Separatism was based, viz. that to be true members of a Christian Church men must be Christians, and if they are Christians they are illuminated by the Spirit of God, and therefore capable of self-government. The difference between the men of Salem and the men of Plymouth lay in this, that the former retained the State-church principle in spirit, the latter did not. When Francis Higginson was desired to draw up a Confession of Faith, seeing that the wilderness in which they were might be looked upon as a place of liberty and they might in time be troubled with erroneous spirits, therefore they did put in one article into the Confession of Faith on purpose about the duty and power of the magistrate in matters of religion.' This principle once adopted was in after years extended. John Cotton contended for a scriptural theocracy. To secure the best legislation they deemed it right to limit the political franchise to men of consistent religious character, united in church fellowship. Church-membership was made the essential pre-requisite to citizenship, and the formation of churches came under the direct supervision of the civic authority. Discipline was no doubt for the most part observed in the Christian society without external interference, but when the censures of the Church were disregarded, the State stepped in and imposed the penalty of political disfranchisement, fine or imprisonment. In this way came about the troubles and intolerance of a later time.

But during the period between 1629 and 1634 this was not foreseen, and the men who acted with Endicott, Skelton and Higginson contended that the course they took was the only course possible to them. It had become impossible for them to remain at home. Was it not a time when human worship and human inventions were grown to such an intolerable height that the consciences of God's saints, enlightened by the truth, could no longer bear

them? Was not the power of the tyrannical prelates so great that, like a strong current, it carried all down stream before it? Did not the hearts of men generally fail them? Might we not say, "This is not our resting place?" We might, no doubt, have remained at home and found a way to have filled the prisons, but whether we were called to that when there was an open door of liberty placed before us we leave to be considered. The Lord Himself knew the motives which animated us in going abroad. He that seeth in secret and rewardeth openly knew what prayers and tears had been poured out to God, by many alone, and in days of fasting and prayer, by God's servants together for His counsel, direction and blessing in this work. Many longings and pantings of heart had there been in many after the Lord Jesus to see His goings in the sanctuary; and this liberty of New England we have looked upon and thankfully received from God as the fruit of these prayers and desires.'

(295

XI.

MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

ALREADY two bands of settlers had gone out to Massachusetts in 1628 and 1629; a still larger expedition was to follow in 1630. But there was an important preliminary question to be settled. Those who composed the Massachusetts Bay Company were not content that it should be a mere trading adventure, having its headquarters in London, and liable at any time to be interfered with by the Crown. The vision of a Free State across the sea invested with the prerogatives of self-government rose before them as a possibility to be realised. But how to realise it without arousing the ever-watchful jealousy of Laud and the king was the difficulty which at once presented itself. This difficulty was met by the adoption of a resolution which, on the face of it, appeared innocent enough, but which meant more than appeared. At a general court of the Company, held July 28, 1629, the governor, Matthew Cradock, suggested that for the purpose of inducing persons of worth and quality to transplant themselves and their families to the new settlement, and for other weighty reasons not mentioned but perfectly well understood, it was expedient to 'transfer the government of the plantation to those that shall inhabit, and not to continue the same in subordination to the Company here as now it is.' This important matter was, after due debate, left till the next. mccting to each man's private consideration, the strictest secrecy to be observed meanwhile. Before that next mecting, however, Sir Richard Saltonstall, John Winthrop

Thomas Dudley, Isaac Johnson, and eight other governors met privately at Cambridge and bound themselves by written agreement, 'on the word of a Christian and in the presence of God, who is the searcher of all hearts,' that they would be ready by the 1st of March to embark themselves and their families for the plantation, provided that by the end of September the whole government of the plantation's patent be by order of the court legally transferred and established to remain with those who shall inhabit the plantation. This was on the 26th of August, and three days later, at a formal court of governors, the provision thus laid down was agreed to by general consent and an order to that effect drawn up. The practical result of this order was to place the entire control of affairs in the hands of the ten members of the Company, who were themselves going out to the colony, and therefore interested in its future.

As Cradock was not going out, it was necessary under this arrangement to choose as governor some one who was. Therefore, at a court held on the 20th of October, ‘having received extraordinary great commendations of Mr. John Winthrop both for his integrity and sufficiency,' he was, 'with a general vote and full consent of this court, by erection of hands, chosen to be governor for the ensuing year, to begin on the present day.' The election thus made speedily justified the expectations formed of it, and was repeated no fewer than eleven times in the after-history of the colony. Governor Winthrop is one of the great names in American history, taking its place in their temple of fame side by side with that of Washington himself. Descended of an ancient and honourable family in Suffolk, he was born at Groton Manor-house, near Sudbury, in 1588. Trained to the law, a member of the Inner Temple, and subsequently one of the attorneys of the Court of Wards and Liveries, he was at the same time a typical example of

in the meantime suffer a whole continent, as fruitful and convenient for the use of man, to lic waste without any improvement?'

1

It may easily be supposed there were not wanting zealous friends anxious to retain men like John Winthrop at home. His neighbour, Robert Ryece, the Suffolk antiquary, pleaded that the Church and Commonwealth here at home hath more need of your best ability in these dangerous times than any remote plantation.' He suggested that nothing was easier than to be misled by fancy-drawn pictures of foreign lands. 'The pipe goeth sweet till the bird be in the net,' and his neighbour who is in the forties should remember that 'plantations are for young men that can endure all pains and hunger.' These pleadings, written August 12, 1629, came too late, for, under date July 28, John Winthrop has the following entry: 'My brother Downing and myself, riding into Lincolnshire by Ely, my horse fell under me in a bog in the fens, so as I was almost to the waist in water; but the Lord preserved me from further danger-blessed be His name.' This ride into Lincolnshire meant that he had been to Sempringham or Tattershall Castle in carnest conference with Isaac Johnson, John Humphrey, Thomas Dudley and others of the Boston men, about the New England scheme. On the 26th August he was one of the twelve who signed the solemn agreement entered into at Cambridge; and, on the 20th October, he was, as we have seen, chosen as the first governor to be resident in the colony.

On March 23, 1630, Winthrop and his associates sailed from Southampton in four vessels; the Arbella, the Jewel, the Ambrose and the Talbot; two others preceded them in February and March, while ten others, including the Mayflower among them, followed in May and June.

1 Life and Letters of John Winthrop. By Robert C. Winthrop. Boston, 1864