clared void. The colonists
were now no longer freemen; they were entirely dependent on the king's
pleasure. At first, in 1685, King James appointed Joseph Dudley, a native
of Massachusetts, to be president of New England. But soon afterwards, Sir
Edmund Andros, an officer of the English army, arrived, with a commission
to be governor-general of New England and New York.

The king had given such powers to Sir Edmund Andros, that there was now no
liberty, nor scarcely any law, in the colonies over which he ruled. The
inhabitants were not allowed to choose representatives, and consequently
had no voice whatever in the government, nor control over the measures
that were adopted. The counsellors, with whom the governor consulted on
matters of state, were appointed by himself. This sort of government was
no better than an absolute despotism.

"The people suffered much wrong, while Sir Edmund Andros ruled over them,"
continued Grandfather, "and they were apprehensive of much more. He had
brought some soldiers with him from England, who took possession of the
old fortress on Castle Island, and of the fortification on Fort Hill.
Sometimes it was rumored that a general massacre of the inhabitants was to
be perpetrated by these soldiers. There were reports, too, that all the
ministers were to be slain or imprisoned."

"For what?" inquired Charley.

"Because they were the leaders of the people, Charley," said Grandfather.
"A minister was a more formidable man than a general, in those days. Well;
while these things were going on in America, King James had so misgoverned
the people of England, that they sent over to Holland for the Prince of
Orange. He had married the king's daughter, and was therefore considered
to have a claim to the crown. On his arrival in England, the Prince of
Orange was proclaimed king, by the name of William the Third. Poor old
King James made his escape to France."

Grandfather told how, at the first intelligence of the landing of the
Prince of Orange in England, the people of Massachusetts rose in their
strength, and overthrew the government of Sir Edmund Andros. He, with
Joseph Dudley, Edmund Randolph, and his other principal adherents, were
thrown into prison. Old Simon Bradstreet, who had been governor, when King
James took away the charter, was called by the people to govern them
again.

"Governor Bradstreet was a venerable old man, nearly ninety years of age,"
said Grandfather. "He came over with