The loyalists of America and their times

CHAPTER X.

• The Stamp Act; its effects in America; Virginia leads the Opposition to it; riots and
  destruction of property in Boston; petitions against the Stamp Act in England;
  repeal of the Stamp Act; rejoicings at its repeal in England and America; the
  Declaratory Act. 283-293

APPENDIX "A" TO CHAPTER X.

• Containing extracts of the celebrated speeches of Mr. Charles Townsend and Colonel Barré on
  passing the Stamp Act 294
• Remarks on the speeches of the Right Honourable Mr. Townsend and Colonel Barré; Puritan
  treatment of the Indians 296

APPENDIX "B" TO CHAPTER X.

• Containing the speeches of Lords Chatham and Camden on the Stamp Act and its repeal 302
• Dr. Franklin's evidence at the Bar of the House of Commons 308

CHAPTER XI.

• Authority of Parliament over the British Colonies. 317-322

CHAPTER XII.

• Summary of Events from the Repeal of the Stamp Act, March, 1766, to the end of
  the year. 323-328

CHAPTER XIII.

• 1767.—A New Parliament; first Act against the Province of New York; Billeting
  soldiers on the Colonies. 329-336
• Raising a revenue by Act of Parliament in the Colonies 330
• Three Bills brought in, and passed by Parliament, to raise a revenue in the Colonies 331
• Vice-Admiralty Courts and the Navy employed as custom-house officers 334
• The effect of these Acts and measures in the Colonies 335

CHAPTER XIV.

• Events of 1768.—Protests and Loyal Petitions of the Colonists against the English Parliamentary Acts for raising revenues in the Colonies. 337-352
• Petition to the King 337
• Noble circular of the Massachusetts Legislative Assembly to the Assemblies of the other Colonies,
  on the unconstitutional and oppressive Acts of the British Parliament 338
• This circular displeasing to the British Ministry, and strongly condemned by it in a circular from the
  Earl of Hillsborough 341
• Admirable and patriotic reply of the Virginia House of Burgesses to the Massachusetts circular 342
• Similar replies from the Legislative Assemblies of other Colonies 343
• Excellent answer of the General Assembly of Maryland to a message of the Governor on the same subject 344
• The effects of Lord Hillsborough's circular letter to the Colonial Governors 345
• Experiment of the newly asserted power of Parliament to tax and rule the Colonies, commended at
  Boston and in Massachusetts 348
• Three causes for popular irritation; seizures; riotous resistance; seven hundred soldiers landed, and
  required to be provided for, which was refused; the Provincial Assembly and its proceedings; ships of
  war in Boston Harbour 348

CHAPTER XV.

• Events of 1769.—Unjust imputations of Parliament on the loyalty of the Colonists,
  and misrepresentations of their just and loyal petitions. 353-363
• Manly response to these imputations on the part of the Colonists, and their assertion of British
  constitutional rights, led by the General Assembly of Virginia 355
• Dissolution of Colonial Assemblies; agreements for the non-importation of British manufactured
  goods entered into by the Colonists 356
• The General Assembly of Massachusetts refuse to legislate under the guns of a land and naval force;
  Governor Barnard's reply 357
• Proceedings of the Governor and House of Assembly on quartering troops in Boston 358
• Governor Barnard's recall and character (in a note) 359
• Origin of the non-importation agreement in New York; sanctioned by persons in the highest stations;
  union of the Colonies planned 360
• Sons of Governors Barnard and Hutchinson refuse to enter into the non-importation agreement 360
• They were at length compelled to yield; humiliating position of the soldiers in Boston; successful
  resistance of the importation of British goods 360
• Joy in the Colonies by a despatch from Lord Hillsborough promising to repeal the obnoxious
  Revenue Acts, and to impose no more taxes on the Colonies 361
• The duty of threepence per pound on tea excepted 363

CHAPTER XVI.

• Events of 1770.—An eventful epoch.—Expectations of reconciliation and union
  disappointed. 364-373
• Collisions between the soldiers and inhabitants in Boston 365
• The soldiers insulted and abused 365
• The Boston Massacre; the soldiers acquitted by a Boston jury 365
• The payment of official salaries independent of the Colonies another cause of dissatisfaction 366
• What had been claimed by the old American Colonies contended for in Canada, and granted,
  to the satisfaction and progress of the country 367
• Lord North's Bill to repeal the Colonial Revenue Acts, except the duty on tea, which he refused to
  repeal until "America should be prostrate at his feet" 368
• Governor Pownall's speech and amendment to repeal the duty on tea, rejected by a majority of 242
  to 204 369
• Associations in the Colonies against the use of tea imported from England 370
• The tea duty Act of Parliament virtually defeated in America 370
• The controversy revived and intensified by the agreement between Lord North and the East India
  Company, to remit the duty of a shilling in the pound on all teas exported by it to America, where the
  threepence duty on the pound was to be collected 371
• Combined opposition of English and American merchants, and the Colonists from New Hampshire to
  Georgia, against this scheme 372

CHAPTER XVII.

• Events of 1771, 1772, 1773.—The East India Company's tea rejected in every province of
  America; not a chest of its tea sold; resolutions of a public meeting in Philadelphia
  on the subject, the model for those of other Colonies. 374-387
• The Governor, Hutchinson, of Massachusetts, and his sons (the consignees), alone determined to
  land the tea at Boston 376
• The causes and affair of throwing the East India Company's tea into the Boston Harbour, as stated on
  both sides 377
• The causes and the disastrous effect of the arrangement between the British Ministry and the East India
  Company 381
• The King the author of the scheme; His Majesty's condemnation of the petitions and remonstrances from
  the Colonies (in a note) 382
• Governor Hutchinson's proceedings, and his account of the transactions at Boston 383
• His vindication of himself, and description of his pitiable condition 383
• Remarks on the difference between his conduct and that of the Governors of other provinces 387

CHAPTER XVIII.

• Events of 1774.—All classes in the Colonies discontented; all classes and all the
  provinces reject the East India Company's tea. 388-402
• Opposition to the tea duty represented in England as "rebellion," and the advocates of colonial rights
  designated "rebels" and "traitors" 388
• Three Acts of Parliament against the inhabitants of Boston and of Massachusetts, all infringing and
  extinguishing the heretofore acknowledged constitutional rights and liberties of the people 389
• Debates in Parliament, and misrepresentations of the English press on American affairs 390
• Lord North explains the American policy; the Bill to punish the town of Boston; petitions against it from
  the agent of Massachusetts and the city of London; debates on it in the Commons and Lords 394
• Distress of Boston; addresses of sympathy, and contributions of relief from other towns and provinces;
  generous conduct of the inhabitants of Massachusetts and Salem 395
• The second penal Bill against Massachusetts, changing the constitution of the government of the province 396
• Third penal Bill for the immunity of governors, magistrates, and other public officers in Massachusetts 396
• The fourth Act of Parliament, legalizing the quartering of the troops in Boston 397
• The effects of these measures in the Colonies the reverse of what their authors and advocates had
  anticipated; all the Colonies protest against them 397
• General Gage's arrival in Boston, and courteous reception, as successor to Governor Hutchinson—his
  character (in a note) 398
• Meeting of the Massachusetts Legislature; adjournment to Salem; their respectful, loyal, but firm reply
  to the Governor's speech; his bitter answer 399
• Courteous, loyal, and patriotic answer of the Assembly to the Governor's speech 400
• The House of Assembly proceed with closed doors, and adopt, by a majority of 92 to 12, resolutions
  declaring the necessity of a meeting of all the Colonies to consult together upon the present state of the
  Colonies 401
• Curious dissolution of the last Legislature held in the Province of Massachusetts, according to the tenor
  of its Charter (in a note) 401

CHAPTER XIX.

• 1774, Continued until the Meeting of the First General Congress in September. 403-408
• Resolutions in all the Colonies in favour of a general Convention or Congress, and election of
  delegates to it 403
• General sympathy and liberality on behalf of the town of Boston 404
• How information on subjects of agitation was rapidly diffused throughout the Colonies 405
• The Act of Parliament changing the Constitution of Massachusetts without its consent gave rise to
  the American Revolution; the authority of that Act never acknowledged in Massachusetts 407

CHAPTER XX.

• General Congress or Convention at Philadelphia, September and October, 1774. 409-421
• The word Congress "defined" 409
• Each day's proceedings commenced with prayer; each Province allowed but one vote 410
• The members of the Congress and their constituents throughout the Colonies thoroughly loyal,
  while maintaining British constitutional rights 410
• The declaration of rights and grievances by this Congress (in a note) 411
• The explicit, loyal, and touching address and petition of this Congress to the King 414
• Manly and affectionate appeal to the British nation 416
• The address of the members of the Congress to their constituents—a temperate and lucid exposition
  of their grievances and sentiments 417
• Reasons for giving a summary and extracts of these addresses of the first General Congress 418
• General elections in England hastened; adverse to the Colonies 419
• The King's speech at the opening of the new Parliament, the 30th of November, and answers of both
  Houses 419
• Opposition in both Houses; protest in the Lords 420
• The proceedings of the first American Congress reach England before the adjournment of Parliament for
  the Christmas holidays, and produce an impression favourable to the Colonies; hopes of a change of the
  Ministerial policy in regard to the Colonies 420

CHAPTER XXI.

(1775.)

• The re-assembling of Parliament the 20th of January; letters from Colonial
  Governors, revenue and military officers, against the Colonists opposed to the
  Ministerial Policy and the Parliamentary Acts; the Ministry, supported by
  Parliament, determine upon continuing and strengthening the coercive policy
  against the Colonies. 422-432
• The Earl of Chatham's amendment and speech in the Lords, against the coercive policy of the
  Ministry and in behalf of Colonial rights, supported by other Lords and numerous politicians 423
• Lord Suffolk in favour of coercion; Lord Camden against it, and in favour of the rights of the
  Colonies; Lord Chatham and others denounced by the King (in a note) 424
• The amendment negatived by a majority of 68 to 18; but the King's own brother, the Duke of
  Cumberland, was one of the minority; yet the King boasted of the "handsome majority" in support
  of his coercive policy 425
• The Earl of Chatham's bill "to settle the troubles in America," not allowed a first reading in the
  Lords 425
• Petitions from various towns in England, Scotland, and Ireland against the American policy of
  the ministry 425
• Petition to the Commons from Dr. Franklin, Mr. Bollan, and Mr. Lee, Colonial agents, praying to
  be heard at the bar of the House in support of the petition of the American Continental Congress,
  rejected by a majority of 218 to 68 426
• Dr. Franklin's dismissal from office; his success in office; his sentiments on the rejection of
  the petitions of the Colonies and punishment of their agents (in a note) 426
• Lord North's resolution for an address (given entire) to the King, endorsing the coercive policy,
  and denouncing complaints and opposition to it in America as "rebellion" 426
• Remarks on the gross inaccuracies and injustice and empty promises of this address 428
• Debates in the Commons on Lord North's address to the King 429
• Mr. Fox's amendment to Lord North's address rejected by a majority of 304 to 105 430
• Second great debate on Lord North's warlike resolution for an address to the King, and Lord John
  Cavendish's amendment to it; speakers on both sides 430
• Lord North's address, made the joint address of both Houses of Parliament, presented to the King,
  with His Majesty's reply 431
• Remarks on the King's reply, and the proceedings of Parliament in respect to the Colonies 431
• The Ministry and Parliament virtually declare war against the Colonies 432

CHAPTER XXII.

(1775, Continued.)

• Parliament proceeds to pass an Act to punish the New England Colonies for
  sympathising with Massachusetts, by restricting their trade to England and
  depriving them of the Newfoundland Fisheries. 433-441
• Parliament passes a second Act to punish in the same way all the Colonies, for the same reason
  as those of the New England Colonies, except New York, Delaware, North Carolina; these
  Provinces decline the exception 433
• Much expected from the General Assembly of New York, which had not endorsed the first
  Continental Congress; the Assembly meets and adopts a petition and remonstrances on the
  grievances of all the Colonies, including Massachusetts; this address, adopted as late as May, 1775,
  a Loyal United Empire Document; extracts from this admirable and statesmanlike address 434
• Mr. Burke, in a conciliatory speech, proposes to present this memorial to the House of Commons 437
• Lord North opposes it 438
• Mr. Fox defends it, and moves against its rejection 438
• Governor Johnstone justifies the reception of it by example 439
• Lord North's amendment to reject the petition adopted by a majority of 186 to 67 439
• The memorial, after debate, rejected by the House of Lords 440
• Reflections of the royal historian on the effect upon the public mind in England from the rejection of the
  New York Assembly's appeal by both Houses of Parliament (in a note) 440
• The Colonists still persist in hopes of reconciliation and the maintenance of their constitutional rights,
  without entertaining a thought of independence 441

CHAPTER XXIII.

(1775, Continued.)

• The second Continental Congress in America. 442-458
• The second Continental Congress meets at Philadelphia, in the month of September 442
• Number and character of its members 442
• Their credentials and instructions to seek remedies for grievances, but not separation from the
  Mother Country; mode of proceeding 443
• Noble and affectionate petition to the King 443
• This petition read in the House of Commons the 7th of December, 1775, but rejected 444
• Penn, the agent of the Congress, not asked a question when he presented the petition, and was
  refused an interview by the King (in a note) 444
• The King's answer a proclamation declaring the petition "rebellion" and the petitioners "rebels" 445
• The effect of this proclamation upon the Continental Congress, and of the accompanying announcement,
  that the army and navy were to be greatly increased, and seventeen thousand mercenary soldiers from
  Hanover and Hesse were to be engaged to bring the Colonists to absolute submission 446
• Refusal of English Generals and soldiers to fight against the Colonists (in a note) 446
• Bombardment and burning of Falmouth (now Portland) by Captain Mowat, of the British navy
  (two accounts of it, in a note) 446
• The large majority of the Congress yet opposed to independence, but were unanimously in favour
  of energetic measures for the defence of their constitutional rights 448
• Tom Paine's appeal to the Colonists, called Common Sense, the first publication in America
  against monarchy 450
• But the majority of the Congress opposed to republicanism 450
• The exact time when the leading men of the Colonies conceived the measure of independence not
  certainly known 451
• Prompted by the now-known King's own personal acts and hostility to the American Colonists 451
• Deprecated by South Carolina in May, 1775, after the bloody affair of Concord and Lexington (in a note) 451
• Disclaimed by Dr. Franklin in 1773 452
• Disclaimed by Washington and Jefferson until after the middle of the year 1775 453
• Though urged by President Dwight (of Yale), discountenanced by leading New Englanders in July, 1775 453
• Retrospect of events and position of affairs between Great Britain and the Colonies at the close
  of the year 1775 454

CHAPTER XXIV.

(The Year 1775 and beginning of 1776.)

• An eventful year; preparation in England to reduce Colonists to absolute submission; self-asserted authority of Parliament. 459-478
• Oppressive Acts of Parliament enumerated, with the measures of employing foreign soldiers, Indians,
  and slaves; and all with the express sanction of the King, and while Colonists professed loyalty,
  and asked for nothing but the redress of grievances and restoration of rights which they had
  heretofore enjoyed 459
• The loyalty and effective services of the Colonists in the English and French war, and the experience
  and skill they thereby acquired in military affairs; their superiority as marksmen 460
• They desire to provide for their own defence, and for the support of their own civil government, as
  aforetime, and as is done in the provinces of the Canadian Dominion, but this is opposed by
  the King and his ministers 460
• General Gage (Governor of Massachusetts, and Commander-in-Chief of the British in America)
  commences the first attack upon the Colonists, by ordering soldiers at night to seize Colonial arms
  and ammunition; sends 800 soldiers to Concord for that purpose; driven back to Lexington with
  heavy loss; loss of the Colonists 460
• The affair of Concord and Lexington followed by the Battle of Bunker's Hill; numbers engaged
  on both sides 460
• In the Battle of Bunker's Hill, as well as the previous conflicts, the first shot was fired by the British
  soldiers upon the Colonists, who, by order and policy, acted strictly on the defensive 461
• English account of the Battle of Bunker's Hill, by the royal historian, Dr. Andrews (in a note) 461
• Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, about the same time, committed outrages upon the inhabitants
  of Virginia similar to those which General Gage committed upon the people of Massachusetts 462
• Traditional and deep loyalty of the Virginians, and their aversion to revolution, but resolved to
  defend their rights 464
• Lord Dunmore (by order of the Secretary of State) assembles the Burgesses of Virginia, to deliberate
  and decide upon Lord North's so-called "conciliatory proposition" to the Colonies; the proposition
  rejected; Mr. Jefferson's report upon, quoted; an admirable document, eulogized in the strongest terms
  by the Earl of Shelburne; how viewed by the French Foreign Minister, Vergennes (in a note) 464
• Lord Dunmore issues a proclamation to free the slaves; on the night of the 20th of April sends a body
  of marines to seize and carry off a quantity of gunpowder, belonging to the Colony, stored in a
  magazine at Williamsburg; excitement of the inhabitants, and their demand for the restoration of the
  powder; Lord Dunmore threatens, but is at length compelled to return the value of the powder 465
• Lord Dunmore's threat to free the slaves, and letter to the Secretary of State, as to how, with aid "of
  a small body of troops and arms," he could raise an ample force "among the Indians and negroes
  and other persons" 466
• Horror and alarm in the South at Lord Dunmore's threat to free the slaves, and preparation for
  resistance (in a note) 466
• Lord Dunmore (moved by his fears) leaves the Government House, and goes on board of a ship of war
  at Norfolk, almost twelve miles from Williamsburg, the seat of government 466
• The House of Burgesses remonstrate with Lord Dumnore for leaving the seat of government; entreat
  him to return, and assure him and his family of perfect safety; but he refuses, seizes a private printing
  establishment and two printers, and issues proclamations and attempts to govern from a ship of war 467
• Lord Dunmore commands the water by a small flotilla of war vessels, and frequently landed forces to
  seize arms, &c.; attempt to destroy the town of Hampton; is repelled by the inhabitants, and volunteer
  rifle companies come to their aid; the first battle in Virginia; its success with the Virginians 467
• Account of this affair, and of Lord Dunmore's policy, by the English Annual Register (in a note) 468
• In consequence of Lord Dunmore's failure against the town of Hampton, he issues a proclamation
  from on board the war ship William, off Norfolk, declaring martial law throughout the Colony,
  "requiring all persons capable of bearing arms to repair to His Maiesty's standard, or be considered
  as traitors;" and declaring all indentured servants, negroes and others, appertaining to rebels,
  who were able and willing to bear arms, and who joined His Majesty's forces, to be free 468
• Remarks of the English Annual Register on this abominable proclamation. 469
• Lord Dunmore's conduct unlawful, as well as unjust and inhuman 470
• The men on Lord Dunmore's fleet distressed for want of provisions, which the inhabitants on land
  refused to supply: in consequence of which the town of Norfolk (the first commercial town in Virginia)
  is reduced to ashes 471
• Account of this barbarous transaction by the English Annual Register and Mr. Bancroft (in a note);
  remarks upon, by the English and American press; effect of its announcement upon the mind
  of Washington 472
• The conduct and situation of the Governors of South and North Carolina similar to that of Lord
  Dunmore in Virginia (in a note) 472
• The loyal Churchmen of Virginia, and the loyal Presbyterians of the two Carolinas, receive the same
  treatment from Dunmore, Campbell, and Martin, as the "republican" Congregationalists did from
  General Gage 473
• Each of the three Southern Governors betook themselves to ships; all the Colonists treated with like
  severity 473
• The King's speech at the meeting of Parliament, October 26th, 1775, and discussion upon it 474

CHAPTER XXV.

• Congress of 1776: Proceedings preliminary to, and adoption of the Declaration of
  Independence; a copy of the Declaration itself. 479-491
• Meeting of Congress at Philadelphia, the 12th of May, 1776; state of the Colonies 479
• Formidable preparations in England; effect of them upon the Colonies different from that expected in
  England 479
• The thirteen Colonies a unit for the defence of their constitutional rights and liberties 479
• Separation from England not even yet contemplated; though resisting the King they were loyal to the
  constitution and liberties of the Kingdom, as were the Barons at Runnymede when they resisted
  King John to maintain constitutional rights; the words of Washington and the New York
  Provincial Congress (in a note) 480
• The question of questions with the Congress; one Republican, but the others professedly Monarchists;
  Samuel Adams, his character and writings 481
• Independence first moved in Congress, May, 1776; how manipulated and promoted; not the
  spontaneous uprising of the people 482
• Agitation to prepare the minds of the people for independence 482
• The writings of Tom Paine the chief instrument of creating hatred to monarchy and a desire for
  independence (in a note) 483
• Congress itself divided on the question of independence; what Provinces opposed to or not
  prepared for independence 483
• Resolution for independence; long debates; postponed for three weeks, by a vote of seven to
  five Colonies 484
• Committee to prepare a Declaration appointed 485
• Agitation to promote independence 485
• Three days' debates on the question of independence 485
• Decision to vote by Colonies, and that the decision on each question should be reported to the
  world as unanimous, whatever might be the votes in Congress 486
• On the question of independence, six Colonies were in the affirmative and six in the negative;
  how Pennsylvania was brought over to vote for independence, by one of its members being
  induced to absent himself; and how the votes of other Colonies were obtained for the affirmative
  (in a note) 486
• The Declaration of Independence reported, discussed, amended, and adopted, but not unanimously,
  though so reported (in a note) 487
• Remarks on the voting of Congress on the Declaration of Independence 487
• Copy of the Declaration of Independence 488

CHAPTER XXVI.

• Declaration of Independence Discussed. 492-517
• The Author's sympathy with the Colonists, and advocacy of their rights as British subjects, and their
  right to defend them by force of arms 492
• Preliminary remarks on the impolicy and injustice to many thousands on both sides of the Atlantic
  of the Declaration of Independence 493
• The pure and exalted character of the advocates of Colonial rights, and high eulogy upon them and
  their descendants, by the Earls of Chatham and Shelburne, both of whom were opposed to the
  separation of the Colonies from the mother country 494
• Homage to the motives and patriotism of the fathers of American Independence; the provocation
  which they had received; the successes of the Colonists on the field of battle before the Declaration of Independence, and their disasters afterwards; but for having committed themselves to such Declaration,
  they would to all appearance have obtained within a twelvemonth all they had desired, without the
  shedding of blood, without the unnatural alliance with France, much less a war of seven years 495
• I. The Declaration of Independence a renunciation of all the principles on which the General Congress,
  Provincial Legislatures and Convention professed to act from the beginning of the contest; proofs
  and illustrations 496
• II. The Declaration of Independence was a violation of good faith to those statesmen and numerous
  other parties in England who had, in and out of Parliament, defended and supported the rights and
  character of the Colonies during the whole contest; proofs and illustrations 499
• III. The Declaration of Independence was also a violation, not only of good faith, but of justice to the
  numerous Colonists who adhered to connexion with the mother country; proofs and illustrations 501
• IV. The Declaration of the 4th of July, 1776, was the commencement of persecutions and proscriptions
  and confiscation of property against those who refused to renounce the oaths which they had taken,
  as well as the principles and traditions which had until then been professed by their persecutors and
  oppressors as well as by themselves; proofs and illustrations 504
• The plea of tyranny (in a note) 504
• Numbers, character, and position of Loyalists at the time, as stated by American writers; laws passed
  against them 504
• The beneficial results of the Congress had it adhered to the former principles of its members, and acted
  justly to all parties 507
• V. The Declaration of Independence was the commencement of weakness in the army of its authors,
  and of defeats in their field of battle; proofs and illustrations 508
• VI. The Declaration of Independence was the avowed expedient and prelude for an alliance with France
  and Spain against the Mother Country; proofs and illustrations; the secret and double game played
  between the Congress and France, both before and after the Declaration of Independence 513

THE

LOYALISTS OF AMERICA

AND

THEIR TIMES.

CHAPTER I.

The colonies of New England resulted from two distinct emigrations of English Puritans; two classes of Puritans; two distinct governments for more than sixty years. The one class of these emigrants were called "Pilgrim Fathers," having first fled from England to Holland, and thence emigrated to New England in 1620, in the Mayflower, and called their place of settlement "New Plymouth," where they elected seven Governors in succession, and existed under a self-constituted government for seventy years. The other class were called "Puritan Fathers;" the first instalment of their emigration took place in 1629, under Endicot; they were known as the Massachusetts Bay Company, and their final capital was Boston, which afterwards became the capital of the Province and of the State.

The characteristics of the separate and independent government of these two classes of Puritans were widely different. The one was tolerant and non-persecuting, and loyal to the King during the whole period of its seventy years' existence; the other was an intolerant persecutor of all religionists who did not adopt its worship, and disloyal from the beginning to the Government from which it held its Charter.

It is essential to my purpose to compare and contrast the proceedings of these two governments in relation to religious liberty and loyalty. I will first give a short account of the origin and government of the "Pilgrim Fathers" of New Plymouth, and then the government of the "Puritan Fathers" of Massachusetts Bay.[1]

In the later years of Queen Elizabeth, a "fiery young clergyman," named Robert Brown, declared against the lawfulness of both Episcopal and Presbyterian Church government, or of fellowship with either Episcopalians or Presbyterians, and in favour of the absolute independence of each congregation, and the ordination as well as selection of the minister by it. This was the origin of the Independents in England. The zeal of Brown, like that of most violent zealots, soon cooled, and he returned and obtained a living again in the Church of England, which he possessed until his death; but his principles of separation and independence survived. The first congregation was formed about the year 1602, near the confines of York, Nottingham, and Leicester, and chose for its pastor John Robinson. They gathered for worship secretly, and were compelled to change their places of meeting in order to elude the pursuit of spies and soldiers. After enduring many cruel sufferings, Robinson, with the greater part of his congregation, determined to escape persecution by becoming pilgrims in a foreign land. The doctrines of Arminius, and the advocacy and sufferings of his followers in the cause of religious liberty, together with the spirit of commerce, had rendered the Government of Holland the most tolerant in Europe; and thither Robinson and his friends fled from their persecuting pursuers in 1608, and finally settled at Leyden. Being Independents, they did not form a connection with any of the Protestant Churches of the country. Burke remarks that "In Holland, though a country of the greatest religious freedom in the world, they did not find themselves better satisfied than they had been in England. There they were tolerated, indeed, but watched; their zeal began to have dangerous languors for want of opposition; and being without power or consequence, they grew tired of the indolent security of their sanctuary; they chose to remove to a place where they should see no superior, and therefore they sent an agent to England, who agreed with the Council of Plymouth for a tract of land in America, within their jurisdiction, to settle in, and obtained from the King (James) permission to do so."[2]

During their twelve years' pilgrimage in Holland they were good citizens; not an accusation was brought against any one of them in the courts; they were honourable and industrious, and took to new trades for subsistence. Brewster, a man of property, and a gentleman in England, learned to be a printer at the age of forty-five. Bradford, who had been a farmer in England, became a silk-dyer. Robinson became noted as a preacher and controversialist against Arminianism.

Bradford, the historian of their colony and its Governor for eleven years, gives the chief reasons for their dispute in Holland and of their desire to remove to America.[3]

As to what particular place these Pilgrims should select for settlement in America, some were for Guiana, some for Virginia; but they at length obtained a patent from the second or Northern Virginia Company for a settlement on the northern part of their territory, which extended to the fortieth degree of North latitude—Hutchinson Bay. "The Dutch laboured to persuade them to go to the Hudson river, and settle under the West India Company; but they had not lost their affection for the English, and chose to be under their government and protection."[4] Bancroft, after quoting the statement that "upon their talking of removing, sundry of the Dutch would have them go under them, and made them large offers," remarks: "But the Pilgrims were attached to their nationality as Englishmen, and to the language of their times. A secret but deeply-seated love of their country led them to the generous purpose of recovering the protection of England by enlarging her dominions. They were restless with the desire to live once more under the government of their native land."[5] It appears from Bradford's History, as well as from his Letter Book, and other narratives, that there were serious disputes and recriminations among the Pilgrim exiles and their friends in England, before matters could be arranged for their departure. But only "the minor part [of Robinson's congregation], with Mr. Brewster, their elder, resolved to enter upon this great work." They embarked at Delft Haven, a seaport town on the River Maeser, eight miles from Delft, fourteen miles from Leyden, and thirty-six miles from Amsterdam. The last port from which they sailed in England was Southampton; and after a tempestuous passage of 65 days, in the Mayflower, of 181 tons, with 101 passengers, they spied land, which proved to be Cape Cod—about 150 miles north of their intended place of destination. The pilot of the vessel had been there before and recognised the land as Cape Cod; "the which," says Bradford, "being made and certainly known to be it, they were not a little joyful."[6] But though the Pilgrims were "not a little joyful" at safely reaching the American coast, and at a place so well known as Cape Cod; yet as that was not their intended place of settlement, they, without landing, put again to sea for Hudson river (New York), but were driven back by stress of weather, and, on account of the lateness of the season, determined not to venture out to sea again, but to seek a place of settlement within the harbour.

As the Pilgrims landed north of the limits of the Company from which they received their patent, and under which they expected to become a "body politic," it became to them "void and useless." This being known, some of the emigrants on board the Mayflower began to make "mutinous speeches," saying that "when they came ashore they would use their own liberty, for none had power to command them." Under these circumstances it was thought necessary to "begin with a combination, which might be as firm as any patent, and in some respects more so." Accordingly, an agreement was drawn up and signed in the cabin of the Mayflower by forty-one male passengers, who with their families constituted the whole colony of one hundred and one.[7] Having thus provided against disorder and faction, the Pilgrims proceeded to land, when, as Bradford says, they "fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element."[8] Of the manner of their settlement, their exposures, sufferings, labours, successes, I leave the many ordinary histories to narrate, though they nearly all revel in the marvellous.[9]

I will therefore proceed to give a brief account of the Plymouth government in relation to religious liberty within its limits and loyalty to the Mother Country.