t
a judicial decision of the Massachusetts Bay Court in regard to land
claimed by him. From Mr. Bancroft's statement, it appears that the claim
of Gorton, friendless as he was, was so just as to commend itself to the
favourable judgment of an impartial and competent tribunal of the
Parliamentary Commissioners, whose authority his oppressors expressly
denied, and then, in their address to Parliament in reference to its
order, denied any authority of Parliament over their proceedings. Mr.
Bancroft's words are as follows:

"Gorton had carried his complaints to the Mother Country; and, though
unaided by personal influence or by powerful friends, had succeeded in
all his wishes. At this very juncture an order respecting his claims
arrived in Boston; and was couched in terms _which involved an assertion
of the right of Parliament to reverse the decisions and control the
Government of Massachusetts_. The danger was imminent; it struck at the
very life and foundation of the rising Commonwealth. _Had the Long
Parliament succeeded in revoking the patent of Massachusetts_, the
Stuarts, on their restoration, would have found not one chartered
government in the colonies; and the tenor of American history would have
been changed. The people[89] rallied with great unanimity in support of
their magistrates.

"At length the General Court assembled for the discussion of _the
usurpations of Parliament_ and the _dangers from domestic treachery_.
The elders [ministers] did not fail to attend in the gloomy season. One
faithless deputy was desired to withdraw; and then, _with closed doors_,
that the consultation might remain in the breast of the Court, the
_nature of the relation with England_ was made the subject of debate.
After much deliberation it was agreed that Massachusetts owed the same
allegiance to England as the free Hanse Towns had rendered to the
Empire; as Normandy, when its dukes were kings in England, had paid to
the monarchs of France. It was also resolved not to accept a new Charter
from Parliament, for that would imply a surrender of the old. Besides,
Parliament granted none but by way of ordinance, and always made for
itself an express preservation of a supreme power in all things. The
_elders_ (ministers), after a day's consultation, _confirmed the
decisions_.

"The colony proceeded to exercise the _independence_ which it claimed.
The General Court replied to the petition in a State paper, written with
great moderatio