The King's Missive

Abstract

Nofes and Documents THE KING'S MISSIVE By Henry J. Cadbury One of the best known episodes of early Quaker history has to do with the effort made in England to stop the execution of Friends in New England. The story is told in various narratives, like Fox's Journal, though in the edition first printed in 1694 somewhat differently from the older manuscripts (as shown by the) Cambridge Journal), and in later works. It occurred early in the reign of Charles II and is an example of his intermittent friendliness to the Friends of which I wrote recently.1 Some Friends in England, especially Edward Burrough, called the King's attention to the fact that in his New England dominion Quakers were persecuted and even put to death. In response he offered to send orders to stop the extremes of physical injury. But since he had no occasion to send word promptly, the Friends asked permission to send word themselves, and when this was granted they hired a ship for the purpose, hoping thereby to stop more promptly the suffering of their fellows in Boston. A refugee from New England, Samuel Shattuck, was empowered to carry the royal document and other Friends raised the money to dispatch a ship to carry him immediately. It is nearly a century since Whittier told this story in verse, under the title "The King's Missive," and through this poem it is widely known. But apparently the firsthand account by Samuel Shattuck, though published in 1871 in The Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society (Fourth Series, Vol. IX, pp. 159-162), was not known to Whittier until afterwards. And even yet, so far as I have noticed, no Quaker Journal has published this document. I am therefore suggesting that it be printed in Quaker History. It includes the King's letter and the letter from Samuel Shattuck himself. 1. Letter from the Past 260; JnI FHS 53 (1973),pp. 53f. 117 118QUAKER HISTORY THE KING'S LETTER Charles R Trusty and Well beloved, we greet you well. Having been informed that several of our subjects among you, called Quakers have been and are imprisoned by you, whereof some have been executed, and others (as hath been represented unto us) are in danger to undergo the like: we have thought fit,to signify our pleasure, in that behalf for the future, and do require, that if diere be any of those people called Quakers amongst you, now already condemned to suffer death, or odier corporal punishment, or that are imprisoned or obnoxious to the like Condemnation , you are to forbear to proceed any farther, but that you forthwith send the said persons (whether condemned or imprisoned) over to this our Kingdom of England, together with their respective crimes or offences laid to their charge, to the end such course may be taken with them here, as shall be agreeable to our laws, and dieir demerits. And for so doing these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge. Given at our court of Whitehall, the 9th day of September 1661, in die thirteendi year of our reign. Subscribed, to our trusty and well beloved John Endicot, Esquire and to all and every other Governour or Governours of our Plantation of new England; and of all the Collonies thereunto belonging, that now are, or here after shal be; And to all & every the Ministers and Officers diere, off our said Plantation & Collonies Whatsoever, in die Continent of new England . By His Majesty's Command WiI. Morris SAMUEL SHATTUCK'S LETTER, SENT FROM NEW ENGLAND TO FRIENDS The 2d night after wee weighed Anchor from die Downes, wee had a storm & were suddainly (in the night) surprized with a whirlwind, & were greatly delivered with the losse of our maine Sayle. We had a very comfortable passage being just 7 weeks; wee were brought nere die land in a month's time, but mett with prity hard weather on the Coast, & great storms, but were preserved in all, & the Presence of the Lord was with us. when wee came into Boston Harbour, many came on Ship-board for Newes & Letters; But were somewhat struck in Amaze, when tiiey saw what wee...