Identifier: historianshistor22will (find matches)
Title: The historians' history of the world; a comprehensive narrative of the rise and development of nations as recorded by over two thousand of the great writers of all ages:
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Williams, Henry Smith, 1863-1943
Subjects: World history
Publisher: New York : The Outlook Company (etc.,etc.)
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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the Plymouthcolonists considered themselves now firmly established. It was not withthem as with other men, whom small things could discourage, or small dis-contents cause to wish themselves at home again; so they stated in theirapplication to the council for New England for a new patent. They presentlyobtained it (June 13th, 1630), with an assignment as boundaries, on the landside, of two lines, the one drawn northerly from the mouth of the Narragansettriver, the other westerly from Cohasset rivulet, to meet at the uttermostlimits of a country or place called Pocanoket. The tract on the Kennebecwas also included in this grant. This patent gave a title to the soil; but prerogatives of government,according to the ideas of the English lawyers, could only be exercised undera charter from the crown. A considerable sum was spent in the endeavourto obtain such a charter, but without success. Relying, however, upon theiroriginal compact, the colonists gradually assumed all the prerogatives of
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=- s THE FOUNDING OF NEW ENGLAND 635 (1603-1606 A. D.) government — even the power, after some hesitation, of capital punishment.No less than eight capital offences are enumerated in the first Plymouth codeof 1636, including treason or rebellion against the colony, and solemncompaction or conversing with the devil. Trial by jury was early intro-duced, but the punishments to be inflicted on minor offences remained forthe most part discretionary. For eighteen years all laws were enacted in a general assembly of all thecolonists. The governor, chosen annually, was but president of a council,in which he had a double vote. It consisted first of one, then of five, andfinally of seven counsellors, called assistants. So little were political honourscoveted at New Plymouth, that it became necessary to inflict a fine uponsuch as, being chosen, declined to serve as governor or assistant. None,however, were to be obliged to serve for two years in succession. The constitution of the church was e

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