, by the name of, His Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut in New-England in America; and that by the same Name they and their Successors shall and may have perpetual Succession, and shall & may be persons able & capable in the law to plead & be impleaded, to Answer & be Answered unto, to defend & be defended in all Suits, Causes, Quarrels, Matters, Actions and things of what kind and nature soever. And also to Have, Take, Possess, Acquire and Purchase Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments etc. This is the express Letter of that Clause of the Patent, whereby you were constituted one body politic and Corporate, able and capable in the Law as aforesaid; and whereby also, you were by the name of Governor and Company to have perpetual Succession, or to be perpetuated by annual Election, at least, as the Patent afterwards shows, and upon this Clause do all the privileges afterwards granted depend.  
But now you are not such a Body politic and Corporate capable in Law as aforesaid, for you know, that by the late Transaction between his Majesty and his then Governor and Company of the late Colony of Connecticut, the Government is changed and taken into his Majesty's hands, and the late Colony of Connecticut annexed to the Bay, the Governor and one of the Assistants made and sworn Counsellors and Judges under this new Government, the late Deputy-Governour and the rest of the Assistants, made & sworn Justices in the several Counties under the same new Government, and this a year and a half ago: How legal these proceed were we need not now dispute; but this it is in fact: Hence there is no such thing in fact and name as the Governor and Company of the Colony of Connecticut. And hence the Corporation is dissolved and made incapable in the law to plead and be impleaded etc. or to have and take or possess any Hereditaments; and consequently incapable to Take, Erect and Excercise Government. For neither the Governor alone, nor the Company alone is the Corporation, nor capable to plead or be impleaded as such, but the Governor and Company together. If they Claim or Take; they must Claim or Take together, if they Sue, they must Sue together, and if they be sued, they must be sued together and not apart. Besides, by the means aforesaid the Succession is interrupted and broken off, for by the same name of the Governor & Company of etc. you were to have perpetual Succession, and that Succession to be perpetuated by annual Election of the Governor, Deputy-Governour etc. which hath not been. Therefore in your present state you are not Successors of the former Corporation; and consequently cannot take the privileges until restored to your former politic Capacity: and (to add that) you cannot restore yourselves to it, for that is inconsistent with your Subjection to the Supreme power.  
By all this it doth appear, That as there is no Governor, or Deputy-Governour to give Order for the Assembling of the Company, (without which their Assembling for such an end is unlawful) so there are no Freemen capable of choosing or of being chosen; for if there be not a Corporation capable, there cannot be capable Freemen of that Corporation: And if in this state you proceed to Election, there is no Freeholder or free Subject of England belonging to this Late Colony, but hath as good a Right, & is as capable of Choosing as any of you, because there is nothing to hinder it, and this the people see. Also there are now no Assistants enbaled by lawful Authority (without which none may do it) to take the Oath of the Governor or Deputy-Governour when Chosen; all which things the Patent doth expressly require.  
All this seems necessarily to follow from the very words of the Patent, and how it can be avoided I cannot see: but that I may not seem to vent my own Notions only, I shall briefly give the words of Sir Edward Coke as sound a Lawyer and as great a friend to the English Subjects Libertyes as ever England knew, In the Case (saith he) of Mayor & Commonality (which is the same in effect as Governor and Company) Where there is no Mayor the Commonality cannot make claim; because they have neither ability nor Capacity to take or sue any Action. [Coke upon Lit. pag. 263.] so that without a Governor or Deputy Governor you cannot so much as Claim the Government by Law, much less enter upon it. And therefore we see that in the Patent, the King doth not Constitute only a number of Freemen, and make them immediately capable to take such and such privileges, and give them power rudely to run together whensoever some factious spirits shall make a bustle, and so in a tumult to choose them a Governor & Magistrates; No, but he first creates them a Body politic consisting of Goverour and Company, and by that name makes them capable in Law to take the privileges which he thereafter gives. And he himself nominates and appoints the first Governor or Deputy Governor for the time being, to give order for the Assembling of the Company upon all occasions (whether for Election or otherwise) and in such orderly manner gives them leave to assemble as often as need requireth.  
Secondly, (Which doth also confirm the former) Before you can hold a Court of Election according to the Patent, you must have a General Court or Assembly constituted according to the Patent: the reason is, because the Patent doth ordain, that the Governor, Deputy-Governour, and Assistants etc. be annually chosen, not without, but in the said General Court: concerning this matter the King, In his Patent, ordains three things.  
1. That every Second Thursday in May and October (or oftener if need be) there shall be a General Assembly. 2. That this General Court or Assembly, consist of the Governor or Deputy-Governour, and at least six of the Assistants, and of the Freemen or their Deputyes. 3. That at least once in every year (Viz.) or the second Thursday in May, the Governor Deputy Governor & Assistants of the said Company and other Officers etc. shall be in the said General Court and Assembly to be held from that day or time newly chosen for the year ensueing etc. Thus saith the Patent expressly: But you have now no Governor, Deputy Governor, nor Assistants, therefore can have no such General Court or Assembly; therefore can hold no Court of Election by virtue of or according to your Patent. Examine the Patent and see etc.  
From these two Considerations it appears, that if you do proceed to Election in your present state, you will but deceive yourselves and trouble the Country to no purpose: all that you will do, will be void in Law: the Government you think to set up will be but an imaginary Government, a shadow without a substance, Magistrates without Authority, for you can give them none, neither does the Patent give them any. A Government that cannot determine the Present Government, nor vacate the Commissions that have been given out from the King, and are still in force, nor-exercise any Authority to effect: for their Authority may justly (yea, aught to) be denied by every one, and they cannot enforce it, without Lawless Usurpation & Tyranny. 2. You will but trouble your selves, for you will be immediately liable to a Quo-Warranto, and can give no account by what Authority you do these arbitrary things.  
Thirdly, The Government is now in the King's hands, (and here, that no person may cavil, the word King may be understood indefinitely for the King his Heirs & Successors, for the Heir or Successor is King, when the Time of Succession is come. But I say, The Government is now in the King's hands, and it will be wisdom to proceed in a regular way, if you desire to recover it. For in regard of the dignity of his person, the King has by Law a Prerogative above the Subject for the keeping of what he hath. Hence, a man may not enter upon the King as he may upon his Fellow subject; much loss may he enter-upon the King by Force. I do not now enter upon that Question, How far those that are by and under the King entrusted with public Power and Office, for the defence of the Laws and the Libertyes of the Subject, may, in case, use force for that end; and the people under them at their Call and Command; This is another Question, and not our case, and those that desire satisfaction. may consult those that have written weightily upon that Subject. It is one thing to defend the Laws and Liberties of the Subject. This some think some may do, and this defends the Government: But it is another thing to subvert & change & take possession of the Government itself, this none may do. And tho' some may say, But the Government is illegally taken into the King's hand, and it is one of our great Liberties: I shall say something to that by and by.  
Therefore to let that Question pass untouched. I said that the Subject may not enter upon the King with force: now you cannot enter upon the King in point of Government, but it is with force, for all power of Government implies force antecedent, for the setting of it up, and concomitant for the Support and Defence of it, and partly because you cannot do it in this way of Election without Multitude, which is Force in the judgement of the Law, aswell as Manus armatae, or Force of Arms, so that if you do it, it must necessarily be done with force; now to enter upon the King in point of Government with Force, what is it but to invade the Crown? And Kings do account their Heads & Crowns to be very near each to other; and that he that attempts against the one, attempts against the other.  
This Affair therefore doth touch the Crown, and nearly concern your Allegiance, and is worthy to be well considered, for it is of dangerous consequence; 'tis dangerous to those that shall Choose, and be Chosen, and Accept; dangerous to all that shall any ways contrive, counsel, abett or conceal, (though here is hardly room for Concealing, (A City set on a Hill cannot be hid, and these things cannot be done in a Corner) 'tis dangerous to yourselves and Posterity, yea dangerous to us all, and doth require more skill in Law and state affairs than is very common among us, to make the way plain to a safe proceeding in it; for I cannot find that the Law doth use any softer Language concerning such Actions, than that of Tumults, Insurrection, rebellious Riots, Sedition, Rebellion, Treason, etc.  
Gentlemen, I hope you will be careful to keep at a due distance from such things which are wont to be Bitterness in the end. 'Tis an easy matter to run too far; And the work is wont to be made of such things when they come to Trial.  
Fourthly, You may here consider that the Government was not taken into the King's hand without your own Submission, and some sort (at least) of Consent; whence possibly there was not so much Illegality in that proceeding as some do imagine. I was not personally acquainted with those Transactions, and therefore cannot undertake much in this; but this I suppose will not be denied, that if parties be at Law (whether King and subject, or subject and subject) and instead of standing a Trial, they agree upon Conditions, and the Conditions are performed, and so the Action be let fall, this is not illegal: and if afterwards either party be sensible of inconveniency, will it be fair and honest for him to say it was illegal, & thereupon break his Agreement? The Inhabitant of the Holy Hill swears to his own hurt, and changeth not. You were at Law with the King, and its like you thought it would be a great Charge to maintain the Action, and it might go against you at last, & you should be annexed to York; and hereupon you submit to the King's Wisdom and pleasure, begging that you may be annexed to the Bay; the King performs this condition, and let's fall his Action, Demands the Government, and you yield it up to him; if now you find it prejudicial, you must lay your hand upon your mouth, and not take it again by force. We must not think to leave and take when we please.  
Fifthly, None are allowed by the Law to be Judges in their own Case, no not the King himself: But if you proceed in this manner, you take upon you, in your own case to judge the King, to condemn and take possession, which in reason will never be borne, for Princes are as tender of their Prerogative as Subjects can be of their Liberties.  
But to abate the Force of these Considerations, some say, We hear there is no King, Regal Power is Extinct, etc. I answer, 'tis no pleasant Objection or Subject to speak to, but yet the Necessity of the present time seems to require a word or two to prevent these unwise and unwary speeches which do not become Subjects. Therefore I say first, That Rumours are but a sandy foundation to ground such assertions, or to change & build Government upon, we have yet nothing of Record concerning the King. 2. This doth not help our case at all, for if it were indeed so, that the Sceptre were departed, you have then nothing to do with the Patent; 'tis only the King's Governor and Company that hath interest in the Patent, and the King grants it only for Himself, his Heirs and Successors, if there be none of these, your Patent and Estate in it are expired without any more to do. But, 3 lie. The King is a Royal Body politic which hath Succession whereby the Crown passeth not only to heirs by Blood, but to Successors also; in which respect it is said, That in Judgement of Law, The KING never dies. There is therefore always a King.  
But others say, What shall we do? there is no Government; the Governor who is the Head of it is imprisoned, and hath Surrendered his Government. I answer, It is a very great Error and proceeds from ignorance to think that there is no Government, & it contains so many inconveniencies & mischiefs in it, as, it is not safe to mention them so long as there is any supreme power, there must needs be a Government. 2. The Governor is not the Head of the Government but the King. And the Government is not his propperly and originally but the King's. The Governor is but a Minister of the King in the Government, which Ministry it is said he hath surrendered to be secured and be disposed of by Orders that shall be received from the Crown of England. It will not become us to prevent these Orders and dispose of the Government otherwise ourselves; but to acknowledge our Subjection to that Crown, as our Neighbours would do well to do. 3. The Commissions of the Judges and Justices of the several Counties (the Execution whereof is no small part of Government) are granted by the Governor) (its true) but not from the Governor▪ but from the King, & are derived from the Crown; it is not from an inferior but from a Supreme power, and they do still continue in force, notwithstanding the inmprisonment or Surrender of the Governor; for they are matters of Record under the great Scale of the Dominion, & cannot be countermanded without matter of Record of as high a nature. You may take one instance from Charles the first his time, He was indeed the head of the Government; but yet notwithstanding the great Breach and long Wars between him and his Parliament, and his long imprisonment after that, both together) from 42. to the end of 48. there was still a Government, and it was his Government, and exercised by the King's Commissions as long as he lived, for they were not changed nor superseded till a year after his death, as the Histories of those times show. So that notwithstanding all the Rumours we have had from abroad, and the Overtures at home, there is a Government still, to which we ought to submit; and that for Conscience sake. Let us not have cause to say, that there are none that will be governed.  
Sixthly. I may desire you to consider those honoured Gentlemen who had the Rule over you under the former Government, and are now also in place under this Government, who I believe would hardly have accepted any Commission under the present Government, but for this end, that you might not be so much Ruled by strangers as otherwise you might have been, and to prevent the miseries that might follow thereupon: I am sure that this was one principal Argument that they used with me, when they saw me so averse as I was to Accept, and I think the end has been so far attained, as that you ought with Thankfulness to acknowledge, that by this means you have escaped the greatest part of those grievances which others complain of, and not now (you think you have the staff in your hand) to ride over their Consciences who are under Oath (from which neither they nor you can absolve them) to execute their Commissions, and to tread them down as mire in the streets: The measure that you meet may be measured to you again. 'tis a golden Rule, That which you would that others should do to you, do you the same to them; & do not recompense evil for good.  
Some I know reflect hard upon them for giving up the former Government; much like those that reflect upon old father Adam; but I will so far apologise for them, as to desire you to reflect upon yourselves, for have you already forgotten that you (I mean the people) were divided in your opinions; many grudged at the charge of that Affair, whence it was hard (if possible) for them seasonably to raise money to maintain the suit. (I myself know who were then as hot against the raising of money for that Purpose (and cried out it was illegal) as now hot for the Patent, and ready to cry out upon the loss of that as illegal; but I will not prejudice any man) Others were so afraid of being annexed to York, that they thought it the best way to submit without more a do, so that they might be annexed to the Bay Surely you cannot forget these things, by which (coming from the people by their Deputyes) it is reasonable to think that the General Assembly was moved to make that Submission to the King, and in all Reason it was much better so, than for want of money, to have had a Judgement given against us upon a Nihil-Dicit, or Contempt, and it is possible, that if those who reflect so hard upon them had been under the same Circumstances, they would have done the same thing or worse. Therefore methinks they might be a little considered, and not made the scorn of the people.  
Seventhly, Consider your Profession, we are all Protestants, I hope there is not a Papist in our Limits, I know not any: and we profess to believe (rejecting humane Traditions) That the word of God is the only and sufficient Rule of Faith and Manners. And do we not there find that Sure word of Prophecy, to which we may do well to take heed, as to a light that shines in a Dark place, which doth direct and counscil us, To fear the Lord and the King, and not to meddle with those that are given to change, To Keep the King's Commandment, and that in regard of the Oath of God, To Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's, To Study to be quiet, and to be subject to Principalities and powers (because they are of God) and to obey Magistrates, To submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the King as supreme, or unto Governors as unto those that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of them that do well, for so is the will of God, that with well doing, we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, etc. and, Not to despise Government, nor to speak evil of Dignities? These are found Doctrines, and will well consist with the protestant Religion (else we had reason to be ashamed of it) and it were to be wished, That these among us who are the salt of the earth & Light of the world would season the people by putting them in mind (as Paul commands Titus) of those great Duties so necessary for these perilous days, wherein men are (as was prophesied they would be) so apt to be Traiters, heady & high minded, and to despise Government. Therefore before we proceed in this Affair, consider what our Religion will gain by it, an Ornament or a Blott, and whether we shall not give Occasion to adversaries (that seek occasion) to blaspheme the name & speak evil of the ways of God amongst us.  
Eightly, Consider the time and state of affairs in the Christian world. If any thing be true of that which comes to us it seems, it is a time wherein there is a strong engagement to root out the Protestant Religion. Europe is upon this account in flames, the Axe is laid to our own Root, if it be so, it is a time wherein we had need to strengthen the things that are weak, to join heart and hand together against French and Pagan Force and Cruelty, and to unite heaven and Earth if possible, for the preservation of ourselves and posterity, and for the Defence of the cause of God and his Truth with us; surely this is no time to fall to Faction and parties, to tread down the Government that is lest, (too weak already.) to disturb and obstruct the Course of Justice, To confound the Militia, that no man shall know whom to Command nor whom to Obey, and to promote private interests, and therefore set every man's hand against his Brother, unless we design to ruin all. I wish there be not some Jesuit that has foisted in this Project amongst them in the Bay and us here, as the most probale way to ruin us at this time; for it is the old trade of that Diabolical sort of men by their plausible crafty Counsels, to make protestants destroy themselves, by stirring up, and fomenting divisions among them; and promoteing any thing which tends thereto, the which, how naturally & necessarily they will slow from this proceeding is easy to show: but it is better to be silent than by speaking to show men the way which they are too ready to run into  
Ninethly. More might be said, but the last Consideration that I shall offer (and which I think may satisfy any reasonable man) is, That it is known the Country is in daily Expectation of Orders from the Crown of England, for the Settleing and Regulating of the Government, those Orders will either contradict or overthrow your Election, or else countenance and Encourage it:  
If they overthrew it, to what end is it to hold a Court, (if we could hold a Court) to make Election, to change and turn things up-side down, and hereby put the Country (which is poor enough already) to unnessary Charge, and know not how to defray it when we have done, and to run the hazard of displeasure from the supreme power abroad, and of making Division and Mischief at home, and all for an imaginary Government, which may possibly last for a week or a month. Sapiens incipit a Fine.  
If the Orders that shall come do countenance and encourage to an Election, they will be such as will enable us to it, and so we shall preserve a good Aspect abroad, and Unity and Peace at home; what need then of such Haste? These things cannot be spoken against. And the Town-Clerke of Ephesus could say, that these things being so, you ought to be quiet & do nothing rashly. But some say, We shall lose our day if we do not proceed now. I Answer, There is nothing in that, for if you have sufficient Warrant from the Crown of England, to enable you to the thing, you will be enabled as to a Day, and Persons, and what else is needful which now you are not, as before was said.  
But say others, If we have an Election before these Orders come, we shall be in a Capacity to capitulate, and so obtain the better terms, etc. I answer this is a great mistake, It will be a mighty Disadvantage; for it will be a wonderful thing if you be not looked upon and dealt with as criminals.  
Again, Whom do you mean to Capitulate with? Surely it will be good manners for us to Ask, and not to Command; to Fellow our Leaders and not to go before them.  
But some think, These are small matters that will be overlooked, and easily pardoned, we need not stand upon such niceties.  
But I Answer how small they are will be best seen afterwards, and it is better not to need a pardon, than to presume upon getting one.  
From all these Considerations I conclude, that our strength is to sit still, and therefore do advise  
That instead of moving towards an Election, the Judges and Justices in the several Counties, considering their Commissions which they have received and the Oaths which they have taken, for the faithful Execution of them, and Remembering that the Judgement is not man's but God's who is with them in the Judgement, they take Courage and do it; and in Order thereto Unanimously Declare, that they will Maintain and Exercise the Government (in their Degree) according to their Commissions, in Conformity to the Laws which are the Rules of their Commissions, & the true and proper Bulwarks of the Subject's just Libertyes, being careful to do nothing contrary thereto, to the best of their understanding: & that the good People here do willingly & cheerfully submit & yield obedience to the several Officers in their Respective places, as their Duty is, until such time as sufficient Warrant shall come from the Crown of England for other Orders. And in the mean time, we all with one consent Lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the Heavens for a happy Composure of these Commotions in England and those other Kingdoms, for the Restitution, Security and propagation of the Gospel, true Religion and Worship of God, and for the preserving and establishing of the peace and liberty of his people there and here, and else where throughout the world to the glory of God.  
This Course is regular, innocent, offensive to none, and most safe for ourselves and ours: but if the people will not be advised, I very much fear that the Issue will not be like a Tree of Life, or the desire satisfied, Use truly I should not at this time have given you or myself this trouble.  
The Opinion, and Resolution of the other Justices I know not, but for my part, I am plain, and I must declare & protest against an Election at the present, as that which is justly offensive to the supreme Power, in whose hands soever it is, or shall be, and pernicious to ourselves; and if the people should wilfully proceed to it, it will remain for the Justices to consider whether the Law and their Oaths don't require them to make a Record of it, and Certify it into the Chancery, etc. But I hope there will none enforce to such things, and I pray that you may all Act under the Influence of the God of peace and order. And in Testimony that this is my Opinion and Advice, I have hereunto set my hand, on the eighth day of May 1689.  
Gershom Bulkeley.  
— Pacem te poscimus omnes.  
Peace is the Tranquillity of Order, therefore Order is the only right Way to Peace.  
A Letter to Gershom Bulkeley Esq (one of their Majesty's justices of the Peace in the County of Hartford,) from a friend in the Bay  
Sir,  
I Have seen your Letter-referring to the Government of Connecticut Colony Directed unto Col' Treat and other Gentlemen there, and being very well acquainted with the papers and passages you refer to and the Truth of them severally: I earnestly expected the Answer, 〈◊〉 extremely necessary for the Vindication of the assumed Government in your parts, if at least they mean to continue their Allegiance and Dependence upon the Crown of England, or to hold their Majesty's Subjects in those parts in Obedience to them. But for that I hear nothing in their Defence, I must be allowed to guess, that either those Gentlemen have Orders from their Majesty's unknown to any, thus to advance themselves, or that they mean to cast off their Dependence & Obedience to the Crown of England: The first of these is dishonourable to suppose, the latter will end in the utter Ruin of the English interest here, and leave us a prey to all Nations, when the wild beast shall pass by and tread down the Thiste.  
But whatsoever be the Opinion or Resentment of your Gentlemen, I will assure you Sir the good people here (that are so far quit of the fright and hurry of the late and present confusion in these parts) with that the men of Sechem had harkened unto jotham, that God might have harkened unto them; and fear lest the proceeding here as well as with you, being plainly represented at home, should alarm a just and wise Prince, to take some severe method to keep the people of these Colonies in a more strict Obedience to the Crown of England than will agree with our present licentious & ungoverned frame; there being amongst us men not of the least interest that daily say, they will not be shuffled out of their Allegiance.  
When it shall be seen and understood that the Noise of a French PLOT, and a Maqua's PLOT, A Plot to BURN the TOWN of BOSTON and to MASSACRE the PEOPLE, neither have nor ever had the least shadow of truth, but a pure Malicious Invention only, to persuade the Common-people into an ill Opinion of those appointed to rule & Govern them, and whom in Duty & Conscience they ought to obey, and being in that manner amused were pushed and hurried into such a Rising and Convulsion of the Government, without ever considering the effect:  
And when it shall be told (as now too truly it may) that the Effect of these changes, are the total Subversion of their Majesty's Government, the ●osse of the Garrison at Pemaquid, the Country of Conawall, the Province of A●ain and other parts, Several hundreds of their Majesty's subjects, the Fishery and Lumber trade, the Running away of many of our people, who turn Pirates and do their Countrymen and neighbours the same Mischiefs that the Algorines do upon the Coasts of the Christians, whilst their Majesty's Ship of Worre is dismantled and made useless, the most injust, long, & cruel Confinement and imprisonment of the Governor, (who was both capable and active on all occasions for the public good and safety of the Country) several of the Council, and other persons employed in public Office in the Government, (an Act, for which the American world can show no Example or Parallel) and the Committing of the greatest Routs and Riots, even on the Sabbath day, and many other inconveniencies that daily grow upon us: surely all sober and thinking men cannot but see the Folly and Error of these things, and wish that day had never been, which hath occasioned so great mischiefs and miseries, of which we all see the Beginning, but none can tell the end.  
I have always considered the Ministry of this Country as that which the people came into this Wilderness to see, and I hope it shall never be a Reed shaken with the wind, and their present influence in all parts of the Country to move the people to bethink themselves of their Causeless & unaccountable Prejudices, Wrath and Rage, their ungodly deeds, and hard Speeches one against another; and to dispose them to their Duties and Obedience to their Majesty's Government as established and appointed over them from the Crown of England, and that they would prove themselves to be Children that will not lie, that God may become their Saviour; is humbly offered as a great part of their Province.  
I am ignorant whether from any in these parts you have been written unto since your letter was made public here, but I am sure your Reasons will be found true, agreeable to Religion and Law, and what you have said against an Election, is as true against an Assumption; and what is true of the Avoidance of the Charter of Connecticut, is much more true of that of the Massachusetts; and how a dependant part of the English Nation can legally come at Government, at least the coercive part of it, without a Grant from the Crown, being not to be found in the ordinary Readins of the Law; may be enquired for at Delphos.  
We often say, that every man has a pope in his belly, but I hope nobody pretends to have a King there, whatever Sovereignty men take to themselves of opinions in Religion, the Government expects by private persons to be treated with more Distance & Difference, and will certainly be obeyed.  
Sr. I have known you long a true Lover of your Country, of Integrity and service in your place & station, and account your Plainness to your Countrymen in this great Affair as the best Service you could offer them, and am deeply sorry if any other opinion be taken thereof amongst the people, however I perceive you have what you expected, and the Rewards of Virtue and public Service are not soon nor easily gotten.  
That all these things may have a happy Composure, and their Majesty's Subjects in this their Dominion a due & true sense of their Duty & Allegiance (which can only make these Plantations happy & flourish) I am very sure is your desire as well as of (Sir) your Friend & Servant etc.  
The Writing delivered to James Russell of Charlestowne Esq by Thomas Greaves Esq judge of their Majesty's inferior Court of Pleas, and one of their Majesty's justices of the Peace within the County of Middlesex.  
T0 james Russell of Charlestowne Esq to be communicated to any others that are in like manner with yourself concerned herein  
Sir,  
Forasmuch as I am credibly informed, that yourself with some other pretended Magistrates do intent on the first Tuesday in October next, to meet together at Cambridge to keep a pretended Court of judicature, not having any lawful authority from our Sovereign Lord and Lady King William & Queen Mary enableing you so to do, I therefore considering the obligation lying upon me, by the Commission of the Peace for this County of Middlesex, as also by a Commission to be judge of the inferior Court of Pleas in said County, both from the Crown of England; neither of which (although I have by the late Tumults (not yet stilled) been hindered from executing the power therein to me committed) is yet legally vacated, or superseded: I can do no less to show my Loyalty to the Crown of England than to signify unto you, that any such Meeting can be looked upon no otherwise than as contrary to the peace of our Sovereign Lord & Lady King William & Queen Mary their Crown & Dignity: and therefore I must on their Majesty's behalf warn you, that you presume not to assemble at Cambridge or any other place within this County, for any such unlawful purpose aforesaid; but that you do at all times bear good Faith & Allegiance to their sacred Majesties, as you will answer the contrary at your peril.  
Dated in Charlestowne this 21st day of September in the first year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord & Lady King William & Queen Mary, Annoque Dom 1689.  

The Answer of Thomas Greaves Esq to Mr. Broadstreete & the Gentlemen met at the Townhouse in Boston concerning the aforesaid Writing.  
Mr. Thomas Greaves being summoned to make his appearance at Boston; on the 24 of Septemb. 1689. at which time Mr. Broadstreete produced a paper which was showed Mr. Greaves, demanding if he knew it, (who answered he did) it was proposed for a reading, but Mr. Greaves made answer, they need not give themselves that trouble, for he fully knew the contents, & owned it to be his act; but it was read; after Reading Mr. Broadstreete made a speech to Mr. Greaves, in fine saying he would say no more till Mr. Greaves made answer: which he had ready prepared in Writing as followeth, Viz.  
As to the paper delivered to Mr. james Russell I judge I did but my duty in it, and therefore cannot in conscience recede from it, & I shall be ready to answer King William & Queen Mary whensoever they or any authorized from them shall call me to account for the same. I am sworn to the Crown of England & youreselves have proclaimed King William & Queen Mary to be the rightful Sovereigns of the Realms & Territories belonging thereunto, & therefore I cannot own any lawful authority in any until I be legally informed that they have Commission from their Sacred Majesty's.  
Thomas Greaves.   
FINIS.