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