stating in the document that all our people
who favored the Cause were "rebels, parricides of the Constitution." He
offered a free pardon to all who would swear to serve the king loyally,
with the exception of Masters John Hancock and Samuel Adams. These last
two he declared traitors, and offered a reward for their capture.

We in Boston had had but little liberty under the British rule, and now
were to be treated more like prisoners than before, for any red-coat
holding the king's commission could seize us on the streets, or even
take us from our homes, without form of law; but simply because of his
own whim or suspicion.

I had more than once, at the time when it was believed General Gage
would be gentleman enough to keep his word and allow the citizens to
leave the town, urged upon my mother that she seek safety near the
American army, but she, dear soul, hesitated to abandon her home, and I
failed to insist as strongly as I might have done, fearing lest her
going would involve mine also, thus depriving me of an opportunity to
serve the Cause with my company.

Then came the time when the Britisher who called himself a gentleman,
went back on his word, refusing to allow women or children to go out
from the town, and there was no longer an opportunity for her to escape.

As the days rolled on and we neither saw those of our number who had
fled to Cambridge, nor were called upon for any service, it began to
appear to me as if I need not have been so eager to remain in Boston
because of the Minute Boys, since most like there were so many men
joining the American army that lads were no longer considered of any
account.

Then came the day when Hiram Griffin suddenly appeared, coming to my
home at the moment when my mother and I were breaking our fast, and one
might have fancied from his manner and the business-like way in which he
spoke, that no more than a dozen hours had passed since we last saw him.

I literally overwhelmed him with questions, so eager was I to learn of
Archie, and what progress our people might have been making against the
king which had not come to us in Boston, until before each had satisfied
the other's curiosity the forenoon was nearly half spent.

He told me that he and my comrade had arrived at Cambridge the morning
after the escape, having encountered no danger on the way, and being
forced to land at the Penny ferry owing to the fact that the wind blew
so strongly they could not hope to p