royal courts. 326 Strangely enough, no reliance was placed upon the charter 
provision. The Privy Council acted favorably upon the petition, directing the 
governors of the four New England colonies respectively to appoint commissioners 
and jurors finally to determine all differences concerning the Pawtuxet 
lands. 327 
Action under the commission was prevented by King Philip's War, and the 
absence of commissioners until October, 1677, when the Court of Commissioners, 
eight in number, assembled with a jury at Providence to hear the matters 
328 Declarations were then filed by Harris against the four rival claimants 
and Providence township, and the Court of Commissioners proceeded to the 
hearing. 329 In November, 1677, verdicts were returned in favor of Harris in 
all the actions. 330 An appeal to England by the Warwick representatives was 
denied, the commissioners allegedly stating that it would be of ill consequence 
to the country to allow of any appeal to the King. 331 
The Warwick representatives thereupon petitioned the King in Council, 
complaining of the unjust proceedings of the commissioners and praying a 
stop be put thereto. Further, that for the determination of this and like differences 
between the colonies and for avoiding chargeable appeals from such 
remote parts, the King would settle a royal authority over all New England 
and erect a Supreme Court of Judicature there. 332 The Committee, to which 
the matter was referred, reported that the commissioners had acted ultra vires 
in judging the Warwick lands, that therefore the inhabitants should not be 
disturbed in their quiet possession, and that all things relating thereto remain 
in statu quo until Harris made out sufficient right before the Council Board. 
As to the Pawtuxet lands, Harris et al. were to be quietly possessed thereof, 
according to the other four verdicts. An Order in Council was accordingly 
issued on January 31,1678/9. 333 
s2e lbid., 159. 
327 2 Pub. Ree. Col. Conn., 586-88; Wyllys 
Papers, 21 Conn. Hist. Soc. Coll., 218-21; ej. 
the form of commission submitted by Harris 
{Harris Papers, 129-42). 
328 Ibid., 180-85, 191-93- A meeting at Pawtuxet 
on August 22, 1677, was rendered 
abortive by absence of the Rhode Island members 
(2 Pub. Rec. Col. Conn., 588; Harris 
Papers, 190). Harris had earlier importuned 
the several governors for summonses to the 
defendants within their respective jurisdictions 
with varied success (ibid., 188-91). 
329 For the declaration against Towers see 
Harris Papers, 193, 205; against Calverly, ibid., 
194; against the Town of Providence, ibid., 
198. For an inclusive plea by Harris et al. see 
1 R.I. Hist. Soc. Proc, 185-213. For the answers 
of the town of Providence see Harris 
Papers, 214, 215; of Calverly, ibid., 220; of 
Roger Williams, Letters of Roger Williams, 
387; 15 Early Rec. Town Prov., 162. 
330 Harris Papers, 223-25. 
331 1 ARC, Col., #1224. Compare the Harris 
view, Harris Papers, 268—69. 
332 PC 2/66/372; Harris Papers, 234. For the 
petition of Holden and Greene, the Warwick 
agents, see 5 Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. (Ist ser.), 
505. For the answer of the Massachusetts Bay 
agents to this petition see Harris Papers, 246; 
CSP, Col., 1677-80, #766. For the replication 
of Holden and Greene see ibid., #767. Cf. 
the attitude of the Committee of Trade and 
Plantations, ibid., #768. 
333 PC 2/67/70-73.