It is not unknown to your Lordships that we came into these remote parts with his Majesty's license and encouragement, under his Great Seal of England, and, in the confidence we had of the great assurance of his favor, we have transported our families and estates, and here have we built and planted, to the great enlargement and securing of his Majesty's dominions in these parts; so as if our Patent should be now taken from us, we should be looked at as runagates and outlaws, and shall be enforced, either to remove to some other place, or to return to our native country again, either of which will put us to insuperable extremities; and these evils, (among others,) will necessarily follow:

1. Many thousand souls will be exposed to ruin, being laid open to the injuries of all men.

2. If we be forced to desert the place, the rest of the Plantations about us, (being too weak to subsist alone,) will, for the most part, dissolve and go along with us, and then will this whole country fall into the hands of French or Dutch, who would speedily embrace such an opportunity.

3. If we should lose all our labor and cost, and be deprived of those liberties which his Majesty hath granted us, and nothing laid to our charge, nor any failing to be found in us in point of allegiance, (which all our countrymen do take notice of, and we justify our faithfulness in this behalf,) it will discourage all men, hereafter, from the like undertakings upon confidence of his Majesty's royal grant.

4. Lastly, if our Patent be taken from us, (whereby we suppose we may claim interest in his Majesty's favor and protection,) the common people here will conceive that his Majesty hath cast them off, and that hereby they are freed from their allegiance and subjection, and thereupon will be ready to confederate themselves under a new government, for their necessary safety and subsistence, which will be of dangerous example unto other Plantations, and perilous to ourselves, of incurring his Majesty's displeasure, which we would by all means avoid. Upon these considerations we are bold

to renew our humble supplication to your Lordships that we may be suffered to live here in this wilderness, and that this poor Plantation, which hath found more favor with God than many other, may not find less favor from your Lordships, that our liberties should be restrained, when others are enlarged; that the door should be kept shut || unto us, while it stands open to all other Plantations; that men of ability should be debarred from us, while they have encouragement to other Colonies. We do not question your Lordship's proceedings, we only desire to open our griefs where the remedy is to be expected. If in any thing we have offended his Majesty and your Lordships, we humbly prostrate ourselves at the footstool of supreme authority.

Let us be made the objects of his Majesty's clemency, and not cut off in our first appeal from all hope of favor. Thus, with our earnest prayers unto the King of Kings for long life and prosperity to his sacred Majesty, and his royal family, and for all honor and welfare to your Lordships, we humbly take leave.

as attests

This is a true copy, compared with the original on file,. EDWARD RAWSON, Secretary.1 The Lords Commissioners, to whom the letter above written from Mr. Winthrop was directed, either rested satisfied in what was therein alleged, and so made no further demand of returning the Patent; or otherwise, which some think more probable, concernments of an higher nature intervening in that juncture of time, gave a supersedeas to that design and intendment. For this business, upon some consideration or other, had been in hand ever since the year 1634; though it had been overlooked, by the interposition, possibly, of matters of greater moment to this year, 1638, when the foresaid letter was sent over to the Governor of the Massachusetts. For it seems that in, or near, the year 1635, upon the petition of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Captain Mason, and others, the whole matter came to be examined before his Majesty and the Privy Council, at which time his Majesty was pleased to give command, that the Great Council

of New England, commonly called the Council of Plymouth, should give an account by what authority, and by whose procurement, those of the Massachusetts were sent over. The said Council pleaded ignorance of the matter, which yet is not to be understood of all of them, for Sir Ferdinando Gorges's history, printed Anno 1658, (and himself was one of that number,) makes mention how himself was instrumental to procure a liberty for settling a colony in New England, within the limits of the said Council of Plymouth, and that the Earl of Warwick wrote to himself to condescend thereunto; and thereupon, as he adds, he gave his approbation, and that the King was pleased to enlarge the grant of the said Council, and confirmed the same by the Great Seal.1 However, upon complaint afterwards of disturbance like to follow, it was ordered, by the King's command, that none should go over thither without license, because of divers sects and schisms that were said to be amongst them; on which account some were not backward to suggest a doubt that they might shake off the royal jurisdiction, as they had done the ecclesiastical govern

ment.

Things proceeding after this sort, the motion that was made by some, for the Council of Plymouth to resign up their Grand Charter, did the sooner take place; so as, on the 25th of April, 1635, a Declaration was put forth by the said Council for the surrender of their Charter, which was actually done, as it bears date on the 7th day of June, 1635, as is affirmed in a book, published in Sir Ferdinando Gorges's name. Immediately thereupon a Quo Warranto was brought by Sir John Banks, the Attorney General, against the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Assistants of the Corporation of the Massachusetts; whereof about fourteen appearing, and disclaiming the Charter, judgment was given for the King, that the liberties and franchises of the said Corporation of the Massachusetts should be seized into the King's hands.1

Thereupon it is said, that afterwards, sc. May 3d, 1637, his Majesty did, in Council, order, that the Attorney

See it in Hazard, i.

1 Gorges's America, Part 2, pp. 40–1.—н. 390-2.-H. Gorges, Part 2, pp. 42-4; see page 89.-H. • See Hutchinson, i. 85; Coll. Papers, pp. 101-4.-H.

General be required to call for the said Patent of the Massachusetts; and accordingly a letter was sent by Mr. Meautis | in the name of the Lords of the Council, as is above expressed. But nothing more was done therein during the former King's reign; and his Majesty now reigning, since his coronation, confirmed the Charter of the Massachusetts anew, in one of his letters.'

CHAP. XXXVII.

Ecclesiastical affairs in the Massachusetts, from the year 1636 to 1641.

THE affairs of the church in this next lustre of years were carried on after the same manner, and in the same method and order, as in the former, but not with the same quietness and peace; nor could it be said, that there was no voice of axe or hammer in their temple work, in this space of time. The enemy was sowing tares in God's field, and therefore it was to be feared some of the servants were asleep; of which themselves were not insensible, after they were awakened by the great troubles that were occasioned thereby. Yet notwithstanding, there were many churches gathered, and ministers ordained in them, many differences composed and healed; and, at the last, error being suppressed, the churches were again established in truth and peace.

The first attempt of gathering any church in the year 1636, was at Dorchester, on the first of April; when, the former pastor and most of the old church being removed to Connecticut, Mr. Richard Mather, with several christians that came along with him out of Lancashire, having settled their habitations there, and intending to begin a new church, desired the approbation of the magistrates and of the neighboring churches, (whose ministers and messengers used to be always present on such occasions,) and were at this time there assembled for that end. When Mr. Mather, their intended teacher, and the rest of them designed for that work, had made confession of their faith, they proceeded to give an account

Meawtes ||

See the letter, dated June 28, 1662, in Hutchinson's Collection of Papers, pp. 377-80.-H.

of the work of God's grace on their hearts; wherein, through unacquaintedness with the nature of the thing desired, that which was held forth by the most of them did not amount to full satisfaction; so as they were advised not to join together in church fellowship without some further consideration, and accordingly they did forbear at that present.' But on the 8th of September* 2 following, being better informed about the nature of that which was expected from them, sc. a declaration of the work of their repentance, how they were brought by the ministry of the word, not only to look upon sin as hurtful, but as hateful, and to close with the Lord Jesus by a lively faith, as the Lamb of God, that came to take away the sin of the world, etc., they were gathered into a church state, with the approbation of the messengers of the churches, then assembled for that end.

The 6th of April, 1637, those of Concord set a day apart for the ordination of their two ministers, viz. Mr. Jones to be their pastor, and Mr. Bulkley to be their teacher. But neither the Governor, Mr. Vane, nor Mr. Cotton, nor the two ruling elders, nor any other of Boston church would be present, because the two forementioned ministers were looked upon, in that hour of temptation, as too legal preachers, and therefore they would not be present to give approbation to their ordination.

The 20th of February, Mr. Ward, of Ipswich, having laid down his pastoral office, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Norton were ordained, the one pastor, the other teacher of the said church.4

The 9th of January, 1637, divers of the ministers went to Weymouth, to reconcile the differences between the people and Mr. Jenner, whom they had called thither, with intent to have him their pastor, and had good success of their prayers. For the 30th of January, 1638, there was a church gathered there, with the approbation of the magistrates and ministers. They had a church gathered there at Weymouth before, but could not hold together, nor could have any elder join or hold with them, * August 23. Dorchester records. Ed. 2 Ibid. 194.-H.

1 See Sav. Win. i. 183-4.-H. Rev. John Jones and Rev. Peter Bulkley. See p. 233; Sav. Win. i. 167, 169, 189, 217.-H. And so says Felt's Ipswich, pp. 220, 222; but others place Norton's ordination in 1636.-H. 5 Rev. Thomas Jenner.-H.