now living, would be as willing to embrace further light, as that which they at first received. I beseech you to remember it, as an article of your Church covenant, that you be ready to receive, whatever truth shall be made known to you from the written word of God. Remember that, and every other article, of your sacred covenant. But I must herewithal exhort you to take heed what you receive as truth. Examine, consider and compare it with other scriptures of truth, before you receive it; for it is not possible the Christian world should come so lately out of such thick antichristian darkness, and that perfection of knowledge should break forth at once."

Had the wise counsels of this enlightened man been followed, persecution would not have been known among our early fathers, and their memories would have descended to posterity with fewer blemishes than we are compelled to acknowledge they were darkened.

CHAPTER II.

THE continued persecution of the non-conformists, in England, and the prosperous condition of the Plymouth adventurers, induced another company of Englishmen to seek an asylum for religious freedom in North America. On the thirteenth of March, 1628, "the council for New England sold to sir Henry Roswell, sir John Young, and four other associates, in the vicinity of Dorchester, a patent for all that part of New England lying between three miles to the northward of Merrimac river, and three miles to the southward of Charles river; and in length, within the described breadth, from the Atlantic ocean to the South sea." This patent was the foundation of the colony of Massachusetts. Unfortunately the limits were so indefinite, particularly on the north and south, that much perplexity was experienced in adjusting them in later times, and disputes continued for many years with the contiguous colonies.

Soon after obtaining their patent, the company chose a governor and deputy governor, with eighteen assistants, and sent out a number of people under the care of John

Endicott, who arrived at Naumkeag, which they named Salem. The place was then an uncultivated desart, and as it had been abandoned by the natives, the adventurers met with no interruption; but proving unhealthy, and several dying, part of the people by the consent of Endicott, removed and settled at a place called Mishawum, since Charlestown, where the natives were found to be numerous, and an English house had been built by Thomas Walford, a blacksmith, one of the early adventurers.

The company in England, in 1629, was incorporated by king Charles, by the name of "the Governor and company in the Massachusetts bay in New England, with power to elect forever, out of the freeman of said company, a Governor, deputy Governor and eighteen assistants, to be newly chosen on the last Wednesday in easter term, annually; and to make laws not repugnant to the laws of England."

At a meeting held in London, April thirtieth, a form of government was settled for the colony. Thirteen persons resident in the colonial settlement, to have the sole management of the colony. At the same meeting John Endicott was elected governor, and Francis Higginson, and six others to be the council, with power to choose three others; and such planters as should live within the limits of the plantation, were empowered to elect two more, to make the number of the council twelve, one of whom was, by the governor and council, or the major part of them, to be chosen deputy to the governor for the time being. These persons were to continue in office one year, or until the court of the company in London should appoint others; and the governor, or in his absence, the deputy governor, might call courts at discretion.

People of note were found ready to emigrate to New England, but they were not satisfied with the form of government that had been adopted, which authorized the enacting of laws for them in England without their con

sent.

To obviate this difficulty, it was decreed by the

* Dr. Cotton Mather, in the fertility of his imagination suggests that the Indian name of this place, which he calls Nahumkeick, was Hebrew: for, says he, nahum signifies comfort, and keik a haven, and our English not only found it a haven of comfort, but happened also to put a Hebrew name upon it; for they called it Salem, for the peace they had hoped in it.-Magnalia Christ. Americana.

company that the government and patent of the settlement should be transferred from London to Massachusetts. A new election of officers was held, and John Winthrop was chosen governor, and John Humfrey deputy governor, and sir Richard Saltonstall, Isaac Johnson, Thomas Dudley, and others, were the assistants. All these gentlemen agreed to embark with their families for New England, for the purpose of settling a colony, and to be ready the ensuing March.

Before the embarkation of the officers of the government, three ships sailed from the Isle of Wight, and arrived at Naumkeag, in June, with about two hundred men, women and children, and a supply of necessary articles, and also a number of head of cattle, horses, sheep and goats. At this time the place contained but seven houses, and the first adventurers numbered but one hundred.

Soon after this accession of people at Naumkeag, about one hundred removed to Mishawum, where they were permitted to settle by governor Endicott. A town was laid out into two acre lots, one for each inhabitant, and named Charlestown; a Mr. Smith went to Plymouth, where he was settled in the ministry.

Early in the spring of 1630, a considerable fleet was prepared in England to carry out a colony to New England under governor Winthrop. By the fifth of July twelve of the ships had arrived in Massachusetts bay, with the governor, deputy governor, and several gentlemen of the council, and about fifteen hundred settlers, of various occupations, some of whom were from the west of England, but the greater part from the vicinity of London. One of the ships had arrived at Nantasket about the thirtieth of May preceding, whence Mr. Warham and several others landed, and putting their effects on board a boat, proceeded up the harbor to Charlestown, thence they ascended Charles river and landed at the place where Watertown is now built, where they found that a large body of Indians were in the vicinity, which put the party on the alert. The next morning several Indians were seen at no great distance, one holding up a fish, signifying his desire to trade with the English; a man was sent forward who received the fish in exchange

for a biscuit. After this introduction, a friendly intercourse continued, and an advantageous trade in fish was carried on sometime. The party remained a few days at the place, and then returned down the river and proceeded to Matapan, now Dorchester; here finding a neck of land convenient for enclosing the cattle they had brought from England, they fixed a settlement: this was the commencement of the town of Dorchester.

Governor Winthrop, with some of his principle men, having explored the bay, and viewed various points, landed at Charlestown and took quarters in the large house, which had been prepared the preceding year by the first adventurers; and the other people landed, erected cottages, booths and tents about the eminence, now called Bunker's hill. Unaccustomed to this mode of living, and oppressed by very hot weather, sickness prevailed, and proved mortal to many; this produced discouragement and a considerable number of people sailed for England in the returning ships; others left the place and went to the settlement at Piscataqua.

The adventurers at Charlestown now commenced the exploration of the adjacent country, for the purpose of finding eligible situations for plantations. Watertown was selected for one, and Mr. Saltonstall and Mr. Phillips, with a company of people removed to that place. Mr. Wm. Pynchon, with another company, sat down at Roxbury, and about this time, a few people fixed themselves at Medford. The peninsula, called by the natives Shawmut, and by the English Trimountain, the present site of Boston, seems not to have attracted the notice of the adventurers, and remained the solitary residence of a Mr. Blackstone, an Episcopalian minister, whose humble cottage was situated on Barton's point, where he had resided some time. The period of the arrival of this gentleman is not known. Cotton Mather says, "There have at several times arrived in this country, more than a score of ministers, from other parts of the world. There were some Godly Episcopalians, among whom has been commonly reckoned Mr. Blackstone. This man was indeed of a particular humour, and he would never join himself to any of our churches, giving this reason for it, 'I came from England because I did not like the Lords' Bishops;

but I can't join with you, because I would not be under the Lords' Brethren."*

Governor Winthrop being informed by Mr. Blackstone, that there was an excellent spring of water at Shawmut, and invited by this gentleman to view the place, Mr. Johnson and others, crossed over, and were highly pleased with the situation. Huts were soon after erected for the reception of the people; and in the month of September, the governor and most of the assistants, removed their families to the peninsula; but it appears, not with the determination of making it a permanent residence.

Thus commenced the settlement of the metropolis of Massachusetts, which now exhibits a population of upwards of forty three thousand. Less than two centuries ago, the peninsula, now covered by the city, was a dreary wild, the occasional resort of a few rude sons of the forest; now the abode of wealth, elegance, arts, science and mercantile enterprise; and blest with all that renders life respectable.†

Previously to the arrival of the governor and assistants from Charlestown, a court was held at that place, on board of the ship Arabella, at which provision was made for maintaining the ministers of the gospel; and houses were ordered to be built for their accommodation, at the public charge; the price of labor fixed for mechanics, and other business transacted. At another court held at the same place, Trimountain was named Boston.

The first general court of Massachusetts, was held in Boston, October nineteenth, at which many of the planters attended. At this court it was resolved that the freemen should choose the assistants, and the assistants the governor and deputy governor, from among themselves; who with the assistants, were to have the power of making laws, and electing officers to execute them. At a court in November, a man was whipped for shooting a fowl on the Sabbath; and one of the assistants for whipping two persons, without the presence of another assistant, (the law requiring two) was fined five pounds.

*Magnalia, Book 3.

+ Chickatawbut at this time, was the principal sachem of the country, whose seat was at Neponset; and he seems to have been peaceably disposed towards the settlers, as no opposition was made to the planting of his lands.