een and sixty
years of age.

On notice of an invasion given by three magistrates of any colony, the
confederates were immediately to furnish their respective quotas. These
were fixed at one hundred from Massachusetts, and forty-five from each
of the other parties to the agreement. If a larger armament should be
found necessary, commissioners were to meet and ascertain the number of
men to be required.

Two commissioners from each government, being church members, were to
meet annually on the first Monday in September. Six possessed the power
of binding the whole. Any measure approved by a majority of less than
six was to be referred to the general court of each colony, and the
consent of all was necessary to its adoption.

They were to choose annually a president from their own body, and had
power to frame laws or rules of a civil nature and of general concern.
Of this description were rules which respected their conduct toward the
Indians, and measures to be taken with fugitives from one colony to
another.

No colony was permitted, without the general consent, to engage in war,
but in sudden and inevitable cases.

If, on any extraordinary meeting of the commissioners, their whole
number should not assemble, any four who should meet were empowered to
determine on a war, and to call for the respective quotas of the several
colonies, but not less than six could determine on the justice of the
war or settle the expenses or levy the money for its support.

If any colony should be charged with breaking an article of the
agreement, or with doing an injury to another colony, the complaint was
to be submitted to the consideration and determination of the
commissioners of such colonies as should be disinterested.

This union, the result of good-sense and of a judicious consideration of
the real interests of the colonies, remained in force until their
charters were dissolved. Rhode Island, at the instance of Massachusetts,
was excluded; and her commissioners were not admitted into the congress
of deputies, which formed the confederation.

ABOLITION OF THE COURT OF STAR-CHAMBER

POPULAR REVOLT AGAINST CHARLES I

A.D. 1641

HENRY HALLAM LORD MACAULAY

Before the accession of Charles I, in 1625, the separation
between the Church of England and the Puritans, which had been
slowly widening for half a century, had become so serious as to
be a menace to the peaceful stability of the kingdom