![[QUAKERS]. -- [MASSACHUSETTS, GENERAL COURT]. ENDICOTT, John (ca. 1600-1664). The Humble Petition and Address of the General Court Sitting at Boston in New England, unto the High and Mighty Prince Charles the Second. And presented unto His Most-Gracious Majesty Feb. 11. 1660. [London], 1660/1.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2012/NYR/2012_NYR_02622_0106_000(quakers_--_massachusetts_general_court_endicott_john_the_humble_petiti081551).jpg?w=1)
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[QUAKERS]. -- [MASSACHUSETTS, GENERAL COURT]. ENDICOTT, John (ca. 1600-1664). The Humble Petition and Address of the General Court Sitting at Boston in New England, unto the High and Mighty Prince Charles the Second. And presented unto His Most-Gracious Majesty Feb. 11. 1660. [London], 1660/1.
4o (187 x 137mm). 4 leaves. Full modern green morocco. Provenance: Thomas W. Streeter (bookplate; his sale, Parke-Bernet, part two, lot 629).
FIRST EDITION of this rare pamphlet petitioning the newly restored Charles II for religious tolerance, while defending Governor Endicott's intolerance in dealing with the Quakers. Endicott explains, after hanging three Quakers, that they "died not because of their other Crimes, how capital soever, but upon their superadded presumptuous and incorrigible contempt of Authority." The execution of Mary Dyer and two other Quakers who chafed under the fanatical rule of Endicott was one of the most dramatic events in Colonial history.
Charles II was proclaimed the lawful King of England on May 29, 1660. The news of the restoration reached Boston in July, and in August he was formally proclaimed in the colony. At a meeting of the General Court on the 19th of December it was "ordered an address be made to the king's most excellent majesty as also the high court of Parliament." The Humble Petition contains that address, which was duly sent and presented to the King Feb 11, 1660/1. In it the General Court asked "for your gracious protection of us in the continuance both of our civil as well as our religious liberties conferred upon this plantation by your royal father... Touching complaints put against us, our humble request is your majesty would permit nothing to make an impression on your royal heart against us until we have both opportunity and leave to answer for ourselves."
The petition was well received by King Charles, and on the 15th of February, 1660/1 he sent a letter to Governor Endicott, in which he acknowledges the receipt of the petition, expresses appreciation of the sentiments contained in it and promises that "we shall not come behind any of our royal predecessors in a just encouragement and protection of all our loving subjects there whose application unto us, since our late happy restoration hath been very acceptable"--1607-1907: A descriptive catalogue of the Massachusetts exhibit of colonial books at the Jamestown tercentennial exposition, Boston (1907), no. 153.
Evans erroneously records that the Humble Petition was printed in Cambridge, Mass., by S. Green, and Sabin makes an entry for both a Cambridge and London edition, but more recent authorities have demonstrated that it was printed in London. "Either way it is quite rare" (Streeter).
Church 566; Evans 61; JCB (3) III:43; Sabin 33696 (22696?); Wing H-3426.
4o (187 x 137mm). 4 leaves. Full modern green morocco. Provenance: Thomas W. Streeter (bookplate; his sale, Parke-Bernet, part two, lot 629).
FIRST EDITION of this rare pamphlet petitioning the newly restored Charles II for religious tolerance, while defending Governor Endicott's intolerance in dealing with the Quakers. Endicott explains, after hanging three Quakers, that they "died not because of their other Crimes, how capital soever, but upon their superadded presumptuous and incorrigible contempt of Authority." The execution of Mary Dyer and two other Quakers who chafed under the fanatical rule of Endicott was one of the most dramatic events in Colonial history.
Charles II was proclaimed the lawful King of England on May 29, 1660. The news of the restoration reached Boston in July, and in August he was formally proclaimed in the colony. At a meeting of the General Court on the 19th of December it was "ordered an address be made to the king's most excellent majesty as also the high court of Parliament." The Humble Petition contains that address, which was duly sent and presented to the King Feb 11, 1660/1. In it the General Court asked "for your gracious protection of us in the continuance both of our civil as well as our religious liberties conferred upon this plantation by your royal father... Touching complaints put against us, our humble request is your majesty would permit nothing to make an impression on your royal heart against us until we have both opportunity and leave to answer for ourselves."
The petition was well received by King Charles, and on the 15th of February, 1660/1 he sent a letter to Governor Endicott, in which he acknowledges the receipt of the petition, expresses appreciation of the sentiments contained in it and promises that "we shall not come behind any of our royal predecessors in a just encouragement and protection of all our loving subjects there whose application unto us, since our late happy restoration hath been very acceptable"--1607-1907: A descriptive catalogue of the Massachusetts exhibit of colonial books at the Jamestown tercentennial exposition, Boston (1907), no. 153.
Evans erroneously records that the Humble Petition was printed in Cambridge, Mass., by S. Green, and Sabin makes an entry for both a Cambridge and London edition, but more recent authorities have demonstrated that it was printed in London. "Either way it is quite rare" (Streeter).
Church 566; Evans 61; JCB (3) III:43; Sabin 33696 (22696?); Wing H-3426.
