sachusetts Bay, reported the result to the King's Government, which
determined to order the attendance of representatives of the
Massachusetts Bay Government, to answer in England the complaints
prepared against them, and for their conduct to the Commissioners. The
letter which the King was advised to address to that pretentious and
persecuting Government speaks in a more decisive but kindly tone, and is
as follows:

Copy of a letter from King Charles II. to the Massachusetts Colony,
April, 1666:

"CHARLES R.

"His Majesty having received a full information from his Commissioners
who were sent by him into New England, of their reception and treatment
in the several colonies and provinces of that plantation, in all which
they have received great satisfaction but only that of Massachusetts;
and he having likewise been fully informed of the account sent hither by
the Counsell of the Massachusetts, under the hand of the present
Governor, of all the passages and proceedings which have been there
between the said Commissioners and them from the time of their first
coming over; upon all which it is very evident to his Majesty,
notwithstanding many expressions of great affection and duty, that those
who govern the Colony of Massachusetts do believe that the commission
given by his Majesty to those Commissioners, upon so many and weighty
reasons, and after so long deliberation, is an apparent violation of
their Charter, and tending to the dissolution of it, and that in truth
they do, upon the matter, believe that his Majesty hath no jurisdiction
over them, but that all persons must acquiesce in their judgments and
determinations, how unjust soever, and cannot appeal to his Majesty,
which would be a matter of such a high consequence as every man
discernes where it must end. His Majesty, therefore, upon due
consideration of the whole matter, thinks fit to recall his said
Commissioners which he hath at this present done, to the end he may
receive from them a more particular account of the state and condition
of those his plantations, and of the particular differences and debates
they have had with those of the Massachusetts, that so his Majesty may
pass his final judgment and determination thereupon. His Majesty's
express command and charge is, that the Governor and Counsell of the
Massachusetts do forthwith make choice of five or four persons to attend
upon his Majesty, whereof Mr. Richard Bellingham and Major Hathorn are
to b