Chapter III
The Puritans of Massachusetts Bay Company and their Government, commencing in 1629. 24-84
Part First
First settlement—Royal Charter granted 24
Causes, characteristics, and objects of early emigration to New England 25
The Puritan emigrants to Massachusetts Bay professed members of the Established Church when they left
England 26
Professed objects of the emigration two-fold—religious and commercial; chiefly religious, for “converting
and civilizing the idolatrous and savage Indian tribes” 26
Endicot; Royal Charter 27
Second emigration; Endicot becomes a Congregationalist, and establishes Congregationalism as the only
worship of the Company at Massachusetts Bay, and banishes John and Samuel Brown for adhering
(with others) to the old worship 28
Part Second
The question involving the primary cause of the American Revolution; the setting up of a new form of
worship, and abolishing and proscribing that of the Church of England, and banishing Episcopalians who
adhered to the old form of worship; the facts analysed and discussed; instructions of the Company in
England, and oaths of allegiance and of office prescribed by it 30
Part Third
Complaints of the banished Episcopalians in England; proceedings by the Company, denials, proofs,
conduct and correspondence of the parties concerned 46
Address of Governor Winthrop, &c., on leaving England, in 1630, to their “Fathers and Brethren of the
Church of England,” affirming their filial and undying love to the Church of England, as their
“dear mother,” from whose breasts they had derived their spiritual nourishment, &c., &c. 55
Remarks on this address, and absurd interpretations of it 57
Puritan authorities alone adduced as evidence on the subjects of discussion; Puritan letters suppressed;
first seeds of the American Revolution 59
Part Fourth
Contest between King Charles the First and the Massachusetts Bay Puritans during ten years, from
1630 to 1640 61
Professions of the Puritans on leaving England, and their conduct on arriving at Massachusetts Bay 62
In the Church revolution at Massachusetts Bay, none but Congregationalists could be citizen electors,
or eligible for office of any kind; five-sixths of the male population disfranchised 63
This first violation of the Royal Charter and laws of England 65
Complaints to the King in Council in 1632 65
Imputations upon the complainants, and upon the King and Council for listening to their complaints 66
Proceedings of the King and Council in 1632; the accused deny the charges, and convince the King
of their innocence and good faith; further inquiry to be made; in the meantime the King dismisses the
complaints, assures the accused that he never intended to impose at Massachusetts Bay the religious
ceremonies to which they had objected in England, and assures them of his desire to promote the
interests of their plantation 66
The King’s kind and indulgent conduct, and how the advocates of the Company deceived him 67
Continued oppressions and proscriptions at Massachusetts Bay, and fresh complaints to the King in
Council in 1634 69
Transfer of the Charter; kept secret during four years; remarks upon it; effect of the disclosure, and
renewed complaints 69
Issue of a Royal Commission; proposed armed resistance at Massachusetts Bay advised by the
Congregational ministers; remarks on Mr. Bancroft’s attacks and statements; official representations,
and conduct of parties concerned 72
Massachusetts Bay rulers the aggressors throughout; review of the controversy 75
More despotism practised in Massachusetts Bay than was ever practised in Upper Canada 82