their removal to the southward was looked upon, afterward, as advantageous, both for possessing those parts which lay open for an enemy, and for strengthening their friends at Connecticut, and for making room for others who were daily expected out of England. It was accounted that twenty ships arrived there in the year 1638, who brought about three thousand passengers with them," who might the more easily, some of them, be accommodated about the Bay, when others were so far removed before.

*

The coming in of these ships was the more joyfully received, because many this year were afraid of a stop, in England, to the coming of any ships at all, by reason of the complaints made against them in the year 1632,* forementioned, and about this time renewed, especially by Mr. Burdet, of Pascataqua; a copy of whose letter to the Archbishop was found in his study, to this effect; that he delayed to go || into || England, that he might fully inform himself of the state of the place as to allegiance, for it was not new discipline that was aimed at, but sovereignty; and that it was accounted perjury and treason in their General Court to speak of appeals to the King. By the first ships that came this year, a letter came from the Archbishop to the said Burdet, rendering him thanks for the care of his Majesty's service, and that they would take a time for the redress of such disorders, as he informed them of; but, by reason of much business that now lay upon them, they could not, at this time, accomplish his desire. This letter to Burdet was, by some strange Providence, shown to the Governor of the Massachusetts, as was a copy of his letter to the Archbishop, whereby his designs were discovered.

For, it seems, complaints were still carried on against New England, so as in the year 1635,3 a Commission was granted to several Lords to regulate the Plantation of New England: a copy of which here follows, together with the copy of the Order of the Lords Commissioners for sending over the Patent, with Mr. Winthrop's answer thereunto.

|to||

* 1632 or 1633. See page 151–154.-Ed.

This shows Mr. Savage to have mistaken in supposing Hubbard "to have been afraid to number either the ships or the passengers" which came over this year. See Sav. Win. i. 268.-H.

* Rev. George Burdet.-H.

A mistake; it should be 1634.-H.

A copy of the Commission for regulating Plantations.

CHARLES, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, KING, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &C.

To the right reverend Father in God, our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor, William, by divine Providence, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England; to our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor, Thomas Lord Coventry, Lord Keeper of our | Great Seal of England; to our right reverend Father in God, our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor, Richard, by divine Providence, Archbishop of York, Primate and Metropolitan of England; [to the reverend Father in God, our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor, William, Bishop of London;] to our right trusty and well beloved Cousins and Counsellors, Richard, Earl of Portland, and High Treasurer of England; Henry, Earl of Manchester, Keeper of || 'our || Privy Seal; Thomas, Earl of Arundel and Surry, Earl Marshal of England; Edward, Earl of Dorset, Chamberlain to our most dear consort, the Queen; and to our trusty and well beloved Counsellors, Francis Lord Cottington, Chancellor1 and Under-Treasurer of our Exchequer, [and Master of our Court of Wards and Liveries;] Thomas Edmonds, Knight, Treasurer of our Household; [Henry Vane, Knight, Comptroller of our Household ;] John Cooke, Knight, one of our principal Secretaries of State, and Francis Windebank, [Knight,] another of our principal Secretaries of State: Greeting.

Whereas divers of the subjects of us, and our late dear Father, King James, of famous memory, late of England King, by virtue of our royal authority, granted not only to enlarge the territories of our empire, but more especially to propagate the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, having, with exceeding industry and charge, deduced great numbers of the people of England into sundry Colonies, in several places of the world, either altogether desert and unpeopled, or enjoyed by savage and barbarous nations, void of all manner of knowledge of Almighty God: We, being graciously pleased to provide for the ease and tranquillity of the said subjects, and reposing assured confidence in your fidelity, wisdom, justice, and providence, do constitute you, our said Archbishop of Canterbury, &c., or any five or more of you, our Commissioners; and to you, or to any five or more of you, do commit and give power of protection and government, as well over the said English Colonies already planted, as over all such other Colonies, which by any of our people of England hereafter shall be dethe || 'the ||

Chamberlain in the MS.-H.

Counsellors in the MS.-H.

duced into any other like parts whatsoever, and power to make laws, ordinances, and constitutions, concerning either the state public of the said Colonies, or [the] utility of private persons, and their lands, goods, debts, and succession, within the precincts of the same, and for ordering and directing of them in their demeanors towards foreign Princes, and their people; and likewise towards us and our subjects, within any foreign parts whatsoever, and during their voyages to and from the same; and for relief and support of the clergy, and the rule and cure of the souls of our people living in those parts, and for consigning of convenient maintenance unto them by tithes, oblations, and other profits accruing, according to your good discretion, [in all civil affairs, and] with the advice of two or three bishops, whom you shall think fit to call unto your consultations, touching the distribution of such maintenance unto the clergy, and all other matters ecclesiastical; and to inflict punishment upon all offenders or violators of the constitutions and ordinances, either by imprisonment or other restraint, or by loss of life or member, according as the quality of the offence shall require; with power also, (our royal assent being thereunto first had and obtained,) to remove all Governors and Presidents of the said Colonies, (upon just cause appearing,) from their several places, and to appoint others in their stead, and also to require and take account of them, touching their office and government; and whom you shall find delinquents you shall punish, either by depriving them of their several places and provinces, over which they are appointed, or by pecuniary mulcts and penalties, or otherwise, according to the magnitude of the offence; and power also to ordain temporal judges and civil magistrates, to determine of civil causes, with such powers, [and] in such a form, as to you, or any five or more you, shall seem expedient; and also to ordain judges, magistrates, and officers, for and concerning causes ecclesiastical, with such power and in such form, as to you, or any five or more of you, bishops suffragan,

of

1 Qualities in the MS.-н.

2 Courts in the MS.

-H.

with the advice of the Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being, shall seem meet; and power to constitute and ordain tribunals and courts of justice, both ecclesiastical and civil, and to establish the forms of judicature, and manner of process in, and appeal from, the said courts, in all cases and matters, as well criminal as civil, both personal, real, and mixt, and touching the jurisdiction1 pertaining to any courts of justice, ecclesiastical and civil, to judge thereof and determine. Provided, nevertheless, the said laws, ordinances, and constitutions, shall not be put in execution until our royal assent, expressed under our sign, at least, be first thereunto had and obtained; the which our royal assent so obtained, together with the said laws, ordinances, and constitutions, being published and proclaimed in the Provinces in which they are to be executed, the said laws, ordinances, and constitutions, from thenceforth, shall be in force as law, and we do hereby will and command all persons whom it shall concern, inviolably to keep and observe the same. Notwithstanding it may and shall be lawful to you, and every five and more of you, with our royal assent, the said laws, ordinances, and constitutions, (though so published and proclaimed as aforesaid,) to alter, revoke, and repeal, and other new laws, &c., in form aforesaid, from time to time to make and publish as aforesaid, and to new and growing evils and perils to apply new remedies, in such manner, and so often, as unto you shall appear to be necessary and expedient.

KNOW YE Moreover, that we do constitute you, the said Archbishop of Canterbury, &c., and every five or more of you, our Commissioners, according to your good discretions, to hear and determine all complaints, at the instance and suit of the party grieved, whether it be against the Colonies themselves, or any Governor or officer of the same, or whether complaint touching wrongs exhibited or depending, either between the whole bodies of the Colonies, or any private member thereof, and to summon the parties before you, and they, or their pro

1 Determination in the MS.-н.

• Committees in the MS.-I.

curators or agents, being on both sides heard, finally to determine thereof according to justice; giving, moreover, and granting to you, and any five or more of you, that if you shall find any officer or Governor of the said Colonies injuriously usurping upon the authority, power, or possessions of any other, or unjustly wronging another, or withdrawing from our allegiance, or disobeying our commands, that then it shall be lawful, (upon advice with ourself first had,) for the causes aforesaid, or upon any other just reason, to remand, and cause the offender to return, to England, or to any other place, according as in your good discretions you shall think just and necessary.

And we do furthermore give unto you, or any five or more of you, [special power and authority to cause all] Letters Patents, and other writings, whatsoever, granted for, or concerning, the planting of any Colonies, in any countries, provinces, islands, or territories whatsoever, beyond the seas [to be brought before you ;] and if, upon view thereof, the same shall appear to you, or any five or more of you, to have been surreptitiously and unduly obtained, or that any privileges or liberties therein granted be hurtful or prejudicial to us, our crown, or prerogative royal, or to any foreign princes, to cause the same, according to the laws and customs of our realm of England, to be revoked, and to do all other things which shall be necessary for the wholesome government and protection of the said Colonies, and of our people therein abiding.

Wherefore, we command you, that you diligently intend the premises, at such times and places which yourselves for that purpose shall appoint, charging also, and firmly commanding, all and singular, [the] Presidents of Provinces within the aforesaid Colonies now planted, or to be planted, and all and every the said Colonies themselves, and all other persons whom it doth concern, that they attend you in the premises, and be obedient to your commands touching the same, so often, [and according as,] they shall be thereunto required, at their peril. In witness whereof, we [have] caused these our Letters to