a title to the soil, but prerogatives of government according to the ideas of the English lawyers could only be exercised under a charter from the crown. A considerable sum was spent in the endeavor to obtain such a charter, but without success. Relying, however, upon their original compact, the colonists gradually assumed all the prerogatives of government, even the power, after some hesita tion, of capital punishment. No less than eight offenses are enumerated in the first Plymouth Code as punishable with death, including treason or rebellion against the colony, and "solemn compaction or conversing with the devil." Trial by jury was early introduced, but the penalties to be inflicted on minor offenses remained for the most part discretionary. For eighteen years all laws were enacted in a general assembly of all the colonists. The governor, chosen annually, was but president of a council, in which he had a double vote. It consisted first of one, then of five, and finally of seven members called assistants. So little were political honors coveted at New Plymouth, that it became necessary to inflict a fine upon such as, being chosen, declined to accept the office of governor or assistant: None, however, were obliged to serve for two years in succession.* They were often not only destitute of money, but equally devoid of credit for in 1686 having occasion to borrow one hundred and fifty pounds, the risk was considered so great that they could only procure it at the enormous interest of fifty per cent. Nor did the town flourish as was expected from one erected in a country like Canaan. At the end of four years, one hundred and eighty persons inhabited a village composed of thirty-two dwelling-houses where there" strayed some cattle and goats, but many swine and poultry." This was doubtless owing to the uninviting character of the country, and the repulsive austerity of manners of the first settlers; but more than all, to the mistaken policy of holding their property, not in severalty, but as joint stock. Their poverty, however, proved their best security, by procuring for them a contemptuous neglect, that left them the uninterrupted enjoyment of their little democratic commonwealth until 1692, when it was absorbed by the second charter of Massachusetts, which annexed it to that populous and flourishing province. * Hildreth. CHAPTER III. Inducements to settle Massachusetts-Puritans prevail upon the King to give them a Charter, under the Idea that they were Churchmen-Some Account of it-Endicott settles Salem-Disturbs Morton, cuts down May-pole, and calls the Place Mount Dragon-Founds a Church on Congregational PrinciplesArrests and transports Episcopalians-Intrigue for removing the Charter to America and Discussion thereon-Reasoning of the Emigrants on the Subject of Allegiance-Removing of Charter-Large Immigrations-Cost of OutfitAddress to the Clergy of England-Character of the Puritans. THE settlement at Plymouth, and the exaggerated accounts of its condition and prospects spread by the emigrants, to induce others to join them, attracted universal attention. Puritanism had not then assurned a distinct form, although its ramifications were widely spread beneath the surface. It was not deemed safe by that party openly to connect themselves with people, who had commenced their settlement without a title, and were avowedly separated from the Church. It was left, therefore, to its natural increase, and to unconnected and individual emigration. But the leaders of this discontented party saw that something of the kind could be effected upon a large scale, if their real intentions were properly masked in the first instance. There were at that time three objects that occupied men's minds in connection with emigration. First, to avoid ecclesiastical control; secondly, to spread the gospel among the savages; and thirdly, to aid and further commercial pursuits. Each had its advocates, and for each, men were willing to advance the requisite funds, and incur the inevitable risk. The most able, artful, persevering, and influential of these parties were the Puritans. Calling themselves churchmen, they eulogized the liberality, and encouraged the ardor of those who, in attempting to employ a trading company to convert the heathen, exhibited more zeal than knowledge. those who were inclined to seek their fortunes in the New World as husbandmen, they praised the soil, extolled the climate, and dwelt on the advantage of living in a country exempt from taxes, in the capacity of proprietors, and not as tenants. To merchants who regard trapping beavers with more interest than taming savages, it was only necessary to mention the advantage navigation То would derive from a port in a distant land, where provisions could be procured and ships repaired, or laid up in safety in winter. It was one of the best vailed, deepest laid, and most skillfully executed schemes to be met with in history. After these three parties were engaged in the work, and had pledged their funds to forward the undertaking, they purchased from the Council of Plymouth all the territory extending from three miles north of the river Merrimack, to three miles south of Charles River, and in breadth from the Atlantic to the Southern Ocean. Their legal advisers, however, expressed some doubts as to the propriety of founding a colony on the basis of a grant from a private company of patentees, who might convey a right of property in the soil, but could not confer the jurisdiction or privilege of governing that society, which they contemplated to establish. As it was only from royal authority such powers could be derived, it became necessary for them to lose no time in making their application to the king. But how was he to be won over and cajoled? They were aware that he was open to flattery, but they knew also that he was suspicious of Low Churchmen, whom he very justly considered as little better than Dissenters; that he was surrounded by able counselors, and alive to his own interest and that of the State. The task was a difficult one, but as its success was indispensable to their future objects, they approached it with the firmness and courage of determined men. With the most unblushing effrontery they spoke to him of their dear Mother Church. in terms of great affection and regard, enlarged upon his duty to christianize the heathen, who all over the world were falling a prey to the Jesuits, while discontented Protestants were quarreling about small matters of forms. They descanted with great apparent sincerity upon the danger of leaving the Continent open to other nations to intrude upon, and portrayed in glowing terms the vast advantages that would accrue to his Majesty's treasury from an increase of commerce. The king was delighted to find that the doubts he had entertained of the loyalty and orthodoxy of some of the company were groundless, and the offer to extend the limits of his dominions, to plant his Church in America, and, by stimulating commerce, to add to his revenue (which was very inadequate to his wants), was too agreeable to be refused. A charter of confirmation was, therefore, granted to his loving subjects, dated 4th March, 1628. By this patent the company was incorporated by the name of "The Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay, in New England," to have perpetual succession, to choose a Governor, Deputy Governor, and eighteen assistants, on the last Wednesday in Easter Term yearly, and to make laws, not repugnant to those of England, "whereby," to use the words of the king in the patent, "our said people inhabiting there may be so religiously, peaceably, and civilly governed, as their good life and orderly conversation may win and invite the natives of that country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God and Saviour of mankind and the Christian faith, which, in our royal intention, and the adventurers' free profession, is the principal end of this plantation." The governor and assistants were required to administer the oaths of supremacy and allegiance to all persons who from time to time should go thither. As a compensation for the great outlay which they would necessarily incur in so onerous an undertaking, they were exempted from all taxes and subsidies for seven years within the colony, and from custom duties in England for the space of twenty years. While these negotiations were going on, the company dispatched a small party under Endicott, an active and zealous agent, but an imprudent and violent man, to select a place for settlement. The part he made choice of was known by the natives as Hanekeag, which, according to the affectation of his sect, to employ the language and appellations of Scripture in the common affairs of life, he called Salem. He was particularly cautioned not to commit any rash act at that juncture, as it was the intention as well as the interest of the association, "to keep an obsequious eye to the State;" his first measure, however, was an illegal invasion of a neighboring plantation. A man of the name of Morton resided not far off, on lands held under a patent from the same Great Plymouth Company, from which they themselves derived their title. This place, in a most godless manner, he ventured to call Merry Mount," and decorated it with a may-pole, the first real liberty staff" ever erected in New England. Such a scandal in the eyes of this rueful agent justified invasion. He and his party proceeded thither, removed the abomination, and threatened to disperse the people whose profaneness shocked his own associates, and set a dangerous example to the savages. To testify his horror at their impiety, he named their abode "Mount Dragon." Among those who soon after joined Endicott, were two gentlemen of the name of Brown, men of large property, original patentees, and of most unexceptionable conduct. Duped by the professions of the Puritans, who called themselves Episcopalians, who spoke of the Church as "Their dear Mother," who avowed their motives to be the advancement of religion, and had accepted the charter on condition of taking the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, they never for a moment supposed they could be the victims of treachery. They were appointed councilors to Endicott, who had been advanced to the rank of governor, and were especially recommended to his "favor and furtherance." They had sincerely at heart one of the main objects of the association, and the only one that had induced them to take any interest in the company, the evangelizing the heathen. To their horror they soon found they had been entrapped into a sectarian league, in which it was difficult at that time to say whether trade or puritanism was most predominant. But it was manifest to them that instead of there existing any intention in the local board to spread the Gospel, their object was to confine it within the smallest possible limits, as in their opinion a chosen people, like themselves, were the best depository for that which was designed rather for the elect, than for mankind. The governor had been advised by the separatists at Plymouth, to lose no time in organizing a Church, and accordingly a confession of faith was drawn up, and signed by him and his party. In this first transaction, they displayed the extent of the innovation at which they aimed. They elected a pastor, a teacher, and an elder, whom they set apart for their respective offices by imposition of hands of the brethren; and they resolved that no person should thereafter be received into communion, until he gave satisfaction to the society with respect to his faith and sanctity. The form of worship they instituted was without a liturgy, disencumbered of every superfluous ceremony, and reduced to the most extreme standard of Calvinistic simplicity. The Browns, however, and their friends met as usual on Sunday, and read the service and offices for the day from the Prayer-book. For this offense they were summoned to appear before the governor, and answer for their contumelious conduct, and heretical doctrine. At the time appointed they expostulated with their bigoted and arbitrary ruler. They told him they were Episco |