Our lot after the good old nonconformists hath been only to _act a passive part throughout these late vicissitudes_ and successive turnings of States.

Our separation from our brethren in this desert hath been and is a sufficient bringing to mind the afflictions of Joseph.

But providentiall exemption of us hereby from the late warres and temptations of _either party_ we account as a favour from God; the former cloathes us with sackcloth, the latter with innocency.
(Signed) "JOHN ENDICOT, _Governor_.
"In the name and by order of the _General Court of Massachusetts_."] [Footnote 117: It is known that the "_old_ nonconformists" did not fight against the king, denounced his execution, suffered for their "nonconformity" to Cromwell's despotism, and were among the most active restorers of Charles the Second.] [Footnote 118: See above, in a previous page.] [Footnote 119: Letter from Charles II.

to Governor Endicot: "CHARLES R.
"Trusty and well beloved--Wee greet you well.

It having pleased Almighty God, after long trialls both of us and our people, to touch their hearts at last with a just sense of our right, and by their assistance to restore us, peaceably and without blood, to the exercise of our legall authority for the good and welfare of the nations committed to our charge, we have made it our care to settle our lately distracted kingdom at home, and to extend our thoughts to increase the trade and advantages of our colonies and plantations abroad, amongst which as wee consider New England to be one of the chiefest, having enjoyed and grown up in a long and orderly establishment, so wee shall not be behind any of our royal predecessors in a just encouragement and protection of all our loving subjects there, whose application unto us, since our late happy restoration, hath been very acceptable, and shall not want its due remembrance upon all seasonable occasions; neither shall wee forget to make you and all our good people in those parts equal partakers of those promises of liberty and moderation to tender consciences expressed in our gracious declarations; which, though some persons in this kingdom, of desperate, disloyal, and unchristian principles, have lately abused to the public disturbance and their own destruction, yet wee are confident our good subjects in New England will make a right use of it, to the glory of God, their own spiritual comfort and edification.