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indian tribes with whom the other might be at war.
Thus did the king of
England ignorantly abandon his allies.
Yet, with all his faults, James II.
had a strong sentiment of English nationality; and, in consolidating the northern colonies, he hoped to engage the energies of
New England in defence of the whole English frontier.
The alarm of
Massachusetts at the loss of its charter
had been increased by the news that
Kirke, afterwards infamous for military massacres in the
West of
England, was destined for its governor.
It was a relief to find that
Joseph Dudley, a degenerate son of the colony, was intrusted for a season with the highest powers of magistracy over the country from
Narragansett to
Nova Scotia.
The general court, in session at his arrival, and unprepared for open resist-
ance, dissolved their assembly, and returned in sadness to their homes.
The charter government was publicly
displaced by the arbitrary commission, popular representation abolished, and the press subjected to the
censorship of
Randolph.
At last,
Sir Edmund Andros, glittering in scarlet and
lace, landed at
Boston, as governor of all
New England.
How unlike
Penn at
Newcastle!
He was authorized to remove and appoint members of his council, and, with their consent, to make laws, lay taxes, and control the militia of the country.
He was instructed to tolerate no
printing-press, to encourage Episcopacy, and to sustain authority by force.
From New York came West as secretary; and in the council, four subservient members, of whom but one was a
New England man, alone commanded his attention.
The other members of the council formed a fruitless but united opposition.
‘His excellency,’ said
Randolph, ‘has to do with a perverse people.’
