And we shall report to His Majesty that we defended our rights under our royal charter. ANDROS Confound your charter! I'll see to it that you lose it! Good day, sir. TREAT Good day! ANNOUNCER So Governor Andros took his departure without gaining possession of the territory he claimed. For the next ten years Connecticut continued in undisputed possession of her charter, and then on December 19, 1686, Andros was appointed Governor of all New England. News of this appointment reached Connecticut several months later. Our next scene is at the State House in Hartford. It is June of 1687. The General Court of the Connecticut Colony is in session. As our scene opens, Governor Treat is addressing the Assembly. TREAT Gentlemen! I have called you here to consider a matter of grave importance to the life of this colony. As you know, His Majesty has seen fit to deprive us of our rights under our charter and has appointed a Governor who is to have supreme power over this colony and all of New England. WADSWORTH Your Excellency-- TREAT Yes, Captain Wadsworth? WADSWORTH Let us not submit! Let us appeal to the Privy Council! We have our rights under the charter. ALL Yes, yes! Let us not submit! TREAT It is useless, gentlemen. When we are ordered to submit, we must submit or be in rebellion. WADSWORTH When may we expect the order? TREAT I was informed this very morning that an officer of Governor Andros was on his way here to take over the government of the colony, and we might expect him this very day. WADSWORTH Then what can we do, sir? TREAT We can submit--indeed we must submit to the rule of Governor Andros, but, gentlemen, we must not relinquish our charter! ALL No, no! We must save our charter. [_etc._] TREAT But how can we save it? If I am ordered to give it up, what can I do? I have it here. It is in my possession. How can I hold it against an order to relinquish it? WADSWORTH Your Excellency, if it is not in your possession, you cannot give it up. TREAT But it is, Captain Wadsworth. WADSWORTH Then, sir, I move you that this Assembly forthwith take it out of your possession and intrust it to a committee for safe-keeping. TREAT Yes, that is possible. VOICE Second! TREAT You have heard the proposal. Those favoring-- ALL Aye! TREAT Opposed--it is a vote. Will someone propose the committee? VOICE Your Excellency, I propose Captain Wadsworth, Charles Willys, and John Talcott. TREAT But Talcott is not here. WADSWORTH All the better, sir, since we cannot give up the charter except upon unanimous consent of the committee. TREAT A very good arrangement. Is there a second to the nomination for the Charter Committee? VOICE Second! [_loud knock_] TREAT Don't open until we have had the vote! All favoring-- ALL Aye! [_knocking_] BLIGH [_outside_] Open, in the name of the King! TREAT Opposed? Carried! BLIGH [_insistent knocking_] Open, open, I say! Open in the name of the King.