Hope Leslie, or Early Times in the Massachusetts

Sir William Fletcher writes a letter to his brother. He plans to have William Fletcher, his nephew, inherit his wealth and marry his daughter, Alice. However, there is a condition: Fletcher must swear allegiance to the King and Crown and have no association with the Puritans. Alice and Fletcher are already affectionate when Sir William tells the boy his conditions. Swearing allegiance to the King will also require him to swear allegiance to the King’s established church. Fletcher decides that he will not see Alice again. He decides to return to London to see his father. While Fletcher is mere hours away from the paternal home, his father dies. Having no other family, Fletcher goes to Groton to visit a friend, Mr. Winthrop. Winthrop tells him that soon a ship is leaving for New England, and he believes Fletcher could be of use.

Fletcher writes to Alice and Sir William, renouncing their favor and announcing his self-imposed exile from England. He hopes for at least one line from Alice before he goes. Just before he is ready to depart, she appears. She chides him for thinking that she would not have wanted to go with him. They are about to board the boat when Sir William’s guards appear and seize her.