other ports, the king issued an order "that no tobacco or other production of the colonies shall be carried into foreign parts, till they are first landed in England, and the customs paid for to suffer a traffic of that kind is as inconsistent with the view of settling Virginia as with the honor of the State."

But the House of Commons, whose power was daily increasing, having taken upon itself to interfere in the affairs of the American provinces, a new source of dread arose in the minds of the emigrants: for to their apprehensions of the king and the hierarchy, was now added that of the Parliament. Still they could not but congratulate themselves (if such a control was inevitable) on their good fortune in having escaped from its effects until the present most auspicious time for its exercise. It was very far, however, from their intention to acquiesce in the right, for they equally denied the jurisdiction of all three. Among the innovations that were contemplated, was a proposition to recall the old and grant a new and more perfect Charter. The General Court met for the purpose of considering the subject, which was deemed of such vital importance as to call for the aid of the Elders, who were accordingly convened to assist in their deliberations. The result of their conference was, as Parliament claimed “ a supreme power in all things," not to accept a new patent; for that would imply a resignation of the old one, and they resolved; "if they shall be less inclinable to us, we must wait upon Providence for the preservation of our just liberties."

At that time it was the creed of every Puritan in the colony that if" the king or any party from him, shall attempt any thing against the commonwealth," it was the duty of the people "to spend estate, and life, and all, without scruple, in its defense; that if the Parliament itself should hereafter be of a malignant spirit, then, if the province have sufficient strength, it may withstand any authority from them to its hurt." Massachusetts went even so far as to call herself Republica Perfecta, "a perfect republic." Acting under these strong impressions, they remonstrated in most decided terms with the House of Commons (which had under its consideration the appeal of the petitioners I referred to in the last chapter) against any power of supervision. An order from England they say, is "prejudicial to our chartered liberties and to our well-being in this remote part of the world. Times may be changed, for all things here below are subject to

variety, and other princes and parliaments may arise. Let not succeeding generations have cause to lament and say: 'England sent our fathers forth with happy liberties which they enjoyed many years, notwithstanding all the enmity and opposition of the prelacy and other potent adversaries, and yet these liberties were lost at the season when England itself recovered its own.' We rode out the dangers of the sea, shall we perish in port? We have not admitted appeals to your authority, being assured they can not stand with the liberty and power granted us by our Charter, and would be destructive to all government.

"These considerations are not new to the High Court of Parliament, the records whereof bear witness of the wisdom and faithfulness of our ancestors in that great Council who, in those times of darkness, when they acknowledged a supremacy in the Roman Bishops, in all causes ecclesiastical, yet would not allow appeals to Rome. The wisdom and experience of that great Council, the English Parliament, are more able to prescribe rules of government, and judge causes, than such poor rustics as a wilderness can breed up, yet the vast distance between England and these parts abates the virtue of the strongest influences. Your councils and judgments can neither be so well-grounded, nor so seasonably applied, as might either be useful to us, or safe for yourselves, in your discharge in the great day of account. If any miscarriage shall befall us when we have the government in our own hands, the State of England shall not answer for it. Continue your favorable aspect to these infant plantations, that we may still rejoice and bless our God under your shadow, and be there still nourished with the warmth and dew of Heaven. Confirm our liberties, discountenance our enemies, the disturbers of our peace, under pretense of our injustice. A gracious testimony of your wonted favor will oblige us and our posterity."

The Committee of the House was favorable to them. They felt a lively interest in New England, not merely on account of its being the first-fruit of Puritanism, but because in the eventful times in which they lived it was not impossible it might yet become an asylum for themselves. "We encourage," they said, no appeals from your justice, we leave you all the freedom and latitude that may in any respect be duly claimed by you.”

CHAPTER VII.

Massachusetts, with the Rebels in England--Proclamation against the King's Party-Hugh Peters sent to England to urge on the Rebellion-Cromwell appoints him his Chaplain, and presents him with a Commission of a Colonel in the Army-His favorite Text in Execution-The Provincials decline to use the names of the Keepers of the Liberties of England in Official Papers, or to renew their Charter-They also refuse to take part in the War between England and Holland-Conduct of the Virginians after the King's Death, contrasted with theirs-Trade with Virginia forbidden-Admiral Ascue sent to reduce the Loyalists to Obedience-Puritans of Massachusetts flatter the Parliament, and approve Cromwell's Share in the Death of the King--He offers them Jamaica, or confiscated Estates in Ireland-Reasons for declining-Arrival of the Regicides, Goffe and Whalley-Their Reception and History-Pretended Search for them-Conduct of Virginia at the Death of Cromwell, contrasted with that of Massachusetts--Extraordinary Letter of the General Court to Charles II.-The King proclaimed-People forbidden to drink his Health.

THROUGHOUT the whole period of the Civil War, which finally ended in the captivity and death of Charles I., the colonists warmly and deeply sympathized with the Puritan rebels and saintly murderers of the unhappy monarch. Some of the more zealous and active spirits returned to their native land to join in the work of the brethren, and those who anxiously watched the progress of events at a distance, gave consolation and encouragement to the volunteers who departed in this holy cause. If thy brother entice thee to serve other gods," they said, "thou shalt surely put him to death." "For speaking lies in the name of the Lord, his father shall thrust him through when he prophesieth." But the issue of human affairs is in His hands, who alone directs them and as no one can tell what a day may bring forth, prudence dictated a simulated neutrality of conduct in their public acts. Accordingly, the following extraordinary proclamation was issued by the Governor : Whereas the civil war and dissensions in our native country, through the seditious words and carriages of many evil-affected persons, cause divisions in many places of government in America, some professing themselves for the king, and others for the Parliament, not considering that the Parliament themselves profess that they stand for the king and

Parliament against malignant Papists and delinquents in that kingdom;

'It is therefore ordered, that what person soever shall by word, writing, or action, endeavor to disturb our peace, directly or indirectly, by drawing a party, under pretense that he is for the King of England and such as join with him against the Parliament, shall be accounted as an offender of a high nature against the commonwealth, and to be proceeded with either capitally or otherwise, according to the quality and degree of his offense. Provided always that this shall not be extended against any merchant strangers and shipmen that come hither merely for matters of trade or merchandise, albeit they should come from any of those parts that are in the hands of the king, and such as adhere to him against the Parliament; carrying themselves here quietly, and free from railing or nourishing any faction, meeting, or sedition among us as aforesaid."

Nothing can be more impartial than the recital which applies to both sides, and nothing better calculated to effect its object, than the enacting clause, had it not been for a slight omission of one of the contending parties. Had this document ever been called in question in after days, no doubt it could easily have been shown to have originated in a mistake of the clerk, or in an error of the press.

While the civil war was in full progress, a parliamentary ordinance appointed the Earl of Warwick "Governor in Chief and Lord High Admiral of all those islands and plantations inhabited, planted, and belonging to any of his Majesty's the King of England's subjects, within the bounds and upon the coast of America," to be assisted by a council, composed of five peers, the Earls of Pembroke and Manchester, Viscount Say and Sele, Lords Wharton and Roberts, and twelve members of the House of Commons, among whom were Sir Harry Vane, late Governor of Massachusetts, Samuel Passall, one of the original patentees of that colony, Hazelrig, Pym, and Cromwell. This Board, a pretty close imitation of the late royal commission, of which Laud had been the head, was authorized "to provide for, order, and dispose all things which they shall from time to time find most fit and advantageous to the well-governing, securing, strengthening, and preserving of the said plantations, and chiefly to the preservation of the true Protestant religion among the said planters and

inhabitants, and the further spreading and advancement of the Gospel of Christ among those that yet remained there in great and miserable blindness and ignorance." They were also authorized to appoint, at pleasure, "all such subordinate governors, counselors, commanders, and officers as they shall judge to be best affected, and most fit and serviceable.' But, as to any particular plantations, they might, if they saw fit, depute to them any or all of the above granted powers.

Republicanism was still further advanced in the colonies by this Board. They gave to the noted Roger Williams a charter, including the shores and islands of Narraganset Bay, west of Plymouth, and south of Massachusetts, as far as the Pequod river and country, to be known as Providence Plantation, with authority to the inhabitants "to rule themselves" as they should find "most suitable." This patent was, to all intents and purposes, a grant of independence. Similarity of religious and political sentiment, as well as gratitude for favors received, and hopes for the future, led the General Court to aid the revolutionary party in every way that was compatible with the possible contingency of a restoration. They accordingly set apart a day nominally for prayer, but, in fact, for thanksgiving, for the glad tidings from England. Three agents, at the head of whom was the notorious Hugh Peters, the pastor of Salem, were sent there "to promote the interest of reformation, by stirring up the war, and driving it on."

For this task, no man could be better qualified than Peters. Having been expelled from Cambridge, for irregularity of conduct, he became a constant frequenter of the theatres, and led a dissolute life among the actors. Mistaking disgust and satiety— the inevitable consequence of debauchery-for repentance, he reformed his habits, applied himself to theological studies, and was ordained by the Bishop of London. But such is the effect of early dissipation, that the temptations of the town, increased by abstinence, overpowered him again; and, having been detected in a most flagitious offense, he fled to Holland, to avoid the punishment of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Courts. He did not quit the Church from conscientious scruples, but because he had violated his vows, and offended against the laws of both God and man. Like many others in all ages, he resorted to hypocrisy as a cloak for his guilt, and was received by the Puritans as a brand plucked from the fire." The buffoonery of his manner,