in their courts, pretending
to follow the English forms. Thus he created a new court of chancery
distinct from the general court, who had ever before claimed that
jurisdiction. He erected himself into a lord chancellor, taking the
gentlemen of the council to sit with him as mere associates and
advisers, not having any vote in the causes before them. And that it
might have more the air of a new court, he would not so much as sit in
the State house, where all the other public business was dispatched, but
took the dining-room of a large house for that use. He likewise made
arbitrary tables of fees, peculiar to this high court. However, his
lordship not beginning this project very long before he left the
country, all these innovations came to an end upon his removal, and the
jurisdiction returned to the general court again, in the time of Colonel
Nathaniel Bacon, whom he left president.

Sec. 131. During that gentleman's presidency, which began Anno 1689, the
project of a college was first agreed upon. The contrivers drew up their
scheme, and presented it to the president and council. This was by them
approved, and referred to the next assembly. But Colonel Bacon's
administration being very short, and no assembly called all the while,
this pious design could proceed no farther.

Sec. 132. Anno 1690, Francis Nicholson, esq., being appointed lieutenant
governor under the Lord Effingham, arrived there. This gentleman
discoursed freely of country improvements, instituted public exercises,
and gave prizes to all those that should excel in the exercises of
riding, running, shooting, wrestling, and cudgeling. When the design of
a college was communicated to him, he promised it all imaginable
encouragement. The first thing desired of him in its behalf, was the
calling of an assembly, but this he could by no means agree to, being
under obligations to the Lord Effingham to stave off assemblies as long
he could, for fear there might be farther representations sent over
against his lordship, who was conscious to himself how uneasy the
country had been under his despotic administration.

Sec. 133. When that could not be obtained, then they proposed that a
subscription might pass through the colony, to try the humor of the
people in general, and see what voluntary contributions they could get
towards it. This he granted, and he himself, together with the council,
set a generous example to the other gentlemen of the country, so that
t