s form they
probably thought necessary, because the people were not in a Church
state before. It is difficult to assign any other reason. Messengers or
delegates from the Church of Plymouth were expected to join with them,
but contrary winds hindered them, so that they did not arrive until the
afternoon, but time enough to give the right hand of fellowship.

"Two of the company, John and Samuel Brown, one a lawyer, the other a
merchant, both men of good estates, and of the first patentees of the
Council, were dissatisfied. They did not like that the Common Prayer and
service of the Church of England should be wholly laid aside, and
therefore drew off, with as many as were of their sentiments, from the
rest, and set up a separate society. This offended the Governor, who
caused the two members of his Council to be brought before him; and
judging that this practice, together with some speeches they had
uttered, tended to sedition, he sent them back to England. The heads of
the party being removed, the opposition ceased."[30]

PART II.

THE QUESTION INVOLVING THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE
SETTING UP OF A NEW FORM OF WORSHIP, AND ABOLISHING AND PROSCRIBING THAT
OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND; THE FACTS ANALYZED AND DISCUSSED; INSTRUCTIONS
AND OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE ORDERED BY THE LONDON COMPANY AND DISREGARDED BY
THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL AT MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

As the whole question of the future Church-state in Massachusetts, and
the future relations of the colony to England, is involved in and
resulted from this proceeding, it is necessary to examine it thoroughly
in relation both to the state of things in the mother country and in the
colony, as well as the provisions of the Royal Charter. To do this,
several things are to be considered: 1. With what views was the Royal
Charter granted, and with what professed views did the first Governor
and his associates leave England under the provisions of the Charter,
and carrying it with them to Massachusetts Bay? 2. What were the
provisions of the Charter itself on the subject of religion? 3. What
were the powers claimed and exercised under it by the Massachusetts
Puritans? 4. How far the proceedings of the Massachusetts Puritans were
consistent with their original professions, with good faith towards the
Mother Country, and with the principles of civil and religious liberty
in the colony?

A careful recollection of the collateral events in England and those of