which soon after afflicted that country, sustained high offices in the republican party, and after the restoration of Charles II. was accused of high treason, convicted, and executed. Peters pursued a similar career, and met with the same fate.

In such high repute at this time were the settlements in Massachusetts, that other Englishmen, still more conspicuous, had determined to leave their native land, that they might enjoy in a desert the civil and religious liberty which was denied them at home. Among these were Mr. Hambden, Sir Arthur Haselrig, and Oliver Cromwell, whom king Charles, by express order, detained when on the point of embarking. Little did he imagine, that by this act of arbitrary power, he kept within his kingdom those restless votaries of freedom, who were destined to overturn his throne, and bring his head to the block.

By the settlement of Massachusetts, the attention of emigrants was diverted from the colony of Plymouth, where the soil was less fertile. It nevertheless continued to increase, although slowly, in population. In 1633, the government of that colony built a trading house near Hartford, which was the first building erected within the boundaries of Connecticut. Soon after, many persons repaired thither from Massachusetts. In 1636, Roger Williams laid the foundation of Rhode Island. Subsequently, New Hampshire and New Haven were founded, which increased to five the number of colonies in New England.

The rapid progress of the English settlements

excited the jealousy of the natives. They had welcomed without fear the emigrants who first landed, not anticipating their future encroachments. The experience of a few years convinced them that they must either exterminate these invaders of their country, or be themselves exterminated.

Within the boundaries of Rhode Island and Connecticut lived two warlike tribes, the Pequods and Narragansets. The former were hostile, the latter friendly, to the whites. Between the two tribes an inveterate enmity existed; but the more sagacious and politic Pequods proposed that all animosities should be forgotten, and their united strength directed against their invaders, before they had become too strong to be resisted. At first the Narragansets wavered, but their hatred of the Pequods overpowered the suggestions of policy. They disclosed the proposal to the English, and invited them to join in a war against their common enemy.

The colonies were roused to a sense of their danger. In 1637, Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connecticut, agreed to unite their forces and attempt the entire destruction of the Pequods. Captain Mason, with eighty men, principally from Connecticut, and three hundred friendly Indians, was immediately sent into the country of the enemy. Early in the morning of the 26th of May, he attacked one of their principal villages, which had been surrounded with pallisadoes. The resistance was brave and obstinate, and the issue of the battle for some time doubtful; but the

whites forcing their way into the enclosure, set fire to the wigwams, and then retreating a short distance, surrounded the town. Many of the Indians perished in the flames; others were shot in their attempts to flee. Of five or six hundred within the enclosure, but few escaped. The English troops, of whom two were killed and sixteen wounded, returned in triumph to Hartford.

In June, another body of troops, principally from Massachusetts, marched into the enemy's country, surrounded a swamp, into which a party of them had retired, and took eighty captive. Some escaping, they were pursued to another swamp situated near New Haven, where the whole strength of the tribe was collected. This was in like manner surrounded; a sharp contest ensued; but the whites were again victorious. Two hundred Pequods were killed or made prisoners; the remainder fled to the country of the Mohawks. The brilliant success of the English, in this first and short war with the natives, gave the neighbouring tribes such an exalted idea of their prowess, that for nearly forty years they were neither attacked nor molested.

Ten years had now elapsed since the first settlement was made at Salem. It has been computed that within that time twenty one thousand persons arrived in Massachusetts. The dissenters in England having obtained the ascendency in the government, all motives for emigration ceased; and it is supposed that, for many years afterwards, more persons returned to England than came from England to the colonies.

Such, however, were the character and virtues of the emigrants; such the power over difficulties which their resolute minds, and bodies hardened by labour, had imparted to them, that they continued to increase with astonishing rapidity in wealth and numbers. And a vote of the house of commons, stating "that the plantations in New England had had good and prosperous success, without any public charge to the state," is quoted by an historian of those times as an honourable testimony of the high merit of the colonists.

Circumstances and events had already impressed a character upon them, which, though softened in its worst features by the progress of refinement, still distinguishes their descendants. Persecution made them bigots; piety made them moral; poverty made them frugal; incessant toil made them hardy and robust; dreary solitudes made them gloomy and superstitious; their numerous clergy and well educated leaders made them venerate literature and the sciences.

Four of the New England colonies, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Plymouth, and New Haven, apprehending danger from the Indians, from the Dutch at New York, and from the French at Acadia, formed, in 1643, a firm and perpetual league, offensive and defensive. By the articles of this league, each colony was to appoint two commissioners, who were to assemble, by rotation, in the respective colonies, and were empowered to enact ordinances of general concern; and in

case of invasion, each colony was bound, upon the application of three magistrates of the invaded colony, to furnish a stipulated proportion of men and money.

Strengthened by this league, the colonies were respected by their civilized and savage neighbours. With the French, under D'Aulney, Massachusetts had a long and troublesome dispute; which was adjusted, in 1644, by a treaty made by Governor Endicott, and afterwards ratified by the commissioners.

When representatives were first chosen, they sat and voted in the same chamber with the assistants. In 1635, when Mr. Hooker applied for permission to form a settlement on Connecticut river, a majority of the assistants voted against granting permission; but a majority of the whole assembly in favour of it. The representatives contended that a majority of the assistants was not necessary, and that the vote had passed in the affirmative. The assistants claimed to be a distinct branch of the legislature, and contended that it had passed in the negative.

No provision having been made for a case of this kind, an adjournment, for a week, took place; a public fast was appointed, and the divine direction implored in all the congregations. When the assembly again met, a sermon was preached, by Mr. Cotton, which induced the representatives to yield to the claim of the assistants. In 1644, the dispute was renewed, and the assistants were again victorious. The representatives then pro