purpose of making laws for the government of the colony. Thomas Gray,
Henry Hughs, Maurice Mathews, and Christopher Portman, were chosen
deputies from the people, and took their seat at the upper house of
assembly. These new members were obliged to take an oath, that they
should shew equity and justice to both rich and poor, without favour or
affection; that they should observe the laws of England, and those that
should hereafter be established in the colony; that they should obey the
rules and directions of the proprietors; that they should not divulge the
secrets of the grand council, without sufficient authority from that
board. A question being put, whether the deputies of the proprietors
should take the same oath? it was judged unnecessary, as they held their
appointments during pleasure, and were immediately answerable to the
proprietors for their conduct. Now the colony had its governor, its upper
and lower house of assembly, which three branches took the name of
Parliament, agreeable to the constitutions. This was the first parliament
that passed acts which are ratified by the proprietors, and found on
record in the colony.

[Sidenote] Variances break out in the colony.

It might have been expected, that these adventurers, who were all
embarked on the same design, would be animated by one spirit, and zealous
above all things to maintain harmony and peace among themselves; they had
all the same hardships to encounter, the same enemies to fear, and the
same cause, the prosperity of the settlement, to promote. In such
circumstances, the governor had good reason to hope, that one common
desire of safety, and principle of love and friendship, would pervade the
whole colony; yet nothing is more certain than that the contrary effect
took place. The most numerous party in the country were dissenters, of
various denominations, from the established church of England; which body