They could no longer evade or delay; they were brought face to face with the authority of King and Parliament; they could adduce nothing but their own assertions in their justification; facts were against their words; they adopted their usual resource to evade all inquiry into their laws and acts by pleading the immunity of their Charter, and refused to send representatives to England.

They wished the King to take their own words alone as proofs of their loyalty to the Crown and equity to their fellow-colonists.

In place of sending representatives to England to meet their accusers face to face and vindicate their acts, they sent two large masts, thirty-four yards long, which they said they desired to accompany with a thousand pounds sterling as a present to his Majesty, but could get no one to lend them that sum, for the purpose of thus expressing their good-will to the King, and of propitiating his favour.
Their language of adulation and profession was most abject, while they implored the Royal clemency for refusing to obey the Royal commands.
Their records state that "11, 7mo., 1666, the General Court assembled on account of a signification from his Majesty requiring the Council of this colony to send five able and meet persons to make answer for refusing jurisdiction to his Commissioners last year; whereof Mr.
Richard Bellingham and Mr.Hawthorne to be two of them, whom he requires, on their allegiance, to come by first opportunity.

The Court met and agreed to spend the forenoon of the next day in prayer.
"12, 7mo., 1666.

The Court met and sundry elders, and spent the forenoon in prayer.
"13, 7mo., 1666.