of religion, which ||at that time had|| so far prevailed, that men's affections began strongly to be engaged in them, so as if at any time any matter about those new opinions was mentioned in the Court, they were presently divided, although far the greater part held firm to their former principles. And at the General Court, held at Boston, March 9th, 1636, so much heat of contention appeared between the opposite parties, that it was moved that the next General Court, which was the Court of Election, might be kept at New-Town, which went so against the grain with Mr. Vane, the Governor, that he refused to put it to vote; nor was the Deputy forward to do it, except the Court would require him, because he dwelt at Boston; so the Court put it to Mr. Endicot, who putting it to vote, it was presently carried in the affirmative and accordingly that next Court of Election, which fell on the 17th day of May, was kept at NewTown, Anno ||21637.|| When the day came and the Court sat, which was not till one of the clock in the afternoon, a petition was preferred by those of Boston. The Governor was to have it read; but the Deputy said it was out of order; it was a Court of Election, and that must first be dispatched, (as had been done once before, when the reading of petitions was laid aside till the election was over,) and then the petition should be heard. Divers others also opposed that course, as an ill precedent; and the petition, being about pretence of liberty, (though intended chiefly for revoking the sentence at the last Court, passed against Mr. Wheelwright,) would have spent all the day in debate. But yet the Governor, and those of that party, would not proceed to election, except the petition were read. Much time was already spent about the debate, and the people crying out for election, it was moved by the Deputy that the people should divide themselves, and the greater number must carry it. And so it was done, and the greater number by many was for election. But the Governor and that side kept their places still, and would not proceed; whereupon the

The figures are almost obliterated from the MS; I think it was as now printed the above is, at all events, the true date.-H.

Deputy told him, that if he would not go to election, he and the rest of that side would proceed. Upon that he came from his company, and they went to election, and Mr. Winthrop was chosen Governor, Mr. Dudley Deputy Governor, and Mr. Endicot of the Standing Council; and Mr. Israel Stoughton, and Mr. Richard Saltonstall were called to be Assistants; and Mr. Vane, and Mr. Haugh, and Mr. Dummer, and Mr. Coddington,' (being all of one persuasion|| in the matters of difference,) were left quite out. There was great danger of a tumult that day, for those of the opposite party grew into fierce speeches, and some began to lay hands on others, but seeing themselves too weak, they grew quiet. They expected a great advantage that day, because the remote towns were allowed to come in by proxy; but it fell out that there were enough besides. And if it had been otherwise, they must have put in their deputies, (as other towns had done,) for all matters beside election. And Boston having deferred to choose their deputies till the election was past, went home that night, and the next morning sent for deputies, Mr. Vane, the late Governor, Mr. Coddington, and Mr. Haugh. But the Court, not being pleased thereat, found means to send them home again, because all the freemen had not notice of the time of their choice. But the freemen of Boston making the same choice the next time, they could not be rejected. Upon the election of the new Governor, the serjeants, that had attended the former Governor to the Court with their halberds, (which was a respect put upon Mr. Vane, and never upon any Governor before,) laid them down, and went home, and refused to attend the Governor to and from the meeting on the Lord's Days, as they were wont; so as the Governor made use of his own servants in their room, to carry two halberds before him, (never affecting to seek great things for himself,) though Mr. Vane had never less than four. The country proffered to supply the defect of Boston, but the Governor made use of his own servants.

'Atherton Haugh, (pronounced Hoffe,) Richard Dummer, and William Coddington.-H.

Mr. Vane, howsoever he had forced himself to put on so much self-denial, as to sit among the deputies, who the year before had been the Governor, (not being unwilling, as he professed, to serve the church of God in the meanest capacity,) showed much discontent that the people had left him out of all public office; of which he made evident proof by seating himself, the next Lord's Day, among the deacons, as did Mr. Coddington also, though he had used, ever since he came first into the country, to sit among the magistrates, and was at this time sent to, by the Governor, to sit with him. And upon the general fast soon after, he and some others, viz. Mr. Coddington, &c., went from Boston to keep the day at the Mount, where Mr. Wheelwright exercised.

A further occasion of the discontent of that party was an order, made at that session of the Court, imposing a penalty upon any such as should entertain such as were not allowed by some of the magistrates; it being probable that they expected many of their opinion to come out of England to them.

Upon the account of this order, and some other differences between the Governor and those of Boston, at his return from the Court none of them met him, nor would any of the four serjeants, that used to attend the former Governor to all public meetings, do any such office to him, alleging that they had done it to the former Governor voluntarily, in respect of his person, and not of his place. But herein they shewed more of stomach than wisdom; for a compliment of honor, once conferred on any office, (though voluntarily,) cannot after be taken away without contempt and injury; it is the place that drowns the person, be he honorable or base. But the Governor, being a wise man, could easily overlook these things; and in a little time, those that were so disgusted against him, put more honor upon him than ever before. They that honor God shall be honored of him. For, in the end of the year 1639, there appeared a great change in the church ||of|| Boston; for whereas they were, the year or two before, so l'affected to || ' attached ||

at

Mr. Wheelwright and ||Mrs. || Hutchinson, and those new opinions, as they extremely slighted both him and Mr. Wilson, their pastor, looking at them as men under a covenant of works, and as their greatest enemies; but they bearing all patiently, and not withdrawing themselves, (as they were strongly solicited to have done,) but carrying themselves lovingly and helpfully upon all occasions, the Lord brought about the hearts of all the people to love and esteem them more than ever before, so as all breaches were then made up, and the church saved from ruin, beyond all expectation; which could in reason hardly have been, if those two had not been guided by the Lord to that moderation, &c. And the church at this time, to manifest their hearty affection to the Governor, (upon the occasion of some straits he was brought into, through the unfaithfulness of his bailiff,1) sent him £200, as an undoubted testimony thereof.2

And during the present ||'disaffection|| of them about Boston, the other towns no whit abated, but rather abounded, in their respect to the said Governor, guarding of him from town to town, as he travelled that summer," 1637, to Ipswich; the inhabitants coming to meet him in every place as he passed along, though it were neither desired nor expected by himself.

There was news this year of a Commission granted in England to divers gentlemen on the place for the governing New England; but instead thereof they received a commission from Sir Ferdinando Gorges, to govern his Province of New Somersetshire, or the Province of Maine, which is from Pascataqua River to Sagadehock; and withal to oversee his servants and private affairs, which was not a little wondered at by some, that knew how he had carried it towards the Massachusetts before. But it passed in silence, they excusing themselves from intermeddling in his business, because, of five or six named in the said commission, there was one mistaken, and another removed to Connecticut; nor did it appear to them what authority he had to grant such a

| Mr.

'dissatisfaction ||

'Reuben? Luxford. Sav. Win. ii. 361; Farmer.-H. See Sav. Win. i. 323, ii. 3-4.-H. In June. Sav. Win. i. 227.-H

commission. But as for the Commission from the King, they received only a copy of it; the Commission itself staid at the seal, for want of paying the fees by them that procured it.

In the latter end of the summer,' 1637, Mr. Vane returned for England, and the Lord Ley," (son of the Earl of Marlborough, who came the same year to see the country,2) in his company. He had great respect shown him at his departure, by several volleys of shot from the footsoldiers, that accompanied him to the boat, which he deserved as a gentleman of good deportment; the Governor also, then being at the Court at New-Town, yet left order with the captains for his honorable dismission. CHAP. XXXVI.

Troublesome occurrences in New England, in the years 1637, 1638. Their Patent undermined by some in England; demanded by the Lords of the Committee for Foreign Plantations; the answer of the Massachusetts.

3

On the 26th of June, 1637, arrived two great ships from London, with whom came Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hopkins, merchants of London, men of fair estates and of great esteem for religion, and wisdom in other affairs, with the reverend and famous Mr. Davenport, and other ministers and people of good note: who the next year removed out of this jurisdiction, to plant beyond Connecticut, being much taken with an opinion of the fruitfulness of the place, and with the remoteness from the Massachusetts; hoping thereby to be out of the reach of a General Governor, which at that time was much spoken of. It was at first feared to prove a great weakening to the Massachusetts Colony; but since, they have taken notice of a special providence of God therein. All possible means had been used to accommodate them there; Newberry offered them their whole town, and the Court any place that was free; but they desired a greater breadth than there could be afforded. But

In August.- -H. 229, 232, 234 —н.

He arrived at Boston, June 26th. Sav. Win. i.
Theophilus Eaton and Edward Hopkins.-H.

First written outward.-H.

5

* Rev. John Davenport.-H.