 On April 2, 1667, the Council of War assembled at Plymouth to prepare for a possible war with the Dutch and French.The Council consisted of Governor Prence, John Alden, Major Josiah Winslow, Captains Thomas Southworth, and William Bradford (son of the late governor), and other prominent persons.It was decided that every military commissioned officer should have a formal commission with a draft of commissions to all officer ranks.