employed in bringing over the general governour, and to have been kept there as a man of war; but the design succeeded very ill, for the ship in the launching, turned on one side and broke her back, which caused them to lay aside their purpose, as was mentioned before, Chap. 27. And not long after, one of the gentlemen, that was known to be one of the greatest adversaries to the affairs of the Massachusetts, fell sick, and died soon after. In his sickness he sent for the minister, and bewailed his enmity against them, and promised, if he recovered, to be as great a friend to New England, as ever he had been an enemy before. But his fatal hour being come, his purposes of that nature were cut off; which should instruct all to do the good they intend, while their time lasteth, for there is no work nor device in the grave, whither they are going. The passage foregoing was certified by letters from my Lord Say and others, to the governour of New England, about the year 1635.

CHAP. XXXII.

The general affairs of the Massachusetts, from the year 1636 to the year 1641.

THINGS had hitherto been very successfully carried on in the Massachusetts; and in the entrance of the year 1636, the 25th of May, Mr. Henry Vane, that arrived there with sundry other gentlemen in the year 1635, was chosen governour of the Massachusetts colony, at which time also Mr. Winthrop was chosen deputy governour, and Mr. Roger Harlakenden, that came along in the same ship with Mr. Vane, the year before, was chosen an assistant.

There was then as great hopes of the continuance of the peace and prosperity of the plantation, as ever before, or rather greater. But often a bright morning is followed with a dark and obscure evening. Many sad and threatening storms of trouble were observed falling upon that country, before this lustre was half run out, some of which were mingled with showers of blood; although

in the beginning thereof there were many new plantations carrying on, both about the Bay, and up higher in the country, as far as Connecticut river, an hundred miles westward from Boston. And now the country increasing, and growing every year more populous than other, by the addition of many hundred families, that every season were resorting thither, it was judged reasonable to make some further progress in settling the government, by some other forms or ways of council and courts of judicature, for the safety and ease of the people, and to prevent the travelling of the inhabitants many miles from their own places to obtain justice; long journies at that time being, for want of horses and other means of transportation, very difficult to any sort of people.

Therefore about the beginning of this lustre, a Standing Council was ordered to be chosen out of the magistrates, and to be for term of life, unless for some weighty cause they were found unworthy; and the governour for the time being was always to be president. But since that time, upon further experience, every particular magistrate is declared to be of the standing council of the country. At this time there were but three to be the standing council, viz. the Governour, Mr. Winthrop, and Mr. Dudley.

Further also, besides the quarter courts, when all the magistrates were wont to meet, other particular courts were ordered to be kept at Boston, New-Town, (since Cambridge,) Salem and Ipswich, consisting of one magistrate at least, and three or four associates, chosen by the court out of the persons nominated by the freemen of their several jurisdictions, with liberty to appeal to the quarter courts; (which since that time are reduced to two, called the Courts of Assistants, one in March, and the other in September, in every year,) if either plaintiff or defendant found themselves aggrieved by the proceedings of those inferiour courts. The proceedings in either of these courts, is after the manner of the sessions or assizes, by juries, grand and petit, &c. in the realm of England.

There were also about that time two general courts established, in which it was ordered that no act should Proceed, unless the major part both of the magistrates and deputies should consent; although since that time, there hath been some alteration so far made, that in case of non-agreement, both magistrates and deputies should vote together, and the major part of both, so voting, should determine any matter of civil controversy.

At the same time it was also enacted, that every particular township should have power of their own affairs, and to set mulcts upon any offender against publick order, not exceeding 20 shillings, which power the inhabitants have liberty to exact in their own society, or their publick meeting days, or by their prudential men, whom they have liberty to choose, (the whole not exceeding seven,) to order the affairs of their several townships.

As also in order to the publick safety of the colony, it was about this time divided into three several regiments, that were to be managed by so many Colonels, with their Lieutenants; which yet hath since been altered, and the military matters committed to a Major in every particular county, and to a Major General for the oversight of the whole.

But in the year 1636, under the government of Mr. Vane, many clouds began to gather, threatening a storm, both civil and ecclesiastical, like to ensue ere long. The body of the freemen, having taken much offence at his managing of the chief affairs, did, at the next court of election, not only lay him aside from being governour any longer, making an order immediately, that no man should ever after be made governour, before he had been one whole year in the country at least, but also left him out from being an assistant, not willing he should have any further hand in the government; which possibly occasioned his removal back to England, sooner than else he intended, towards the end of the year 1637, whither the present history shall not pursue him; although it is not unworthy taking notice, what an eminent minister

of the country solemnly declared concerning him, not long before his departure thence, which had its accomplishment in his fatal end not long since, on the Tower hill in London; which yet is not spoken to prejudice any esteem that christian people then had, of his share in the eternal mercy of the living God.

But to return: In the room of the said Mr. Vane, at the next court of election, kept at Cambridge, May the 17th, 1637, (and difficultly carried on, by reason of some obstructions laid in the way, by such as were of the former governour's party in the country,) was chosen Mr. Winthrop as governour, and Mr. Dudley as deputy governour, under whose wise conduct the country soon recovered its former beauty, place, and splendour, which had been very much eclipsed in the misguiding and bad conduct of the former governour; the particu lars of which, and the disturbance occasioned thereby, shall be discoursed by themselves in the following chap

ters.

In the year 1638, the court of election happened on May 2d, when Mr. Winthrop was again called to be governour, and Mr. Dudley deputy governour, of whose wisdom and integrity the country had had so much and so long experience before, that they were very loath to change any more.

At the same court liberty was granted for the erecting of several new plantations within the bounds of the Massachusetts colony, as at Hampton and Salisbury, places situated between the rivers of Merrimack and Pascataqua, well stored with meadow lands and salt marshes, although the uplands were something sandy, and likely to be barren.

Liberty also was granted for another plantation or township, at a place called by the English Sudbury, within five miles of Concord, planted first in the year 1635.

Besides the forementioned plantations, another was granted to a company that came with an eminent minis. ter of the gospel, Mr. Ezekiel Rogers, out of Yorkshire,

since by them called Rowley, with respect to a town of that name in Yorkshire, whereof the said reverend person had been a long time minister.

But that which was in this year more to be observed, was the founding of a college at that place, called before (in reference to some others formerly planted) NewTown; but now with relation to the seat of the muses, who at this time had an invitation thither, and a foundation laid for their future flourishing there, called Cambridge; and which in honour of a worthy minister, Mr. Harvard by name, that had bequeathed seven hundred pounds toward so pious a work, was called Harvard College. In the year 1636 there was 4001. given by the general court for the furthering thereof.

In the year 1637 a committee was chosen to take care about the building of the said college; and in this present year it arose to so much perfection as to have that honourable name imposed upon it. What helps it hath since received by general benefactors, by whom endowed, and of what use it hath been in foilowing times to the promoting of good literature, for the upholding both of church and state, may be mentioned probably afterwards:―most of the towns in the country, at this time about an hundred in all, being furnished with able ministers that there had their education.

At the following election, May 22, 1639, the former governour and deputy governour were continued in their places, as the year before; during which time it might be said of New England, as sometimes of Judah, things went well, and were attended with the former prosperity, both in encouraging the just, and bearing witness against the oppressors and unrighteous dealers.

May 12, 1640, Mr. Dudley was honoured with the place of governour, and Mr. Bellingham with that of deputy governour; at which court there was liberty granted for two other plantations, in the more inland parts of the country, to the westward of the towns of Ipswich and Newbury; the first called Haverhill, the other Andover, with reference to some of the planters that belonged to those towns in the realm of England.