gin a fortification in that place. Mr. Vane had been employed by his father, (Sir Henry Vane, Comptroller of the King's household,) while he was embassadour for the King in foreign parts. He was a gentleman of excellent parts, and religiously disposed: had he been well principled in the main points thereof, he might have been more beneficial to the country. His father was very averse to his coming this way, (as not favouring the religion of New England,) and would not have consented to his going thither, but that acquainting the King with his son's disposition and desires, he commanded him to send him thither, and gave him license for three years stay there.

This gentleman having order from the said lords and others, treated both with the magistrates of the Massachusetts, and those who were going to settle townships at Connecticut, and brought things to this issue, that either the three towns going thither, should give place upon full satisfaction; or else, that sufficient room might be found for the lords and their companies in some other place; otherwise they would divert their thoughts and preparations some other ways. But in conclusion, the first planters kept their possession, which gives the best title in things of that nature; and possibly the lords were given to understand, that if ever they should please to come over, their gleanings might prove better than the vintage of Abiezer. However, the foresaid gentlemen, agents for the lords, being courteous and peaceably disposed, were not willing to give the inhabitants any further disturbance, but permitted them quietly to go on with the design of their plantations. Yet Mr. Winthrop (appointed by the lords to be their governour at Connecticut) sent a bark of thirty tons, with twenty men, and all needful provisions, to take possession of the mouth of the river, and begin some fortification there, the next month after he arrived at Boston; which was a good providence for these that intended to plant there, for otherwise they would have found it much more difficult to have passed up the river, if the Indians had not been something awed with the noise of the fort there erected.

In the same year, likewise, Sir Richard Saltonstall sent over a bark of forty tons, to begin some plantation up the river of Connecticut. But not being there in person, it never arose to any considerable issue, although his right to a considerable quantity of land thereabouts could not be denied.

About four days after the bark was sent away for Connecticut, arrived a vessel of twenty-five ton, sent by the lords with one Gardiner, an expert engineer, to carry on the fortification at the river's mouth, besides twelve other men, and two women. All her passengers and goods, notwithstanding the tempestuousness and danger of the seas, were landed safe the 28th of November the same year, 1635, through the good providence of God, so as by their addition the work of fortification at the river's mouth was both more speedily and effectually carried on.

Plymouth men, understanding that those of the Massachusetts had prevented them by so speedy possession of Connecticut, sent first by letter, then by their agent, Mr. Winslow, in September 1635, and in the spring following, to complain of the injury done them in possessing the place, which they had formerly purchased of the Indians, and where they had erected an house. Their agent demanded either a sixteenth part of the land, or an 100%. from the Dorchester men, that intended to plant at Windsor, where the said house was built. They not consenting thereunto, the treaty brake off; those of Plymouth expecting to have due recom pense after by course of justice, seeing they could not by treaty, if they went on with their plantation. But at last they that were to plant, not willing to be injurious, agreed with them upon other more equal terms. The Dutch also sent home into Holland for commission to deal with those of the Massachusetts, that were settling on the place, where they had taken possession. But upon after treaties, in the time of the commissioners of the United Colonies, they were prevailed withal to quit their claim to the whole river, and resigned it up to the English. In the mean time, the Massachu

setts men, taking hold of such opportunities as providence presented to them, began to spread themselves into many plantations all over the country, so far as it was discovered fit for such purposes. And though they met with much opposition, both at home and abroad, yet they prevailed to effect their design at the last, taking notice of sundry special providences that furthered them therein. For by letters from the Lord Say, received in June 1635, as well as by the report of sundry passengers, it was certified that the adversaries of the colony of the Massachusetts were building a great ship to bring over a general governour, and to command upon the coast: but it miscarried in the launching, falling asunder in the midst; by which means their design fell to the ground. It was reported also, that they had a contrivance to divide the whole country of New England into twelve provinces: viz. between St. Croix in the cast, and the Lord Baltimore's province about Maryland in Virginia, as is mentioned in chap. xxxi. But though the lot was cast into the lap, the matter was otherwise disposed by the Lord.

Some have taken special notice of the providence of God in the beginning of that, and the latter end of the former year, concerning Capt. John Winthrop, jun. and Mr. Wilson, the pastor of Boston church, whose occasions calling them both to England, they took ship in a vessel bound for Barnstable, but were by foul weather driven upon the coast of Ireland; not known to any in the ship, and yet were brought safe into Galloway, where they parted company. Mr. Winthrop, passing through Ireland, was occasionally carried to the house of Sir John Clotwathy, where he met accidentally with many considerable persons which came thither the next day to confer about their voyage to New England. In like manner, Mr. Wilson, keeping in the ship, had opportunity to meet with many in that place, that desired to be informed about the state of New England. Many such like providences

have been observed in carrying on the affairs of the plantation of New England.

CHAP. XXVIII.

Ecclesiastical affairs of the Massachusetts, during the first lustre of years after the transferring of the patent and government thither, from Anno 1631 to 1656.

WHATEVER sinister apprehensions are or were ever taken up about the religion of the colony of New England, they aimed only at the primitive pattern described in the word of God, and practice of the apostolical churches. If they have missed of their aim, they are not to blamed for levelling at the right mark, having a fairer opportunity thereunto, than ever men had in many ages past.

It must not be denied, that they were the offspring of the old Nonconformists, who yet always walked in a distinct path from the rigid separatists, nor did they ever disown the church of England to be a true church, as retaining the essentials of faith and order. And although they could not persuade themselves to live contentedly under the wing of episcopal government, yet their offence was rather at the ceremonies than the discipline and government thereof. But intending not to write an apology but an history of their practice, nothing shall here be interposed by way of defence of their way, only to give a clear discovery of the truth, as to matter of fact, both what it was at first and still continues to be.

Those that came over soon after Mr. Endicot, viz. Mr. Higginson and Mr. Skelton, Anno 1629, walked something in an untrodden path; therefore it is the less to be wondered at, if they went but in and out, in some things complying too much, in some things, too lit tle, with those of the separation, and it may be in some things not sufficiently attending to the order of the gospel, as themselves thought they understood afterwards. For in the beginning of things they only accepted of one another, according to some general pro

fession of the doctrine of the gospel, and the honest and good intentions they had one towards another, and so by some kind of covenant soon moulded themselves into a church in every plantation, where they took up their abode; until Mr. Cotton and Mr. Hooker came over, which was in the year 1633, who did clear up the order and method of church government, according as they apprehended was most consonant to the word of God. And such was the authority they (especially Mr. Cotton) had in the hearts of the people, that whatever he delivered in the pulpit was soon put into an or der of court, if of a civil, or set up as a practice in the church, if of an ecclesiastical concernment. After that time the administration of all ecclesiastical matters was tied up more strictly than before to the rules of that which is since owned for the congregational way, as may be seen in a treatise published not long after by Mr. Cotton himself, in the name of the rest of the elders of the country, called the Way of the Churches in New England; which indeed is as a middle way between that which is called Brownism, and the Presbyterial government, as it is practised in those places where either of the said governments is owned. As for the Brownists, or rigid Separatists, there were sundry companies of them in England in the end of Queen Elizabeth's, and the beginning of King James his reign; until, be ing out of all hopes of liberty for their practice, under the shelter of their royal government, many of them removed into Holland. These do in effect put the chief, if not the whole of the rule and government of the church, into the hands of the people, and drown the elders vote, (one or more) in the major part of the brethren's; being contented the elders should sit in the saddle, provided they might hold the bridle, as some have expressed it. On the other hand, in the Presbyterial way, the sole power of government or rule is put into the hands of the Presbytery of each congregation, or into the hands of the common Presbytery of many congregations, combined together by mutual consent, so swallowing up the interests of the people in every single