cumstances, it was left to the wisdom and faithfulness of the elders, to be so ordered as was judged most conducing to the end, respect being by them always had to the liberty and ability of the person. The day appointed for this work, and which was solemnly kept in a way of fasting and prayer, was the 9th' of August 1629, as was mentioned before, from which time to the 6th of August in the year following, that church and their officers lived peaceably together; but at that time Mr. Higginson, their teacher, being called off by an [unexpected stroke of death, Mr. Skelton was left alone, who, though he survived not long after, yet continued so long as to see his church involved in some troubles, by adhering too strictly to his own notions, and could not but foresee more of the like nature approaching, which he could not prevent.

CHAP. XXII.

Transactions of the Patentees at London after the Patent was obtained; debates about carrying it over; transportation of the Patentees and many others in the year 1630.

WHO were the principal actors in laying the foundation of the Massachusetts Colony, hath been declared already. After they were framed into a body politic by mutual agreement amongst themselves, and confirmed, or rather so constituted, by the Royal Charter, the first Governor, chosen by the Company, was Mr. Matthew Cradock, a prudent and wealthy citizen of London, ready to promote any design of public utility, which if himself and all the rest engaged therein had not minded more than their own particular benefit, things of that nature would either never have been undertaken, or have been broken off in a manner as soon as they had been begun. The said Cradock was chosen and sworn in Chancery March 23, 1628, and so were the rest also, de fide et obedientiâ jurati, viz. Mr. Thomas Goffe, sworn Deputy Governor to the said Company; and Sir Richard Saltonstall, Captain Ven, Mr. John Humphry, Mr. Simon Whetcomb, Mr. Thomas

See page 117.-8.

Adams, Samuel Vassall, William Vassall, George Foxcraft, Richard Perry, and Thomas Hutchins, were sworn Assistants to whom were added Mr. Wright and Mr. John Browne, who were sworn April 6th, 1629, when also Mr. Harwood, of London, was sworn to the office of Treasurer to the said Company.* And Mr. John Higginson, the silenced minister of Leicester, was accepted, on condition that he might be removed without scandal, and that the best affected amongst his people approved thereof, (which it seems they did,) and that not without the advice of Mr. Arthur Hildersham, the famous preacher of Ashby de la Zouch, who, though he was no way inclinable to the rigid Separation, yet was very forward in this way to promote the planting of the Gospel in America. Mr. Higginson, Mr. Samuel Skelton, and Mr. Francis Bright, were all at the same time entertained as ministers, for the planting of the Massachusetts, on the public account, April 8, 1629, with this difference only, that Mr. Higginson having eight children to bring up, he had £10 a year added for his stipend yearly, more than the other two. Mr. Ralph Smith was likewise, at the same time, proffered to be accommodated with his passage to New England, provided he would give under his hand, that he would not exercise the ministry, either in public or in § private, without the approbation of the Governor || established there, nor yet to disturb their proceedings, but to submit unto such orders as should there be established; whereby it appears how apprehensive the first founders of the Massachusetts were, of any that might become any occasion of disturbance by their rigid principles of Separation, of which there was no small suspicion in the said Smith, as was found by experience soon after, as is hinted before.

It must not be forgotten, that this present undertaking being like to prove very chargeable and expensive, there were, beside the forementioned gentlemen that were chosen to be Assistants, twenty or thirty others, who subscribed the sum of £1035 to be as a common stock to carry on the Plantation; and June 17th, 1629, £745 government |

H.]

See Prince's Annals, i. p. 182, note.-ED. [Hale's ed., p. 256.—н.
Francis.-ED.

See the Company's Agreement with the Ministers, in Young's Chronicles of Mass., pp. 205-12.-H.

more was lent on the same account, by several other gentlemen, the most of whic ventured but their £25 apiece. Some few advanced £: 0 as Mr. S. Vassall, Mr. Young, Mr. William Hubbard, Mr. Robert Crane, Mr. Wade, and many others; and two or three more, viz. Mr. Aldersly added £75, Mr. S. Whetcomb £85, the Governor £100. From so small beginnings sprang up that hopeful Plantation.

But forasmuch as the public affairs of the intended Colony were like to be but ill managed at so great a distance, as was between the Massachusetts and London, April 10, 1629, Mr. John Endicot, that went thither as agent the year before, was chosen as Governor under the Company in London, to whom was sent a commission that year into the Massachusetts, for him to preside in all public affairs, for the year following, which was to begin when he should take his oath, which was framed by a committee, viz. Mr. Pelham, Mr. Nowel, Mr. Humphry, and Mr. Walgrave, and sent to be administered by Mr. Higginson, Mr. Skelton, Mr. Bright, Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. J. Browne, and Mr. Sharpe. In case of all their absence, it was to be done by Abraham Palmer and Elias Stileman.?

The foresaid six, with Mr. Graves, were to be as a Council to Mr. Endicot, with two more, that were to be chosen by the old planters. If any of the forementioned should refuse, then ||were|| to be added three of the discreetest of the company, who were also to choose a Deputy, to be joined with the Governor, to assist him and the Council, or supply the place in his absence, with a Secretary and other officers, necessary for such a purpose. These had power to make laws and ordinances upon the place, according to Patent, not contrary to the laws of England.2

May 13, 1629. The second Court of Election was kept at London, when the old Governor and Deputy were chosen again, with the former Assistants, with the addition only of two men, viz. Mr. Pecock * and Mr. Coulson, to make up the number of eighteen, according

|| was ||

Pocock. Prince, i. 187.-ED. [Hale's ed. p. 260.-н.]

This is an error; it should be April 30. See Prince, p. 258; Young, p. 66.-H. The Act for establishing the government in New England, with the form of the Oaths of Office, may be found in Young, pp. 192-6, 201 3.-H. The first under the Royal Charter.-H.

to the order of the Patent, two of the former being lately gone over to the Plantation.

a

At the Court of Election it was agreed that every Adventurer who had advanced £50 should have two hundred acres of land allowed him; and that fifty acres apiece should be allowed them that went over at their own charge. It seems the Adventurers had an higher esteem of land in America at that time than since it ever reached unto, or else were much mistaken as to the nature of the soil; when an whole Province might have since been purchased almost for such a sum, viz. at three pence and four pence an acre. But men must be allowed to guess as well as they can, at so great a distance. But at one of their next meetings, viz. May 27,2 1629, a letter from Mr. Endicot, their agent in New England, was read in Court, complaining of the great irregularity in trading of sundry persons with the Indians, contrary to the Proclamation set out, Anno Dom. 1622, an evil timely enough foreseen, although it could never be prevented whereupon it was agreed to petition the King and Council for renewing the said Proclamation; which was granted, with other beneficial clauses, by the Lord Keeper and Mr. Secretary Cooke.

By these and the like occasions, at one of their next meetings, July 28, 1629, there arose a debate about transferring the government to such as should inhabit upon the place, and not to continue it in subordination to the Company there in London, for the inducing and encouraging persons of worth and quality to transplant themselves and families thither, and for other weighty reasons. The Company then met were desired to set down their reasons in writing, pro and con, with the most considerable consequences depending thereon, that they might be maturely debated; which was accordingly done. And August 28, 1629, the Deputy acquainted the Court that several gentlemen, intending for New England, desired to know, whether the chief government with the Patent should be settled in Old or New England, which

'Messrs. Endicott and John Browne.-H.

A mistake; there was no meeting on the 27th; this was the date of Endicott's letter, which was read at a General Court holden on the 28th of July. See Young, pp. 82-4.-H.

occasioned a serious debate about the matter, so as, the meeting of the Court being adjourned to the next day, it was then, by erection of hands, fully decreed to be the general mind of the Company, and their desire, that the Government and Patent of the Plantation should be transferred to New England and settled there. Accordingly, an Order to that end was soon drawn up and consented unto; in prosecution of which Order, a Court was appointed to be kept, Oct. 20, 1629, for the election of a new Governor and Deputy, that were willing to remove with their families on the next occasion.

Mr. John Winthrop was at that time chosen Governor, and Mr. J. Humphry Deputy Governor; but Mr. Humphry not being ready to attend the service so soon, Mr. Thomas Dudley was (the next spring) chosen in his room. At that time also Assistants were chosen anew, fit for the present design, viz. Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Endicot, Mr. Nowel, Mr. William Vassall, Mr. Pynchon, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Rossiter, Mr. Goffe, Mr. Adams, Mr. Eaton, &c.a

March 23d, following, Mr. Dudley was chosen Deputy Governor, and sworn in the room of Mr. Humphry, at which time also were several Assistants chosen, in the room of such as were not willing, (at least for the present not resolved,) to transport themselves and families into that new Colony, sc. Mr. Coddington, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Simon Bradstreet, Sir Bryan Janson, and others. The said Court was kept aboard the Arbella* at South Hampton; at which time, or soon after, was published a Declaration, in the name of the Governor and Company, giving an account of their whole design; the principal scope whereof was to clear themselves from any suspicion of rigid Separation, at that time not in the least thought upon or owned, much less was it purposed or intended by any of the foresaid gentlemen. How far, since that, they have been, or are, liable to the like aspersion, there may be occasion to speak more afterwards.

* So the MS. uniformly; and Prince adopts the same orthography, quoting Mass. Col. Records, MSS. as his authority.--Ed.