The Loyalists of America and Their Times | Page 3

that of the Church of England, and banishing Episcopalians who adhered to the old form of worship; the facts analysed and discussed; instructions of the Company in England, and oaths of allegiance and of office prescribed by it 30
PART THIRD.
Complaints of the banished Episcopalians in England; proceedings by the Company, denials, proofs, conduct and correspondence of the parties concerned 46
Address of Governor Winthrop, &c., on leaving England, in 1630, to their "Fathers and Brethren of the Church of England," affirming their filial and undying love to the Church of England, as their "dear mother," from whose breasts they had derived their spiritual nourishment, &c., &c. 55
Remarks on this address, and absurd interpretations of it 57
Puritan authorities alone adduced as evidence on the subjects of discussion; Puritan letters suppressed; first seeds of the American Revolution 59
PART FOURTH.
Contest between King Charles the First and the Massachusetts Bay Puritans during ten years, from 1630 to 1640 61
Professions of the Puritans on leaving England, and their conduct on arriving at Massachusetts Bay 62
In the Church revolution at Massachusetts Bay, none but Congregationalists could be citizen electors, or eligible for office of any kind; five-sixths of the male population disfranchised 63
This first violation of the Royal Charter and laws of England 65
Complaints to the King in Council in 1632 65
Imputations upon the complainants, and upon the King and Council for listening to their complaints 66
Proceedings of the King and Council in 1632; the accused deny the charges, and convince the King of their innocence and good faith; further inquiry to be made; in the meantime the King dismisses the complaints, assures the accused that he never intended to impose at Massachusetts Bay the religious ceremonies to which they had objected in England, and assures them of his desire to promote the interests of their plantation 66
The King's kind and indulgent conduct, and how the advocates of the Company deceived him 67
Continued oppressions and proscriptions at Massachusetts Bay, and fresh complaints to the King in Council in 1634 69
Transfer of the Charter; kept secret during four years; remarks upon it; effect of the disclosure, and renewed complaints 69
Issue of a Royal Commission; proposed armed resistance at Massachusetts Bay advised by the Congregational ministers; remarks on Mr. Bancroft's attacks and statements; official representations, and conduct of parties concerned 72
Massachusetts Bay rulers the aggressors throughout; review of the controversy 75
More despotism practised in Massachusetts Bay than was ever practised in Upper Canada 82
CHAPTER IV.
THE GOVERNMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY UNDER THE LONG PARLIAMENT, THE COMMONWEALTH, AND CROMWELL. 85-129
Commissioners from the Massachusetts Bay rulers to the Long Parliament 85
Change of Government in England stops emigration to Massachusetts 85
First Address of the Massachusetts Commissioners to the Long Parliament 86
Ordinance of the Long Parliament in regard to Massachusetts trade, &c., in 1642, and remarks upon it 87
The Massachusetts Bay Court pass an Act in 1644, of persecution of the Baptists; another Act authorising discussion, &c., in favour of the Parliament, but pronouncing as a "high offence," to be proceeded against "capitally," anything done or said in behalf of the King 87
In 1646, the Long Parliament pass an ordinance appointing a Commission and Governor-General over Massachusetts and other Colonies, with powers more extensive than the Commission which had been appointed by Charles the First in 1634 88
The parliamentary authority declared in this ordinance, and acknowledged by the Puritans in 1646, the same as that maintained by the United Empire Loyalists of America one hundred and thirty years afterwards, in the American Revolution of 1776 (in a note) 88-92
The Presbyterians in 1646 seek liberty of worship at Massachusetts Bay, but are punished for their petition to the Massachusetts Bay Government, and are fined and their papers seized to prevent their appeal to the Puritan Parliament 93
How their appeal to England was defeated 98
Further illustrations of the proceedings of the rulers of Massachusetts Bay as more intolerant and persecuting than anything ever attempted by the High Church party in Upper Canada 98
Colonial government according to Massachusetts Bay pretensions impossible 99
The order of the Long Parliament to the Massachusetts Bay Government to surrender the Charter and receive another; consternation 99
Means employed to evade the order of Parliament 100
Mr. Bancroft's statements, and remarks upon them (in a note) 100
Mr. Palfrey's statements in regard to what he calls the "Presbyterian Cabal," and remarks upon them 103
Petition of the Massachusetts Bay Court to the Long Parliament in 1651; two addresses to Cromwell--the one in 1651, the other in 1654 108
Remarks on these addresses 110
The famous Navigation Act, passed by the Long Parliament in 1651, oppressive to the Southern Colonies, but regularly evaded in Massachusetts Bay by collusion with Cromwell 111
Intolerance and persecutions of Presbyterians, Baptists, &c., by the Massachusetts Bay rulers, from 1643 to 1651 112
Letters of remonstrance against these persecutions by the distinguished Puritans, Sir Henry Vane and