THE GRAND COUNCIL.

61

P'D. III.

11. Numbers of their brethren of the church at PT. 1. Leyden came over within the first few years to join the settlement. The people of Plymouth gave a thousand CH. IV. pounds to assist them to emigrate. But the good Ro- 1625. binson was not permitted to enter the land of his hopes Death of and affections. He died in Leyden, 1625, to the great grief of the Pilgrims.

Robin

Son,

CHAPTER IV.

Grand Council of Plymouth.-New Hampshire--Massachusetts
Bay.

1. IN November, 1620, the same month in which the Pilgrims arrived on the American coast, James I. issued a charter, or patent, to the duke of Lenox, the marquisses of Buckingham and Hamilton, the earls of 1620. Arundel and Warwick, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and Grand thirty-four associates; styling them the "Grand Coun- Council. cil of Plymouth, for planting and governing New SweepEngland, in America." This patent granted them the ing paterritory between the "fortieth and forty-eighth degrees of north latitude, and extending throughout the main land from sea to sea.

tent.

called

2. This territory, which had been previously called North Virginia, now received the name of New England, by royal authority. From this patent were de- North rived all the subsequent grants, under which, the New Virginia England colonies were settled. But the persons who New transacted business for the company, were unacquainted England with geography, and avaricious. They accordingly made their grants in an ignorant or dishonest manner; so that much trouble ensued.

11. Did any of their brethren from Leyden come over ? Did the good Robinson ?

CHAPTER IV.-1. Of whom did the Grand Council of Plyinouth consist? Of whom receive a charter? When? What was the territory granted them?-2. How was the name changed? What was derived from this patent? business of the company transacted?

How was the

62

CH. IV.

PT. I 3 Sir Ferdinando Gorges had been an officer in the P'D. III navy of Elizabeth, and a companion of Sir Walter Raleigh. He was ambitious, and perhaps thought Gorges he should become the duke or prince of some large territory. He was the prime mover in getting up Mason. the Grand Council of Plymouth, and was made its President. Similar motives actuated Captain Mason, and he became its Secretary.

and

4. Mason procured from the Grand Council the absurd grant of all the land from the river of Naum1621. keag, (Salem,) round Cape Ann, to the mouth of the March 9, Merrimack, and all the country lying between the two Mariana. rivers, and all islands within three miles of the coast." The district was to be called Mariana.

Patent of

5. The next year Gorges and Mason jointly obtained of the Council another patent of "all the lands 1622. between the Merrimack and Kennebec rivers, extendCharter ing back to the great lakes, and river of Canada." of Maine This tract received the name of Lacaonia. Under this N. H. grant some feeble settlements were made at the mouth 1623. of the Piscataqua, and as far up the river, as the present ments. town of Dover.

and

Settle

White,

6. The persecution of the Puritans in England conMr. tinued, and Mr. White, a minister of Dorchester, prothe pat- jected another colony to America. As early as 1624, a few persons were established on the site of Salem.

ron of

Mass.

7. Several gentlemen of Dorchester purchased of the Grand Council in 1628, a patent "of that part of 1628. New England which lies between three miles north of Patent the Merrimack river, and three miles to the south of

for Mass. Charles river, and extending from the Atlantic to the

neer of

South Sea." This tract was in part covered by Mason's patent.

& John Endicot, a rugged puritan, began in Salem, The pio the "wilderness-work for the colony of MassachuSalem. Setts." He brought over his family, and other emigrants, to the number of one hundred. Roger Conant

3. Who was Sir F. Gorges ? What person had similar ob jects?-4. What patent did Mason obtain ? 5. What patent did Mason and Gorges obtain jointly? -6. Who projected ano. ther colony to America? Where was a settlement begun? What patent was obtained?-8. Who was the pioneer for the Bay state? Where did he begin? How many bring over?

THE BAY COLONY.

63

and two other persons from New Plymouth, had selec‹- PT. I. ed this spot, then called Naumkeag, for their settle- P'D. III. ment; and Conant was there, to give, to Endicot and his cH. v. party, such welcome to the New World, as the desert forest could afford.

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 Massachusetts 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.

to the

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? Whom 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

P'D. III.

(6 THE BEST."

PT. 1. eulogy, a praise beyond that of any other person in 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 emigrate. gentleman." The company had determined to colo

hundred

nize only their "best." Eight hundred accompanied Winthrop; and, during the season, seventeen vessels were employed, bringing over in all, fifteen hundred

persons.

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 without delay, beyond its limits. Their first care,

Salem in

ships en

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, dured. 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."

govern

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 convened at Boston, in October; when Winthrop was re-elected governor, and Thomas Dudley, who had

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 ? - 4 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. 1. chosen deputy-governor.

P'D. III.

Govern

6. At the first, the freemen all went to Boston to vote, CH. VL 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 emi the 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

8. The high manner of Vane, his-profound religious feeling, and his great knowledge, so wrought in his governor. 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 he arrived Feb. 5, in Massachusetts, he proclaimed, that the only business of the human legislator is with the actions of man as they 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 o

tolera

tion.