THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND FROM 1630 TO 1649. BY JOHN WINTHROP, ESQ. FIRST GOVERNOUR OF THE COLONY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY. FROM HIS ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS. WITH NOTES TO ILLUSTRATE THE CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL CONCERNS, THE GEOGRAPHY, SETTLE- BY JAMES SAVAGE, PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. A NEW EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS BY THE FORMER EDITOR. VOL. II. Sæpe audivi, Q. Maximum, P. Scipionem, præterea civitatis nostræ præclaros viros, solitos ita dicere, Sallust, Bell. Jugurth. c. iv. BOSTON: LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY. MDCCC LIII. 88 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. CAMBRIDGE: THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. 1640. (3.) 13.] THE court of elections was at Boston, and *3 Thomas Dudley, Esq., was chosen governour. Some trouble there had been in making way for his election, and it was obtained with some difficulty; for many of the elders labored much in it, fearing lest the long continuance of one man in the place should bring it to be for life, and, in time, hereditary. Beside, this gentleman was a man of approved wisdom and godliness, and of much good service to the country, and therefore it was his due to || share || in such honor and benefit as the country had to bestow. The elders, being met at Boston about this matter, sent some of their company to acquaint the old governour with their desire, and the reasons moving them, clearing themselves of all dislike of his government, and seriously professing their sincere affections and respect towards him, which he kindly and thankfully accepted, concurring with them in their motion, and expressing his unfeigned desire of more freedom, that he might a little intend his private occasions, wherein (they well knew) how much he had lately suffered (for his bailiff, whom he trusted with managing his farm, had engaged him £2500 without his privity) in his outward estate.1 This they had heard of, and were much affected there serve 1 See Appendix to this volume, I. 2. for a notice of this misfortune, which caused a change in the author's will. |