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Who is in charge of keeping the charter safe in The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare?

William Ashby took the charter and hid it to keep it safe. 


The charter is a point of contention between the loyalists and some of the colonists that want to make sure they keep their rights, whether they are interested in revolution or not.  At dinner, Matthew Wood and Reverend Bulkeley get into an argument about potential revolution. 



"I know more about that than you. I was surgeon in the Fort fight with the Indians. War is an evil, Matthew. Believe me, there can no good thing come of bloodshed."


"Who is asking for bloodshed? We ask only to keep the rights that have already been granted to us in the charter."  (Ch. 6) 



The charter was “given to Connecticut by King Charles” and according to Matthew, “King James has no right to go back on his brother's pledge.”  Connecticut made its laws based on the charter.  Reverend Bulkeley apparently believed that Connecticut “misinterpreted” the charter and how many rights they actually had.  Matthew felt that Connecticut had earned its rights by settling the land and facing the struggles involved in the harsh lifestyle of the colony. 


Judith tells Kit that Governor Andros of Massachusetts is “determined to take the charter away.”  Matthew Wood will not stand for this.  He does not want to lose the independence Connecticut has built up. 



“ … Everything we have built here in Connecticut will be wiped out. Our council, our courts will be mere shadows with no real power in them. Oh, we will endure it of course. What else can we do? If only we could somehow hold back the charter itself. This man has no right to take it from us." (Ch. 15) 



This is an area where Kit does not agree with her uncle.  She feels like he doesn’t realize how strong the king is, with a strong army and the Royal Fleet.  Kit is completely shocked when William Ashby comes to the house in the middle of the night to tell them that the charter is safe.  It is safe because he took it and hid it! 



"'The charter," [Matthew] insisted, "do you know what happened to it?"


William hesitated. For the first time he acknowledged the presence of the three women by one brief embarrassed glance up the stairs.


"No sir," he answered. "The room was dark." "Then how do you know it is safe?"


"It is safe, sir," said William positively. (Ch. 15)



Matthew is relieved.  He feels that as long as the charter is hidden, the governor can’t get it and the people of Connecticut can hold up their heads.  They have forestalled revolution for a while.

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