proceedings, there were
numbers of their own fellow-colonists who equally condemned the
assumptions and conduct of Governor Endicot and his Council. It has been
shown in a previous chapter that in connection with the complete
suppression of the freedom of the press, petitioners to the Governor and
Court were punished for any expressions in their petitions which
complained of the acts or proceedings of the Court. It therefore
required no small degree of independence and courage for any among them
to avow their dissent from the acts of rulers so despotic and
intolerant. Yet, at this juncture of the rejection of the Royal
Commission, and the denial of the King's authority, there were found
United Empire Loyalists and Liberals, even among the Congregational
"freemen" of Massachusetts Bay, who raised the voice of remonstrance
against this incipient separation movement. A petition was prepared and
signed by nearly two hundred of the inhabitants of Boston, Salem,
Newbury, and Ipswich, and presented to the Court. The compiler of the
"Danforth Papers," in the Massachusetts Historical Collection, says:
"Next follows the petition in which the minority of our forefathers have
exhibited so much good sense and sound policy." The following is an
extract of the Boston petition, addressed "To the Honourable General
Court now assembled in Boston:"

"May it please the Hon. Court:

"Your humble petitioners, being informed that letters are lately sent
from his Majesty to the Governor and Council, expressive of resentment
of the proceedings of this colony with his Commissioners lately sent
hither, and requiring also some principal persons therein, with command
upon their allegiance to attend his Majesty's pleasure in order to a
final determination of such differences and debates as have happened
between his Majesty's Commissioners and the Governor here, and which
declaration of his Majesty, your petitioners, looking at as a matter of
the greatest importance, justly calling for the most serious
consideration, that they might not be wanting, either to yourselves in
withholding any encouragement that their concurrence might afford in so
arduous a matter, nor to themselves and the country in being involved by
their silence in the dangerous mistakes of (otherwise well united)
persons inclining to disloyal principles, they desire they may have
liberty without offence to propose some of their thoughts and fears
about the matter of your more seri