plantations, fell victims to the first attack. The Indians approached within a few miles of Charleston, destroying all the people who had not escaped to that town.

280. Defeat of the Indians. At that time, Charleston could muster but twelve hundred men fit to bear arms; but governor Craven took vigorous measures; laying an embargo, proclaiming martial law, and procuring an act of assembly, authorizing him to impress men, stores, and ammunition, he marched against the savages, and found the main body of them in their great camp, at a place called the Saltcatchers. There a sharp and bloody battle ensued, but the Carolinians repulsed the barbarians, and closely pursuing them, drove them beyond the Savannah river, where they were received by the Spaniards. The colony being thus delivered from most imminent danger, the troops returned, and were received with unbounded joy. The savages remained vindictive, and frequently made incursions into the English plantations, exercising their usual barbarities; but never was Carolina again exposed to equal danger.

QUESTIONS.

262. When was the massacre in Virginia, and what the cause?

263. Which were the most formidable tribes of Indians in New England?

264. What was the occasion of the war with the Pequots ? 265. Who first made war on the Pequots ?

266. Who destroyed the Pequots, and when?

267. When did Philip's war commence? What was the immediate cause?

268. What towns were burnt by the Indians? Where was captain Lathrop's company destroyed?

269. Who attacked the Narragansets?

attack made, and what was the event? 270. What towns were burnt in 1676 ?

271. What put an end to this war?

Where was the

272. What were the losses of the English in Philip's war? 273. When, and in what war, was Schenectady destroyed? 274. What were the calamities of New Hampshire and Maine in the Indian wars?

275. When was Deerfield burnt?

276. What title did our ancestors obtain to their lands? Who instigated the savages to make war upon the English? 278. When was the war with the Tuscaroras? Who defeated them, and what was the event?

279. When did the Yamasees conspire against the English' 280, Who defeated the Indians?

CHAPTER VIII.

POLITICAL EVENTS.

281. Political history of the colonies. The charters granted to the first planters of New England gave them ample powers of government. The freemen elected their own governors, councils, and representatives; by whom all laws were enacted, subject, however, to be abrogated by the king and council, if found repugnant to the laws of England. But the numerous emigrations to America soon alarmed the English government, and repeated orders were issued by the king to restrain such emigrations. Many jealousies and controversies also arose among those concerned in the plantations, and numerous complaints were made of the disorderly conduct of the settlers, their encroachment on other patents, and their arbitrary proceedings. The principal author of these complaints against the Massachusetts colony was John Mason. In 1634, the king and council had been induced, by these complaints, to issue an order requiring the colony to send their charter to England. On consultation, the governor and magistrates gave answer that this could not be done, without the direction of the general court, which was to be held in September following.

282. Surrender of the patent of the Plymouth company. The council of Plymouth, being dissatisfied with the proceedings of some of the company, and especially with the Massachusetts colony, which, as they alledged, had extended their jurisdiction too far, and rendered themselves independent of the company,

resigned their grant to the crown by an act dated June 11, 1635. In 1636, the king issued an order of process against Massachusetts, demanding the authority by which the colony exercised the powers of government; and though not served on any person in New England, judgment was rendered against the colony. In 1638, April 8, the king and council sent an express order that the colony should deliver up their patent. This was not obeyed, but an answer returned with a petition, stating that the process had not been served on them; that they had settled under the authority of their patent; and if obliged to resign it, they must remove to some other place, and the country would fall into the hands of the Dutch or French. No answer was returned, and the troubles in England prevented a further demand.

283. Plan of a general government. Gorges and Mason, the enemies of the Massachusetts colony, were the principal instruments in procuring the surrender of the Plymouth patent. Their plan was to procure a surrender of all the patents, and form the whole northern part of America into twelve provinces, with a general governor over the whole. This plan was nearly matured in the year 1635; but by the death of Mason, the winter following, it was frustrated. The colonies, however, were held in a state of alarm, for many years, apprehending a loss of their patents, and a subjection to the arbitrary proceedings of the king and the high commission court.

284. Dissolution of the charter of Massachusetts. The controversies between the heirs of Gorges and Mason, and the Massachusetts colony, respecting the boundaries of their patents, gave rise to many complaints against the colony; and in 1676, Edward Randolph was sent from England, by the king's authority, to inquire into the state of the colonies and the grounds of complaint. The colony sent agents to England; the parties were heard; Gorges was secured in his claim to Maine, and the colony purchased his property. The claims of Mason were also adjusted. But Randolph made continual complaints against the colony for violating the laws of trade, coining money, and the like.

The colony appointed agents to make answer to these complaints; but without success. The king and council were prejudiced against the colony, and in 1683 issued an order, demanding that the colony should answer to the charges against them. After deliberation, the representatives declined to appear and make defense. Of course, in 1685, judgment was rendered against the colony, and their charter was declared to be vacated.

285. Proceedings against the other colonies. Similar orders were issued against other colonies. Rhode Island assembly submitted to his majesty's pleasure, and agreed to surrender their charter, which was accepted in 1684. Plymouth, expecting to be compelled to resign their patent, sent a copy of it to the king, with an address full of expressions of loyalty, and praying for the grant of a charter. No further proceedings were had against Plymouth. In July, 1685, process was issued by the king and council against Connecticut. In July, 1686, the assembly of the colony agreed upon an address to his majesty, in which they besought him to recall the writ against them, entreated his pardon for any faults in their government, and requested the continuance of the charter.

286. Singular preservation of the charter of Connecticut. When the writ of quo warranto arrived, Connecticut sent Mr. Whiting as an agent to negotiate for the preservation of their colonial charter and rights. But in vain; for the king and council had determined to vacate all the charters, and unite the colonies to the crown, under a governor of royal appointment. Sir Edmund Andross was appointed the first_governor general over New England, and arrived at Boston in December, 1686. Soon after his arrival, he wrote to Connecticut to resign their charter; but without success, In October, 1687, while the assembly was in session, governor Andross arrived at Hartford with a company of troops, and demanded a surrender of the charter. One evening, while the principal officers of government were debating with Andross on the subject, and many people were collected, a garment was suddenly thrown over the candles, by which they were extinguished, and

the charter, which lay on the table, was seized by Mr. Wadsworth, of Hartford, conveyed away, and secreted within a large hollow oak tree, standing before the house of Mr. Wyllys. This tree is still living.

287. Subsequent proceedings in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The charter was secured, but governor Andross proceeded to take formal possession of the government of Connecticut, and annexed it to Massachusetts; appointing officers civil and military, and making most flattering protestations of his good intentions. But he soon threw off the mask, and exercised arbitrary power in the most unbounded manner. The weight of his despotism fell, with most severity, on Massachusetts and Plymouth. Happily, the reign of tyranny was of short duration; for the arbitrary pro ceedings of his royal master, king James, had rendered him so odious in England, that he was obliged to flee from the kingdom. William, prince of Orange, who was invited to the throne of England, landed there in November, 1688, and delivered the nation. Upon the first news of this revolution, the inhabitants of Boston, and the neighboring towns, seized the castle and arrested governor Andross. This was on the 18th of April, 1689. As soon as William and Mary were proclaimed king and queen, the colonies resumed their charter governments, by authority from the crown, and Andross embarked for England.

288. State of the colonies after the revolution. Connecticut obtained from the most able lawyers in England, an opinion that the colony, not having surrendered the charter under seal, and no judgment being entered on record, the charter was not invalidated; the former government was, therefore, re-established. But the charter of Massachusetts having been vacated, the king granted a new charter, in which the right of appointing the governor and council was vested in the crown. Sir William Phips was appointed the first governor, and arrived with the new charter in May, 1692. Plymouth urged for a separate charter, but could not obtain one; and it was a question for some time, whether