The Conquest of Maine. Their marshal then traversed the streets, proclaiming at the chief points: "Observe ye and obey the commands of his Majesty's justices." "Whence," inquired one and another of the citizens and of the commissioners' es cort, "Whence have you this authority? Show us your warrant, if you have any, for these commands, and distractions of the public peace." "We proclaim according to the charge given us in the king's name," was the reply. "Our orders are our protection. We shall not show them. But we will say to all opposers, Beware of his Majesty's power." This effort at intimidation was perceived to be impudently contemptuous of the au thority of the Bay commissioners; who, having come upon the street, ordered their own county marshal to take the offenders into custody. The king's marshal and his company were accordingly placed under temporary arrest. The commissioners then proceeded to the meeting-house, which they found full of people, and its seats occupied. "Give place to the commissioners," com manded their marshal. Approaching the justices, the commis sioners addressed them to this effect: "You are the authors of an affront we little ex pected; but your course will avail you no thing. You might have called your meet ing at another place and at another time. Depend upon this, — we shall not be de terred from executing any part of the dele gated trust with which we are commis sioned." Instantly all was confusion; many sprang from their seats, and several attempted to speak. The commissioners commanded si lence, and directed their marshal to clear the house. The justices at once left their places, — one, as he went, advising his partisans to retire also. Probably he suspected that few of the large number present would prove
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adherents of the king's justices; for a pre vious experience at this place on a similar occasion must have been quite fresh in the memory of several. This was, when, in 1653, the Bay govern ment summoned the inhabitants of Agamenticus (re-named "York") to appear at an hour and place mentioned to receive the rights and immunities of the Bay govern ment, Edward Godfrey (who had been chosen provisional governor some years previous) addressed the meeting in deter mined opposition to the proposed action. The discussion was prolonged until after noon, when a formal vote was demanded, and a large majority was found to be against him. He then submitted, and took the oath of allegiance to Massachusetts with all the rest; and he is not known to have been again in opposition. The " troop of horse," kept somewhere in the background by the Bay commission ers, may also have had its influence in the peaceable withdrawal of the king's justices. Notwithstanding the affront they had given, the promise of a hearing was ful filled; and the justices were permitted to be seated, while the commissioners on the judi cial bench entered into conference with them. Their documents consisted of the king's mandamus — dated five years earlier, — Nichols' commission to the justices, and a letter from him. The first and second were read, but the letter was not admitted, being regarded as only private correspon dence. To these papers the commissioners re plied: "We are commissioned to hold a court and settle the peace and order of the province. What we have begun, God will ing, we shall finish. We are fully aware of the irregularities occasioned throughout these eastern towns and plantations, in 1665, by the king's commissioners; who were so bold as to charge Massachusetts with treachery and rebellion, and to threaten her, before the year's end, with the dread
