22. In 1628 a number of persons in England, wishing to emigrate to North America, purchased from the "Grand Council of Plymouth" "that part of New England which lies between three miles to the south of the Merrimack River, and three miles to the south of Charles River, and extending from the Atlantic to the South Sea." Under this purchase John Endicot, a man of note, with about one hundred colonists, made a settlement at Salem.

23. In 1629 the proprietors of this purchase of public domain, who were residents of England, obtained from Charles I., King of England, who had succeeded his father James I., a charter, granting them powers of government over colonists who might settle within its limits. The title of the corporation created by the royal grant was "The Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay in New England." About three hundred persons soon after embarked for the new colony of Massachusetts.

In 1630, for the purpose of stimulating emigration to the new colony, the proprietors agreed "to form a council of those who should emigrate, and who might hold their sessions thereafter in the new settlement" or colony. Under this arrangement John Winthrop was chosen the first governor of the colony of Massachusetts, so planted-and during the year 1630 about fifteen hundred new settlers came over from the mother country and made their home in Massachusetts. New settlements were made at Charlestown, Dorchester, Watertown, Lynn, Roxbury, and Boston.

24. In October, 1631, a general meeting of all the freemen in the colony was held in Boston, when John Winthrop was re-elected governor, and Thomas Dudley was

company called? What was that part of the country included in the new charter called?

22. When was the settlement at Salem made? Under what purchase of land was it made?

23. When was the charter for the colony of Massachusetts Bay granted? By whom was it granted? What year was the first settlement made under it?

24. Who was the first governor ? About how many colonists came over the year Winthrop was made governor ! What was the first government of the col ony of Massachusetts ?

chosen deputy governor. The colony of Massachusetts was thus established.

At first the government, under the rights and privileges granted by the charter, was a pure democracy. All the freemen assembled and gave their votes for their magis trates and other officers, as well as upon all matters of government. This was afterwards changed. In different localities the reemen held meetings, and chose deputies o delegates to meet in a common council, which was called "The General Court," and which was empowered to pass all proper laws. This "General Court" was to meet four times a year. The pure democratic form of government in this way gave place to what is called the representative system: that is, where the people make laws and govern themselves by chosen deputies, or select delegates to act for them.

25. For several years after the settlement at Plymouth, that colony had no direct political connection with the other settlements in Massachusetts. It was under a government exclusively its own, and in the regulation of all local affairs recognized no authority but its own. Its government was purely democratic.

CHAPTER VI.

PROGRESS OF VIRGINIA.

1621-1660.

WE turn now again to Virginia.

1. On the 24th of July, 1621, the Colonial Assembly, of which mention has already been made, received the express sanction of the London Company by an ordinance. This ordinance may be considered as the written Consti

25. What was the government of the settlement at Plymouth for many years! CHAPTER VI-1. What took place July 24, 1621? What is said of this ordi cance?

tution of the colony. Its provisions were liberal, giving to the people the election of two burgesses from each borough, who formed what was called the House of Burgesses, and who, with the Council appointed by the company, constituted the General Assembly. They had power to make laws, subject to the approval of the governor (who was appointed by the company), and the approval of the company in London, and "no orders of the court in London were to be binding on the colony unless ratified by the Assembly."

2. Beside the right of trial by jury, all other civil rights of Englishmen were secured, to be determined according to their own regulations, with the restriction just stated. In the charter of Virginia, as now amended, was recognized for the first time by the mother country the principle of the great and inestimable right of local self-government, by the people of the British colonies respectively on this continent.

3. Sir Francis Wyatt succeeded Yeardley as governor in 1621. At this period the colony was in a very flourishing condition. There were about eighty settlements, and the population amounted to not less than three thousand. The inhabitants enjoyed civil rights; the land was fertile; trade was free, and peace continued with the Indians. In the midst of their prosperity and seeming security, a terrible calamity suddenly befell them. They had no suspicion that the Indians had become unfriendly, but such was the fact. O-pe-chan-can-ough, the brother of Powhatan, had succeeded him as king, in 1618. He had no love for the strangers, but concealed his hatred until he could mature his plans, by which he hoped to be able to destroy them all. At noon on a certain day, the Indians were to fall upon every settlement, and murder the whites.

2. What civil rights were secured?

3. Who succeeded Yeardley? What was the population at this time terrible misfortune befell the colony at this time?

What

4. The plot was so well kept secret that even on the morning of the day of the massacre, the Indians mingled freely with the whites, and sat at their tables at their morning meals. Nothing in the manner of the savages gave the slightest intimation of their evil designs. The clot might have been entirely successful and the massacre complete, had it not been for the warning of a converted Jndian named Chanco, who, on the morning of the attack,

brought the news of the plot to Jamestown. Only the night before had he learned it. Messengers were immediately dispatched in every direction to warn the inhabitants, but it was too late to warn all. At twelve o'clock, on the first of April, the attack was made, and over three

4. Who revealed the plot? How many persons were plantations destroyed?

How many

hundred men, women, and children, were slain in a single hour. Of eighty plantations, all but seven or eight were laid waste, the survivors fleeing to Jamestown.

5. A general war of extermination against the Indians followed. The whites lost all confidence in the red men; hunted them like wild beasts, and used all the wily arts of cunning and treachery for their destruction. At length the Indians were driven back from the river a considerable distance into the wilderness; their strength was broken, and the colony was again safe. This was a dreadful blow to Virginia, from which it took some years to recover. Many settlers returned to England, and two years after the massacre there were not two thousand inhabitants in the colony.

6. Meantime the London Company was hastening to its dissolution. The stockholders, who were very numerous, had become divided into two political parties, and the subject of the king's prerogative was freely discussed at their meetings, much to the king's annoyance. He charged the disasters of the colony to the mismanagement of the com pany, and commissioners were appointed by the privy coun cil to examine into its affairs. They seized the charter, and all the books and papers of the company, and, after examination, made an unfavorable report. The king then demanded of them a surrender of their charter, which being refused, the case was then carried into the court of King's Bench, and decided against them. The company was then declared dissolved, and the government of the colony devolved on the crown, under the charter.

7. While the controversy between the king and company was going on, the colonists were left to take care of thernselves. In February, 1624, the General Assembly declared "that the governor should not impose any taxes on the

5. What was the result of the war?

6. What is said of the condition of the London Company? What was the resuit of the investigation by the commissioners ? and the suit?

7. In February, 1624, what did the Assembly declare? What did they refuse to de ?