True Stories From History and Biography by Nathaniel Hawthorne

they had reason for their apprehensions. King James
caused the charters of all the American colonies to be taken away. The old
charter of Massachusetts, which the people regarded as a holy thing, and
as the foundation of all their liberties, was declared void. The colonists
were now no longer freemen; they were entirely dependent on the king's
pleasure. At first, in 1685, King James appointed Joseph Dudley, a native
of Massachusetts, to be president of New England. But soon afterwards, Sir
Edmund Andros, an officer of the English army, arrived, with a commission
to be governor-general of New England and New York.
    The king had given such powers to Sir Edmund Andros, that there was now no
liberty, nor scarcely any law, in the colonies over which he ruled. The
inhabitants were not allowed to choose representatives, and consequently
had no voice whatever in the government, nor control over the measures
that were adopted. The counsellors, with whom the governor consulted on
matters of state, were appointed by himself. This sort of government was
no better than an absolute despotism.
    "The people suffered much wrong, while Sir Edmund Andros ruled over them,"
continued Grandfather, "and they were apprehensive of much more. He had
brought some soldiers with him from England, who took possession of the
old fortress on Castle Island, and of the fortification on Fort Hill.
Sometimes it was rumored that a general massacre of the inhabitants was to
be perpetrated by these soldiers. There were reports, too, that all the
ministers were to be slain or imprisoned."
    "For what?" inquired Charley.
    "Because they were the leaders of the people, Charley," said Grandfather.
"A minister was a more formidable man than a general, in those days. Well;
while these things were going on in America, King James had so misgoverned
the people of England, that they sent over to Holland for the Prince of
Orange. He had married the king's daughter, and was therefore considered
to have a claim to the crown. On his arrival in England, the Prince of
Orange was proclaimed king, by the name of William the Third. Poor old
King James made his escape to France."
    Grandfather told how, at the first intelligence of the landing of the
Prince of Orange in England, the people of Massachusetts rose in their
strength, and overthrew the government of Sir Edmund Andros. He, with
Joseph Dudley, Edmund Randolph, and his other principal adherents, were
thrown into prison. Old Simon Bradstreet, who had been governor, when King
James took away the charter, was called by the people to govern them
again.
    "Governor Bradstreet was a venerable old man, nearly ninety years of age,"
said Grandfather. "He came over with the first settlers, and had been the
intimate companion of all those excellent and famous men who laid the
foundation of our country. They were all gone before him to the grave; and
Bradstreet was the last of the Puritans."
    Grandfather paused a moment, and smiled, as if he had something very
interesting to tell his auditors. He then proceeded:
    "And now, Laurence,—now, Clara,—now, Charley,—now, my dear little
Alice,—what chair do you think had been placed in the council chamber, for
old Governor Bradstreet to take his seat in? Would you believe that it was
this very chair in which grandfather now sits, and of which he is telling
you the history?"
    "I am glad to hear it, with all my heart!" cried Charley, after a shout of
delight. "I thought Grandfather had quite forgotten the chair."
    "It was a solemn and affecting sight," said Grandfather, "when this
venerable patriarch, with his white beard flowing down upon his breast,
took his seat in his Chair of State. Within his remembrance, and even
since his mature age, the site where now stood the populous town, had been
a wild and forest-covered peninsula. The province, now so fertile, and
spotted with thriving villages, had been a desert wilderness. He was
surrounded by a shouting multitude, most of whom had been born