But bribes or concessions were equally unavailing; there was no hope for the charter. In vain was Massachusetts moved, from one boundary to another, as by a public calamity, in which every household, every individual suffered; in vain it was spoken of everywhere; in vain deplored; in vain was it the subject of household prayer and of the Sabbath sermon; the charter was doomed, and the unsuccessful agents returned. Again the hated Randolph arrived in a royal frigate, bringing with him a writ of _quo warranto_, which was served by himself on the magistrates. But the king was willing to be gracious, and would Massachusetts only submit, “as few innovations should be made as possible, consistent with a royal government;” such was the message of irritated majesty received by the democratic state. Again was there a deep deliberation throughout Massachusetts; and from that day two parties existed in the state, “the patriots who defended the rights of the colonies, and the prerogative men who were in favour of complete submission to the royal authority.” For a whole fortnight, the question was debated; “the civil liberties of New England,” argued they nobly, “are part of the inheritance of our fathers; shall we give that inheritance away? It is objected that we shall be exposed to great sufferings. Better suffer than sin. It is better to trust the God of our fathers than to put confidence in princes. If we suffer because we dare not comply with the wills of men against the will of God, we suffer in a good cause, and shall be accounted martyrs in the next generation, and at the great day.” The decision was recorded, that “the deputies consent not, but adhere to their former bills.” Agents again were sent to the king to entreat his forbearance; but the charter was already annulled. On July 2nd, 1685, a copy of the judgment was received in Boston and sorrow and humiliation overspread the colony. CHAPTER XVII. THE SETTLEMENT OF CAROLINA. We must now leave for the present the States of New England, austere alike in character and clime, and turn to those summer realms of the South which excited the cupidity of the early French and Spanish adventurers. We must become more intimately acquainted with the region where De Soto wandered in search of the land of gold; where the good Coligny planted his settlements of persecuted Huguenots; where catholic bigotry dyed the soil with their blood; and where, also, the brave Raleigh planned magnificent schemes of colonisation, and reaped only the fruits of disappointment and sorrow.