class="center">WADSWORTH

Yes, I have it with me, and when Andros demands it I shall have to produce it.

ALLYN

Andros must not be allowed to get his hand on it.

WADSWORTH

That will be your duty.

ALLYN

Yes?

WADSWORTH

Willys will be waiting outside that window, next your chair. When the candles go out, grab the charter and toss it out the window. He'll put it in a safe place.

ALLYN

Where?

WADSWORTH

You know the oak in front of his house?

ALLYN

Indeed yes!

WADSWORTH

There is a hollow—high up—

ALLYN

Good!

WADSWORTH [louder]

Nathan!

SEXTON

Yes, Captain!

WADSWORTH

A good fire you have in the fireplace.

SEXTON

I figgered to have a good fire—it's a mite chilly this evenin'.

WADSWORTH

It may get overly warm in here before the meeting is over.

SEXTON

Aye.

WADSWORTH

I want you to stand close to that window behind John Allyn's chair.

SEXTON

Yes, sir!

WADSWORTH

Don't leave it. And the moment I say, "Sexton, it's warm in here," throw open the window. You understand?

SEXTON

"Sexton, it's warm in here," throw it open. Yes, sir, I understand.

WADSWORTH

Never mind what anyone else says. Throw it open on my signal and throw it wide open.

SEXTON

But the candles, sir—they may go out. They're right close to the window.

WADSWORTH

Never mind the candles.

SEXTON

Never mind them—yes, sir! [trumpets sound outside]

ALLYN

Here comes Andros. Throw open the door.

WADSWORTH

Never mind, Nathan. I'll do it. You stay by that window.

SEXTON

The window. Yes, sir!

WADSWORTH

Enter, Governor Andros.

ANDROS

Thank you. Governor Treat—I now call you that for the last time—will you show me to my place?

TREAT

Of course, sir. Captain Wadsworth, will you usher us to our places?

WADSWORTH

Right this way, Governor. We have arranged this place for you.

ANDROS

Thank you. Do we need all the candles here?

WADSWORTH

For you and the clerk. [noise and confusion of members entering]

ANDROS

Yes, yes! Of course! Treat, will you sit at my left?

TREAT

Thank you, sir!

ANDROS

Will you call the Assembly to order?

TREAT

Gentlemen, will you take your places. [sound of gavel] The Assembly will please come to order! [quiet] In accordance with the command of His Majesty we are met here to surrender the government of the Connecticut Colony to the Royal Governor, Sir Edmund Andros. On behalf of this Assembly, I have the honor, sir, to welcome you and assure you of our submission to His Majesty's command. We have ever been a loyal and a law-abiding people. We surrender the prerogatives of government under our charter with regret; but His Majesty commands, and we, his loyal subjects, have nought to do but obey. We are, sir, yours to command.

ALL [cheers]

ANDROS

Thank you, Master Treat. I am agreeably pleased at the expression of obedience. In the name of His Majesty I hereby take command of the colony of Connecticut and order it joined to the colony of Massachusetts Bay, of which you shall henceforth be a part. And now, you have only to surrender the charter to me to complete the ceremony of submission to the order of His Majesty.

TREAT

But, sir, we have signified our submission. The surrender of the charter is quite another thing.

ANDROS

How so?

TREAT

It was granted in perpetuity, to be forfeited only through due process of law.

ANDROS

Have you not been informed, sir, that a writ of quo warranto issued in the proper courts of England was tried and went by default last February?

TREAT

Last February? Indeed, sir! We had no knowledge that any action was brought against it. Who was the complainant?

ANDROS

I was!

TREAT

You, sir?

ANDROS

Indeed, you seem to have forgotten an occasion when I promised you I'd get your charter.

TREAT

No, sir! Unfortunately I still remember it!

ANDROS

I have here the original court order, declaring your charter forfeit, and I shall now trouble your Charter Committee to produce the original document.

TREAT

One moment, sir. Has not every Englishman a right to defend his case before a court of law?

ANDROS

Of course—you had such a chance and failed to appear.

TREAT

We had no notice of the action.

ANDROS

That's not my fault.

TREAT

The court is in error, and we shall appeal.

ANDROS

Appeal all you like; but produce the charter.

TREAT

We do so under protest.

ANDROS

Ah, very well. I care not how much you protest. Once I get the charter, I can assure you, you'll never see it again.

TREAT

But, sir!

ANDROS

Produce the charter.

TREAT

Captain Wadsworth, place the charter on the table.

WADSWORTH

Here it is, sir.

ANDROS

Ah—at last!

TREAT

One moment, sir.

ANDROS

What now?

TREAT

Will you first sign the receipt for the charter, so that the committee may be protected?

ANDROS

Why, certainly, if you wish. It's no matter; but I'll do it. Give me your quill, clerk.

ALLYN

Here you are, sir—and paper.

ANDROS

Yes. Hm—"received—charter—signed"—there—

WADSWORTH

Sexton, it's warm in here!

SEXTON

Yes, sir! [noise of window]

ANDROS

Hey, the lights! Quick, what's happened? Lights! Lights!

ALL

The candles have all blown out!

Put down the window!

What's the matter—[etc.] [exclamations continue through the scene]

ANDROS

Put that window down! What are you trying to do?

SEXTON

Why, sir, it was warm.

ANDROS

Put it down, I say! Light those candles! What foolishness is this? Light those candles, I say! Do you hear me?

SEXTON

Yes, sir, at once, sir! [noise of window going down]

Here, sir, I'll light the candles. I'm right sorry, sir. Now, where did I put my flint? Ah, here it is. There you are, sir. I'm right sorry I put you out, sir. I didn't