Opening the text

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' WarFortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

History

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War

Name: A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War
Author: Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History

A very few years sufficed to assure the preponderance of
Massachusetts in the Northern Colonies. It widened its borders,
absorbed the scattered settlements of New Hampshire and Maine, and
in 1644 took its place at the head of the four federated colonies
of New England.[241] The distraction caused by the Civil War in
Britain left the colonies practically free from all control by
the mother country, and Massachusetts seized the opportunity to
erect a theocracy, which was utterly at variance with the terms
of her charter, and to assume, together with the confederacy of
New England, the airs and privileges of an independent State.
The ambitious little community coined her own money, negotiated
with the French in Acadia without reference to England, refused
to trade with other colonies that were loyal to the King's cause,
resented the appointment by the Long Parliament of Commissioners
for the administration of the colonies, and hinted to Cromwell
that the side which she might take in the Dutch war of 1653 would
depend entirely on the treatment which she might receive from him.
As her reward she received the privilege of exemption from the
restrictions of the Navigation Acts.

[Sidenote: 1660.]

[Sidenote: 1684.]

Then came the Restoration; and the confederacy of New England
quickly fell to pieces. Connecticut received a separate charter,
under which she absorbed New Haven; and Rhode Island obtained a
separate charter likewise. Massachusetts being thus left isolated,
Charles the Second determined to inquire into the many complaints
made against her of violation of her charter. The colonists replied
by setting their militia in order as if for armed resistance; but
on reconsideration decided to fall back on smooth words, false
promises, false statements, and skilful procrastination. Such
methods might seem at first sight to be misplaced in a community
of saints, such as Massachusetts boasted herself to be, but at
least they were never employed without previous invocation of the
Divine guidance. For twenty years the colonists contrived to keep
the Royal authority at arm's length, till at last, after long
forbearance on the side of Whitehall, the charter was cancelled by
legal process, and Massachusetts was restored to her dependence on
the mother country.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' WarFortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

History

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War

Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir

Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History

A very few years sufficed to assure the preponderance of
Massachusetts in the Northern Colonies. It widened its borders,
absorbed the scattered settlements of New Hampshire and Maine, and
in 1644 took its place at the head of the four federated colonies
of New England.[241] The distraction caused by the Civil War in
Britain left the colonies practically free from all control by
the mother country, and Massachusetts seized the opportunity to
erect a theocracy, which was utterly at variance with the terms
of her charter, and to assume, together with the confederacy of
New England, the airs and privileges of an independent State.
The ambitious little community coined her own money, negotiated
with the French in Acadia without reference to England, refused
to trade with other colonies that were loyal to the King's cause,
resented the appointment by the Long Parliament of Commissioners
for the administration of the colonies, and hinted to Cromwell
that the side which she might take in the Dutch war of 1653 would
depend entirely on the treatment which she might receive from him.
As her reward she received the privilege of exemption from the
restrictions of the Navigation Acts.

[Sidenote: 1660.]

[Sidenote: 1684.]

Then came the Restoration; and the confederacy of New England
quickly fell to pieces. Connecticut received a separate charter,
under which she absorbed New Haven; and Rhode Island obtained a
separate charter likewise. Massachusetts being thus left isolated,
Charles the Second determined to inquire into the many complaints
made against her of violation of her charter. The colonists replied
by setting their militia in order as if for armed resistance; but
on reconsideration decided to fall back on smooth words, false
promises, false statements, and skilful procrastination. Such
methods might seem at first sight to be misplaced in a community
of saints, such as Massachusetts boasted herself to be, but at
least they were never employed without previous invocation of the
Divine guidance. For twenty years the colonists contrived to keep
the Royal authority at arm's length, till at last, after long
forbearance on the side of Whitehall, the charter was cancelled by
legal process, and Massachusetts was restored to her dependence on
the mother country.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War

A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War

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