a rugged nature, which the sternest forms of
Puritanism had not served to mellow, was selected as a fit instrument
for this wilderness work.' (History of the United States, Vol. I., pp.
369, 370.)

"When the news reached London of the safe arrival of the emigrants
(under Endicot), the number of the adventurers had already enlarged. The
Puritans throughout England began to take an interest in the efforts
which invited the imagination to indulge in delightful visions. Interest
was also made to obtain a Royal Charter, with the aid of Bellingham and
White, an eminent lawyer, who advocated the design. The Earl of Warwick
had always been a friend to the Company; and Lord Dorchester, then one
of the Secretaries of State, is said to have exerted a powerful
influence in behalf of it. At last [March 4th, 1629], after much labour
and large expenditures, the patent for the Company of Massachusetts Bay
passed the seals." (_Ib._, p. 379.)]

[Footnote 26: The precursor of this Company was a Joint Stock
Association, established at Dorchester under the auspices of the Rev.
Mr. White, "patriarch of Dorchester," and called the "Dorchester
Adventurers," with a view to fishing, farming, and hunting; but the
undertaking was not successful, and an attempt was made to retrieve
affairs by putting the colony under a different direction. The
Dorchester partners heard of some religious and well-affected persons
that were lately removed out of New Plymouth, out of dislike of their
principles of rigid separation, of which Mr. Roger Conant was one--a
religious, sober, and prudent gentleman. (Hubbard's History of New
England, Chap. xviii.) The partners engaged Conant to be their Governor,
with the charge of all their affairs, as well fishing as planting. The
change did not produce success. The Association sold its land, shipping,
&c.; and Mr. Endicot was appointed under the new _regime_. (Palfrey's
Hist. of New England, Vol. I., pp. 285-8.)]

[Footnote 27: Palfrey, Vol. I., p. 289.]

[Footnote 28: _Ib._, p. 292.]

[Footnote 29: Mr. Bright, one of these ministers, is said by Hubbard to
have been a Conformist. He went, soon after his arrival, to Charlestown,
and tarried about a year in the country, when he returned to England.
Ralph Smith was required to give a pledge, under his hand, that he would
not exercise his ministry within the limits of the patent, without the
express leave of the Governor on the spot. Mr. Smith seems to have been
of the s