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 comming 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 complaint 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 to 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 governour 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 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.

* 1632 or 1633. See page 151–154. Ed.

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 the providence of God, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England; to our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor, Thomas Lord Coventry, Lord Keeper of the great seal of England; to our right reverend Father in God, our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor, Richard, by the providence of God Archbishop of York, Primate and Metropolitan of England; to our right trusty and well beloved Cousin and Counsellor, Richard, Earl of Portland, and high Treasurer of England; Henry, Earl of Manchester, keeper of the 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 Counsellor, Francis, Lord Cottington, Chamberlain and under Treasurer of our exchequer; Thomas Edmunds, Knight, Treasurer of our household; John Cooke, Knight, one of our principal Secretaries of state, and Francis Windebank, 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 the 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 Arch-bishop of Canterbury, &c. or any five or more of you, our Counsellors; 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 de

duced into any other like parts whatsoever, and power to make laws, ordinances, and constitutions, concerning either the state publick of the said colonies, or utility of private persons, and their lands, goods, debts, and succession, within the precincts of the same, and for order. ing and directing of them in their demeanors towards foreign princes, and their people; and likewise towards us and our subjects, as within any foreign parts whatsoever beyond the seas, as during their voyages, or upon the seas 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, with the advice of two or three of our 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 governours 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 qualities of the of fences; and power also to ordain temporal judges and civil magistrates, to determine of civil causes, with such powers, in such a form, as to you, or any five or more of you, shall seem expedient; and also to ordain judges, magistrates, and officers for and concerning courts ecclesiastical, with such power, and such a form, as to you, or any five or more of you, with the advice of the

bishops, suffragan to the archbishop of Canterbury for the time being, shall be held meet; and power to constitute and ordain tribunals and courts of justice, both ecclesiastical and civil, with such power, and, in them, form of judicature, and manner of process and appeals from and to the said courts, in all cases and matters, as well criminal as civil, both personal, real, and mixt, and touching the determination 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 in 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 also, that we do constitute you, the said Archbishop of Canterbury, &c. and every five or more of you, our committees, 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 whole colonies themselves, or any governour or of ficer 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

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 it shall appear that any officer or governour of the said colonies shall injuriously intend and usurp upon the authority, power, or possessions of any other, or shall unjustly wrong one another, or shall not suppress all rebels to us, or such as shall not obey 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 in. to England, or into 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, Letters Patents, and other writings, whatsoever of us, or of our royal predecessor granted for, or concerning the planting of any colonies, in any countries, provinces, islands, or territories whatsoever, beyond the seas; 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, 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 as they shall be thereunto required, at their peril. In witness whereof, we caused these our letters to be made patent. Wit