For this business is of so
great concernment that it can never be too solemnly, too thoroughly
or too publicly examined."
Others agreed that this was right. So the messengers stayed. Then
there came impatient cries from every part of the hall, "The Charter!
The Charter! God save the King!"
So the charter was brought and solemnly read.
Then the secretary stood up. "I pray you, gentlemen," he said, "to
observe well the words of the charter on the point of electing a
Governor. You see it is thereby left to your own free choice. This
I take it is so very plain that we shall not need to say anything
more about it. And no doubt these gentlemen when they depart will
give his Majesty a just information of the case."
This speech was received with great noise and cheering. In the midst
of it a friend of Sir Edwin's stood up and begged for silence. And
when the noise had abated a little he said, "Sir Edwin asks me to
say that he withdraws his name for election. I therefore propose
that the King's messengers choose two names and that we choose
a third. Then let all these three names be set upon the balloting
box. And so go to the election in God's name. And let His will be
done."
Thereupon with one voice the whole assembly cried out, "Southampton!
Southampton!"
The King's messengers then pretended that they were quite pleased.
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