USA > New Hampshire > Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary war, 1629 to 1725 > Part 49
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Your Hon' may be assured of this that if there Agents in Engd had power given them to agree to such regulacons as his Majtie should think fitt, yet such is the insincerity of those now in power that they would never keepe ffaith with his Majtie as is demonstrable by the proceedings in the Law they made in ffeburary last for the observation of Trade and Navigation and doe now openly act against it, I doubt not but your Hon' hath been fully informed of these matters by Mr Randolph but myselfe haveing beene Wittness of these things I thought it my duty to give your Hon' an acct thereof.
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I am this day returning to the Province of New Hampshire have- ing finished the dispatches that goes by this ship, the people in that Province still continue in a Stubburne humour being influenced from hence, Upon the appearing of a ffrigott in their Port they may be brought into a Better temper though it should stay but a Short time they having a notion that his Majtie will be at no such expence which makes them so turbulent.
I humbly pray your Hon' to procure an order that I may have Leave to goe for England or to some other of his Majty plantations to stay for three or foure months if I find my self indisposed the next winter through the Sharpness of the Weather haveing some indispo- sition by the reason of the last Winter this cold climate not agreeing with my thinn constetution which will be a greate addition to your former favours and shall ever bee acknowledged by
Your Hon's most humble and most obedient Servant Edw. Cranfield.
Sr Ly Jenkins
[Addressed] To the Right Honble Sr Lyonell Jenkinns his Majtis Princip1 Secry of State Whitehall.
[Endorsed] M' Cranfield from Boston 19th June 1683, to Mr Secry Jenkins Read to ye Lords 17th August 1683.
[P. 145.]
[Cranfield to Lords of Trade and Plantations. Concerning Mason, Resistance to Laws, Vacancy in Council, etc. November, 1683.]
New Hampshire Papers. Vol. 48, Pages 574-5.
New Hampshire Novemb the 15th 1683.
From Mr Cranfield to ye Commtees touching Mr Mason's proceed- ings & desiring leave to go to Barbados.
May it please yor Lordps.
By Mr Wharton I have given yor Lordps an Account of all occur- rences to that time, but since ye Arrival of a Ship from London, who brought Newes of Goves being pardoned, which has had an ill effect among these Disingenious People, as appeares by ye prosecution of Mr Masons concernes who has waited a twelve-month wth patience for a compliance upon those conditions laid downe in his Mats Royal Comission, but none or very few accepting of those tearmes, he
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brought his Actions agst most of the Principals & obtained Judgmt agst Thirty or ffourty of them, since which they have had several Meetings & consultations & their result is, to oppose the Provost Marshal or such others as shall goe about to serve the Executions on them, and upon the Serving of one, opposition was made by the People in the house, who threatened to kill & destroy with Gun- powder, Scalding water & red hot spits any that should endeavour to force the doores, so the Officers were forced to desist from Executing the Law at that time, wherupon M' Mason desired the Posse Com- itatus but I thought it not convenient, fearing it might bring blood & confusion among us being incited & Stir'd up by Mr Moody Major Waldron, & Capt Vaughan, the last of whom I have turn'd out from being of the Councell upon his indecent carriage & dangerous words spoken by him in whose room I have put M' Randolph, Capt Daniel is since dead, the Councell now consisting but of Six, & who to recomend to fill that vacancy either for Loyalty & parts I cannot tell. I presume to give yor Lordships my most humble thanks for yor great goodness to me in procuring leave of his Majty for my going this winter to Barbados, but the Season continuing yet moderate, shall endeavour to attend his Majts Service in this Province having no more to trouble Yor Lordships with only beg leave to Subscribe myself.
May it please yor Lordps
Yor Lordps most humble and most obedient Servant,
Edw Cranfield
[Addressed] ffor the Right Honble the Lords of the Committee for Trade & fforraign Plantations in Whitehall.
Recd 29 Febry Read II June 84.
[Cranfield to Lords of Trade, January, 1684. Advises that Officers shall be Churchmen. Concerning Mason's Claim, and Weare's Visit to England.]
New Hampshire Papers. Vol. 48, Pages 586-7.
New Hampshire, January 16th 1683. From M' Cranfield to ye Commtee Touching ye Assembly.
May it please yor Lordps.
Since my last to yor Lordps, By the advice of the Councell, I called an Assembly, which convened on the 14th instant they being of
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opinion that time had given them oppertunity to see ye Errors & Omissions of the last Assembly, but instead of finding them answer- able to Expectation they have refused to raise any mony to support the Hon' of his Majts Governmt without giving any reason for it or to agree to any lawes, but what were repugnant to the laws of England, wherupon I disolved them without having one bill pass. Nor was it reasonable to expect they should agree to any being under Guardian- ship of Moody the Minister & Coll Waldron (whose Son was Speaker to both Assemblies) and all declared Enimies to Church and State therfore tis no wonder that both Assemblies have been so backward in Supporting the Hon' of his Majts Governmt for notwithstanding the place of convention was remote from their habitations, they all went to advise & consult with them, they absolutely refused to pass this enclosed & other good Bills. The experience I have had in this small Governmt plainly discovers no true obedience nor good can be expected upon ye Regulation of the Massachusets Colony, if the Assembly men or other persons in publick trust doe consist of the Congregated Church Members the Ministers giving it as doctrine, that the Oath of Supremacy & all other Oaths that are not approved of by the Ministers & Elders of their Churches are unlawful in themselves, therfore tis my humble opinion, that it will be absolutely necessary to admit no person into any place of Trust, but such as take ye Sacrament & are conformable to the Rites of the Church of England, for others will be so influenced by their Ministers, as will obstruct the good Settlement of this place, & I utterly dispair (as I writt in my former to yor Lordps) of any true duty & obedience paid to his Majty untill their Colledge be supprest and their Ministers silenced, for they are not only Enimies to his Majty & Government, but Christ himself, for of all the Inhabitants of this Province being about ffour Thousand in number, not above Three Hundred Chris- tned by reason of their Parents not being Members of their Church. I have been this 16 Months perswading the Ministers to admitt all to the Sacrament & Baptisme, that were not vitious in their lives but could not prevaile upon them, therfore with advice of the Councell made this inclosed Order. Notwithstanding they were left in the intire possession of their Churches & only required to administer both Sacraments, according to the Liturgie of ye Church of England, to such as desired them, which they refuse to doe, & will understand Liberty of Conscience given in his Majts Commission, not only to exempt them from giving the Sacrament according to the Book of Comon Prayer but make all the Inhabitants contribute to their Main- tenance, although they refuse to give them the Sacrament & Christen their Children, if it be not absolutely enjoyned here, & in other colo-
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nies, that both Sacraments be administered to all persons that are duly qualified, according to the form of the Comon Prayer there will be perpetual dissentions, & a totall decay of the Christian Religion.
M' Wyer one of the former Assembly went away privately from hence for England, having first collected a Sum of mony to carry on his own & Parties concerns there against M' Mason & I doe not at all wonder they should imploy him as being not only a violent man against M' Masons interest, but one with several others that were privy to the Treason of Gove, but were too powerfull for me to cope with here, unless I had had Strength to countenance my proceedings. As for M' Wyer I think the inclosed Affadavits will sufficiently make out his knowledge of the Conspiracy. There are Several other affa- davits to make out, that Moody the Minister, Capt Vaughan & Mar- tin were in Goves design, but none but Wyer coming for England I did not conceiv it necessary to trouble yor Lordps with those that concernes Moody, Vaughan, & Martin, but the matter that is sworne against them is this. That two days before Goves being in Armes, he had been with them & communicated his designe of taking the Governmt out of my hands & to kill myself, Mr Mason & his two Sons, Capt Barefoot, Mr Chamberlain & all the other Rogues (as he term'd them) that were of the Church of England, and that he had assurance from all the Towns, that there would not be above 16 or 17 men that would not stand by him, & they would not meddle on any side whereupon Gove said they rejoyced at the good newes, as if they had been men risen from the dead. If Gove be examined upon this, & his consultation with Wyer, he will confirme these words that he declared at Dover. After this Capt Vaughan took him home to his house, where he lodged the night before he was in Arms, for this reason and making reflections upon his Majty & Councill for bringing the Quo Warranto agst the Bostoners & saying publickly in Councill, that they had not deserved such a severe prosecution, & opposing all good Orders, that were for his Majts honour I thought fitt to dismiss him the Councill.
When this Government was in the hands of Coll Waldron, Mr Wyer was one then in nomination to yor Lordps, & recomended by him to supply a vacancy of the Councill, he being a violent & Zealous man of their Party, therefore looked upon by them the fittest percon to be sent over to make some plausible complaints to yor Lordps about the prosecution of Mr Masons Title, whatever he may pretend these inclosed Papers will show Mr Masons patience & forbearence before he began a Suit with any of them, & the cautiousness of the Courts proceedings. Twas twelve months before any Suit was com- menced & after Judgment obtained, (as will appear by this inclosed
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Declaration) finding they did not appeale he put it to their choise, either to have a hearing before his Majty & Yor Lordps or come to a new Tryal in any of his Majts Courts in Westminster Hall, which they declined, & by the advice of Moody & the ffaction of Boston (who have gott possession of a good part of this Province) have taken other measures, then what his Majts Royal Commission doth direct. I doubt not but these inclosed Papers will satisfie yor Lordps that the Judical proceedings had in M' Masons case, are no more to be expected agst then his Title. I know not what Representations Mr Wyre may make, but it is my happiness, & all those that serve his Majty under me, to stand and fall by yor Lordps Justice and ffavour.
I have received his Majts Letter to pardon those that Judgment was respited agst and accordingly I have pardoned all but young Gove, and one of Wadleighs Sons who have carried themselves very inde- cently, as indeed has the whole Province, which is demonstrable by their choosing the same Assembly & going on in their old methods, these two I keep in Prison to terrifie the rest, for I find all favour & clemency showed to these disingenious People, is abused and ill use made of it.
I have been so full in other matters in my former Letters, that I shall not trouble yor Lordps further at present only acquaint Yor Lordps that it is a good opportunity for the sending of Ministers for the four Townes, wth an Order, that the Inhabitants shall pay what they paid to their other Ministers, who have left their Benefices, because they will not give to any the Sacrament & Baptisme accord- ing to the prescribed forme of the Book of Comon Prayer, and for their Encouragement some Spiritual promotion may be kept in Com- mendam, that after two or three years they may be releived. All which is most humbly submitted to yor Lordps wisedomes by May it please yor Lordps
Yor Lordps most humble and obedient Servant 1
Edw. Cranfield.
[Addressed] To the Right Honble the Lords the Committee for Trade &c.
[Endorsed] Recd May 13 : 84 Read II June 84 &c
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[Cranfield to Secretary of State. Concerning Edward Gove. Feb- ruary, 1684, N. S.]
New Hampshire Papers.
Vol. 47.
Portsmouth in New England ffebruary the 20th 1683. Right Honble
I send your Hon' upon the Ship Richard of Boston under MY Ran- dolphs care Edwin Gove an Assembly man who served for the Towne of Hampton One whom this Countrey has condemned to dye for raiseing a Rebellion in this Province as appears by the Account of his Tryall, signed by Maj' Walderne then Judge of the Court. I intended his Execution upon the place for terrour to the whole party who are still mutinous if my Commission would have warranted it besides him nine other persons were taken, and upon tryall were con- vict. But their condemnation is respited haveing taken sufficient security for their appearence there being no Goal in the Province fitt to secure them till his Majts pleasure bee knowne therein. And as to Gove I can not with safety to myselfe or the peace of the Country keep him longer in Custody for besides the greate and dayly charge of Guard's upon him, I have cause to feare the Souldiers in time may bee remiss or overpowered and so Gove sett att Liberty Besides by my Commission I am directed to send Rebells to England, where if Gove Escape the Sentence of the Law there is an end of his Majty business in New England.
I was soon made sensible the Lark ffrigott which brought me over to this Province was gon to Sea, for att the second meeting of the Assembly in January Last they begann to dispute my Commission and power, I Recomended to them severall good bills agreed upon first by their Councill but instead of passing them, they offered bills repugnant to the Laws of England which I rejected & finding them tryfling away the time in makeing of partys, I was necessitated to dissolve them.
I took a Journey to Boston and other places in that Colony make- ing it my business to feele their temper, I found amongst them a prevailing faction against his Majtis Interest what ever for present time may bee pretended and upon good ground's believe that should his Royall Highness survieve his Majtie Such is their Generall Aver- sion incouraged & buoyed up by the Nonconformst Party in Eng- land that at once they will fall off from their Allegiance to the Crowne
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it is therefore very necessary that the whole Country be brought to a thorough Regulation being all armed by the Quo Warrto brought against their Charter. Its also equally necessary that his Majtie Send a ffrigott, to attend till such a Regulation bee compleated by putting the Govmt together with the Militia, Castles and fforts into hands of Loyall and Honest Gent" and the ffaction made incapable ever after of altering or Disturbing that Govmt
I heare its designed to petition his Majtie for Goves life and that to bee managed by the messengrs from Boston, if so t'will further ap- peare to me that Gove had incouragement from thence, haveing beene just before the Session of our Assembly att Boston, and I cannot but observe to your Honrs that Maj' Pike one of the Magistrates and of the ffaction in Boston Govm' came to me the night before Goves tryall, with severall Depositions to Certefie that Gove was a distracted man hopeing by that means to avoid his prosecution.
The Ministers in New England are generally more absolute and independent in Practise then in their Principalls they intermedle in all matters of Govmt The People are stirred up and composed ac- cording as they are influenced by the Teachers. I found some of them scrupling to preach upon the 30: January which by Proclama- tion I have ordered Annually to bee observed in this Collony. I did also propose to the Ministers as an Essentiall part of their Office the Baptizing of Children and administering the Sacrament which Gove att his Tryall did object against as a high crime and innovation, I am forced to keepe the Militia in Arms till Gove bee Shipt off, and shall endeavour to keepe his Majties Peace, But I make it my humble request to his Majtie that Mr Randolph who understands well his Majty interest, and the humour of the People and hath beene usefull to me since my arrivall may bee dispatcht back hither with full instructions and the countenance of a ffrigott, to attend orders oth- erwise I can promise to his Majtie but little Success in the matters I have in charge.
Mr Randolph hath been very Diligent and made five Journey's in the Extremety of weather from Boston above 70 miles distance from hence and now being order'd to attend att Whitehall, takes upon him the trouble and charge of Goves transport, which I could by no means propose to bee advanced to him, out of the Stock of this Province in regard of the exstryordinary expence occasioned to the inhabitants by Goves insurrection Neither shall I adventure to call another Assembly till I heare effectually from England. I therefore intreat that the charges of Goves passage of others that attend him may bee allowed to M' Randolph haveing passed my word that the Master,
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shall be paid att his arrivall in England with the presentment of my most humble duty, I am Rt Honble
Your Most humble and obedient Servant
Edw. Cranfield.
[Addressed] To the Right Honble S' Lyonell Jenkins His Majtis Principall Secr of State.
[See statement relative to Gove in Vol. II. p. 461. - ED.]
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[Cranfield to Lords of Trade, relative to the Eastern Indians. Recom- mends the Establishment of the Church.]
New Hampshire Papers. Vol. 48, Pages 608-9.
· From M' Cranfield to ye Commtee
New Hampshire 14th May 1684. May it Please yor LdshPps
Since my last to yor Lodshops by way of Barbados the Indians to the Eastward in the Province of Mayne have bin very disorderly and given out threatning Speeches that they intend to kill the English and burn their houses wch occasioned great feares in Our and the Neighbouring Colonys that they would make a Warr upon us and them again as will appear by these inclosed Letters. Whereupon I writt to the Governors of the Severall Colonys to desire them that they would send to the principal Leaders of the Indians wch are called Sagamores to know the reason of their giving out such threatning speeches and withall to desire them that if the English had done them any wrong they should give ym all due Sattisfaction and to use all possible wayes to preserve Amity and peace wth them wch I hope hath bin done in the other Colonys as well as our own for we have a right and good understanding wth the Indians inhabiting amoung us. Notwithstanding wch the Goverment of the Massatheusetts and my- selfe and Councell did think fitt to Solicitt Coll Dongan for the assistance of the Moquans and some of the Sutherne Indians (they being best acquainted wth their sculking way of fighting and always having War wth them) in case of a War M' Dudley and M' Shrimp- ton being sent by the Boston's I went myselfe to Solicitt that affaire where I found a ready complyance from Coll Dongan to what was dissired in order to the preservation of his Majty Subjects in case they
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fall upon us, but I hope all will blow over and a peace continue, and altho it behoves all the Colonys to dissire peace, yet more concernes us to pray for it not having two pence in the Treasury nor one farth- ing given since my arrivall notwithstanding I have earnestly prest it in two Assemblys that the Honor of His Mats Goverment might be Supported but by the influence of Mr Moody Vaughan Waldron and Elliott whome I lately recomended to yor Ldshpps as a fitt person to Serve his Matie but was much mistaken as I was of some others whose outside I only saw when I first came here itt being their way to use arts to insinuate themselves only to gett a better oppertunity to dis- compose his Maty Service therefore was necessitated to suspend him whilst yor Ldshpps pleasure is known in itt he not only discovering the Secrets of the Council but disturbing the proceedings thereof espe- cially in matters of Navigation he being a great owner of Shipps. These reasons wth the Advice of the Councell necessitated me to suspend him, and doe recomend to yor Ldshops for confirmation Mr Francis Champernoon and Mr James Sherlock Mr fryer being gone to live in the other Province the number doth not exceed Seven.
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May itt Please yor LdshPps I have in my last bin soe large touching the misdemeanors of the Ministers and their adhearents that I shall forbeare adding much on that subject.
But cannot omitt giving yor Ldshpps an accompt of what an insolent speech was made by Mr Mather the Minister of the North Church in Boston and Mr Nowell one of the Magistates against his Matie Gra- ciouse Declaration sent here concerning the Co Warranto att a Towne meeting telling the people that their inheritence that God had given them was like to be taken away as Naboth Viniard was, and excited them to take arms to defend itt putting them in mind that David chose when he had Sinned rather to fall in the hands of God then men. Also that a Minister neare Boston on the 20th of the last month in the afternoone declared that Hugh Peeters was unlawfully putt to death and died a Martyr the same Spiritt remayning amongst the People of our Province there being lately affidavits of Speeches that are given out, that the King knows nothing of Mr Masons and my coming hither, but were sent by the Duke of Yorke and called Mr Mason and myselfe Doggs and Rouges for acting by such a power. Such virulent and malicious speeches of the Ministers poyson the Ignorant people and while they are suffred to preach no true Allei- giance will be found in these parts.
May itt please yor LdshPPs Mr Randolphs Brother whom he left his Deputy is dead great quantitys of Canary Wine and french comod- itys being more plentifull in Boston then ever as observed .by myselfe in my returne from New Yorke itt is absolutely necessary for his Mats service to have that vacancy Supplyed.
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May it Please yor Ldsppps it is my humble opinion that the Church of England be Established and these Silenced and the mayntenance upon the regulation both of Officers and Ministers, wholy to depend upon his Matie which can be no better wayes done, without burthening the Crowne then by contineuing the Taxes Customs Excise and other Impositions wch thay have made.
I doe confidently assure yor Ldshpps itt will be a worke of great tyme before they be brought to it by Assemblys there is such a can- ker amongst the generality of the people. These considerations I must referr to yo' Ldshpps wisdome and wholy thro my Selfe att yor . feet for yor pardon for all presumtions itt proceeding from a Sincere hart to his Mats Service and my Duty to yor Ldshpps soe beg leave to Subscribe my Selfe May it Please yor Lordshipps
Yor Ldshpps most humble and obedient Servant
Edw. Cranfield.
[Addressed] To the Right Honble the Lords of the Committee for Trade and foreign Plantations, Att Whitehall.
Recd ye 13 Aug 84 Read 29 Nov. 84 &c.
[Cranfield to Secretary of State, May, 1684. Concerning Piracy, etc.] New Hampshire Papers. Vol. 48, Pages 610-1I. Lre from M' Cranfield to S' Leelin Jenkins.
New Hampshire 14th May 1684.
May it Please Yor Hon"
I have received yor Hon's Packet, wth the Draught of the Jamaca Act for the restraining of Pirats and Privateers these and all other his Mats Royall Commands, shall be carefully observed on my part : Piracy is a crime so odiouse that the offenders are not to be admitted to the benefit of their Clergy, and where it is attended wth murder its most detestable and ought to have the greatest punishment inflicted. I wish some in Boston that are in Authority have not to much over- lookt the Punishment of divers Privateers who have lately frequented that Port are Suspected to be guilty of both, for I have bin told, the Privateer that made Depredation upon the Spaniards at Laverdecreuz were so cruell and Barberouse to severall Women and Inocent Chil- dren, as to put them upon an Island where they lett them Starve
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because their Husbands and fathers would not ransome them, who indeed were not able of wch they boasted and gloryed at Boston as I was informed by Mr Stephen Wesendouke a Wine Cooper who told me he heard Severall Privateers publickly discourse of their Adven- tures and manner of crueltyes done to the Spaniard lately.
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