The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Tree That Saved Connecticut, by Henry Fisk Carlton.

BY

HENRY FISK CARLTON

Edited by CLAIRE T. ZYVE, Ph.D.
Fox Meadow School, Scarsdale, New York

HOW TO BE A GOOD RADIO ACTOR

The play in this book has actually been produced on the radio. Possibly you have listened to this one when you tuned in at home. The persons whose voices you heard as you listened, looked just as they did when they left their homes to go to the studio, although they were taking the parts of men and women who lived long ago and who wore costumes very different from the ones we wear today.

The persons whose voices you heard stood close together around the microphone, each one reading from a copy of the play in his hand. Since they could not be seen, they did not act parts as in other plays, but tried to make their voices show how they felt.

When you give these plays you will not need costumes and you will not need scenery, although you can easily arrange a broadcasting studio if you wish. You will not need to memorize your parts; in fact, it will not be like a real radio broadcast if you do so, and, furthermore, you will not want to, since you will each have a copy of the book in your hands. All you will need to do is to remember that you are taking the part of a radio actor, that you are to read your speeches very distinctly, and that by your voice, you will make your audience understand how you feel. In this way, you will have the fun of living through some of the great moments of history.

HOW TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS IN THE PLAY

There are some directions in this play which may be new to you, but these are necessary, for you are now in a radio broadcasting studio, talking in front of a microphone. The word [in] means that the character is standing close to the microphone, while [off] indicates that he is farther away, so that his voice sounds faint. When the directions [off, coming in] are given, the person speaking is away from the microphone at first but gradually comes closer. The words [mob] or [crowd noise] you will understand mean the sound of many people talking in the distance.

Both the English and the dialect used help make the characters live, so the speeches have been written in the way in which these men and women would talk. This means that sometimes the character may use what seems to you unusual English. The punctuation helps, too, to make the speeches sound like real conversation; for example, you will find that a dash is often used to show that a character is talking very excitedly.

The Tree
That Saved Connecticut

CAST

GOVERNOR TREAT
LIEUTENANT ALLYN
GOVERNOR ANDROS
CAPTAIN WADSWORTH
COLONEL BLIGH
THE SEXTON
CHARLES WILLYS
VOICE

ANNOUNCER

In the year 1661 Connecticut received from the hand of Charles the Second a very liberal charter granting to the people of the colony almost complete self-government and to the colony an enormous stretch of territory extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. For fifteen years the colony prospered under the generous charter. Then in 1676 trouble arose with the Governor of New York, Sir Edmund Andros, about the boundary line between the two colonies. Andros demanded authority over all the land west of the Connecticut River. Governor Treat of Connecticut refused to submit. Andros threatened to seize the disputed land. Treat defied him. Andros fitted out three ships, embarked a military force, and set out for Saybrooke, Connecticut. Treat ordered out the militia, garrisoned the fort at Saybrooke, and waited.

Our first scene is in the fort on the morning of July 9, 1676. The Governor is at breakfast when he hears[Pg 2]—

Come along, then. Lieutenant Allyn, how many ships did you see? [crowd noises swell up]

Yes, yes, three! Andros's ships! That's certain! [calling] Every man to his place! Load your muskets and prepare for action! Andros shall not land![Pg 3]

So I see! They may be going to answer our shot with a broadside! [calling] Down! Every man down behind the ramparts!

I say there! Ahoy, the fort! Is there anyone there? Answer or we'll open fire on you!

Never! Tell him if Andros has anything to say let him come here, alone and unarmed, and say it!

Yes, sir! [loud] Governor Treat's compliments. He requests Governor Andros to come ashore for a parley.

Indeed I will, if he has the courage to come ashore without a guard! I can do no less than meet him at the shore. Come along, Lieutenant. [calling] Stand by, men, ready for action at any moment! Lieutenant Allyn and I are going out to meet the Governor!

Sir! This force is here to maintain the rights of this colony against the illegal aggression of New York!

Well, Governor, I'll have you know that I have come here in the legal performance of my duties to take command of land legally and lawfully a part of the possessions of His Grace, the Duke of York.

It is not, I assure you. But we will hold this land which is ours by right of grant from His Majesty, Charles the Second.

My commission as Governor of this territory comes directly from His Grace, the Duke of York.

Our charter is a royal grant, and cannot be superseded except for cause by due process of law.

I shall take possession under my orders. You can appeal to the Privy Council for redress.

Very well. I shall report to His Grace that I was prevented from obeying his command by an unwarranted and illegal show of force!

And we shall report to His Majesty that we defended our rights under our royal charter.

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.

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.

Let us not submit! Let us appeal to the Privy Council! We have our rights under the charter.

It is useless, gentlemen. When we are ordered to submit, we must submit or be in rebellion.

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.

We can submit—indeed we must submit to the rule of Governor Andros, but, gentlemen, we must not relinquish our charter!

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?

Then, sir, I move you that this Assembly forthwith take it out of your possession and intrust it to a committee for safe-keeping.

All the better, sir, since we cannot give up the charter except upon unanimous consent of the committee.

A very good arrangement. Is there a second to the nomination for the Charter Committee?

Your pardon, sir. But what authority have you, sir, to break into the Assembly of the General Court of Connecticut?

I have come to take over the government of this colony under the authority of Governor Andros.

Ah, of course—I have the honor to be Samuel Bligh, Colonel in His Majesty's service. Are you Robert Treat?

Thank you. "Hereby ordered"—yes—yes—"in compliance with mandate of His Majesty"—yes, indeed. Colonel Bligh, we are ready to turn the government over to Governor Andros.

"Governor Treat is hereby ordered to deliver up the forfeited charter"—but, Colonel Bligh, I cannot deliver up the charter—

May it please you, sir, the committee consists of Captain Wadsworth, Charles Willys, and John Talcott.

Of course. Governor Treat, will you let this gentleman read the order and be satisfied.

Hm, yes.—"Governor Treat—hereby ordered"—but, Colonel, this is an order upon Governor Treat!

I am deeply sorry, sir, I do not see how the committee can comply with this order.[Pg 15]

Oh yes. Signed properly, but it is drawn against the Governor—and not against the Charter Committee.

Why—what—oh, this is too much! Governor Andros warned me that you would be stubborn and stiff-necked! But I'll have that charter! Here—I'll change that order—give it here!

Hm—yes—a quill. So—now—"The Charter Committee—is hereby ordered"—there you are. Now I hope you are satisfied.

It not only seems to be, sir, but it is. I saw him make an illegal change in the order. All of us saw it.

I believe, Colonel, we merely pointed out that your order was inadequate; we did not force you to commit forgery.

Oh, this is a trick! This is a trick! I demand the immediate surrender of the government and the charter!

What is the will of the Assembly? Can we deliver up the government under an order which is obviously forged?

Andros will come himself and attend to this affair. I wash my hands of it! He'll make you pay for this day's work—and he'll get the charter! Good day!

ANNOUNCER

Andros did come, as Colonel Bligh had threatened, but not for several months. But when he came, he came in state, with a company of soldiers, two trumpeters, and Colonel Bligh. He intended this time to get the charter, and no mistake![Pg 17]

Governor Treat called the General Court to assemble on the evening of October 31, 1687, to confer with Governor Andros and make one last determined stand to retain the charter even if there was no way to retain their rights under the charter.

Our next scene is at the State House in Hartford. It is evening. The sexton is preparing the room for the meeting which is about to take place.

Now these candles, where'd I best put 'em. I cal'ate mebbe I'd better scatter 'em around the room—

Now Allyn, seeing you are the clerk of the General Court, you can sit at the Governor's table without exciting suspicion.

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.

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

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

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

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[Pg 22] 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.

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.

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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.[Pg 24]

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

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

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

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 think—

I shall certainly do nothing of the kind, sir. I gave you the charter; you gave me this receipt for it. I have here twenty witnesses to the transaction!

I'm being tricked! I say I will have that charter. It's somewhere here, and I'll have it. [calling] Colonel Bligh!

Surround this place with your soldiers. Don't let a single man leave until he has been searched!

Indeed! I'll do it whether it's legal or not. I'll have that charter, I tell you, if I have to search every spot in this town! I'll have it, I say I'll have it.

ANNOUNCER

And so the great search began. All that night and into the next day the Governor, the Colonel, and their soldiers searched high and low for the missing charter. At last they came to the house of Charles Willys, in front of which stood the great oak in which the charter lay safely hidden.

Very good, sir! Search this place, Captain—thoroughly. Tear up the floors, dig up the garden, rip the upholstery off the furniture, but find that charter!

Bring out the master of the house. The rest of you back up against this tree and don't move![Pg 28]

I don't know where it is. You had it, that's all I know. If you lost it, it is not our fault.

Ah! Now perhaps we'll get something from you. Will you tell me or will you be hanged by your thumbs from that stout limb up there until you are ready to tell me where the charter is?

Governor Andros, I fear you have forgotten yourself in your rage. Master Willys is entitled to a trial before any such punishment can be meted out to him.

Silence, or I'll have you strung up with him! Gad, sir, I'll fill this oak tree with stiff-necked rebellious Connecticut men, but I'll have that charter!

Give him a hand there. [sound of starting to climb the tree] Have the men found anything in the house, Colonel?

All right, Sergeant, come down. I thought we'd get something out of them if we scared them. Well, Captain?

Just a minute. You have lost it. You also have given us your receipt for it; therefore you should have it.

You can't. I can assure you of that, but here is what I propose. The committee is willing to turn over the receipt to you if you will stop this foolish and destructive search for something you can't find.

Ah, very well, then. But, sir, you'll look very foolish when you report to the Privy Council that you did not get the charter, and we produce your signed receipt!

What? Why! Ah—very well then, give me the receipt and I'll leave. After all, your charter will do you no good. It's revoked.

Exactly! That's a very sensible view to take, Governor Andros. I congratulate you.

Colonel Bligh, draw up your guard and prepare to return to Boston. [orders and confusion]

Indeed it was. Another foot up the tree, and the Sergeant would have had the charter.

ANNOUNCER

By saving the charter Connecticut preserved her claim to separate government, and in 1694 the King decided that the charter was in full legal force. It served as the fundamental order of Connecticut government down to the Revolution and until 1818, when a new state constitution superseded it.

The oak in which the charter was so well hidden was called from that time the "Charter Oak." It stood until August 21, 1856, when it fell. At sunset of that day the bells of Hartford tolled, and mourning was displayed for the historic old tree. And today interested tourists may see the spot where the Charter Oak stood and see a piece of the old tree in the State House.

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