The Life and Work of Thomas Dudley

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 Excerpt: ... or the major part of them, may, upon the survey of such heads of laws, make a 1638 GOOD GOVERNMENT IN THE COLONY compendious abridgment of the same by the General Court in autumn next, adding yet to the same or detracting therefrom what in their wisdom shall seem meet, that so the whole work being perfected to the best of their skill, it may be presented to the General Court for confirmation or rejection as the Court shall adjudge. And it is also ordered, that the said persons shall survey all the laws and orders already made, and reduce them into as few heads as they may, and present them unto the General Court for approbation or refusal, as aforesaid. 1 In taking a general survey of the condition of the colony, resulting from all of its action, in repression and otherwise, we are forced to admit that its course in the matter of good government, and its suppression of intruders included, had the effect to draw emigrants, for three thousand settlers were attracted; no other colony had anything like such prosperity. This seeming public commendation goes far to vindicate the wisdom and political sagacity of the Puritans of Massachusetts, if the growth and magnitude of a colony are the surest indications of successful planting, as they are usually regarded. No doubt the great increase in population was due very much to the disturbed political and religious forces in England; but when the unhappy people looked across the sea for an asylum, they evidently regarded Massachusetts as the land of strong and safe government, the abode of law and order, the one spot in all the world where English scholars, who had lost confidence in their own institutions and rulers, were beginning to rally and to experiment on virgin soil, with new ideals of government. ...