USA > New Hampshire > Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary war, 1629 to 1725 > Part 48
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If his Majty shall think fitt to send a Quo Warranto to M' Randolph and shew the Governor Magistrates & General Court that in One hand and a Commission with a General pardon in the other hand I have good assurance from both parties the letters will have a kind reception, without putting his Majty to any further charge or trouble, they will Swollow all that is in my Commission It is absolutely necessary that all the preachers are to be placed or displaced as the Governor shall think fitt ffor I find they have so great an influence upon the people and so apt to disturb the peace, that I shall not be able to Govern this small province without that power.
I must intreat yor Lordships favour in having my Commission of Admiralty enlarged and to contain all the Maritime Coast from Ken- ebeck river in the province of Main to ffairfield in Connecticut Colony the better to secure the Coast and present Interlopers, which come from prohibited ports, and that I be also impowered to Grant passes to all Ships that Sayle from these parts to secure them against the Algerins, and other Turks.
There is a Clause in my Commission for raising of taxes and im- positions for Support of the Government, which I humbly intreat may be declared in these words, for Support and maintenance of the Governour and Government because the Assembly would understand the words, only to imply for Maintaining the Government without having any relation to my Subsistence ffor I find these people very criticall in all words and expressions and are ready to take all advan-
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tages against the Kings prerogative as they have lately discovered themselves.
There are severall Scotsmen that inhabitt here and are great Inter- lopers and bring in quantities of goods underhand from Scotland. I desire M' Attorney General his opinion upon the Act of the 12th of the King ffor Encouraging and Increasing of Shipping and Naviga- tion. Whether a Scotsman born can be permitted to inhabit and trade as a Merchant or ffactor they pretending a right therunto as being born within the Allegiance of Our Sovereign Lord the King, which I humbly conceive Scotsmen are not privileged by that Act to Exercise the trade or occupation of a Merchant or factor in his Majts Plantations Since my arrival here a Scots Vessell was Seized by Mr Randolph and condemned & Sold for 1201b of which Mr Randolph will give yor Lordships a particular account.
As to M' Masons concerns he expected the people would have turned tenants to him at his first arrival but he now finds the perverse temper of many of them who are influenced by Waldern and Moody whom at my first coming I was so charitable to believe they were better men then now I find them That without a tryall first had upon the place as hath been directed in his Majts Letters to the Boston's which these his Stubborn Opposers doe depend upon, before his Majty in Councill can give a finall Judgment against them, and all this is only to gain time I am therefore of opinion that an Order be directed to me to admitt of tryals between him and the Tertenants as in the Boston Colony and then they will come to his terms rather than to be a charge & trouble to defend a bad title, and answer his Appeals in England.
As to other matters relating to the Bostoners I suppose yor Lord- ships will have an Account from M' Randolph who is well acquainted with the humour of the people and will give yor Lords the names of fitting persons to be putt into the Commission as a Councill when his Majty shall think fitt to reassume that Government Mr Randolph hath gone thro many difficulties and troubles in his imployment, but that wilbe soon over, if he have the same assistance in other places as I shall be able to give him when I have my Commission of Admiralty . enlarged.
The Assembly is now Sitting and I much question whether I shalbe able to dispose them to make any Settlement for my Support, and to defray the Necessary charge of the Government. And therefore I judge it absolutely necessary that his Majty impower myself and the Councill under his Signett and Sign Manuall to raise moneys by Cus-
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toms Excise and otherways not exceeding One thousand pound p an and herein the people will acquise.
I am My Lords Yor Lordships Most humble & obedient Servant
Edw. Cranfield.
New Hampshire 10 January 1680. [1683 ?]
[Addressed] To the Right Honorable the Lords of the Committee of Trade and Plantatons.
[Endorsed] New Hampshire, 10 ffebr R. 10 May. M' Cranfield Duplicate of his Letter to the Lords Comee
[Cranfield to Lords of Trade, January 23, 1683. Ministers have too much Influence with the People, etc.]
New Hampshire Papers. Vol. 47.
[January 23, 1682-83.]
Right Honorable
May it please yor Lordships
In my last which went by way of Berbadoes I acquainted yor Lord- . ships, that I perceived such an ill Spiritt in the Assembly that I had no hopes of Disposing them to agree to any Laws that would be sat- isfactory to yor Lordships, amongst the many other proposals I made to them I recommended this inclosed Bill (it having passed the Coun- cill for the raising a Revenue to Support the Government but all en- deavours were rendered ineffectuall by the influence of the Ministers who would Suffer them to pass no Laws but such as were against the methods prescribed by his Majts Commission and would have estab- lished Independancy not knowing where those growing evills might terminate I dissolved them upon the 20th Instant this Bill was Judged by all indifferent men to be the most equallest way for raising of money that could be thought of but since they have refused to doe their duty to his Majty in that particular I shall with the consent of the Councill continue the Impositions that have been lately raised upon the Inhabitants as is directed by his Majts Commission which will goe a good way towards the defraying the necessary charges of the Government as it will be now distributed : ffor as it hath been
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the constant Custome amongst the Bostoners not only to ease them- selves in their Rates and to burthen and charge the poorer Sort of people, so they never failed to give plentifully to each other in authority which methods in proportion were carefully observed in this province, which wilbe now out of Doors here His Majts Commis- sion impowering me with the advice and consent of the Councell to dispose and issue out all moneys by my Warrant I shall take care it be done in the most Equall manner that can be which clause will be necessary to be incerted in the Commission when his Majty shall think fitt to settle the Massachusets Government. The taxes now raised annually upon the people are high and unequall the ffaction will soon dispose the Assembly to raise a Revenue to defray the charge of the Government rather then have the old taxes continued unless they might have the division of the Surplussage as formerly. This being done and the preachers to be placed and displaced by the Governour I have an humble confidence those people wilbe brought to that duty and obedience as becomes good Subjects without put- ting his Majty to any charge besides the Commission.
f
When I was in Boston at the request of the Magistrates I writt to my Lord Hide a Letter to introduce their Agents to his Lordship presuming at this time it might be of use to his Majts Service they being ordered to tender 20001b for a pardon though I was certain it would not be accepted yet it was a kind of pleading Guilty
I was sure his Lordship who well knew that the dissolution of that Government was of so great an importance to his Majts concerns that One hundred thousand pounds would not make good the loss his Majty should sustain in a few years were they tollerated therefore my Letter served only as intelligence how matters stood here, and what I writt in their favour was only in design to insinuate myself into their Councells and I doe find they are all unwilling to be at any further expence in defence of their Charter, if a Quo Warranto should be brought against them knowing themselves to be notorious offenders therefore I dare assure yor Lordships if a Commission with a pardon come they will submitt to Such Regulations as his Majty shall think fitt I have sent yor Lordships by a Letter of this date by way of Barbadoes, a duplicate of the Laws I have passed which if yor Lordships please to disallow of it may be a means of having better made for the future in the mean time I govern them by the Laws of England If a letter were writt to me that I might show these people Signifying his Majts resenting their want of Duty, it might bring them into a better temper. They are easier to be im- posed upon by their Teachers being illiterate then to be taught their duty to his Majty but I make no doubt to overcome these difficulties
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if I may have a check upon their Ministers so as upon a Just occa- - sion to remove them I am
My Lords Yor Lordships Most humble & obedient Servant Edw Cranfield
New-hampshire 23 January 1682. By way of Maderas -
[Addressed] To the Right Honorable the Lords of the Committee of Trade and plantations.
[Endorsed] R. [received] 10 May.
[Cranfield to Lords of Trade, March 27, 1683. Concerning Edward Gove and Rev. Joshua Moodcy. Mr. Barefoote made Deputy-Gov- ernor, etc.]
New Hampshire Papers. Vol. 48, Pages 492-3.
From MY Cranfield to ye Commtee
Boston March ye 27th 1683.
Right Honble
By mine of the 20th February Last from the Province of New Hampshire, I humbly represented to your Lordps the occasion pro- gress and as I then hoped the conclusion of the Insurrection made by Gouve and his party. But I have since found new trouble arising for soone after severall persons well wishers to Goves proceedings in a Riotous manner entered my dwelling house and remonstrated against severall things directed in my Commission as Mr Randolph who was present can informe your Lordps wherupon finding myselfe very un- easy and not seeing where these matters would end I sent Gove with a guard to Boston Gaole to be shipt of for England and made Capt Barefoot my Deputy Govr during my absence and the better to secure the peace of the province I putt out of the Councill Majr Walderne M' Martine and Capt Gilman greate Sticklers for the Bos- ton interest . . . and prefered' Cap" ffryer and Mr Elliot persons of good Estate to that Service and have here enclosed sent your Lordps the grounds and reasons of my proceedings with them.
I found Mr Moody and his party so troublesome that I believed myselfe unsafe to continue longer amongst them till I had the con-
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tinuance of a ffrigott and full instructions to reduce them to better understanding.
I am come to Boston where I find a great alteration in the mind's and conversation of the people. The Generall Court is now sitting and great endeavours are used by the ffaction to continue the Gov- ermt in their hands and to that end they have summoned the Inhab- itants of the Colony to meete in their severall Towns on the 13 instant to signe a Paper (a true copy wherof Mr Randolph is ready to present your Lordps) They reflected upon such persons who refused to sign as Enemies to their Govmt However upon my owne knowl- edge the most Eminent persons for Estate and Some of the consider- able freemen did tottally decline to sett their hands to that Address and after all endeavours they were so putt to it for Subscriptions that they Solicited Strangers, and servant Boyes to fill up their Numbers. The settingafoot this Address hath raised such annimos- etys amongst the people that they are ready to mutinye.
This weeke I had an opportunity to converse with Mr Hincklye Govern' and Mr Lathrop one of the Magistrates of New Plymouth Colony I find them weake men and very unfitt to be concerned in Govermt Its true the Inhabitants are generally low in Estate. But much more unhappy wanting men of ability to direct the affaires of that Colony.
I shall not give your Lordps any further trouble referring your Lordps to M' Randolph who has made it his sole business to inspect and understand the method's and proceedings of the Severall Colonys and is able to give your Lordps a full and perfect relation of the present distraction which hee hath luckily occasioned in this Govern- ment.
Mr Orchard of this Towne hath attended the General Court and desired to make out the matter of fact laid downe in his Petition to his Majtie But that would not be granted he prest me therupon to take the Affidavits of his Witnesses But I being out of my Govermt refused to take cognisence of it so that unless he would bee at the charge to cary his Witnesses to England he is att present in no probability or hopes to recover his cause against this Country.
I lately received a letter from the Deputy Govr of New Hamp- shire intimating that the Councill mett upon the 17, instant and ac- cording to Instructions prest that the Receivers of all Publick money Since the 18 of September 1679 should bring in their severall Accounts to be Audited by Mr Blathwayts Deputy which they (being backt by Cap" Vaughan one of the Councill refused to do under a pretence that such moneys was raised for the use of the Towns, and not for the Support of the Govermt which indeed was a trick only to
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divert and avoid the discoverye of their oppressions and indirect disposing therof. They also refuse to pay any mony into the Pub- lick Treasury but take upon them to dispose of itt by the hands of their Severall Trustees, and not by my Warrant as is also directed in the Said Instructions which I communicated to the Assembly to the intent that they might also examine the Accounts of moneys etza raised and expended in the Province I find they make itt their whole business to Cavall at what ever is directed in his Majties Commission or Instructions.
My Lords. The Generall Court here hath been sitting this 7 weeks the Principall matter that hath been under their consideration is whether they should give their Agents any further instructions relat- ing to the Regulacon of their Governmt and deliver up the Province of Maine to his Majtie and am told by some of the Deputys that after many sharp debates they have carried itt in the Affirmative, which though Looks dutifull yet is only to gaine time for they have not repealed any one law, nor past one Act tending to his Majties Sattis- faction so that without compulsion his Majtie may expect no due obedience to his Royall Commands, whatever is pretended to the contrary.
I am My Lords Your Lordps Most Humble and most obedient Servt
Edw. Cranfield.
[Deputy-Governor Barefoote to Lords of the Privy Council. Complains of the Undue Influence of Ministers in Civil Affairs.]
New Hampshire Papers. Vol. 48, Pages 494-5. [March, 1682-83.] From Cap Barefoot to ye Commtee
Right Houn™ble
It haveing pleased ye hounrbl Edward Cranfield Esq' Governor of this his Mats Province of New Hampshire to apoynt mee his Deputy during his Absence in Visiting the Neighbouring Collonies I humbly prsume to lay before Your Lordships a breife State of ye Condition of this Province wherin I have binn an inhabitant above five and twenty yeares during wch time I have not onely made my observation upon ye humors and Carrige of this people but by the meanes of some
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of my neare relations being married into ye wealthiest familyes in this Country I have bin throughly informed of the intregies and de- signes of the faction and malignant party who managed all publicke affaires here whilest this province was under ye Mashethusets juris- diction and very unwillingly submitted to a Change of Government wych his Majty by his Royall Commission hath established and although the Massathusets exercise noe authority in this province yet thay influence things as they please there being a strict Confederation between ye ministers and Church Members of this province and those of ye Massathusets Collony who Governe and sway ye people as they please noe pope ever acted wth greater Arrogance then these preach- ers who enflame the people to their fantastick humors and debauch them from theire duty and obedience to his Majesty and his Lawes and are ever stirring them up to disloyalty and intermedling in all Civill affaires and Censiuring all persons and actions that agree not with theire principles & peevish humors these theire ill proceedings have Given or hounrble Governor much troble and disquiet in his Gov- ernment they influensing the assembly that no good bills could pass that had any respect for his Majetys houn' and dignity and the good and ease of his Majetys subjects So that the Governor was necessi- tated to dissolve the assembly upon wch followed an insurrection raised by one of the cheife of that assembly which if by the prudence and vigiloncy of his houn' had not been timely suppressed might have been of dangerous Consequence to this place wherin the preachers have been to busy and unles thes factious teachers are turn'd out of the province there will. be disquiets here and without some visible force to keepe these people under it will be a very difficult if not an impossible thing to put in Execution his Majetys Commands or ye Lawes of trade & navigation which by the Countenance of one of his Majestys ships in this port would easily be effected this I thought my duty to lett your Lordships know and subscribe myselfe My Lords,
Yr Most humble and faithfull Servant
Walter Barefoote. prvince of New Hampshire this March 1682-3.
[Addressed] for the Right Honrble The Lords of his Majets privy Councell apoynted a Committee for trade and fforeign plantations At Whitehall
[Endorsed] N. Hampshire March 1682-3 From Capt Barefoote to the Comitee Recd ye 9th June 1683 M' Randolph's Dept Govr the Massachusets Influence. The assembly disolved Goves Insurrection.
[See Vol. II. p. 459, etc.]
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[Governor Cranfield to Lords of Trade. Various Complaints.]
New Hampshire Papers. Vol. 48, Pages 522-523. Lre from Mr Cranfield to ye Commitee
Boston June the 19 1683
Right Honble
This being the first oppertunity since M' Randolphs Departure I thought my self bound in Duty to send duplicates of what went by him. I am sorry that I cannot give assurance of my abillety to serve his Majtie in this Station Without putting him to the expence of a ffrigott att Least for three or foure months while the people of New Hampshire are reduced to a better temper I have made it my en- deavours to quiett the Spiritts of those unmamagable creatrs But my condicentns are rendered ineffectuall by the influence of Moody their Teacher, Waldrene & three or foure more who have Long had the Dominion But were those people in the greatest Subjection and obedience to his Majtie that could bee expected, it would bee abso- lutely necessary for his Majtie to have a ffrigott upon the Coast to prevent to Irregulare trade which the Bearer hereof Mr Barnard Ran- dolph Deputy Collect' comes home with fresh complaints against the Boston Govmt of some I have beene an eye Witness off, for upon a tryall upon the 8 instant with a Jersy man for the Breaches of the Acts of trade wherin hee was cast the Court would not admitt of the 14 of the Kinge, Whereupon hee appeald to the King and the Lord's of his Majts Privy Councell, in case the First Verdict should be allowed off. But the Court gave a flatt denyall notwithstanding hee offered Security to pay cost and charges They have in another case denyed appeales to his Majtie Govr Broadstret did this day thrust Thaires wiffe out of his house and used her ill, because shee desired him to signefie to the Towne of Brantrec that they were to send over an Authentick copy of the Deed and to give notice to Savage and Clapp. What plausible and faire promises of Regulacon their Agents may make at Whitehall I know not But their proceedings and prac- tices here are meere contradictions even of their owne Lawes, where it does not answere their interest, I was so charitable to believe since they past an act in the Last generall Court for regulating of trade that it should bee punctually kept it being observable they have a greater regard to their owne Lawes then the Acts of Parliment. But when I came to heare the tryall I was so deceived in my expectations that I found Dantforth the Judge and most of the Magistrates turned Advocates against the King, useing such slight and saucy expressions as are not fitt to repeate. I could say much more but since M' Bar-
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nard Randolph comes home shall referr your Lordps to him for a further relation in these matters. When the Charter shall bee made void it will necessary to desolve their University of Cambridge for from thence all the severall Colony's in New England are supplyed the people Lookeing upon their Teachers little Less then Apostles, it is incredible what an influence they have over the Vulgar and do make it their business dayly to Excite and stirr them up to Rebellion being profest Enimies to the Kings Govmt and Church it is to bee feared this people will never bee reclaimed untill the Uneversety of England supply these Colonys, the not nipping them in the budd may prove of great inconveniences ; By takeing away their Uneversity (which will also be forfited with their Charter) the Effect will cease, for all other waies will bee ineffectuall the fountaine being impure.
My Lord's I shall with all humility persevere and waite while I heare from your Lordps But as things are circumstanced I am capa- ble of doeing his Majtie but little Service for the Bostoners Principalls in matter of Govmt debauches all the Neighbouring Colonys I pre- sume Mr Randolph has before this fully sattisfied your Lord's there- with. I have sent another exemplification of Goves tryall by Mr Randolph's Bror : who has beene so ill treated in the Execution of his place that hee is compelled to quitt the Kings service. What encouragement their Agents have given them I know not But the ffaction are more insolent then they were before the London Ship arrived. But having writt so fully in my former letters both con- cerning this Colony and New Hampshireare to inlarge any further Right Honble I am
Your Lordps most humble and most obedient Servant
Edw Cranfield
Lord's Comiss's for trade
[Addressed] To the Right Honble the Lords of the Committee of Trade and foraigne Plantations Whitehall read 17th August 83.
[P. 150.]
[Cranfield to Secretary of State, 1683. Concerning Harvard Col- lege, etc.]
New Hampshire Papers. Vol. 47.
Right Honble
Boston June 19th 1683.
My last Letter unto your Hon' was by Mr Randolph Since whose Departure I have spent my time in the Colony on purpose to pry
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into the intregues and politicks of the Govmt the better to enable me to serve his Majtie by giving an account of the disposition and carriage of the people among other things I have observed, That there can be no greater evill attend his Majtie affaires here, then those pernicious and Rebellious principles which flows from their Collige at Cambridge which they call their University from whence all the Townes both in this and the other Colonys are supplyed with ffactious and Seditious Preachers who stirr up the people to a dislike of his Majtie and his Govmt and the Religion of the Church of England terming the Lit- urgy of our Church precident of Superstition and picked out of the Popish Dunghill so that I am humbly of opinion this Country can never bee well settled or the people become good Subjects, till their preachers bee reformed and that Colledge suppressed and the severall Churches supplyed with Learned and Orthodox Ministers from Eng- land as all other his Majtis Dominions in America are.
The Country growes very populous and if Longer left ungoverned or in that manner as now they are I feare it may bee of dangerous consequence to his Mats concerns, in this Part of the World. What incouragement their Agents have had in England I know not but since the arrivall of the Last Ship from London these disloyall Mag- istrates are growne more insolent then before in abuseing his Majty Officers in the Execution of their Office and no Justice can bee had of them the Judges and Magistrates openly upon the Bench being Advocates against the King and denying appeales to his Majtie So that M' Randolphs Bror who was left here his Deputy not being able to serve his Majtie (as things now are managed here, being dayly affronted and abused as I have been an Eye Witness off,) goes to England to make his complaints to your Honor and Lord's of the Treasury.
If the Boston Charter were made void and the Cheif of the ffaction called to answer in their owne persons for their misdemenors and their Teachers restrained from Seditious preaching it would give great encouragement to the Loyall Party, to shew themselves, who have hetherto beene kept under and greatly oppressed and from all places of proffitt and trust.
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