120 THE FATHERS OF NEW ENGLAND
sidering the work to be done, it is doubtful if any
commissioners, no matter how wisely selected,
could have performed the task, for Massachusetts
did not want to be regulated.
The general object of the commission was "to
unite and reconcile persons of very different judg-
ments and practice in all things," particularly
concerning "the peace and prosperity of the people
and their joint submission and obedience to us
and our government." More specifically, the
commissioners were to effect the overthrow of
the Dutch, investigate conditions among the
Indians, capture the regicides, secure obedience
to the navigation acts, look into the question of
boundaries, and determine the title to the Nar-
ragansett country, henceforth to be called the
King's Province, The commissioners were to
make it clear that they were not come to interfere
with the prevailing religious systems, but to d^-
mand liberty of conscience for all, though Claren-
don could not repress the hope that ultimately
the New Englanders might return to the Anglican
fold. The secret instructions were even more
remarkable as evidence of a complete misunder-
standing of conditions in New England. Claren-
don wished to secure for the Crown the power to