CHAPTER VII.

NEW ENGLAND TO THE PLANTING OF CONNECTICUT IN 1636

The Plymouth Company-The Popham Colony-John Smith in New England-The Council of New England-Puritanism in England-Religious Parties in Elizabeth's Reign-The Independents-The Scrooby Congregation-The Pilgrims in Holland-The Voyage of the Mayflower-The Settlement at Plymouth-The Government at Plymouth-Growth and Character of the Colony-Towns-Mason's Grant of New Hampshire-The New Puritan Emigration-Endicott at SalemThe Charter of the Massachusetts Company-The First Congregational Church-Alleged "Intolerance" of the Puritans -Transfer of the Massachusetts Company to New England --John Winthrop-The Great Emigration to MassachusettsSufferings of the Colony-Its Form of Government-Congregationalism-Roger Williams-Williams Founds ProvidenceVane-Mrs. Ann Hutchinson-Winthrop again Chosen Governor-Heroic Spirit of the Colony-Council of New England Surrenders its Charter-Roger Williams and his Colony-Settlement of Rhode Island-The Settlements in New Hampshire -Gorges' Settlement in Maine.

The Ply

pany.

THE Plymouth Company was almost eclipsed by the London branch of the Virginia Corporation. The London Company was rich and influential. All mouth Com- eyes were attracted to the body under whose auspices the Jamestown colony had been sent out. Yet the promoters of the Plymouth Company, especially Sir Ferdinando Gorges, from the outset a prime mover in the whole enterprise, were not inactive. the return of Weymouth from his voyage, in 1606, several

On

Indians, whom he brought back with him, were trained, under the superintendence of Gorges, to serve as interpreters and intermediates between the English and the natives.

Colony.

In 1607, a few months after the beginnings at Jamestown, two vessels were sent out by Gorges and his associates to establish a permanent colony. They The Popham carried one hundred and twenty persons, under Captain Raleigh Gilbert, with George Popham, a brother of the Chief Justice, as President. They reached Monhegan Island, a place of frequent resort for voyagers, situated off the Maine coast. They chose for the site of their settlement the near peninsula of Sabino on the main-land, where they erected a church, a storehouse, and other buildings. The ships carried back a glowing account of the new country. But the familiar record is once more to be repeated. The winter was

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very severe, Popham died, and the news of the death of the Chief Justice arrived. The disheartened colonists abandoned the settlement and returned to England. Thus ended the "Popham Colony." In 1614, Captain John Smith, the hero of the Virginia colony, John Smith again appears, this time on the coast of Maine. and New EngHe explains the errand on which he came. He was to take whales or discover mines; or, failing in such endeavors, he was to obtain fish and furs. In these last attempts he was successful. But he did incidental work of far greater consequence. This tireless explorer moved along the coast in a boat from the Penobscot to Cape Cod. To a number of places he gave names, some of which, as recorded on his map, still remain. He gave to the region the name of New England. His "Description of New England," which he published on his return, is a somewhat picturesque, as well as generally accurate, account of what he saw. In this and in the sub

sequent writings of Smith, there are not wanting å generous enthusiasm and more enlightened views relative to the ends and methods of colonization than were generally entertained. He continued to be employed by the Plymouth Company. He was anxious to combine with Gorges and the Plymouth leaders others who were possessed of larger means. "Much labour," he writes, "I had taken to bring the Londoners and them to joyne together, because the Londoners have much money, and the Westerne men are most proper for fishing; and it is neere as much trouble, but much more danger, to saile from London to Plimouth, than from Plimouth to New England." He was thwarted, however, by the ambition of both parties to be "lords of this fishing." He was bent on establishing a permanent colony on the coast which he had described and delineated. Twice he set sail to carry out his design, but was baffled each time by accidents. He would have set out a third time, but was kept back at Plymouth by head winds which prevailed for three months. Smith retained the well-earned title which he had received from the Plymouth Company, of Admiral of New England.

The Coun

England.

Gorges had expended large sums from his own private fortune in exploring and trading expeditions, and in unsuccessful exertions to plant settlements. These cil of New enterprises had been set on foot by him and his friends, acting in the name of the Plymouth Company. At length there was opened before them the prospect of large gains by a monopoly in the fisheries. It was just at the time when James was engaged in the experiment of ruling without a Parliament, and was dispensing monopolies with a lavish hand. Gorges was a supporter of the King's party, and was helped by influential noblemen. In 1620, he, and the "Gentlemen Adventurers" with him, obtained a patent, to take the place of

the charter of the Plymouth Company, granting to them, under the name of the Council of New England, the territory between the fortieth parallel-or about the latitude of Philadelphia-and the forty-eighth degree, which crosses the Bay of Chaleurs. The patentees were to have the right to plant and to govern settlements, and also to convey to individuals and companies subordinate grants, accompanied by powers similar to their own. The patent forbade any to visit the New England coasts without a license from the Council. This cut off the right to land and to dry fish, and created, practically, although not in direct terms, a complete monopoly in the benefit of the fisheries. As soon as the plan of Gorges and his associates for obtaining this charter became known, the managers of the London Company were up in arms. A determined, persevering protest was made against the bestowal of such a privilege. These managers were in disfavor, as being of the political opposition. But Sir Edward Coke. and others were resolute in their hostility to the obnoxious measure. When Parliament met, the resistance was pressed. Although the patent was delivered Failure of to Gorges, the controversy went on for several Gorges. years, the demand for "a free liberty of all the King's subjects for fishing" could not be withstood, and the Council was obliged to yield. With the loss of this coveted monopoly, the prospects of the organization were blighted, and it ceased to flourish.

the Reforma

The permanent settlement of New England was to spring from a stronger sentiment than the love of gain, and from a nobler passion than the spirit of Progress of adventure. Its motive was found in religion. tion in EngWhen King Henry VIII. broke off the connection of England with the Papacy, and made himself, in the room of the Pope, the head of the English Church, he did not change his theology. He did not himself intend

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own.

to forsake the Roman Catholic doctrines, nor did he mean to allow his subjects to adopt a different faith from his He was enabled to carry through the revolution which he effected, through that inbred dislike of foreign ecclesiastical rule, which had been of slow growth in England, but had come to be an established feeling. He was aided, likewise, by the doctrinal Protestantism, with which he had no personal sympathy, but which, under Lutheran influences, was getting a foothold among his people. But Protestants and adherents of the Pope the King treated with equal severity. He sent both classes of dissenters from his system to the stake or the scaffold. His iron will, aided by favoring circumstances, enabled him during his lifetime to maintain the middle position and to enforce an outward obedience. His youthful son, Edward VI., was a Protestant by conviction, Edward VI. and when he succeeded to the throne, the growing, but hitherto repressed party which had espoused Protestant opinions, came to the front. The Anglican Protestant Church was brought into close fraternal relations with Protestant bodies on the Continent. Its constitution was framed. Its creed and Prayer-book were compiled by Cranmer and learned coadjutors. But the current of innovation was swifter than the majority of the nation approved. The reaction that followed under Mary restored the Church of Rome to its old place of authority. But this renewed rule of a foreign ecclesiastic, the Queen's close relations with Spain, and the cruelties inflicted on the Reformers and their disciples, made the people ready for a Protestant successor in the person of Elizabeth. Not less than eight hundred exiles, embracing numerous able and learned ministers, who in the reign of Mary had fled from the fires of Smithfield, now came back. The sojourn of many of them with the Swiss Protestant leaders had brought them into full sym

Mary.