authority, when effectually defeated, necessarily strengthens the Government it was designed to overthrow; and one successful exercise of arbitrary power naturally leads to another. Having repeatedly stifled remonstrance within, the Puritans could not endure open defiance without their borders. Several of the inhabitants having removed to Weathersfield, a place beyond the limits of Massachusetts, it was deemed prudent to assume jurisdiction, in order to avoid the contamination of bad neighbours. At first some scruples were entertained as to the legality of thus appropriating territory to themselves, to which they admitted they had no right, but a little reflection soon enabled them to overcome this difficulty. It was thought advisable, if any objection should hereafter be made by England to this presumptuous assumption of power, to apply to her her own reasoning on the subject of fealty, by which they would have the advantage of both sides of the argument. When they left the mother country, they maintained that allegiance was local and not general, obedience and protection being reciprocal; while, on the other hand, the Crown lawyers held that a man never could divest himself of this obligation, which accompanied him to the most remote parts of the earth. Now protesting in their own case against this doctrine of the English jurists, still it was fair, they said, to apply it to those who believed it, for no one can be injured by submitting to a law which he attempts to force on others, and which he asserts to be obligatory on all. Assuming, therefore, that the emigrants who had been inhabitants of the colony, and had taken the oath of fidelity to the commonwealth, were still bound by it, though not residing within its limits, it was but right and proper, that the State should on its part extend to them its protection and support. They accordingly very quietly and complacently, assumed jurisdiction over the country, and issued the necessary commissions for its government and internal management. The Puritans, who were subtle casuists, having authorised a forcible entry into land that did not belong to them, and thus enlarged their limits, soon found arguments for a similar extension, by seizing upon the possession of others on the ground that they were intruders on the heritage of the Lord. A number of persons, among whom was an obnoxious schismatic called Gorton, holding different religious opinions from themselves, and disliking the tyrannical form of government at Massachusetts, purchased lands from the Indians, beyond the boundaries of the colony, and commenced a settlement, where they hoped to enjoy unrestricted liberty of conscience. Possessing and enjoying, though usually coupled together, are by no means synonymous terms. Fanaticism is seldom enjoyed, but amidst opposition or in the face of danger. When unnoticed, it becomes torpid, and expires for want of sufficient excitement to preserve vitality. It is generally a compound. of ignorance and vanity; one fades from view in the light of knowledge, and neglect is a sure and certain specific for the other. The Government were not willing to await the natural death of this ephemeral heresy. It was deemed necessary to crush it in its infancy. The limits of the State to which they had adhered with such pertinacity when threatened with encroachment, proved no protection to those who lived beyond them. A party was sent against the emigrants, who carried them all prisoners to Boston, drove off their cattle, which they sold to pay the expense of the expedition, and effectually destroyed the settlement. When brought before the court, it was in vain the captives pleaded to its jurisdiction, and maintained that not being inhabitants of Massachusetts, they were not amenable to its authority. The justices informed them that they had violated the Divine law, though they did not condescend to produce the commission that authorised them to punish its infraction; they contented themselves with ordering them to plead instanter to the following extraordinary accusation: 66 Upon much examination, and serious consideration of your writings, we do charge you to be a blasphemous enemy of the true religion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His holy ordinances, also of civil authority among the people of God, and particularly in this jurisdiction." They were all found guilty, and sentenced to be dispersed in the several towns, and to be well ironed and set to work. It was further ordered, if any of them attempted to escape, or repeated, either verbally or in writing, their heretical doctrines, or reproached the Church or the Civil Government, upon proof thereof they were to suffer death. Now that intercourse between the mother country and the colony had become so frequent (two hundred and ninety-eight ships having arrived since the first settlement), these violent proceedings could not long remain concealed. Vigorous measures were immediately adopted for reducing the people to subjection, and preventing disorderly emigration. Orders were issued to the Wardens of the Cinque-Ports, not to allow any subsidy men to embark for the plantations without licence, nor any persons under that degree, without proper evidence that they had taken the oaths of supremacy and allegiance. The Grand Council of Plymouth, from whom Massachusetts had derived its title, was called upon to explain its conduct relative to the transfer of territory it had made to the colony of Massachusetts. This association, consisting of the first nobility and gentry in England, immediately resigned its Charter, declaring, "that the Puritan patentees having surreptitiously obtained from the Crown a confirmation of their grant of the soil, had not only excluded them from the public government of the corporation, but had made themselves a free people, and for such held themselves at present, framing new conceits of religion, and a new form of ecclesiastical and temporal government, punishing divers that would not approve thereof, some by whipping, and others by burning their houses, and some by banishment, under other pretences indeed, yet for no other cause, save only to make themselves absolute masters of the country, and uncontrollable in their new laws."* Such were the reasons which * Such a serious charge has great names to sustain it : Lord Georges, President. Captain Mason, Vice President. Marquis of Hamilton. Earl of Arundel and Surrey. Earl of Southampton. Earl of Lindsey. Sir Ferdinand Georges. Sir Kenelm Digby. Sir Robert Mansel. |