ceedings of the Court at a
subsequent meeting on the same subject:

"October 10th, 1666. The General Court met again, according to
adjournment in May last. At this Court many express themselves very
sensible of our condition. Several earnest for sending, and some against
sending. Those for sending none spake out fully that they would have the
Governor (Mr. Bellingham) and Major Hawthorne go; but some will have men
go to plead our cause with his Majesty; to answer what may be alleged
against us, alleging reason, religion and our own necessity as forcing
us thereto. Others are against it, as being the loss of all, by
endangering a _quo warranto_ to be brought against our patent, and so to
be condemned; a middle sort would have some go to present the Court's
present to his Majesty, of two large masts and a ship's load of masts:
and in case any demand were made why the Governor, Major Hawthorne, and
others did not appear, to crave his Majesty's favour therein, and to
plead with his Majesty, showing how inconsistent it is with our being,
for any to be forced to appear to answer in a judicial way in
England--to answer either appeals or complaints against the country.

"The last proposal is obstructed by sundry, as being ruinous to the
whole; and so nothing can be done, the Governor and some others chiefly
opposing it, so as that no orderly debate can be had to know the mind of
the Court.

"The Court agreed to send two large masts aboard Capt. Pierce, 34 yards
long, and the one 36 and the other 37 inches in diameter, and agreed to
levy L1,000 for the payment of what is needful at present; but is
obstructed--none will lend money unless men be sent, others because
anything is to be sent; a return whereof made to the Court, they say
they know not what to do more--in case they that have money will not
part with it, they are at a stand. Some speak of raising by rate
immediately. Others think there is so much dissatisfaction that men are
not sent, that it will provoke and raise a tumult; and in case that it
be raised by loan, it will be hardly paid--if consent be not given in
their sending men with it, and there be no good effect, which is
contingent, and thus we are every way at a stand; some fearing these
things will precipitate our ruin, and others apprehending that to act
further will necessitate our ruin."--_Ib._, pp. 110, 111.

From these notes, which Mr. Danforth made at the time when the
proceedings referred to took plac