THE BAY COLONY. and two other persons from New Plymouth, had selected this spot, then called Naumkeag, for their settlement; and Conant was there, to give, to Endicot and his party, such welcome to the New World, as the desert forest could afford. 63 P'T. I. P'D. III. CH. v. Charter 9. The next year, the proprietors in England, obtained of King Charles a charter, confirming the patent of the Council of Plymouth, and conveying to them powers of government. They were incorporated by 1629. the name of the "Governor and Company of Massa- to the chusetts Bay, in New England." The first general Bay court of the company was held in England, when they fixed upon a form of government for the colony, and appointed Endicot governor. Comp. town 10. About three hundred persons sailed for America during this year. A part of them joined Mr. Endicot Charlesat Salem, and the remainder, exploring the coast for a founded. better station, laid the foundation of Charlestown. CHAPTER V. The Colony of Massachusetts Bay. The sent. 1. A more extensive emigration was now thought of, than had been before attempted. But an objection arose; (the colony was to be governed by a council "best" residing in England. To obviate this hindrance, the company agreed to form a council of those who should emigrate, and who might hold their sessions thereafter in the new settlement. 2. On the election, the excellent JOHN WINTHROP was chosen governor. He had afterwards for his 8. Who was on the spot to receive them?-9. What did the proprietors obtain ? Where hold their first court? Who make governor ? 10. How many came over during 1629? Where did they settle? CHAPTER V.-1. What objections arose to an extensive emigration? What was done to obviate it? 2. Who was chosen to go over as governor ? 64 THE BEST." PT. I. eulogy, a praise beyond that of any other person in P'D. III. the colony. "He was," say they, "unto us as a moCH. V. ther, parent-like distributing his goods, and gladly 1630. bearing our infirmities; yet did he ever maintain the Fifteen figure and honor of his place, with the spirit of a true The company gentleman." had determined to coloemigrate. nize only their "best." Eight hundred accompanied Winthrop; and, during the season, seventeen vessels were employed, bringing over in all, fifteen hundred persons. hundred 3. Winthrop and his friends, found no luxurious table spread for them in the wilderness; but they freely gave of their own stores, to the famished and enfeebled Arrive at sufferers, whom they met. Regarding Salem as suffiJune. ciently peopled, the newly-arrived, located themselves Salem in without delay, beyond its limits. Their first care, wherever they went, was to provide for the ministration of the gospel. Settlements were soon begun, and churches established at Charlestown, Dorchester, Boston, Roxbury, Lynn, and Watertown. 4. Unused, as many of these settlers were, to aught but plenty and ease, the hardships before them, though 1632. borne with a willing mind, were too much for the Hard- body, especially in the case of women. Many died, ships endured. though in the joy of believing. Among these, was the beloved Arbella Johnson, of the noble house of Lincoln. Her husband, Isaac Johnson, the principal of the emigrants in respect to wealth, felt her loss so severely, that he soon followed her to the grave. He made a liberal bequest to the colony, and died "in sweet peace." 5. Agreeably to the charter which the Company of 1631. Massachusetts Bay had received from the king, the voAffairs of ters agreed that important regulations should be enactment. ed in an assembly of all the freemen. A meeting was govern convened at Boston, in October; when Winthrop was re-elected governor, and Thomas Dudley, who had -4. 2. What his character? What kind of persons and how many accompanied him?-3. What was the conduct of Winthrop and his friends? Where were the first villages and churches? What can you say of the hardships endured? Who among others died? 5. When was an assembly held in Boston? Who was chosen to office? A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT. 65 been a faithful steward to the earl of Lincoln, was PT. I. chosen deputy-governor. P'D. III. Govern 6. At the first, the freemen all went to Boston to vote, CH. VI. every man for himself. The government then was a simple democracy. But the settlements were soon so spread, that some would have to go many miles. They ment then concluded to choose certain of their number, as is changes. now done in our freeman's meetings, to go to the seat of government and do their public business for them. This was changing the government to a representative democracy. The same change took place in most of the other colonies. 7. Charles I., the son and successor of James I., was no less violent in his religious and political despotism; 1635. and emigrants continued to flock to New England. In 3000 emithe year 1635, not less than three thousand arrived, grate to among whom, was the younger Henry Vane, afterwards much known in the history of England. N. E. Vane governor. 8. The high manner of Vane, his profound religious feeling, and his great knowledge, so wrought in his favor, that, disregarding his youth, the people rashly 1636. withdrew their suffrages from the good Winthrop, and chose him governor, the year after his arrival. CHAPTER VI. Rhode Island and its first Founder. 1631. 1. ROGER WILLIAMS, a puritan minister, had been driven from England by persecution. When arrived Feb. 5, in Massachusetts, he proclaimed, that the only business of the human legislator is with the actions of man as tolerathey affect his fellow-man; but as for the thoughts and 6. What kind of government was first in use in the colonies generally? To what kind was it changed? 7. Who succeeded James I., as king of England? Was he less violent in persecution? What can you say respecting emigration and emigrants?-8. What can you say of Henry Vane? CHAPTER VI. Who was Roger Williams? What new opinions did he proclaim? Views of tion. 66 P'D. III. JUST PRINCIPLES OF TOLERATION. PTI. feelings of his mind, and the acts or omissions of his life, as respects religious worship, the only law-giver CH. VI. is God; and the only human tribunal, a man's own conscience. 2. The minds of the puritan fathers were troubled, by these new and strange doctrines, which they believed would, unless checked, destroy all that they had suffered so much to establish. Williams, the eloquent young divine, frank and affectionate, had, however, won the hearts of the people of Salem; and they invited him to settle with them as their pastor. general court forbade it. Williams withdrew to Plysettled at mouth, where he remained as pastor for two years, and Salem. then returned to Salem, where he was again gladly received by the people. 1635. Williams Salem The 3. The court punished the town for this offence, by withholding a tract of land, to which they had a claim. Williams wrote to the churches, endeavoring to show the injustice of this proceeding; whereupon the court ordered, that, until ample apology was made for the disfran- letter, Salem should be disfranchised. Then all, even chised. his wife, yielded to the clamor against him; but he declared to the court, before whom he was arraigned, that he was ready to be bound, or, if need were, to atWilliams test with his life, his devotion to his principles. court, however, pronounced against him the sentence of exile. banished. The 4. Winter was approaching, and he obtained permission to remain till spring. The affections of his people revived, and throngs collected to hear the be1636. loved voice, soon to cease from among them. The authorities became alarmed, and sent a pinnace to convey him to England; but he had disappeared. 5. Now a wanderer in the wilderness, he had not, upon many a stormy night, either "food, or fire, or company," nor better lodging than the hollow of a At last, a few followers having joined him, he tree. 2. How did they affect the minds of the Puritan settlers? Relate what happened respecting Williams? —3. What did the general court after Salem had twice received Williams? What letter did Williams write? What was the consequence? - 4. Was the sentence of Williams immediately executed? 5. What happened now to Williams? PROVIDENCE PLANTATION. 67 fixed at Seckonk, since Rehoboth, within the limits of PT.I. the colony of Plymouth. Winslow was now governor p›D III. there; and he felt himself obliged to communicate to CH. VI. Williams, that his remaining would breed disturbance He goes between the two colonies; and he added his advice to that privately conveyed to Williams, by a letter from Winthrop, "to steer his course to Narragansett Bay." to the Narra gansetts. gift. 6. Williams now threw himself upon the mercy of Canonicus. In a little time he so won upon him, that he extended his hospitality to him and his suffering company. He would not, he said, sell his land, but Receives he freely gave to Williams, whose neighborhood he a noble now coveted, and who was favored by his nephew Miantonomoh, all the neck of land between the Pawtucket and Moshasuck rivers, "that they might sit down in peace and enjoy it forever." Thither they went; and, with pious thanksgiving, named the goodly place PROVIDENce. The 7. By means of this acquaintance with the Narragansetts, Williams learned that a conspiracy was forming to cut off the English, headed by Sassacus, the powerful chief of the Pequods. The Narragansetts had been strongly moved by the eloquence of Mono- Narranotto, associate chief with Sassacus, to join in the gansetts plot. They wavered; but Williams, by making a pe- English. rilous journey to their country, persuaded them rather to unite with the English, against their ancient enemies. 8. Anxious to do good to his brethren, though they had persecuted him, Williams next wrote Governor Winthrop, who, taking the alarm, invited Miantonomoh to visit him at Boston. The chieftain went, and there entered into a treaty of peace and alliance with the English; engaging to them the assistance of the Narragansetts against the Pequods...Williams founded, at Providence, the first Baptist Church in America. 6. To whom 5. What advice did he get, and from whom? did he apply for shelter? Could he buy land of the sachem? Who favored him? What noble gift did he receive?-7. What did Williams learn and what do respecting the Narragansetts ?8. What letter did he write? What church did he found? favor the |