In Maine a strong party existed favourable to episcopacy and royalty, and for some little time the commissioners had the ascendancy there; the officers appointed by Massachusetts, under the jurisdiction of which Maine was at this time governed, were deposed, and others, selected by the commissioners, appointed in their stead. Two violent parties were thus created in the province, which caused after troubles. Leaving Maine, the commissioners returned to Boston, where they were formally accused by the inflexible magistrates of having fomented disturbances in Maine, and their prolonged stay in this contumacious city became anything but agreeable. They were accustomed to hold every Saturday evening a social party at a tavern, and this species of entertainment, on that evening of the week which the strict Puritans regarded as the commencement of the Sabbath, being contrary to their law, it was resolved to put an end to. Accordingly a constable was sent to break up the first which was now held. The constable, however, was soundly beaten and driven off by Sir Robert Carr and his servant. Another and much more determined constable, named Mason, now made his appearance, but the party had in the meantime adjourned to a house over the way, whither he followed them, and, entering the room where they sate, reproached them for not setting a better example, and for beating a constable, saying, it was well for them that they had changed their quarters, otherwise he would have arrested every one of them. “What!” cried Carr, “arrest the king’s commissioners!” “Yes,” replied Mason, “the king himself had he been there.” “Treason! treason!” shouted Maverick; “knave, thou shalt presently hang for this.” The next day the commissioners accused the second constable of treason, and the governor informed Sir Robert Carr that the first constable had lodged a complaint against him for assault and battery. The affair was brought before the court, but very little came of the accusations either way. In the meantime, the commissioners having sent to England a report of their general proceedings received their recall, together with his Majesty’s approval of their conduct, and of the conduct of all the colonies, with the exception of Massachusetts, which was ordered to send over Bellingham, the governor, Hawthorne, a magistrate of great influence, and three others, to answer for the charges which were brought against the colony. A general court was convened to deliberate on the letter of the king; the next day was spent in prayer and religious exercises; and on the third they again met for deliberation, the end of which was a refusal to comply. “We have already,” replied the court, with dignity, “furnished our views in writing, so that the ablest persons amongst us could not declare our case more fully.” Therefore they declined to send over deputies.