Note 977 — Chapter XV · LOSS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CHARTER

Cal. State Pap., Col., 1681-85, pp. 129 f. Osgood (American Colonies, vol. III, p. 328) states that this draft accompanied the King's letter, as does Doyle (Puritan Colonies, vol. II, p. 216). Hutchinson does not mention it in his account, however (History, vol. I, pp. 300 f.), and it seems to me that this document, which is undated, is merely the preliminary draft, as its heading indicates, of the final letter, which is in Cal. State Pap., Col., 1681-85, pp. 128 ff. The final drafts were often milder in expression than the preliminary ones.