The Court met and the elders were present after lecture and some debate had in Court concerning the duty we owe to his Majesty in reference to his signification." On the 14th sundry petitions were presented from the "minority" in Boston, Salem, Ipswich, and Newbury, in favour of compliance with the King's requirement; and the subject was debated in Council some days, when, on the 17th, the Court adopted an answer to the "King's signification," containing the following words addressed to the King's Secretary of State, Mr.Morrice: "We have, in all humility, given our reasons why we _could_ not submit to the Commissioners and their mandates the last year, which we understand lie before his Majesty.

To the substance thereof we have nothing to add; and therefore can't expect that the ablest persons among us could be in a capacity to declare our case more fully.
"We must therefore commit this our great concernment unto Almighty God, praying and hoping that his Majesty (a prince of so great clemency) will consider the estate and condition of his poor and afflicted subjects at such a time, being in imminent danger, by the public enemies of our nation, by sea and land, and that in a wilderness far remote from relief; wherefore we do in this wise prostrate ourselves before his Majesty, and beseech him to be graciously pleased to rest assured of our loyalty and allegiance _according to our former professions_.

Thus with our humble service to your Honour, and earnest prayers to God for his Majesty's temporal and eternal happiness, we remain your Honour's humble servants.
"17, 7mo., 1666."[152] But even in their Council, where the "elders" or ministers and their nominees were supreme, both to rule and to persecute, and to maintain which they were plotting and struggling with the intensity of the Papacy of late years against the Government of Italy, there were yet among their number men of distinction, who contended for the rights of the Crown, to decide questions of appeal from the colony, and to appoint a special commission for that purpose, such as Mr.Simon Bradstreet, who had been Governor, and as their Commissioner to England, with Mr.
Norton, had obtained the famous letter of Charles the Second, dated 10th of June, 1662, which filled the Court of Massachusetts Bay with inexpressible joy; and Mr.Dudley, son of a former Governor, and himself first Governor appointed by the Crown after the cancelling of the Charter; and Major Dennison, a man of mark, also in their Council.
In Mr.Danforth's notes of the debate on the answer to the King's signification, _Mr.Bradstreet_ is reported to have said: "I grant legal process in a course of law reaches us not in an ordinary course; yet I think the King's prerogative gives him power to command our appearance, which, before God and men, we are to obey." _Mr.Dudley_: "The King's commands pass anywhere--Ireland, Calais, etc .-- although ordinary process from judges and officers pass not.

No doubt you may have a trial at law when you come to England, if you desire it, and you may insist upon and claim it.

Prerogative is as necessary as law, and it is for the good of the whole that there be always power in being able to act; and where there is a right of power, it will be abused so long as it is in the hands of weak men, and the less pious the more apt to miscarry; but right may not be denied because it may be abused." After the Court had adopted its answer of refusal to the King's signification, Mr.Bradstreet said: "I fear we take not a right course for our safety.