i86
��Gove's Insiirrcction.
��was so tyrannical, and enacted so many severe laws. Now the assem- bly refused their consent to these laws ; and when Crantield found that they would not obey him in all that he did, he dissolved the assembly at once. This step secured him the ill-will of all the men of New Hampshire, and soon the feeling of resentment rose so high as to result in a rebellion. In 1683, in a report made to the Board of Trade by Randolph, one of the king's officers in New Hampshire, there is a very good account of this rebellion, and from this report I will quote a few passages :
A short time after, one Edward Gove, who served for the town of Hampton, a leading man and a great stickler for the late proceedings of the assembly, made it his business to stir the people up to rebellion by giv- ing out that the governor, as vice-ad- miral, acted by the commission of his royal highness who was a Papist, and would bring popery in amongst them ; that the governor was a pretended governor, and his commission was signed in Scotland. He endeavored, with a great deal of pains, to make a party, and solicited many of the con- siderable persons in each town to join with him to recover their liberties in- fringed by his majesty's placing a governor over them ; further adding that his sword was drawn, and lie would not lay it down till he knew who should liold the government. He dis- coursed at Portsmouth to Mr. Marty n, treasurer, and soon after to Capt. Hall of Dover, which they discovered to the governor, who immediately dis- patched messengers with warrants to the constable of Exeter and Hampton to arrest Gove ; and fearing he misjht get a party too strong for the civil power (as indeed it proved, for Jus- tice Weare and a mai'shal were re- pulsed), the governor forthwith order- ed the militia of the whole province
��to be in arms ; and understanding by the marshal that Gove could not be apprehended at Hampton by himself and a constable, but had gone to his party at Exeter (from whence he suddenly returned with twelve men mounted and armed with swords, pis- tols, and guns, a trumpet sounding, and Gove with his sword drawn riding at the head of them), was taking horse and with a part of the troop intended to take Gove and his company, but the governor was prevented by a mes- senger from Hampton, who bi'ought word that they were met withal, and taken by the militia of the town, and were secured with a guard ; the trum- . peter forcing his way escaped, after whom a hue and cry was sent to all parts, but as yet he is not taken. This rising was, unexpectedly to the party, made on the 21st day of Jarn- uary, 1683. It is generally believed that many considerable persons, at whose houses Gove either sent or call- ed to come out and stand for their liberties, would have joined with him had he not discovered his designs or appeared in arms at that day. For upon the 30th of January being ap- pointed by the governor a day of pub- lic humiliation, they designed to cut off the governor, Mr. Mason, and some others whom they affected not. The governor sent a strong party of horse to guard the prisoners, then in irons, from Hampton to Portsmouth. They were brought before the governor and council and examined, when Gove be- haved very insolently.
When arrested, Gove and his com- panions were put under the charge of Capt. Walter Barefoote at New Cas- tle, so the record quaintly says, "In regarde that ye prison was out of re- paire." While in custody here, Gove wrote a letter to the justices who were about to try him, and in it he describes his condition. He says, — "My tears are in my eyes, I can hardly see . . . If ever New England had need of a
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