Chapter I.

The discovery of America is one of
the most celebrated achievements in the annals
of history. Christopher Columbus, the discoverer,
was a native of the Republic of Genoa. He
was born in 14471447, and, at the age of fourteen,
entered upon a seafaring life, in which profession
he was eminently distinguished. After a long and
fruitless application to several courts of Europe,
his plan of exploring new regions obtained the approbation
of Isabella, Queen of Castile. Through B B1v 10
her patronage he set sail, 14921492, with three small
vessels, which contained one hundred and twenty
seamen. The formidable difficulties, which attended
his voyage to regions hitherto unexplored,
were, at length, surmounted by his astonishing
fortitude and perseverance. After discovering several
of the West-India islands, he built a fort, and
left a garrison of thirty-five men in Hispaniola, to
maintain the Spanish pretensions in that country.
He set out on his return to Spain in 14931493, and
arrived in March, with the joyful intelligence of a
new world, excelling the kingdoms of Europe in
gold and silver, and blest with a luxuriant soil.

The voyages of Columbus paved the way for
other European adventurers, who were stimulated
by ambition and avarice to make further discoveries;
till, finally, the rich empires of Mexico
and Peru were subdued by lawless invaders. The
feeling heart bleeds in reviewing the history of
South-America, and is filled with horror at the
successful villainy of its intrepid conquerors.Open note 1Back to note ¹

The history of North-America exhibits a very
different scene. Many of the first settlers of this
country were animated, by the desire of possessing
religious liberty, to abandon their native land,
where they enjoyed ease and affluence; and to
struggle through a variety of hardships, in an uncultivated
wilderness inhabited by savages.

The settlements of New-England, which are
the particular object of the ensuing history, owe B2r 11Open note Back to note
their rise to the religious disputes that attended
the reformation in England.

When King Henry VIII. renounced the papal
supremacy, he transferred to himself the spiritual
power which had been exercised by the
Bishops of Rome. He set up himself as supreme
head of the English church, and commanded all
his subjects to pay allegiance to him in his newly
assumed character.

This claim was maintained by his son and successor
Edward VI. in whose reign the reformation
made great progress, and a service book was
published by royal authority, as the standard of
worship and discipline. His sister Mary, who succeeded
him, restored the papal supremacy, and
raised such a violent persecution against the reformers,
that numbers of them fled into Germany
and the Netherlands, where they departed from
the uniformity established in England, and became
divided in their sentiments and practice respecting
religious worship.

At the accession of Elizabeth, they returned
to their native country with sanguine hopes of reforming
the church of England, according to the
respective opinions which they had embraced in
their exile. But they soon found that the Queen
was fond of the establishment made in the reign of
her brother, Edward, and strongly prejudiced in
favor of pomp and ceremony in religion. She
asserted her supremacy in the most absolute terms,
and erected an high commission court, with extensive B2v 12
jurisdiction in ecclesiastical affairs. In consequence
of the rigorous measures which were pursued
to enforce uniformity, a separation from the
established church took place. Those who were
desirous of a further reformation from the Romish
superstitions, and of a more pure and perfect
form of religion, were denominated Puritans.Open note 2Back to note ²

During the reign of Elizabeth, the Puritans, or
Non-Conformists, as they were called, from their
refusing to conform to the ceremonies of the
church of England, were severely persecuted.
Some were cast into prison, where a number perished;
others were banished, and a few were put
to death. Those Protestants who, during the
bloody reign of Mary, suffered all the rigor of
persecution, now encountered each other with the
same cruel animosity. The manner of proceeding
was indeed softened; banishment, fines and imprisonment
were substituted for the unrelenting
vengeance of the stake. But the principle was
the same, and produced a similar effect. In both
reigns the number of those who refused to conform
to the established worship increased.Open note 3Back to note ³

The persecution of the Puritans was continued
with great severity during the reign of James I.
until, despairing of redress, they determined to
seek an asylum in a foreign land, where they
could enjoy the free exercise of their religious
opinions.

Open note 4Back to note ⁴At the period, when the persecution in this
reign had arisen to its highest degree under Archbishop
Bancroft, Mr. Robinson, a dissenting clergyman
in England, with part of his congregation,
removed to Amsterdam, in Holland, and, with
permission of the magistrates, settled at Leyden
the subsequent year. There they formed a church,
and enjoyed religious liberty. After twelve years
residence in Holland, they meditated a removal to
America, because they judged it unsafe to educate
their children in a country, where the day devoted
by Christians to religious rest, was treated, by too
many of the inhabitants, as a day of levity and
diversion. The other motives, which induced them
to emigrate to America were, to preserve the morals
of the youth; to prevent them from leaving
their parents, and engaging in business unfriendly
to religion, from want of employment at
home; to avoid the inconvenience of incorporating
with the Dutch; to lay a foundation for propagating
the gospel in the remote parts of the
world; and, by separating from all the existing
establishments in Europe, to form the model of a
pure church, free from the admixture of human
additions; and a system of civil policy unfettered
by the arbitrary institutions of the old world.Open note 5Back to note ⁵

As the new world appeared the proper theatre
for the execution of their designs, after serious
and repeated addresses to Heaven for direction,
they resolved to cross the Atlantic. They applied B3v 14
Open note 6Back to note ⁶ to the Virginia company for permission to establish
themselves in America within their limits,
and petitioned King James to allow them liberty
of conscience.

The Virginia company freely consented to give
them a patent, with as ample privileges as were
in their power to grant. But such was the prevailing
bigotry of the age, that the solicitations of
some of the most respectable characters in the kingdom
could not prevail on the King and Bishops
to allow the refugees liberty of conscience under
the royal seal. His Majesty, however, at last
gave private assurance, that they should live unmolested,
provided they behaved peaceably, but
persisted in refusing to tolerate them by public authority.
The hope that the distance of their situation
would secure them from the jurisdiction of
ecclesiastical courts, induced them, notwithstanding,
to put their plan in execution; and, after
long attendance, much expence, and labor, they
obtained a patent.Open note 7Back to note ⁷

Open note 8Back to note ⁸Whilst preparations were making for the departure
of the adventurers for New-England, a
day was appointed for solemn prayer, on which
occasion Mr. Robinson, in a discourse from the
1st of Samuel, xxiii. 3—4, endeavoured to dispel
their apprehensions, and inspire them with Christian
fortitude. As it was not convenient for all
to remove at first, the majority, with their pastor, B4r 15
Open note 9Back to note ⁹ concluded to remain for the present in Leyden.
Mr. John Brewster, assistant to Mr. Robinson,
was chosen to perform ministerial offices
to the first adventurers. Two ships were prepared,
one of which was fitted out in Holland, the other
hired in London. When the time of separation
drew nigh, their pastor preached a farewell discourse
from Ezra viii. 21. A large concourse of
friends from Leyden and Amsterdam accompanied
the emigrants to the ship, which lay at Delft-Haven.
The night was spent in fervent and affectionate
prayers, and in that pathetic intercourse
of soul, which the feeling heart can better conceive
than describe. The affecting scene drew
tears even from the eyes of strangers. When the
period, in which the voyagers were about to depart,
arrived, they all, with their beloved pastor, fell
on their knees, and, with eyes, hands and hearts
raised to heaven, fervently commended their adventuring
brethren to the blessing of the Lord.
Thus, after mutual embraces, accompanied with
many tears, they bade a long, and to many of
them a final adieu.Open note 10Back to note ¹⁰

On the 1620-07-2222d of July, they sailed for Southampton,
where they met the ship from London, with
the rest of the emigrants.

On the 1620-08-055th of August, both vessels proceeded
to sea, but returned twice into port, on account
of defects in the one from Delft, which was dismissed.

Open note 11Back to note ¹¹An ardent desire of enjoying religious liberty
finally overcame all difficulties. A company of an
hundred and one persons betook themselves to the
London ship, and sailed from Plymouth the 1620-09-066th
of September. After many delays, difficulties and
dangers, they made Cape-Cod on the 1620-11-099th of November,
at break of day, and entered the harbor
on the 1620-11-1010th.

It was their intention to settle at the mouth of
Hudson’s River; but the Dutch, with the view of
planting a colony in that place, bribed the pilot
to conduct them to these northern coasts, and
then, under various pretences, to discourage them
from prosecuting their former plan.Open note 12Back to note ¹²

As they were not within the limits of their patent
from the Virginia company, they saw the
necessity of establishing a separate government for
themselves. Accordingly, having offered their devout
and ardent acknowledgements to God for
their safe arrival, they formed themselves into a
body politic, under the crown of England, whilst
on board, for the purpose of establishing “just
and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions
and offices.” On the 1620-11-1010th of November the adventurers
subscribed this contract, thereby making
it the basis of their government. They chose
Mr. John Carver, a gentleman of piety and approved
abilities, to be their governor the first
year; and the practice of an annual election continued C1r 17
Open note 13Back to note ¹³ unchanged during the existence of their
government.Open note 14Back to note ¹⁴

The first object of the emigrants, after disembarkation,
was to fix on a convenient place for
settlement. In this attempt they were obliged to
encounter numerous difficulties, and to suffer
incredible hardships. Many of them were sick in
consequence of the fatigues of a long voyage;
the provisions were bad; the season was uncommonly
cold; the Indians, thought afterwards
friendly, were now hostile, and the adventurers
were unacquainted with the coast. These difficulties
they surmounted, and on the 1620-12-3131st of December
were all safely landed at a place, which
they called Plymouth, in grateful remembrance of
the last town they left in their native country.Open note 15Back to note ¹⁵

The historians of New-England relate two
remarkable events, which wonderfully facilitated
the settlement of Plymouth and Massachusetts.
The one was a war begun by the Tarratenes, a
nation who resided eastward of Penobscot. These
formidable people surprised the chief sachem at his
head-quarters, and destroyed him with all his family;
upon which all the other sachems, who were
subordinate to him, contended among themselves
for the sovereignty; and in these dissensions many
of them, as well as their unhappy people perished.Open note 16Back to note ¹⁶
The other was a mortal and contagious distemper C C1v 18
Open note 17Back to note ¹⁷which prevailed among the Indians two or three
years previously to the arrival of the English at
Plymouth, and proved fatal to such numbers,
that some tribes were almost extinct. The extent
of this pestilence was between Penobscot in
the east, and Narraganset in the west. These two
tribes escaped, while the intermediate people were
wasted and destroyed.Open note 18Back to note ¹⁸

The prospects and situation of the Plymouth
settlers were gloomy beyond expression. The
whole company, which landed consisted of but one
hundred and one souls. They were three thousand
miles from their native country, with a dreary
winter in prospect, in an uncultivated wilderness,
surrounded with hostile barbarians, and without
any hope of human succour. Their only civilized
neighbors were a French settlement at Port Royal, and an English settlement at Virginia; the
nearest of which was five hundred miles distant,
much too remote to afford a hope of relief in a
time of danger or famine. To obtain a supply of
provisions by cultivating the stubborn soil required
an immensity of previous labor, and was, at
best, a distant and uncertain dependence. They
were denied the aid or favor of the court of England
—without a patent—without a public promise
of a peaceable enjoyment of their religious liberties.
In this melancholy situation, forty-five of
their number died before the opening of the next
spring, of disorders occasioned by their tedious C2r 19
Open note 19Back to note ¹⁹voyage, with insufficient accomodations, and
their uncommon exertions and fatigues.Open note 20Back to note ²⁰

The new colony supported these complicated
hardships with heroic fortitude. To enjoy full liberty
to worship God, according to the dictates of
their consciences, was esteemed by them the greatest
of blessings. And the religious fervor, which
induced them to abandon their native country fortified
their minds, and enabled them to surmount
every difficulty, which could prove their patience,
or evince their firmness.

To their unspeakable satisfaction, their association
in England sent them a supply of necessaries, and
a reinforcement of colonists the subsequent year.Open note 21Back to note ²¹

Open note 22Back to note ²²The prudent, friendly and upright conduct of
the Plymouth settlers towards the natives secured
their friendship and alliance. As early as 1621-03March
Massassoiet, one of the most powerful sagamores
of the neighboring Indians, with sixty attendants,
paid them a visit, and entered into a treaty of
peace and amity. They reciprocally agreed, to
avoid injuries, to punish offenders, to restore stolen
goods, to afford mutual assistance in all justifiable
wars, to promote peace among their neighbors,
&c. Massassoiet, and his successors, for fifty years
inviolably observed this treaty. His example was
followed by others. On the 1621-09-1313th of September
nine sachems declared allegiance to King James.
Massassoiet and many of his sub-sachems, who inhabited
round the bays of Plymouth and Massachusetts, C2v 20
Open note 23Back to note ²³ subscribed a writing, acknowledging subjection
to the king of England.Open note 24Back to note ²⁴

The Plymotheans early agreed, and purchased
a right to the lands, which they cultivated from the
Indian proprietors.Open note 25Back to note ²⁵

For several years after their arrival the whole
property of the colony was in common, from
which every person was furnished with necessary
articles. In the beginning of each year a certain
quantity of land was selected for planting, and
their proportion of labor was assigned to each one.Open note 26Back to note ²⁶

At the close of the year 16241624 the plantation
consisted of one hundred and eighty persons.
They had built a town consisting of thirty-two
dwelling houses, erected a citadel for its defence,
and laid out farms for its support.Open note 27Back to note ²⁷

Open note 28Back to note ²⁸The following year the new colony received
the melancholy intelligence of the death of the
Rev. Mr. Robinson, who died at Leyden in the
moth of 1625-03March, in the 50th year of his age.
The character of this excellent man, who was distinguished
both by his natural abilities and an
highly cultivated mind, was greatly dignified by
the mild and amiable virtues of Christianity. He
possessed a liberality of sentiment which was uncommon
for the age, in which he lived.Open note 29Back to note ²⁹ He was C3r 21
Open note 30Back to note ³⁰revered and esteemed by the Dutch divines, venerated
and beloved by his people; and the harmony
which subsisted between them was perfect and
uninterrupted. His death was greatly lamented
by the people at Plymouth, who were flattering
themselves with the pleasing hope of his speedy arrival
in New-England. In the beginning of the
year 16291629, they chose Mr. Ralph Smith for their
pastor. Previously to his ordination, Mr. Brewster,
who had been ruling elder to the church at
Leyden, performed all the ministerial offices among
them, except administering the sacraments.

After the death of Mr. Robinson, another
part of his congregation joined their brethren in
America.

Open note 31Back to note ³¹When the plantation amounted to about three
hundred persons, they obtained a patent from the
council of Plymouth. By this grant their lands
were secured against all English claims.Open note 32Back to note ³²

It is a distinguished trait in the settlements of
New-England, that they were established from religious
motives, by persons of piety and information.

The Plymotheans were a plain, industrious,
conscientious and pious people. Though their
piety was fervent, yet it was also rational, and
disposed them to a strict observance of the moral
and social duties. The leading characters among
them were men of superior abilities and undaunted
fortitude. The respectable names of Carver, C3v 22
Open note 33Back to note ³³Bradford, Winslow, Prince and others, are immortalized
in the annals of New-England.

Respecting their civil principles, an ardent
love of liberty, an unshaken attachment to the
rights of men, with a desire to transmit them to
their latest posterity, were the principles, which governed
their conduct.Open note 34Back to note ³⁴

They made the general laws of England their
rule of government, and never established a distinct
code for themselves. They added, however,
such municipal laws as were, from time to time,
found necessary to regulate new and emergent
cases, which were unprovided for by the common
and statute laws of England.

During the infancy of the colony, the whole
body of male inhabitants were frequently assembled,
to determine affairs both legislative and judicial.
When their increase rendered this method
impracticable, the governor and assistants were the
supreme judiciary power, and sole in judging high
offences. Crimes of less magnitude were cognizable
before inferior courts and single magistrates;
and in civil matters appeals could be made from
inferior jurisdictions to the supreme. In the year
16391639, they established a house of representatives,
composed of deputies from the several towns.Open note 35Back to note ³⁵

As the professed design of the settlement of the
colony was the advancement of religion, their C4r 23
Open note 36Back to note ³⁶principal object was to form churches on what
they supposed to be the gospel plan. Part of the
Plymouth settlers had imbibed the opinions of the
Brownists; but the instructions of Mr. Robinson
lessened their attachment to their former sentiments,
and they embraced the congregational system,
which was maintained by this pious and benevolent
divine. They were of opinion, that no
churches or church officers had any power to controul
other churches or officers; and that all church
members had equal rights and privileges. Their
church officers were pastors, ruling elders and
deacons. In doctrinal points they agreed with the
articles of the church of England, which are
strictly Calvinian.Open note 37Back to note ³⁷

Agreeably to the prevailing prejudices of the
age in which they lived, they asserted the necessity
of uniformity in religious worship. Yet, however
rigid the Plymotheans might have been at
their first separation from the church of England,
they never discovered so great a degree of intolerance
as, at a subsequent period, was exhibited in
the Massachusetts colony.Open note 38Back to note ³⁸

Chapter II.

Open note 39Back to note ³⁹Whilst the first settlers of New-
England were encountering various difficulties,
their brethren, the Puritans, in England were suffering
a severe persecution. Under the reign of
Charles I. the government of the church was
committed to Archbishop Laud, a man of warm
passions and strong prejudices. Through his influence
the royal prerogative was strained to the
highest despotism. He was ambitious in his administration
to imitate the splendor of the church
of Rome. He entertained exalted ideas of the
authority of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and was
determined to support it by coercive measures.
His aversion to the Puritans impelled him to prosecute
them with rigorous severity. In the high
commission court and star-chamber they were imprisoned, D1r 25Open note Back to note
fined and banished, in an arbitrary and
illegal manner.Open note 40Back to note ⁴⁰

“The Laudean persecution, which caused the
destruction of thousands in England, proved to be
a principle of life and vigor to the infant settlements
in America.”Open note 41Back to note ⁴¹ The oppressive government,
which was exercised in England, both in church
and state, induced several men of eminence to
meditate a removal to America, if the measures
they pursued for establishing civil and religious liberty
in their native country should prove abortive.
For this purpose, they solicited and obtained grants
of land in New-England, and were assiduously engaged
in settling them. Among these patentees
were the Lords Brook, Say and Seal, the Pelhams,
the Hampdens, and the Pyms; names
which have since been greatly distinguished in the
annals of their country.

Open note 42Back to note ⁴²Actuated by religious motives, a small party
emigrated from the west of England, under the
conduct of Mr. Roger Conant. They first came
to Plymouth, and, upon their removal from
thence, in the year 16261626, they settled on that
part of the American coast, which afterwards acquired
the name of Salem. The various difficulties
which they were obliged to encounter induced them
to form the design of abandoning their settlement,
and returning to England. In the mean time the
Rev. Mr. White, minister of Dorchester, had D D1v 26 Open note 43Back to note ⁴³projected an asylum for the silenced Non-Conformist
clergy in Massachusetts-Bay. In order to facilitate
his design, he used all his influence to persuade
Mr. Conant and his party to remain, promising
to send them speedily a patent, necessaries
and friends. Relying on these assurances, and
encouraged under their present hardships by the
soft persuasions of hope, they determined to await
the event.Open note 44Back to note ⁴⁴

Mr. White engaged a number of influential
characters to interest themselves in his plan. On
the 1627-03-1919th of March, Sir Henry Roswel, and several
other gentlemen, who dwelt about Dorchester,
received a patent of Massachusetts-Bay from the
council of Plymouth.

Open note 45Back to note ⁴⁵These gentlemen petitioned for a royal charter,
under the idea that their existence and powers
would be thereby secured and promoted. They
succeeded; and a charter of incorporation was
granted by King Charles I. constituting them a
body politic, by the name of “the Governor and
Company of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England,”
with as ample powers as any other corporation
in the realm of England. The patent recited
the grant of American territory to the council
of Plymouth in 16201620. It re-granted Massachusetts-Bay
to Sir Henry Roswel and others.
The whole executive power of the corporation was
invested in a governor, deputy-governor, and eighteen
assistants; and, until the annual election of D2r 27
Open note 46Back to note ⁴⁶the company could commence, the governor, deputy-governor,
and eighteen assistants were specified.
The governor and seven or more assistants
were authorized to meet in monthly courts, for
dispatching such business, as concerned the company
or settlement. But the legislative powers of
the corporation were vested in a more popular assembly,
composed of the governor, deputy-governor,
the assistants and freemen of the company.
This assembly, to be convened on the last Wednesday
of each of the four annual terms, by the title
of the general court, was empowered to enact laws
and ordinances for the good of the body politic,
and the government of the plantation, and its inhabitants,
provided they should not be repugnant
to the laws and statutes of England. This assembly
was empowered to elect their governor, deputy-governor,
and other necessary officers, and to
confer the freedom of the company. The company
was allowed to transport persons, merchandize,
weapons,&c. to New-England, exempt from duty,
for the term of seven years; and emigrants
were entitled to all the privileges of Englishmen.
Such are the general outlines of the charter.Open note 47Back to note ⁴⁷

About the time in which the patent of Massachusetts
received the royal confirmation, Captain John
Endicot, with one hundred persons, was sent over
by the patentees, to prepare the way for the settlement
of a permanent colony in that part of D2v 28
Open note 48Back to note ⁴⁸New-England. After their arrival, they began a
settlement, which they named Salem. This was
the first town in Massachusetts, the second in New-
England.

Open note 49Back to note ⁴⁹The subsequent year, two hundred persons
came over and joined Mr. Endicot’s colony. Soon
after an hundred of the planters removed, and
settled Charlestown.Open note 50Back to note ⁵⁰

Agreeably to the professed design of their
emigration, the colony made it their primary concern
to form a church at Salem, upon a similar
plan of order and discipline with that of their
brethren at Plymouth. The church of Plymouth
was convoked to be present by their messengers at
the ordination of Messrs. Shelton and Higginson.
The day was spent in fasting and prayer. Thirty
persons, who desired to join the communion, professed
their assent to a confession of faith prepared by
Mr. Higginson, and subscribed a covenant drawn up
by the same gentleman. Messrs. Shelton and Higginson
were then ordained pastor and teacher. The
Plymouth messengers gave the right hand of fellowship,
by which ceremony the two churches
professed mutual affection and communion.Open note 51Back to note ⁵¹

Several gentlemen of fortune and distinguished
reputation made proposals to the Massachusetts
company for settling with their families in America,
on condition that the government should be
transferred to the inhabitants, and not continued
in the hands of the company in London. Mr. D3r 29
Open note 52Back to note ⁵²Matthew Craddock, the governor, communicated
this proposal to the general court. After some
debate, their plan was accepted, and the company
proceeded to a new election of officers, who were
to repair to and settle in New-England. John
Winthrop, Esq. of Groton, in Suffolk, a gentleman
of distinguished piety and ability, was chosen
governor. Mr. Thomas Dudley was elected deputy-governor;
and other worthy characters were
chosen for their council. The business of transferring
the patent and corporation, and procuring
new settlers, was prosecuted with vigor.Open note 53Back to note ⁵³

Open note 54Back to note ⁵⁴Previously to leaving their native country,
the new adventurers agreed upon a respectful address
to their brethren of the church of England.
Their object was to remove prejudices, conciliate
the minds of the disaffected, and recommend themselves
and their expedition to the favorable regards
of serious Christians of the Episcopal persuasion.
In this address they desired to be called their brethren;
they requested their prayers; and, in energetic
language, professed the most affectionate regard
for their welfare.Open note 55Back to note ⁵⁵

On the 1630-06-1212th of June, the company arrived at
Salem, with the governor, deputy-governor, assistants
and charter. Before the close of the year
the number of passengers amounted to seventeen
hundred. In this and the preceding year two
thousand planters arrived in New-England. These
settled about nine or ten towns and villages.

Open note 56Back to note ⁵⁶Many of the first settlers of Massachusetts were
possessed of large fortunes in their native country,
and enjoyed the elegant accommodations of life.
The striking contrast between their former ease
and affluence, and the hardships they now endured,
must have augmented their distress. They were
obliged to dispose of their large and valuable estates
to make provision for their enterprize. The
rigor of the climate, together with the fatigues and
exertions unavoidable in a new settlement, occasioned
diseases, which proved fatal to a large number
the first winter after their arrival. Their stock
of provisions falling short, the dreadful apprehension
of perishing by famine was added to their
other calamities.Open note 57Back to note ⁵⁷

Towards the close of the year the colony of
Charlestown removed to a peninsula, to which
they gave the name of Boston, from a town in
Lincolnshire, in England, the native residence of
some of the first settlers, and from whence they
expected the Rev. John Cotton, a celebrated Puritan
clergyman. They established a civil government,
and congregational church, over which the
Rev. John Wilson officiated as the first pastor.

Open note 58Back to note ⁵⁸The subsequent summer a number of passengers
arrived from England, among whom was the Rev.
John Elliot. This eminent divine spent his first
year in Boston, and performed ministerial offices
to the church in that place, in the absence
of Mr. Wilson, then on a voyage to England. A D4r 31
Open note 59Back to note ⁵⁹number of his particular friends having formed a
settlement, and collected a church, in a town
which they called Roxbury, he was ordained their
pastor the year after his arrival in New-England.Open note 60Back to note ⁶⁰

Open note 61Back to note ⁶¹In order to establish a union between the colonies,
the governor, accompanied by Mr. Wilson,
and other gentlemen, walked forty miles through
the woods as far as Plymouth. Mr. Bradford,
the governor of Plymouth, received them with
great respect; and the interview produced a permanent
friendship between the two plantations.

Open note 62Back to note ⁶²In the three following years great additions
were made to the Massachusetts colony. Among
which were several famous Non-Conformist divines,
viz. the Rev. John Cotton, Thomas Hooker,
and Samuel Stone. Mr. Cotton was immediately
chosen assistant to Mr. Wilson, in Boston,
and continued with him till his death. Mr. Hooker
was elected pastor of a church in Newtown,
since called Cambridge, and Mr. Stone was his assistant.
The settlement of these celebrated clergymen,
joined with the unrelenting severity of Archbishop
Laud’s administration, produced great emigrations.
New plantations were formed, and congregational
churches established in various parts of
the country.Open note 63Back to note ⁶³

Sir Henry Vane, who afterwards acted so conspicuous
a part in his native country, was among
the passengers who arrived at this period. In compliment
to his talents and family, he was chosen
governor the subsequent year.Open note 64Back to note ⁶⁴

Open note 65Back to note ⁶⁵The settlers of Massachusetts purchased their
lands of the native proprietors, and gave what was
deemed by those savages an adequate compensation.
The soil was to them of small value, as
they subsisted chiefly by hunting, and did not possess
the patient industry, which agriculture requires.
In the year 16331633, the colony passed an
act, prohibiting the purchase of the lands from
the natives, without having previously obtained a
licence from government.Open note 66Back to note ⁶⁶

After the governor and company removed
from London to Massachusetts, the change of place
and circumstances induced them to vary in certain
instances from the directions of the charter.
“They apprehended themselves subject to
no other law or rule of government, than what
arose from natural reason and the principles of
equity, except any positive rules from the word of
God.”Open note 67Back to note ⁶⁷ Influential characters among them maintained,
“that birth was no necessary cause of subjection;
for that the subject of any prince or state
had a natural right to emigrate to any other state,
or quarter of the world, when deprived of liberty
of conscience, and that upon such removal his allegiance
ceased.” They called their own a voluntary
civil subjection, arising merely from a mutual
compact between them and the king, founded upon
the charter. They acknowledged that this
compact obligated them not to be subject to, or
seek protection from, any other prince, nor to E1r 33
Open note 68Back to note ⁶⁸enact laws repugnant to those of England,&c.
On the other hand, they maintained, that they
were to be governed by laws made by themselves,
and by officers of their own electing.Open note 69Back to note ⁶⁹

When the Massachusetts colony completed their
system of government, instead of making the laws
of England the foundation of their code, they preferred
the laws of Moses. They also created a representative
body of their own motion in six years
after the grant of their charter, which was wholly
silent upon so important an institution. And although
it gave them no power to judge and determine
capital offences, the judicatories they established
assumed this act of sovereign authority. In
the same manner they supplied a defect of authority
to erect judicatories for the probate of wills;
to constitute courts with admiralty jurisdiction; to
impose taxes on the inhabitants, and to create
towns and other bodies corporate.Open note 70Back to note ⁷⁰

In 16441644, the general courts were reduced to
two in a year; and except in this, and a few other
unimportant circumstances, the government continued
the same until the people were deprived of
their charter.Open note 71Back to note ⁷¹

Most of the Massachusetts settlers had, while
in their native country, lived in communion with
the established church. The rigorous severity used
to enforce ceremonies, by them deemed unlawful,
occasioned their removal to New-England. The E E1v 34

Open note 72Back to note ⁷²Massachusetts churches, in general, were formed
on the congregational model, and maintained Calvinian
doctrines. The colony had no settled plan
of church discipline till after the arrival of Mr.
Gordon, whose opinion, in civil and sacred concerns,
was held in the highest estimation. He
gradually modelled all their church administrations,
and determined their ecclesiastical constitutions.
Open note 73Back to note ⁷³

This great man earnestly pleaded, “that the
government might be considered as a theocracy,
wherein the Lord was judge, lawgiver, and king;
that the laws he gave Israel might be adopted, so
far as they were of moral and perpetual equity;
that the people might be considered as God’s people,
in covenant with him; that none but persons
of approved piety and eminent abilities should be
chosen rulers; that the clergy should be consulted
in all matters of religion; and that the magistrates
should have a superintending and coercive power
over the churches.”Open note 74Back to note ⁷⁴

In consequence of the union thus formed between
the church and state, on the plan of the
Jewish theocracy, the ministers were called to sit
in council, and give their advice in matters of religion,
and cases of conscience, which came before
the court, and without them they never proceeded
to any act of an ecclesiastical nature. As
none were allowed to vote in the election of rulers E2r 35
Open note 75Back to note ⁷⁵but freemen, and freemen must be church members;
and as none could be admitted into the
church but by the elders, who first examined, and
then propounded them to the brethren for their
vote, the clergy acquired hereby a vast ascendency
over both rulers and people, and had, in effect, the
keys of the state as well as the church in their
hands. The magistrates, on the other hand, regulated
the gathering of the churches, interposed
in the settlement and dismission of ministers, arbitrated
in ecclesiastical controversies, and controuled
synodical assemblies. This coercive power in
the magistrates was deemed absolutely necessary
to preserve the order of the gospel.Open note 76Back to note ⁷⁶

The rigorous measures which, agreeably to
these principles, were used to enforce colonial uniformity,
and the effects they produced, will be related
in a future chapter.

Though the conduct of our ancestors, in the
application of the power of the civil magistrate to
religious concerns, was fraught with error, and
the liberal sentiments of the present age place their
errors in the most conspicuous point of view; their
memory ought ever to be held in veneration.
And while we review the imperfections which, at
present, cast a shade over their characters, we
ought to recollect those virtues, by which they
gave lustre to the age in which they lived, viz.
their ardent love of liberty when tyranny prevailed
in church and state; the fortitude with which they E2v 36
sacrificed ease and opulence, and encountered complicated
hardships in order to enjoy the sacred
rights of conscience; their care to lay a foundation
for solid learning, and establish wise and useful
institutions in their infant state; the immense
pains they took in settling and cultivating their
lands, and defending the country against the depredations
of surrounding Indians; and, above all,
their supreme regard for religion. As an eminent
author observes, “Religious to some degree of
enthusiasm it may be admitted they were, but this
can be no peculiar derogation from their character,
because it was at that time almost the universal
character not only of England, but of Christendom.
Had this, however, been otherwise, their
enthusiasm, considering the principles, on which it
was founded, and the ends, to which it was directed,
far from being a reproach, was greatly to
their honor. For I believe it will be found universally
true, that no great enterprize for the honor
and happiness of mankind was ever achieved
without a large mixture of that noble infirmity.
Whatever imperfections may be justly ascribed to
them, which, however, are as few as any mortals
have discovered, their judgment in forming their
policy was founded on wise and benevolent principles;
it was founded on revelation and reason too;
it was consistent with the best, greatest and wisest
legislators of antiquity.”Open note 77Back to note ⁷⁷

The Massachusetts colony rapidly increased. A
dreary wilderness in the space of a few years had
become a comfortable habitation, furnished with
the necessaries and conveniences of life. It is remarkable
that previously to this period, all the attempts
at settling the northern patent, upon secular
views, proved abortive. They were accompanied
with such public discouragement as would probably
have lost the continent to England, or have permitted
only the sharing of it with the other European
powers, as in the West-India islands, had
not the spirit of religion given rise to an effectual
colonization.

Chapter III.

Whilst religious principles animated
the settlers of Plymouth and Massachusetts
to encounter hardships in a dreary wilderness,
a spirit of enterprize and ambition induced others
to attempt settlements in different parts of the
new world. As early as 16221622, grants of land had
been made by the Plymouth council to two of
their most active members, viz. Sir Ferdinando
Gorges, and Captain John Mason. The subsequent
year they, in conjunction with several English
merchants, who stiled themselves “the company
of Laconia,” attempted the establishment of
a colony and fishery at the river Piscataqua. This
was the beginning of the settlement known since
by the name of New-Hampshire.Open note 78Back to note ⁷⁸

Open note 79Back to note ⁷⁹Several years after, some of the scattered
planters in the Bay of Massachusetts procured a
general meeting of the Indians at Squamscot falls, E4r 39
Open note 80Back to note ⁸⁰where they obtained from the Indian sachems
deeds of a tract of land between the rivers Piscataqua
and Merrimak.Open note 81Back to note ⁸¹ These lands, at a future
period, afforded an asylum for a number of exiles
whom persecution had driven from Massachusetts.

In this, and the two following years, the Plymouth
council made several grants of the lands on
the river Piscataqua to different proprietors. Dispirited
by the difficulties they were obliged to encounter,
the major part of the other adventurers
either relinquished their design, or sold their shares
to Mason and Gorges, who were more sanguine
than the rest, and became, either by purchase, or
tacit consent of the others, the principal, if not
sole, proprietors. These gentlemen renewed their
exertions with greater vigor; sent over a fresh supply
of servants and materials for carrying on the
settlement; and appointed Francis Williams, a
gentleman of good sense and discretion, to be
their governor.

Open note 82Back to note ⁸²The new settlers formed themselves into a body
politic, and entered into a voluntary association
for government.Open note 83Back to note ⁸³

Voluntary agreements formed a very important
title in the ancient jurisprudence of New-England.
Wherever the British emigrants settled a
colony without the authority of a charter, they
founded their police on a contract to which every
one agreed.

The District of Maine was settled by Sir Ferdinando
Gorges in nearly the same period with New- E4v 40
Open note 84Back to note ⁸⁴Hampshire. This gentleman was of an ambitious
and enterprizing spirit, a firm royalist, and strongly
attached to the national church. The adventurers
who repaired to this plantation entertained similar
opinions, though in the neighborhood of the
other colonies, they began to waver in their sentiments.
Gorges united with Mason, who was also
a royalist and Episcopalian, in an unsuccessful
attempt to obtain a general government over the
New-England settlements, which were intended to
be divided into twelve districts. When he found
his plan could not be effected, he solicited and obtained
Open note 85Back to note ⁸⁵ a charter from King Charles I. This patent
of the crown to Gorges, is said to have contained
more and greater powers than had ever been
granted by a sovereign to a subject. It enjoined
little else, in particular, than an establishment of
the Episcopal religion. Under this delegated authority,
Gorges appointed counsellors for the ordering
the affairs of the settlement. To perpetuate
his reputation, as land proprietor, he gave the
plantation of York the name of Gorgiana.

There was never any religious persecution in
the District of Maine, nor was it considered an object
of great importance to establish a regular support
for the clergy. The early want of religious
instruction proved highly detrimental to the inhabitants
of this country.Open note 86Back to note ⁸⁶

The rapid increase of Massachusetts settlement
induced a number from that colony to form the F1r 41
design of effecting a new plantation on Connecticut
river; the land there situated being celebrated
for its luxuriancy. The first grant of this
country was made by the Plymouth council to the
Earl of Warwick, in 16301630, and confirmed by his Majesty
Open note 87Back to note ⁸⁷ in council the same year. The succeeding year
the Earl assigned the grant to Lords Say and Seal,
Lord Brook, and nine others, who reserved it as
an asylum for the Puritan emigrants from England. Open note 88Back to note ⁸⁸

Open note 89Back to note ⁸⁹Several families from Roxbury, Dorchester,
Cambridge and Watertown, began to remove their
families to Connecticut. After a tedious and difficult
journey through swamps and rivers, over
mountains and rough grounds, which were passed
with great difficulty and fatigue, they arrived safely
at the places of their respective destination; and
commenced the settlement of the towns of Windsor,
Open note 90Back to note ⁹⁰ HartfordOpen note 91Back to note ⁹¹ and Weathersfield.Open note 92Back to note ⁹² The Rev.
Mr. Hooker, a respectable and pious clergyman,
was the leader in this enterprize.

“The hardships and distresses, of the first
planters of Connecticut,” says Dr. Trumbull,
“scarcely admit of a description. To carry much
provision or furniture through a pathless wilderness
was impracticable. Their principal provisions
and household furniture were therefore put on
board several small vessels, which by reason of delays
and the tempestuousness of the season, were
either cast away, or did not arrive.” Several vessels
were wrecked on the coast of New-England, F F1v 42
Open note 93Back to note ⁹³by the violence of the storms. Every resource appeared
to fail, and the people were under the
dreadful apprehension of perishing by famine.”
They supported themselves, in this distressing period,
with that heroic firmness and magnanimity
for which the first settlers of New-England had
been so eminently distinguished.Open note 94Back to note ⁹⁴

The Connecticut planters at first settled under
the general government of Massachusetts; but
finding themselves without the limits of their patent,
and being at full liberty to govern themselves
by their own institutions, they formed themselves,
by voluntary compact, into a distinct commonwealth.

Open note 95Back to note ⁹⁵The constitution of Connecticut ordained, that
there should be annually two general courts, or assemblies;
one on the second Thursday in April,
and the other on the second Thursday in September;
that the first should be the court of election,
in which should be annually chosen, at least six magistrates,
and all other public officers. It ordained,
that a governor should be chosen distinct from the
six magistrates, for one year, and until another
should be chosen and sworn; and that the governor
and magistrates should be sworn to a faithful
execution of the laws of the colony, and in cases
in which there was no express law established, to
be governed by the divine word. Agreeably to
the constitution, the choice of these officers was
to be made by the whole body of freemen convened F2r 43
Open note 96Back to note ⁹⁶ in general election. It provided that all
persons, who had been received as members of the
several towns, by a majority of the inhabitants,
and had taken the oath of fidelity to the commonwealth,
should be admitted freemen of the colony.
This was the most material point, in which the constitution
of Connecticut differed from that of Massachusetts,
which confined the privileges of freemen
to the communion of the churches.Open note 97Back to note ⁹⁷

Agreeably to the constitution, the freemen
convened at Hartford on the second Thursday in
April, and elected their officers for the ensuing
year. John Haynes, Esq. a gentleman of unblemished
integrity, sound judgment and eminent piety,
was chosen for the governor of the colony.Open note 98Back to note ⁹⁸

About the time of the above mentioned emigration
from Massachusetts, the frontiers of Connecticut
were strengthened by the exertions of the
Puritan noblemen Lords Say and Brook. After
having obtained a grant, they deputed George
Fenwick, Esq. who conducted their affairs, to
build a fort near the confluence of the river Connecticut.
He called the building Saybrook, in
honor of his noble patrons. John Winthrop, jun.
Esq. son of the first governor of Massachusetts, assisted
him in this undertaking, and was appointed
governor. Some of the grantees contemplated
transporting their families and effects to this territory;
but relinquished their design when affairs F2v 44
began to take a new turn in their native country.
After the ardor of emigration ceased, Mr. Fenwick,
agent for Lords Brook and Say, was authorised
to dispose of their lands, which were purchased
in 16441644 by the people who had removed
from Massachusetts.Open note 99Back to note ⁹⁹

Open note 100Back to note ¹⁰⁰Whilst the planters of Connecticut were thus
exerting themselves in prosecuting and regulating
the affairs of that colony, another was projected
and settled at Quinnipiak, afterwards called New-
Haven. This year two large ships arrived in the
Massachusetts-Bay, with passengers from London
and its vicinities. Amongst these passengers were
a number of celebrated characters, in particular
Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hopkins, who had been opulent
merchants in London, and were eminent for
abilities and integrity, and Mr. John Davenport,
a famous clergyman in the city of London, who
was distinguished for piety, learning, and the uprightness
of his conduct.

The reputation and opulence of the principal
gentlemen of this company, made the people of
Massachusetts exceedingly desirous of their settlement
in that commonwealth. To effect this purpose
great pains were taken by particular persons
and towns; and the general court offered them
their choice of a place of residence. Influenced,
however, by the delightful prospects, which the
country afforded, and flattering themselves that
by removing to a considerable distance, they F3r 45
Open note 101Back to note ¹⁰¹should be out of the jurisdiction of a general governor,
with which the plantations were then threatened,
they were determined to settle a distinct colony.
In the autumn of this year Mr. Eaton and
others, who were of the company, made a journey
to Connecticut, to explore the lands and harbors
on the sea coast. They pitched upon Quinnipiak
for the place of their settlement.

Open note 102Back to note ¹⁰²On the 1638-04-1818th of April they kept their first Sabbath
in New-Haven. The people assembled under
a large spreading oak, and Mr. Davenport preached
to them from Matthew iv. I.

The New-Haven adventurers were the most
opulent company, which came into New-England,
and they designed to plant a capital colony. They
laid out their town plat in squares, designing it
for a great and elegant city. In the centre was a
large, beautiful square. This was compassed with
others, making nine in the whole.Open note 103Back to note ¹⁰³

The colony, like Connecticut, formed a government
by voluntary agreement, without any
charter or authority from the crown. On the 1639-07-044th
Open note 104Back to note ¹⁰⁴of July all the free planters assembled at Quinnipiak,
to lay the foundations of their civil and religious
policy.

The Rev. Mr. Davenport introduced this important
transaction, by a discourse from Proverbs
ix. I. His design was to shew, that the church,
or house of God, should be formed of seven pillars,
or principal brethren, to whom all the other F3v 46
Open note 105Back to note ¹⁰⁵members of the church should be added. After
this discourse the planters formed a number of
resolutions, the fundamental article of which was,
that the scriptures hold forth a perfect rule for
the direction and government of all men in their
civil and religious duties, as well in families and
commonwealth, as in ecclesiastical affairs. Hence
the people bound themselves to settle civil government
according to the divine word. After full
deliberation it was determined,

That church members only should be free
burgesses; and that they only should chuse magistrates
among themselves, to have power of transacting
all the public civil affairs of the plantation;
of making and repealing laws, dividing inheritances,
deciding of differences, and transacting all
business of a similar nature.

That civil officers might be chosen, and government
proceed according to these resolutions, it
was necessary a church should be formed. Without
this there could be neither freemen nor magistrates.
Mr. Davenport then proceeded to make
proposals relative to the formation of a church,
and it was resolved to this effect:

That twelve men should be chosen, that their
fitness for the foundation work might be tried;
and that it should be in the power of these twelve
men to chuse seven to begin the church.

It was agreed that if seven men could not be
found among the twelve qualified for the foundation
work, that such other persons should be taken F4r 47
Open note 106Back to note ¹⁰⁶into the number, upon trial, as should be judged
most suitable. The form of a solemn charge,
or oath, was drawn up and agreed upon at this
meeting, to be given to all the freemen.Open note 107Back to note ¹⁰⁷

Further, it was ordered, that all persons,
who should be received, as free planters of that
corporation, should submit to the fundamental
agreement above related, and in testimony of their
submission should subscribe their name among the
freemen. After a proper term of trial, a number
of the most distinguished characters were chosen
for the seven pillars of the church.

On the 1639-10-2525th of October, the court, as it was
termed, consisting of these seven persons only, convened,
and, after a solemn address to the Supreme
Being, they proceeded to form the body of freemen,
and to elect their civil officers.

In the first place, all former trust, for managing
the public affairs of the plantation, was declared
to cease, and to be utterly abrogated. Then
all those who had been admitted to the church after
the gathering of it, in the choice of the seven
pillars, and all the members of other approved
churches, who desired it, and offered themselves,
were admitted members of the court. A solemn
charge was then publicly given them, to the same
effect as the freemen’s charge, or oath, which
they had previously adopted. Mr. Davenport expounded
several scriptures to them, describing the
characters of civil magistrates given in the sacred F4v 48
Open note 108Back to note ¹⁰⁸oracles. To this succeeded the election of officers.
Theophilus Eaton, Esq. was chosen the first
governor of this colony.

It was decreed by the freemen, that there
should be a general court annually in the plantation,
on the last week in October. This was ordained
a court of election, in which all the officers
of the colony were to be chosen. This court
determined, that the word of God should be the
only rule for ordering the affairs of government
in that commonwealth.

This was the original, fundamental constitution
of the government of New-Haven. All government
was vested in the church. The members
of the church elected the governor, magistrates
and all other officers. The magistrates, at first,
were not more than assistants of the governor; they
might not act in any sentence or determination of
the court. No deputy-governor was chosen, nor
were any laws enacted, except the general resolutions
which have been noticed; but as the plantation
enlarged, and new towns were settled, recent
orders were given; the general court received another
form; laws were enacted, and the civil policy
of this jurisdiction gradually advanced, in its
essential parts, to a near resemblance of the government
of Connecticut.Open note 109Back to note ¹⁰⁹

The first settlers in New-Haven had all things
common; all purchases were made in the name, G1r 49
and for the use, of the whole plantation; and the
lands were apportioned out to each family, according
to their number and original stock.Open note 110Back to note ¹¹⁰

The colonies of Connecticut and New-Haven
from their first settlement rapidly increased. From
1635–16401635 to 1640, six towns were settled, viz. Windsor,
Hartford and Weathersfield, in Connecticut;
New-Haven, Milford and Stamford, in New-Haven.
They subsisted two distinct governments till
they were united by one charter.

Connecticut and New-Haven were embarrassed
with no political restrictions. They were
free settlers under Lord Say’s patent, which granted
the privilege of purchasing the native right of
the Aboriginals, and reserved no jurisdiction for
the crown, as in the charter of Massachusetts.Open note 111Back to note ¹¹¹

Dr. Trumbull observes, “that the fathers of
Connecticut, as to politics, were republicans.
They rejected with abhorrence the doctrines of
the divine right of kings, passive obedience, and
non-resistance. With Sidney, Hampden, and
other great writers, they believed that all civil
power and government was originally in the people.
Upon these principles they formed their
civil constitutions.”

Laws were enacted, both by Connecticut and
New-Haven, prohibiting all purchases of the Indians
by private persons or companies, without
the consent of their respective general courts. G G1v 50
These were to authorise and direct the manner
of every purchase.Open note 112Back to note ¹¹²

From their first plantation, schools were instituted
by law in every town and parish of Connecticut
and New-Haven. Indeed the settlers of New-
England, in general, were distinguished by the attention,
which they paid to the promotion of learning.
They early instituted schools, and made the
education of youth an important object.

This country was originally designed as an
asylum for the Puritan religion; and the planters
of both colonies, from their first rise, were assiduously
engaged in gathering congregational churches,
and settling pastors and church officers. Besides
a pastor, a teacher and deacons, ruling elders
were established in each church, whose business
was to assist the pastor in church government,
to pray with the congregation, and expound the
scriptures in his absence. In the next succeeding
churches, teachers and ruling elders were disused.

The New-England churches agreed in adopting
Calvinian doctrines—in maintaining the power of
each particular church to govern itself—the validity
of presbyterian ordination, and the expediency
of synods on certain great occasions. From their
commencement, they used ecclesiastical councils
convoked by particular churches for advice, but
not for the judicial determination of controversies.Open note 113Back to note ¹¹³

Open note 114Back to note ¹¹⁴The persecution in England still continued, and
occasioned such numbers of Puritans to go over G2r 51
Open note 115Back to note ¹¹⁵to New-England, that the king and council, by a
proclamation dated 1637-04-30April 30, forbade any further
emigration. An order was dispatched to detain
eight ships lying in the river Thames, which were
prepared to sail. Among the passengers on board
were Sir Arthur Hazeltig, John Hampden, John
Pym, and Oliver Cromwell. Disgusted with the
present administration, they had determined to
abandon their native country, and seek an asylum
in America; but by this impolitic severity they
were detained, and were afterwards the cause of
the king’s ruin, and the overthrow of the ecclesiastical
hierarchy. Notwithstanding this prohibition
(so difficult is it to restrain men whose minds
are agitated by fear or hope) great numbers found
means to elude the vigilance of government, and
transported themselves to Massachusetts. From
the same motives, the establishment of the colony
of New-Haven was undertaken, and extensive settlements
in New-England formed at this period.Open note 116Back to note ¹¹⁶

From reviewing the above settlements, we are
led to admire the wisdom of Divine Providence,
in rendering the bigotry and intolerance of the
English nation subservient to the planting of flourishing
colonies in the new world. By these means,
the regions before inhabited by savages, now became
peopled by men of piety and information.
Hence a scene opened unparalleled in the annals
of history. No nation ever enjoyed so much liberty
and opportunity of forming civil and religious G2v 52
establishments, as the first settlers of New-England.
The increase of their numbers was rapid
beyond example. No other influence can be produced
of any other people, who at their first settlement,
were so assiduously engaged in promoting
useful learning, and in making early improvements
in the arts and sciences. It is remarkable, that at
this period, when the emigration from England
ceased, the settlements were still further extended
by similar means, viz. the bigotry and intolerance
of the new settlers. This gave rise to the plantations
of Providence and Rhode-Island, an account
of which will be given in the subsequent chapter.

Chapter IV.

The inhabitants of New-England,
who abandoned their native country, and encountered
a variety of hardships to avoid persecution,
soon discovered a determined resolution to enforce
uniformity in religious worship, among all who inhabited
their territories. At the first general court
which was held in Massachusetts, 16301630, a number
had been admitted to the privileges of freemen
who were not in communion with the churches.
Open note 117Back to note ¹¹⁷ But as early as the second general court, after
the arrival of the governor and company, they
resolved, that in future, none should be admitted
to the freedom of the body politic, but such as
were church members. They soon after concluded,
that none but such should share in the administration
of civil government, or have a voice in
any election. A few years after, they so far forgot G3v 54
Open note 118Back to note ¹¹⁸ their own sufferings as to persecute those who
refused to accede to their religious sentiments.Open note 119Back to note ¹¹⁹

Mr. Roger Williams, a Puritan clergyman, arrived
this year from England at Salem, where he
was immediately chosen assistant to Mr. Shelton.
The magistrates opposed his settlement, because he
refused to join with the church at Boston, unless
they would make a public declaration of their repentance
for maintaining communion with the
church of England while in their native country.
This occasioned Mr. Williams’ removal to Plymouth,
where he was elected assistant to Mr.
Smith, in which office he continued between two
and three years. Upon a disagreement with some
of the most influential characters in this church,
and an invitation to Salem, he requested a dismission,
and returned to that town. As Mr. Shelton,
the former clergyman, was now deceased,
he was chosen to succeed him. The magistrates
still opposed his settlement, as they had previously
done. They made great objections to his sentiments.
He was charged by his opponents with
maintaining, “That it is not lawful for a godly
man to have communion in family prayer, or in
an oath, with such as they judge unregenerate;
therefore he refused the oath of fidelity, and taught
others to follow his example; that it is not lawful
for an unregenerate man to pray; that the
magistrate has nothing to do in matters of the first
table; that there should be general and unlimited G4r 55
Open note 120Back to note ¹²⁰ toleration of all religions, and that to punish
a man for following the dictates of his conscience
was persecution; that the patent which was granted
by King Charles was invalid, and an instrument
of injustice which they ought to renounce,
being injurious to the natives; the king of England
having no power to dispose of their lands to
his own subjects.” On account of these sentiments,
and for refusing to join in communion with
the Massachusetts churches, he was, at length,
Open note 121Back to note ¹²¹banished the colony, as a disturber of the peace of
the church and commonwealth.Open note 122Back to note ¹²²

Whilst Mr. Williams resided at Plymouth and
Salem, he cultivated an acquaintance with the Indians
in those towns, and learned their language.
Previously to his leaving the colony, he presented
a variety of gifts to Canonicus and Osamaquin, two
Narraganset sachems, and privately treated with
them for land, with which they assured him he
should be supplied, provided he would settle in
their country. This encouraged him, after his
banishment, to remove with four companions to
Narraganset-Bay. He first came to Seconk, now
Rehoboth, and obtained a grant of the land from
Osamaquin, the chief sachem at Mount-Hope. As
this grant was within the limits of Plymouth patent,
Mr. Winslow, the governor, in a friendly
manner, advised him to remove. He then crossed
Seconk river, and landed among the Indians, by G4v 56
Open note 123Back to note ¹²³whom he was most hospitably received. He named
the place of his residence Providence, “in a
sense of God’s merciful providence to him in his
distress.” Strongly impressed with the importance
of religious liberty, the grand object, which he
asserts he had in view, was, “to provide a refuge
for persons destitute for conscience sake.”Open note 124Back to note ¹²⁴

This small company was soon augmented by
parties from Massachusetts. The new emigrants
greatly suffered through fatigue and want. They
supported their affliction with heroic fortitude, and
effected a settlement, the government of which was
founded on the broad basis of universal toleration.

Mr. Williams embraced the sentiments of the
Baptists a few years after his arrival in Providence,
Open note 125Back to note ¹²⁵and was instrumental in forming a church of that
denomination, which was the first Baptist church
in New-England. He soon after relinquished
their opinions, and became a Seeker. But, though
his strong feelings, and deep researches in the
mazes of speculation, led him to be wavering and
undecided in his religious sentiments, yet his conduct
exhibited the goodness of his heart, and purity
of his intentions. He exerted himself to the
utmost that others might enjoy that freedom of
opinion which he himself exercised; and uniformly
condemned every kind and degree of persecution
on account of religion.Open note 126Back to note ¹²⁶

Open note 127Back to note ¹²⁷ “He justly claims the honor of being the first
legislator in the world, in its latter ages, who effectually
provided for and established a free, full
and absolute liberty of conscience.”

Mr. Williams generously made twelve of his
companions equal proprietors with himself, both
in the lands given by the sachem, and those he
purchased of him. The next settlers of Providence
were admitted to be equal sharers in the
greater part of his lands for thirty pounds, until
the whole number of proprietors amounted, at
length, to an hundred.Open note 128Back to note ¹²⁸

The first form of government established by
Mr. Williams and the people of Providence appears
to have been a voluntary agreement, that
each individual should submit to, and be governed
by, the resolutions of the whole body. All public
matters were transacted in their town-meetings,
and there all private disputes and controversies
were heard, adjudged and finished.Open note 129Back to note ¹²⁹

Mr. Williams lived in Providence almost half
a century,Open note 130Back to note ¹³⁰ part of which period he enjoyed the
authority of chief magistrate. He employed himself
continually in acts of kindness to those who
had endeavoured to deprive him of the sacred
rights of conscience; in affording relief to the distressed,
and offering an asylum to the persecuted.Open note 131Back to note ¹³¹

Soon after the settlement was begun in Providence,
the commonwealth of Massachusetts was H H1v 58
Open note 132Back to note ¹³²disturbed by intestine divisions. The male members
of the church in Boston had been accustomed
to convene, in order to repeat and debate on the
discourses which were delivered on Sundays. Mrs.
Anne Hutchinson, a very extraordinary woman,
established a similar meeting for her own sex, founding
her practice on Titus ii. 4. Her custom was to
repeat passages of Mr. Cotton’s sermons, and make
her remarks and expositions. These lectures for
some time were received with general approbation,
and were attended by a numerous audience. At
length it appeared, that she distinguished the ministers,
and members of churches through the country,
a small part of whom she allowed to be under
a covenant of grace, and the others under a covenant
of works. The whole colony was soon divided
into two parties, differing in sentiment, and
still more alienated in affection. They stiled each
other Antinomians and Legalists. Mrs. Hutchinson
was charged with maintaining, that “the Holy-Ghost
dwells personally in a justified person;
and that the sanctification is not an evidence to believers
of their justification.”Open note 133Back to note ¹³³

Open note 134Back to note ¹³⁴The Antinomians exerted themselves to keep
in office Sir Henry Vane, who adopted their sentiments,
and protected their preachers. On the
other hand, the opposite party used every effort to
discontinue him, and substitute John Winthrop,
Esq. After some difficulty, they succeeded in the
election of this gentleman.Open note 135Back to note ¹³⁵

Open note 136Back to note ¹³⁶The disputes which divided the country were,
according to Dr. Mather, “about the order of
things in our union to our Lord Jesus-Christ; the
influence of our faith in the application of his
righteousness; the use of our sanctification in evidencing
our justification; and the consideration of
our Lord Jesus-Christ by men yet under the covenant
of works; briefly, they were about the points
whereupon depend the grounds of our assuredness
of blessedness in a better world.”Open note 137Back to note ¹³⁷

Those religious tenets were disputed with so
much warmth, that it was judged advisable to call
a synod to give their opinion upon the controverted
points. A council was accordingly called to
meet at Newtown the 1637-08-3030th of August. This was
the first synod appointed in New-England. Ministers,
delegates, and also magistrates, under pretence
of keeping the peace, were present on this
occasion; and as many of the people as chose were
permitted to attend the debates. After disputing
for three weeks, the synod condemned eighty erroneous
opinions, said to have been maintained in
the colony. The result was signed by all the
members except Mr. Cotton, who, though he declined
censuring the whole, expressed his disapprobation
of the greater part of these opinions.Open note 138Back to note ¹³⁸

The general court, at their session the 1637-10-022d of
October, cited the principals of the Antinomian
party to appear before them. The court was held
in Newtown, since Cambridge, from an apprehension H2v 60
Open note 139Back to note ¹³⁹ that the Antinomians had a large number
of partisans in Boston. The Rev. John Wheelright,
brother to Mrs. Hutchinson, was first convoked
before this assembly. He had been a preacher
at Braintree, which was then part of Boston,
and was a gentleman of learning, piety and zeal.Open note 140Back to note ¹⁴⁰
He had warmly advocated the new doctrines, and
in a late discourse severely censured the magistrates
and ministers in the colony. Upon his refusal either
to acknowledge his offence, or to go into voluntary
exile, the court sentenced him to be disfranchised,
and banished the jurisdiction.