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Gc 974.402 B65sno 1779178
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
V
&c
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 8585
C 74.40 65snc .77917
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofbostonm00snow 2
A
HISTORY OF BOSTON,
THE
Pietropolis of Massachusetts,
FROM ITS
ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT PERIOD;
WITH SOME
ACCOUNT OF THE ENVIRONS.
BY CALEB H. SNOW, M. D.
Mons Idæus ubi et gentis cunabula nostræ .- Virgil.
EMBELLISHED WITH ENGRAVINGS.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY C-NGAGO
SECOND EDITION.
L
BOSTON : PUBLISHED BY ABEL BOWEN, N .. 2, CONGRESS-SQUARE, CONGRESS-STREET.
1828.
1779178
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Snow, Caleb Hopkins, 1796-1835.
A history of Boston, the metropolis of Massachusetts, from its origin to the present period; with some account of the environs. By Caleb HI. Snow ... 2d ed. Boston, A. Bowen, 1828.
iv p., 141, 191-427 p. illus., 18 pl., 3 maps (incl. front.) 23}cm. Title vignette.
DHKLF CARE
1. Boston-Hist.
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Library of Congress
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DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT :
District Clerk's Office.
BE it remembered, that on the twenty eighth day of November, A D. 1825, in the fiftieth year of the Independence of the United States of America, ABEL BOWEN, of the said District, has depo ited in this Office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following. to wit :
A HISTORY of BOSTON, the Metropolis of Massachusetts ; from its origin to the present period. With some account of the Environs. By CALEB II. SNOW, M. D. Mons Idaus ubi et gentis cunabula nostra .- Virgil. Embellished with Engravings.
In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, eutitled, " An act for the encourage- ment of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned; " and also to an act, entitled, " An act supplementary to an Act, entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned ; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical and other prints." JOHN W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.
F8441.831
689
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT :
District Clerk's Office.
BE it remembered, that on the twenty eighth day of November, A D. 1825, in the fiftieth year of the Independence of the United States of America, ABEL. BOWEN, of the said District, has depo- ited in this Office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following. to wit :
A HISTORY of BOSTON, the Metropolis of Massachusetts ; from its origin to the present period. With some account of the Environs. By CALEB H. SNOW, M. D. Mons Idaus ubi et gentis cunabula nostra .- Virgil. Embellished with Engravings.
In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, " An act for the encourage- ment of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ; " and alo to an act, entitled, " An act supplementary to an Act, entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned ; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical and other prints."
JOIIN W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.
Y
Kim
PREFACE.
This edition of the History of Boston comprises the text and notes of the first, with some corrections and additions to bring the account of the City down to the present time. The reader may expect to find in it some notice of the persecutions, which drove the first settlers of New-England from their native coun- try, and some brief sketches of the settlements that were made or attempted to be made, in various parts of the United States, before the arrival of Governor Winthrop and the company under him, which laid the foundation of Boston. There taking up our subject, I have endeavoured to select from the mass of records, which numerous hands have left to us, those facts which appear to have excited any great or lasting interest among the inhabit- ants of this metropolis ; such especially as exhibit most strongly the esprit du corps which has rendered them illustrious for their devotion to the cause of humanity, of learning, and of civil and religious liberty.
In my own mind our history divides itself into six principal epochs ; the first terminating with the deaths of Winthrop and Cotton ; the second, with the loss of the old charter and the re- ception of the new, in 1692 ; the third, at the arrival of Gov. Bernard, in 1760 ; the fourth, with the war of the Revolution, in 1783 ; the fifth, with the adoption of the city charter ; and the events that have occurred since that period constituting the sixth and last. On each of these epochs I have bestowed a share of
A!
PREFACE.
attention, sufficient, I trust, to make the volume somewhat in- structive to many and somewhat entertaining to all.
" Vouchsafe to those that have not read the story, That I may prompt them ; and of such as have I humbly pray them to admit the excuse Of time, of numbers, and due course of things, Which cannot in their huge and proper life Be here presented."
It was my aim in composing this work, that it should be mi- nutely accurate and scrupulously correct, and I therefore almost invariably adopted the words of the recorder or cotemporary historian, and gave most of my descriptions precisely as I found them, whenever I could ascertain their correctness. To this cir- cumstance, the great variety in the style of the language which is employed, may in some measure be imputed: and the reader can easily distinguish, without more marks of quotation, whatever is mine. The emendations, which my friends have proposed, are made either in the body of the work or in the notes to the articles in the index. The plan I have pursued comports best with the circumstances under which the present edition is published, and also with that I have in view, should the public patronage call for another in my day. In the mean time, I shall feel myself under obligation to all who may take interest enough in the work, to furnish information, which may contribute to its improvement in any respect.
CALEB H. SNOW.
Boston, November, 30, 1827.
A
B
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BOSTON
b
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1824.
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d
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Cambridge
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Slate St.
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A Bowen Sc.
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-
SOUTH
BOSTON
102
1
ARA
NAMES
OF THE
STREETS, LANES, PUBLICK EDIFICES, &c. IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, JULY, 1824.
N. B. To find any street on the plan, search for the number annexed, in the square given by the letters following the name ; thus, for School-street look in square F h, and you find the number 123. Publick edifices, &c. not numbered, are located within the squares referred to. The wards are designated by large figures, and the dotted lines show the boundaries of each. The ancient high-water mark is shown by the shading on the new plan.
Allen st. N.
Cd
52 .
Causeway st.
E c
30
Allen st. S.
Ce +
53
Central st.
H h
96
Adu st.
I e . 24
. Central court
Ej
Arch st.
Fj
138 Centre st. N.
Hf
28
Ash st. .
D n
162 Centre st.
Chamber st.
C f
60
Bangs alley
Bath st.
-
II i
93
Chardon st.
E f
64
Battery alley
J c
10
Charles st.
Ah
129
Battery-march st."
HI h
95
Charter st.
H b
3
Beach st.
El
150
Chauncy place
Fj
139
Bracon st.
EL
124
Chesnut st.
Bi
131
Bedford M.
Ek . 142
Clark st.
Id
14
Bedford place
Fk
Columbia st.
Fk
147
Beih nap st. :
c g
: 78
Common st.
Ei
184
Bennet st. 8.
Fn
156
Congress st.
Gh
91
Bennet st. N.
I d
9
. Cooks court
F h
Berry st.
Il j
/111
Copeland lane
Ff
Blossom st.
Cf .
58
Cornhill court
Gh
Bowdoin st.
D g
77
Court st.
Fh
92
Bowdoin place
E f
65
Crab alley
H b
Boylston st.
DI.
151
Crescent court -
E e
Boylston court
-
DI
Cross st.
He
27
Boylston square
D1
Custom house st.
I h
98
Brattle st.
-
F g
83
Custom house
-
I h
98
Brattle sq.
-
G g
198
Deacon st.
Fe
180
Bread st.
-
B f
57
Devonshire st.
Gh
89
Brighton st.
B c
47
Distill-house square
Fe
41
Broad st.
Ih
102
Doane st.
H h
Bromfield lane
Fi
122
Dock square
H g
Bulfinch st.
E g
78
East st.
G1
182
Bulfinch place.
E g
Eaton st.
Ce
56
Bumstead place
Ei
Elliot st.
D m
152
Butolph st.
C g
71 Elin st.
G f
81
Butlers row
H g
Essex st.
El
146
Cambridge st.
C f
66
Exchange st.
Gg
86
Carnes court
Ff
Federal st.
Gj
120
Carver st.
C m
160
Federal court S.
Gj
Castle st.
Do
165
Federal court N.
B g
69
Atkinson st.
-
11 j
110
HI h
Charlestown st.
G d
34
1
D h
Court square
Fh
Bowdoin square
99
Derne st.
D g
181
Bridge st.
Gf
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Flag alley -
G g
87
Lindall st. -
II h
186
Fleet st.
-
Id
15
Lowell place
DI
Foster st.
HI b 18 Lynde st.
D f
61
Franklin st.
Fi 137
Lynn st.
I b 2
Franklin place
Gj
121
Margaret st.
HI c
187
Franklin avenue
F g
183
Margin st. N.
Gd
36
Friends st.
Ge
36
Margin st. S.
E e
45
Front st.
E o 164
Market st.
F g
84
Fruit st.
Be
54
Market row
G g
Gallop alley
He
Market place
El
Garden st.
0 g
70
Marlboro' place
Fi
Garden court st.
Id
22
Marlboro' row
Fi
George st.
Bh 130
Medford st.
Ed
188
Gibbs lane
Ij
184
Marsh lane
G f
Governour alley
Fi
185
Marshall st.
G f
37
Gooch st.
E e
44
Mason st.
D k
142
Gravel st.
C d
50
May st.
B g
125
Green st.
De
63
Merchants row
H g
88
Gridley lane
Hj
109
Merrimac st.
E e
82
Grove st.
B g
68
Methodist alley -
J d
12
Haerlem place
Ek
Milk st.
G
119
Hamilton st.
Ii
103
Milton st.
C c
189
Hamilton place
Ei
203
Millpond st.
Gd
35
Hamilton avenue
Ii
Moon st.
Id
23
Hancock st.
D g
74
Mount Vernon
0 g
Hanover st.
Ile
29
Myrtle st.
Bh
126
Hartford place
Ij
Newbury place -
Ek
Harvard st.
Em 155
North square
I e
200
Harvard place
Fi
North row
II e
Hatters square
II f
Norfolk place
Ek
Hawkins st.
Ff
42
Olive st.
-
B h
128
Hawley st.
Fi
136
Oliver st.
Hi
105
Hawley place
Fi
Otis place
Fk
Haymarket place
Dk
Park st.
Di
133
Hayward place
-
Ek
Pearl st.
Hi
106
Henchman lane
-
Ic
19
Peck lane
-
F1
148
High st.
Hk
114
Pinckney st.
Bg
127
Hollis st.
Dm 157
Pine st.
Dn
168
Hospital square
Be
Pitts st.
E e
43
Howard st.
E g
79
Pitts court
E e
Hull st.
H c
4
Pleasant st.
B m
160
India st.
I h
100
Poplar st.
C d
51
Jarvis row
-
E k
Portland st.
Fe
40
Jefferson place
-
E m
Portland place
Ff
Kingston st. -
Fk
140
Prince st.
H c
G
Kilby st.
-
H h
94
Prospect st.
D d
190
Kneeland st.
Em
153
Purchase st.
Ij
107
Langdon place
I e
Quincy place
Ij
Leverett st.
C c
46
Roe-buck passage
II g
Leverett court
D d
Richmond st.
-
II e
25
Leverett place
De
179
Ridgeway lane
D g
75
Liberty square -
1I h
201
Robinson alley
-
I c
Lincoln st.
117
Robbins court
1
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Russel st. S.
C g
72
Sumner st.
Ch 128
193
Russel st. N.
cf
59
Sun-Court st.
I e
25
Salem st.
Hd 17 Sweetser court
Ek
Salt lane
Gf
Temple st.
Dg
76
Salutation alley -
I c
11
Thacher st.
Gd
195
School st.
Fh
123
Theatre alley
Gi
196
School alley
H d
Tileston st.
Id
8
Scotts court
G g
Tremont place
F h
Sea st. -
II 1
115
Union st.
G f
38
Second st.
C c
48
Unity st.
Hc
21
Sheafe st.
Il c
5
Vine st.
Be
55
Sheaf lane
Dk
143
Walnut st. -
ch
132
Short st.
Fk
145
Warren st. -
Cm
159
Sister st.
Hj
112
Warren place
Cn
Snow Hill st.
G c
16
Washington st. -
D m
154
Somerset st.
E g
124
Washington place
I j
104
Somerset place -
E g
191
Washington avenue
J i
Somerset court -
E h
Water st. -
G h
118
South st ..
GI
116
Well st.
-
Ih
97
Southack st.
B g
67
West st.
-
Ej
141
Spring st.
.
C d
49
Wharf st.
-
I h
101
Spring lane
Gİ
White bread alley
I d
13
Spruce st.
Bi
194
Williams st.
Hj
113
Staniford st.
D f
62
Williams court -
G h
State st.
11 h
192
Wilsons lane
G g
85
Stillman st.
Ge
199
Wiltshire st.
Cd
197
Suffolk place
Ek
Winter street
Ei
135
Sudbury st.
-
F f
80
Winthrop place -
Gk
Summer st.
-
Fj
139
PRINCIPAL WHARVES.
1. Wm. Gray's wharf
I b
9. Town dock
H g
2. Winnesimet ferry way
J b
10. Codman's wharf
Ig
3. Battery wharf
K c
11. Long wharf
K g
4. Union wharf
J d
12. Central wharf
K h
5. Hancock's wharf
K e
13. India wharf
J h
6. Lewis's wharf
K e
14. Liverpool wharf
Ik
7. Eustis's wharf
I g
15. Russia wharf
I k
Canal, or Mill creek 171
Ge
16. Wheeler's point -
Gn
3. Philadelphia Packet wharf II g
17. Baxter's wharf -
Fn
Island wharves -
J f
NOTED BLOCKS.
Barristers' Hall
Fh
Phillips's Buildings
Colonnade Row
Djk
Province House Row Fi
Congress square
Gh
Rogers' Buildings G h
Cornhill square
Gh
Scollay's do.
F g
· Hinckley's Buildings
H h South Row
Gi
Market square
HI g
Suffolk Buildings
Gh
Merchants' Ilall
G lı
Tudor's do.
Fh
Parkman's Buildings -
TI g
West Row
Ef
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
PUBLICK EDIFICES.
State house
Dh
South Boston School
Laboratory
CI
Boylston Hall -
DI
Town house, or old State house'
Gh
Medical College
Dk
Old Court house
Fh
Massachusetts General Hospital Be
County Court house
Fh
Province House Fi
Municipal Court house
D d
Asylum for Indigent Boys H e
Jail and House of Correction D d
Female Orphan Asylum -
F1
House of Industry South Boston
Alms House
C c
Parkman's Market B f
Faneuil Hall
H g
Columbian Museum -
Fh
Ward Room, No. 3
Gd
New England Museum F g
Eliot School, N. Bennet st.
G d
Hancock School, Hanover st.
Ge
Theatre
Jj
Mayhew School, Hawkins st.
Fe
Concert Hall
F g
Bowdoin School, Derne st.
D g
Exchange Coffee House
Gh
High school, Pinckney st.
B g
Green Dragon
Gf
Latin School, School st.
Fh
Washington Gardens
Ej
Adams School, Mason st.
Ej
Pantheon Ilall
D1
Franklin School, Nassau st.
D m
Marlboro' Hotel
Fi
Boylston School, Fort Hill
Ij
Custom House
Ih
CHURCHES.
CONGREGATIONAL.
First, Chauncy place
Fj Eighth, Hollis st. D m
Second, Hanover st.
He Ninth, Lynde st. Df
Third, Old South
Fi Tenth, Park st. Ei
Fourth, Brattle st.
82 Gg
Eleventh, Essex st. -
Ek
Fifth, Clark st.
Id Twelfth, N. Allen st.
Ce
Sixth, Summer st.
G k
Thirteenth
South Boston
Seventh, Federal st.
Gj
BAPTIST.
First, Stillman st.
IL d Third, Charles st. A h
Second, Salem st.
II d African, Belknap st. 0 g
EPISCOPALIAN. .
King's Chapel, Cominon st.
Fh St. Paul's, Common st. - Di
Christ's ch. Salem st.
II c St. Matthew's, South Boston
Trinity ch. Summer st.
Fj
QUAKER.
Congress st.
G h
UNIVERSALIST.
First, North Bennet st.
I d
Third, Bulfinch st.
E g
Second, School st.
Fi
METHODIST.
First, Methodist allcy
J c
Second, Bromfield lane
Ei
ROMAN CATHOLICK.
Church of the Holy Cross, Franklin st. F j
St. Augustine's Chapel, South Boston.
.
City Market and Gallery of fine arts G g
Atheneum Il j
Bunt & Whitey Yd
.
Hudson's Point
Freemans W
Rakers Ya
Ruck's W
Verino WY
freenoughy Ya
Barton Point terry Yd
Wallde's W & Still H
8 1722
N.Battray
Ner
Fuorer Ha
Voarlets W
Callapy H'
takes Ir
10000
rutor
0od
Woodman! W
Governors W
Belchery H
Buttler 219
Wharfe
Long
Marshall's W
SE
Pools W
nuer's Dock
Oliver
Ciones S.Ya
x. Battery
Biber W
Hub bards W
ers W & sbll
Amorys W & SULLE.
BOSTON planted D.1630 AFirst Church Found 1630 B Old North ___ 11 .1650 C Old South. ._ 1669
1. Town House .
E King's Chapel .. 1_1688
3. South Grammar School. F Brattle St. SJ ___ 1699
1.North
G Quaker. 1710
5. Writing School.
H.New North 1714
a
6. Writing ''
I New South J_1 1716
7. Alms House.
K French. 1716
8 . Bridewell.
L New Brick_
Dorchester Point
Entered according to Act of Congress by & Bowen.
1. Bowen Sc.
...
...
Whilshomy W
'm s.mui
Darby's W
M
Phi chys seu
Hunsa Manonyonqui
D.Anabaptist ..... ...__ 1680
2. Governor's "
Ferry to Charlestown
BOSTON
Paracter's Hy Bunts w
mortens,S. Ya
Scarr. S.Yd.
F larks W
Huywirdd's W
Burn Ils
Ventworthy W
3
ingsa
!
P. 9.
A. Bowen Se.
J. Kidder del.
Entered according to Act of Congress, by A Bowen .
SOUTH EAST VIEW OF BOSTON. >
.
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
INTRODUCTION.
THE City of Boston owes its origin to a spirit of civil and religious liberty, which was excited to action by the persecu- tions that prevailed in England, during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth, and Kings James and Charles the First. Most of those who can properly be considered as first settlers arrived here, and in other parts of New-England, prior to the year sixteen hundred and forty-three. By that time, it is compu- ted, the number of emigrants amounted to twenty-one thou- sand two hundred souls, or thereabouts .*
Had this multitude been composed of barbarian hordes, who, in their wanderings for sustenance, might have chanced to light upon this fair theatre in its wild and savage state, we should have had no interest in tracing their history. The wilderness they found, would have remained a wilderness still, and their descendants have been dancing yet to the or- gies of Woonand and Mannit, or listening to the powaws of Hobbamoc and Kiehtan. Not so with us : the hand of re- finement has beautified the charms of nature ; monuments of art in our own habitations and in the temples of our God, a thousand endearments , and ten thousand privileges enjoyed, invite us on every side to inquire into the character of the men that have preceded us, and to review the steps in which our fathers and ourselves have been led from infancy to our present state. To do this is the object we have now set be- fore us ; and we are animated to the work by the persuasion,
* Neal, N. E.ch. V. states the number at 4000, and thinks the above computation very ex- travagant, on the ground that only 298 transports were employed. A little calculation, how- ever, would have shown that if each of those had brought 72 persons, the number would be accounted for : whereas some of them were ships of good burthen that carried about two
2
10
:
INTRODUCTION.
that a familiar acquaintance with the story of our early times will tend to generate in the reader 'a love of country of the best complexion, and of the highest order ; a love of country chastened and improved by elevated sentiments and dignified examples ;' while the recapitulation of events more recent may serve to gratify the pride, which springs from a con- sciousness of having borne a part in transactions worthy to be recorded.
hundred passengers apiece. Besides, if any confidence is to be placed in the following estimate, which Neal cites without any doubts, the matter is almost certainly decided.
Johnson, in his Wonder-Working Providence, published in London, 1654, has thus stated the costs of the expedition. Chap. 13, 14.
The passage of the persons 95,000l. The transportation of swine, goats, sheep, neate and horse, exclusive of their cost 12,000
Getting food for all the persons until they could get the wood to tillage - 45,000
Nayles, glasse, and other iron worke for their meeting-houses, and other dwelling houses, before they could raise any other meanes in the country to purchase them 18,000
Armes, powder, bullet, and match, with great artillery 22,000
192,000l.
" The whole sum amounts unto 192,000/. beside that which the adventurers laid out in England-neither let any man think the sum above expressed did defray the whole charge of this army."
The charge for a passage was 5 pounds for a person ;- nursing children not to be reckon- cd ; those under four years old, three for one; under eight years, two for one ; under twelve years, three for two .-- Prince, Dec. 1. 1629 .- Judge Davis' Disc.
11
HISTORY OF ' BOSTON.
CHAPTER I.
From torturing racks and burning flame, Through seas of their own blood, they came.
Var. Lect.
THE fathers of Boston entered upon the stage of life while Elizabeth enjoyed the throne, and they learnt in the nursery, the tale of former persecution and of deaths for conscience sake. It would have been happy for them, if her reign had afforded no occasion to recollect the relation she bore to her tyrannical father and more cruel sister. She indeed discoun- tenanced popery, but established a church herself, to whose. rites and ceremonies it was most unpardonable heresy not to. conform. 'My masters and ye ministers of London,' was the word, 'the Council's pleasure is, that ye strictly keep the unity of apparel, like this man who stands here, canonically habited, with a square cap, a scholar's gown, priest-like, with a tippet, and in the church a linen surplice. Ye that
will subscribe, write Volo ; those that will not subscribe, write Nolo ; be brief ; make no words.' The consequence of a refusal was immediate suspension, with threats of deprivation in case of not conforming within three months. Many were accordingly suspended and deprived, and rules were enacted which forbid printers and booksellers to publish any appeal the sufferers might desire to make.
The weight of this harsh treatment fell in the first instance upon ministers. Great numbers of the laity, however, sym- pathized with them ; they abhorred the habits, and would not frequent the churches where they were used. Several of the deprived ministers, therefore, and their friends, associated and resolved to break off from the public churches, and to assemble for worship in private houses, or elsewhere as they had opportunity ; this step was the era or date of the Separa- tion, 1566. Such a procedure could not fail to heighten the displeasure of the Queen and her bishops. The commission- ers were enjoined to be still more severe ; and thereupon twenty-four men and seven women were seized and cast into prison, for attending a sermon and communion service in a private hall, and having the boldness to defend their conduct before the bishop of London and other magistrates. But neither their arguments nor their sufferings had any influence to effect the deliverance of the puritans. As we approach
12
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
nearer to the period of our particular history, we find thein exposed to impositions less and less tolerable ; and as a nat- ural result of persecution, more and more convinced, both of the correctness of their own principles, and of the errors of their persecutors. Most of their objections had hitherto been made to the ceremonies of the church : to these they came by degrees to add doubts concerning her doctrines. This widened the extent of their criminality, and the more certain- ly to convict them, they were compelled to answer upon oath against themselves.
In the midst of so much wrong, it is gratifying to discover that there was a spirit in the parliament which convened in 1571, to attempt something in favour of the puritans. An act was passed with that view, but no material benefit ever accru- ed from it. The commissioners went on rigorously executing the old laws against all opponents of the established church. Among others, two anabaptists suffered under the act for burn- ing of hereticks, in Smithfield, July 1575. The narrowness of the terms of conformity reduced the number of able preachers : most of the incumbents were disguised papists, or such conformists as were incapable of performing the ministe- rial duties. A fourth part at least of all the preachers in England were under suspension, and so many parishes were vacated that persons who wished to hear a sermon must go five, seven, twelve, and even twenty miles, and that too under the penalty of a fine for being absent from their parish church, where no service was performed. More effectually to distress both people and ministers, the former were forbidden to em- ploy any of the latter as instructers of their children.
The people of London and Cornwall petitioned parliament for relief : the whole country exclaimed against the bishops for their high proceedings, but all to little purpose. Some slight appearances of milder measures were now and then to be seen, but the next day would dissipate all hope, and the dissenters would be called to witness the public execution of their friends on the gallows. The Queen continued resolutely bent on perfect obedience to her requirements, and in 1583 established a court of high commission, with powers to inquire into misdemeanors by every way and means they could de- vise, and to punish by fine or imprisonment according to their discretion. The proceedings of this tribunal were as merci- less as its powers were boundless : and when the Commons inclined to remedy some of the evils that arose from this and other measures of the Queen, they found out the iniquity of the act of supremacy, which vested the whole power of re- forming the policy of the church in the single person of her Majesty, who would permit no infringement on her preroga- tive from any quarter whatsoever.
13
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
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