ents at the same period, in 1636 and 1638. They entered
into separate associations of government. But finding their associations
not sufficient to protect them _against the encroachments of
Massachusetts_, and having no title under any royal patents, they sent
Roger Williams to England in 1643 to procure a surer foundation both of
title and government. He succeeded in obtaining from the Earl of Warwick
(in 1643) a Charter of incorporation of Providence Plantations; and also
in 1644 a Charter from the two Houses of Parliament (Charles the First
being driven from his capital) for the incorporation of the towns of
Providence, Newport, and Portsmouth, for the absolute government of
themselves, but according to the laws of England."

But such was the hostility of the rulers of Massachusetts Bay that they
refused to admit Rhode Island into the confederacy of the New England
colonies formed in 1643 to defend themselves against the Indians, the
Spanish, the Dutch, and the French; yet they had influence enough with
Cromwell to get the Charter of Rhode Island suspended in 1652. "But,"
says Dr. Holmes, "that colony, taking advantage of the distractions
which soon after ensued in England, resumed its government and enjoyed
it without further interruption until the Restoration." (Holmes' Annals,
etc., Vol. I., p. 297.)

"The restoration of Charles the Second," says Judge Story, "seems to
have given great satisfaction to these Plantations. They immediately
proclaimed the King and sent an agent to England; and in July, 1663,
after some opposition, they succeeded in obtaining a Charter from the
Crown."

"The most remarkable circumstance in the Charter, and that which
exhibits the strong feeling and spirit of the colony, is the provision
for _religious freedom_. The Charter, after reciting the petition of the
inhabitants, 'that it is much in their hearts (if they may be permitted)
to hold forth a lively experiment, that a most flourishing civil state
may stand, and be _best maintained, and that among English subjects with
full liberty_ in religious concernments, and that true piety, rightly
grounded upon Gospel principles, will give the least and greatest
security to sovereignty,' proceeds to declare:

"'We being willing to encourage the hopeful undertaking of our said
loyal and loving subjects, and to secure them in the free exercise of
all their civil and religious rights appertaining to them as our loving
subjects, and to preserv